FROST ON THE PLUFF MUD: It's not often that we see a serious layer of frost and the Sullivan's Island lighthouse in the same photo, but the weekend's icebox temperatures certainly offered their share of unusual sights such as this one. File these last few days away in your mind and pull them out again when August arrives. (Photo by Ann Thrash)

FEEDBACK
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THE LIST
:: Five for King day

GOOD NEWS
:: Navy Week, EITC, more

ALSO INSIDE

___:: CALENDAR: This week ... and next
___:: REVIEW: Send us a review
___:: HISTORY: John James Audubon
___:: QUOTE: Norris on good books
___:: SPOTLIGHT: Meet an underwriter

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ABOUT US

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Are you taking your business cards for granted?
By AMANDA HOLLING
Business reference librarian, Charleston County Public Library
Special to CharlestonCurrents.com

JAN. 11, 2010 -- We have some in our purses and messenger bags, some at home, and probably some lurking between the seat cushions in our cars. We design them and print them, but often we don't think about them much until we need them and they're not around. They cost just pennies each, yet we routinely underestimate their true value.

Holling

What are they? Business cards!

We see a lot of business cards throughout our working lives, but do we stop to think about them all that much? Probably not. But we should.

Business cards are not just status symbols or a way to avoid writing your contact information over and over. They are actually 3½-by-2-inch billboards for yourself or your organization's product or service, and we should treat them that way.

Too often we get lazy about our business cards. We hop on a business card design Web site and pick the first thing we see that matches our line of business. We forget to check the details for accuracy when they come back from the printer. We order as few at a time as possible to avoid a large single payment, or we might print our own with card stock from the office supply store that's so old we can't remember when we bought it.

Instead, stop and consider this: The cost per business card (even with custom design) is extremely low, but you can do all kinds of things with them. They can make you and your business shine when used wisely.

Business cards can serve a variety of people in different ways. Need a job? Print a business card with your name, your specialty or job goal, your cell phone number, e-mail address, and maybe even your LinkedIn page. Own your own business? Make sure you add your company logo and keep the design of your card consistent with your Web site or letterhead if you have them. Work for someone else? Add your job title and make your personal contact information listed on the card as specific as possible.

Business cards are meant to be portable, so take them with you everywhere you go - even to the grocery store. You never know when you might run into someone you want to know better. If you don't want to carry a dedicated card case, just tuck a couple in your wallet. Your business card can even go places without you. If you're paying a local bill, drop a card into the envelope with your check since you never know who might be opening it on the other end.

Make your cards do double duty. If you'd like to get more referral business, give out two of them at a time and politely ask that they pass on the spare to a friend. If you do appointment-based work, have the back of the cards printed as an appointment reminder card. Cards can even have price lists, product details, or yearly calendars printed on the back, all of which give people another reason to hang on to it longer.

Finally, think outside the box when it comes to your business card. Printers are able to print with all kinds of inks on all sorts of materials. Maybe something outside of the ordinary will help your business stand out. If you're a personal trainer, how cool would it be to pass out a card printed on an exercise band - which you can read best when it's stretched out?

The humble business card is a powerful, versatile ambassador for your organization. Use it to your best advantage!

Amanda Holling is a business reference librarian for Charleston County Public Library.

More work needed on Palmetto Priorities
By ANDY BRACK, publisher

JAN. 11, 2010 -- A slogan from an old Virginia Slims cigarette ad – “You’ve come a long way, baby – just doesn’t apply to the South Carolina General Assembly.

Brack

But, the legislature took a few positive, progressive baby steps toward dealing with generational problems identified last year in Statehouse Report’s first “Palmetto Priorities” list.

A year ago this week as the General Assembly prepared to open its annual session, we offered an agenda of “11 broad, continuing objectives for state legislators to consider and use as a bipartisan guide to creating a better South Carolina.” Why? Because lawmakers often seem to act independently and without a good look at the state’s big picture.

So today, it’s time to look at where they are. You might be surprised. Below is a short description of each objective, followed by a review of progress.

JOBS: Develop a Cabinet-level post dedicated to adding and retaining 10,000 small business jobs per year. Result? No action: Even though the state’s unemployment rate has rocketed to more than 12 percent, there seems to be little consensus or strategizing on how to get more jobs for South Carolina. This needs to be Job Number One in 2010. [Forget Gov. Mark Sanford’s embarrassing woes; work on more jobs.]

