Save the Date for City Center Partnership’s 2011 Urban Tour

When: Thursday, April 7, 2011 from 5:30 to 10 p.m.

Where: Main Street between Gervais and Laurel Streets in downtown Columbia

City Center Partnership is pleased to announce the 4th annual Urban Tour will be held on Thursday, April 7, 2011. The Urban Tour is a chance to explore and enjoy a self-guided tour of Columbia’s Main Street with special offers and giveaways from retailers and restaurants, samples of food and drink, live entertainment, a glimpse into downtown living, carriage rides and stories behind some of the historic buildings.  The tour runs between Gervais and Laurel Streets and can be started anywhere down Main Street. The tour will end with a concert in the 1200 block of Main Street between Gervais and Lady Streets.

Web: www.citycentercolumbia.sc
Phone: 803-233-0620

Clean Sweep 2011

Next Clean Sweep 2011 Drop Off is Saturday, January 22, 2011 at JLC Headquarters from10:00 am to 12:00 pm.

Visit http://www.jlcolumbia.org/?nd=m_clean_sweep_events for additional drop off and bulk pick up dates!

Event #1:

Clean Sweep Preview Party and Silent Auction

The Clean Sweep 2011 Preview Party and Silent Auction will be held Thursday, Feburary 3, 2011 from 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm in the State Fairgrounds' Cantey Building. Catering will be provided by Hudson's Barbeque and the entertainment will be Bockus and Daniels. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door.

Purchase Tickets Online: http://www.jlcolumbia.org/?nd=ticket_single&fundraiser_id=11

During the preview party, all rummage items will be sold at twice the price. Up to $100 (twice the price) may be purchased in addition to one large item (anything not displayed on or under a table, such as furniture, strollers, large appliances, large outdoor toys, rugs, fitness equipment, etc.).  All items purchased Thursday evening must be removed from the Americraft-Cantey Building by 10:30 pm on Thursday, or they will be resold.

Event #2:
Clean Sweep 2011
The Thrill of the Hunt
February 5, 2011
Americraft-Cantey Building
SC State Fairgrounds

Sale Hours
Parking Gates Opens: 6:00 am (Parking is $2 a Car)
Doors Open: 8:00 am
Sale Closes for Bag Sale: 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm
Bag Sale ($5): 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm

Web: www.jlcolumbia.org

Winter Weather Impacts Blood Donations

The American Red Cross South Carolina Blood Services Region canceled and postponed several blood drives across the region earlier this week in response to the inclement weather conditions.

Winter weather often causes delays and cancellations for schools, work and community events.  But it also means cancellations of vitally important blood donation opportunities. Since this Monday, winter weather has forced donation centers to be closed and 21 blood drives to be canceled across the South Carolina Region, which means the Red Cross was not able to collect more than 800 units of blood and platelets it was counting on.

Schedule an appointment to give blood through the American Red Cross today at one of the following blood drives and help save lives. Call 1-800-RED CROSS (733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org for more information or to schedule an appointment to donate blood or platelets.

AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DONATION CENTERS IN YOUR AREA:
Columbia Donation Center
2751 Bull St.
Columbia, SC 29201

Blood donation hours:
Monday: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Tuesday: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Wednesday: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Thursday: 7 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Friday: 7 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Saturday: 7 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Platelet donation hours:
Sunday: 6 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Monday: 6 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Tuesday: 6 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Wednesday: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Thursday: 6 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Friday: 6 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Saturday: 6 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Sumter Donation Center
1155 N Guignard Dr.
Sumter, SC 29150

Blood donation hours:
Monday: noon-6:30 p.m.
Tuesday: noon-6:30 p.m.
Wednesday: 10:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Thursday: noon-6:30 p.m.
Friday: 7 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Web: www.centralscredcross.org

Is our State Broke?... Or is our System Broken?

Is our State Broke?... Or is our System Broken?

A presentation on how South Carolina can inmporive our economic competitiveness and funding for essential public services.

Speaker: Michael Fanning, Ph.D

Executive Director at the Olde English Consortium

When: Tuesday, January 25, 2011 - 7:30am

Where: The Summit Club, Columbia, SC

Registration is first come, first serve and limited to 200 participants. Event opens to the general public January 7. Email kyon@columbiachamber.com to register.

This even is hosted by the Midlands Business Leadership Group.

This event is sponsored by the Greater Lexington Chamber and Visitors Center and the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce.