EDUCATION: Cut the state’s dropout rate in half by 2015. State Education Department spokesman Jim Foster says these days, educators focus more on graduation rates than dropout rates. (This appears as the flip side of the same coin to us). Interestingly, past policy actions are having incremental progress. According to Education Week magazine’s latest study, South Carolina had the top progress in increasing graduation rates over the last 10 years. Instead of being last in the nation in 1996 with 53.2 percent of students graduating, in 2006, we were 37th in the nation with 66.3 percent graduating. Congratulations.

HEALTH CARE: Increase the cigarette tax to $1 per pack and use revenues to maximize federal health care matching funds. No action. Again. This is a no-brainer. The legislature needs to pass this proposal this year to nab more federal matching health care dollars.

HEALTH CARE: Ensure affordable and accessible health care that optimizes preventive care for every South Carolinian by 2015. No action: While this is more of a federal government issue, the state could start to take more steps, instead of waiting in the wings.

ENVIRONMENT: Adopt a state energy policy that requires energy producers to generate 20 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2020. Some action: In 2009, Santee Cooper backed off plans to build a new coal-fired plant. Duke and SCANA are moving toward building four more nuclear reactors. The state amended its state energy policy to promote clean energy, which now is defined to include nuclear. More work needs to be done to set measurable goals.

TAXES: By 2012, remove special interest sales tax exemptions that are outdated for the state’s 21st Century economy. Some action: A special legislative committee has been working on this throughout the summer. Look for some action this year.

TAXES: Reform and stabilize the tax structure by 2012 after following an overall nonpartisan review that seriously considers reimplementation of reasonable property taxes. Unfortunately, the committee (above) can’t consider property tax reform from three years ago that caused more harm than good.

ELECTIONS: Increase voter registration to 75 percent by 2015. No action.

CORRECTIONS: Reduce the prison population by 25 percent by 2020 through creative alternative sentencing programs for non-violent offenders. A little action: State Attorney General Henry McMaster’s “middle courts” program is still in legislative committee. It likely would impact prison populations significantly. More work can be done.

ROADS: Strengthen all bridges and upgrade all state roads by 2015 through creative highway financing and maintenance programs. No major action. Mostly, it was business as usual.

POLITICS: Have a vigorous two- or multi-party political system of governance. No action: State Democrats don’t even have candidates in six of the nine statewide constitutional races at this point. Other bills are in the hopper that would increase partisanship, not foster bipartisanship.

Bottom line: South Carolina still has a long way to go, baby – but encouraging signs abound.

Andy Brack is publisher of CharlestonCurrents.com. This commentary first appeared in Statehouse Report. You can reach him by email here.

Send us your comment

Have a comment or want to vent? If you have something to say about leadership in South Carolina, the state of baseball today, good barbecue or something about your community's government, drop us a line to: editor@charlestoncurrents.com. Please send no more than 200 words and include contact information (phone number, hometown) so we can get in touch with you.

Pluff Mud Connect

The public spiritedness of our underwriters allows us to bring CharlestonCurrents to you at no cost. In this issue, we highlight Pluff Mud Connect, a new Web service that connects Lowcountry nonprofits and the businesses that serve them. Nonprofit organizations register for free, and can search across more than 100 categories or fill out a simple form to request multiple quotes from local businesses. Lowcountry sole proprietors, small businesses and corporations pay a low annual fee to market directly to nonprofit organizations and receive requests for bids via email. Pluff Mud Connect -- helping Lowcountry nonprofits and businesses thrive. Click here to send a message or visit online at: http://www.PluffMudConnect.com.

Navy picks Charleston to host Navy Week in April

Charleston is one of 20 cities nationwide that's been chosen to host a Navy Week celebration this year. The U.S. Navy conducts the events around the country each year to reach out to the public and let Americans see the investment they have made in their Navy.

The city will be the host site from April 12 through April 18. The Navy's precision flight demonstration team, the Blue Angels, will headline the event with a performance during the Charleston Air Expo April 17. Other events are still in the works, but the Navy says they might include the Navy Leap Frogs Parachute Team, Navy rock bands and ceremonial bands, Navy divers, and flight simulators and other interactive displays.

Navy Week is also expected to include visits by naval officers to local schools, dive demonstrations and community service projects with local sports franchises. For more information and updates, go to http://www.navyweek.org/charleston2010/index.html.

Agencies get $45,000 grant to offer tax preparation help

Trident United Way and the Trident Urban League have received a $45,000 grant from the IRS to expand free tax preparation services for working Lowcountry families who earned less than $49,000 in 2009. The service also helps families claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which can total as much as $5,700.