Web: www.columbiachamber.com

Cultural Council's Color the Arts Fundraiser and Social Seeks COR Volunteers

The Cultural Council's Color the Arts Fundraiser and Social is seeking help from COR volunteers and members in the following two areas:

1. Aid with Art and Experience Silent Auction: Seeking 12-15 items/packages to auction off. Past items have included restaurant and theatre packages; BMW Driving Experience, golf packages;  tickets to a major concert at Phillips Arena in a corporate box (last year was Crosby Stills Nash and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers concert); mountain and/or beach condo packages.

2.  Aid with Creation of Two Unique Auction Packages:
         

A. Beer for a Year - Seeking distributor/grocer/retailer to donate 52 six-packs of various craft beers.
         

B. Baker's Dozen of Exceptional Wines - Seeking 13 restaurants or retailers willing to donate a high quality wine no longer commercially available.

The Cultural Council would like to avoid sport-related packages, excluding the suggested golf package.

Please contact Andrew Witt, Executive Director of the Cultural Council of Richland and Lexington Counties, if you believe you can help.

Email: andy@smartarts.info
Phone: (803) 231-3131
Web: www.smartarts.info

Stop the Brain Drain: Marketing and Public Relations Director Job Posting

Job Posting: Marketing and Public Relations Director, NAI Avant (Columbia); NAI Avant (Charleston); and Avant Healthcare

Reports to: The Chief Executive Officer of the Company

Position Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing or Journalism or Public Relations
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• High degree of professionalism, team orientation, and attention to detail
• Must take initiative and be flexible, able to adapt quickly to a fast-paced environment
• Good graphic design taste and facilitation skills
• Proficient in technology
• Experience with post production print management.

Duties and Responsibilities:

General

• Implement company-wide marketing and public relations plan
• Order all printed materials (stationery, envelopes, business cards, invitations, etc.)
• Customized holiday cards and e-blast graphics
• Select, order, and maintain an adequate supply of company promotional gifts.
• Coordinate design and placement of all print advertising
• Manage the “advertising” line item of the company budget
• Support owners in community activity involvement and client entertainment
• Coordinate graphics with Vice President of Research and the Marketing Assistant(s)
• Join and be an active participant in NAI Global Marketing Council.

Conventions/Meetings/Trade Shows

• Reserve and set up booth/displays (Evaluate new display booth re-design)
• Coordinate booth coverage
• Schedule arrangements for client entertainment
• Reserve rooms for Company Officers.

Company Annual Event

• Reserve venue, caterer, photographer, etc.
• Order invitations and coordinate distribution
• Order employee/broker awards
• Oversee layout and set up
• Coordinate preparation of Company presentation
• Plan a company-wide annual, casual social in addition to quarterly Company “Happy Hour”
• Plan and coordinate an annual company-wide charitable theme and effort for Christmas/Holidays.

Website/Social Media

• Update (“In the News) section on a routine basis
• As needed, maintain up-to-date personnel roster and update accompanying bios
• Periodically review all website designs and content issues
• Institute methods to maximize website search positioning.

Marketing Brochures

• A to Z review of all collaterals for re-write and brand/graphic consistency
• Regularly submit press releases on company activities and personnel news
• Maintain ongoing contact and relationship cultivation with publications to ensure maximum opportunities to submit contributions to news articles
• Maintain quality control for any and all marketing/public relations related materials and efforts.

Communications

• Develop an internal company monthly newsletter
• Develop external client communication plan, newsletter, and direct implementation.

Photography

• Maintain current photo bank of all company projects and key assignments
• Ensure up-to-date personnel photos.

Email resume/cover letter to:

Todd Avant
Chief Executive Officer
NAI Avant, LLC

1901 Main Street, Suite 200
Columbia, SC 29201

Email: tavant@naiavant.com
Website: www.naiavant.com

Kick Off the New Year with a Free Visit to the Zoo

Riverbanks Expresses Gratitude for Community Support with Free Fridays
 

Jump start the New Year with a free visit to Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. Free Fridays for residents of Richland and Lexington counties get underway this Friday, January 7, and continues each Friday through the months of January and February.

Riverbanks is a special purpose district and receives funding each year from the taxpayers of Richland and Lexington counties. To qualify for free admission, Richland and Lexington county residents will be asked to show proof of residency with a valid ID or a copy of their property tax statement. All other visitors will be charged regular admission. There is no limit to the number of Fridays Richland and Lexington county residents can visit during the promotion – they can come one Friday or all eight.

Riverbanks’ winter hours are 9am to 5pm daily. January and February are a great time to visit the Zoo because many of the animals are more active during the cooler winter months. If the weather is chilly, guests can enjoy some indoor animal exhibits including the Birdhouse at Riverbanks, Aquarium Reptile Complex, Gorilla Base Camp and Koala Knockabout.

Web: www.riverbanks.org