The service begins this month in Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties and runs through April. Information and a list of sites can be found by dialing 2-1-1 or by visiting http://www.tuw.org/taxprep.asp.

The Earned Income Tax Credit is the largest anti-poverty program in the country, but Lowcountry families leave an estimated $17 million unclaimed. In addition, many filers pay unscrupulous tax preparation companies for expensive services, like refund anticipation loans, that they don't need.

Families that earn as much as $49,000 may qualify for the EITC. Credits range up to $5,700 per family. That money is then recycled into our local economy. The average tri-county family receiving an EITC last year received roughly $2,000.

The free tax preparation and EITC outreach is a partnership of Trident Urban League, Trident United Way and the IRS. Over the past five years, the partnership has brought roughly $6.5 million into the tri-county area.

Cell phone recycling drive under way throughout month

Keep Charleston Beautiful is sponsoring its third annual "Wipe Out Wireless Waste" cell phone recycling drive to raise awareness about electronic recycling and reduce the number of cell phones deposited in landfills.

Each year, Americans retire over 100 million cell phones, with the Environmental Protection Agency estimating that only 10% are recycled or reused. When improperly disposed of, cell phones can be harmful to the environment because they contain lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic, chemicals which can be absorbed by the soil and washed into local waterways.

During the month of January, residents can drop off any unwanted cell phones, no matter how old or broken, at any of these participating businesses and locations:

• City of Charleston, 823 Meeting Street
  
• Earth Fare, 74 Folly Road
  
• Indigo Books, 472 Fresh Fields Drive
  
• Rising High, 480 East Bay Street
  
• University Books of Charleston, 360 King Street
  
• Blackbaud, 2000 Daniel Island Drive

All phones collected will be sent to a partner agency for proper recycling and disposal according to EPA standards. If you have a phone to donate, be sure to cancel any services and remove personal information before donating it. For more information, call 579-7501 or e-mail scalesj@ci.charleston.sc.us.

Send us your critique

HAVE A REVIEW? If you have a review of a book, movie, restaurant or local arts endeavor, please send no more than 150 words to editor Ann Thrash. Make sure to include your name and full contact information.

John James Audubon

Artist, naturalist, and ornithologist, Audubon was born Jean Rabine Fougere in Les Cayes, Santo Domingo (later Haiti), on April 26, 1785, the son of a French sea captain, Jean Audubon, and a servant, Jeanne Rabine. His mother died seven months after his birth, and in 1788 he was brought to his father's native home in Nantes, France. Spending his youth on a nearby country estate, Audubon developed the habit of observing and drawing birds and wildlife in nature, which he would develop into his vocation as an artist-naturalist.

Audubon's father sent him to America in 1803 to manage his plantation, Mill Grove, near Philadelphia. In 1808 he married Lucy Bakewell, and they settled in Kentucky. Audubon continued to hunt, study, and draw birds in Kentucky, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. By 1820 he was supporting himself as a portrait artist and taxidermist when he determined to accomplish his dream of accurately portraying and publishing all the birds of North America. He spent the next decades traveling in America, England, and France to undertake this monumental project, published as The Birds of America between 1827 and 1838 and issued by subscription in sets of five prints each. The oversized, four-volume folio comprises 435 hand-colored, aquatint engravings based on Audubon's brilliant, detailed, and realistic watercolors of native birds. ... To accompany the images, he published his Ornithological Biography in five volumes between 1830 and 1839, providing written descriptions of all the bird species, as well as numerous essays on nature and culture.

In 1831 Audubon traveled to Charleston to find and paint southern birds for The Birds of America. His lowcountry travels took him to Sullivan's Island, Cole Island, and Liberty Hall Plantation northwest of Charleston. Audubon befriended the Lutheran minister and avid naturalist John Bachman, who became a lifelong friend and associate. Bachman helped the artist collect, store, and document new species. During the 1830s, between collecting expeditions to Florida and Labrador, Audubon made Bachman's home the center of his work in America. There he had a studio and space to prepare and draw specimens, and he was assisted by Maria Martin, Bachman's sister-in-law, who painted botanical settings for his paintings. Audubon also sold subscriptions to The Birds of America to the Charleston Library Society and South Carolina College. …

He made his last American expedition to the upper Missouri River in 1843 to produce work for the his final three-volume work, The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America (1845-1848), coauthored by Bachman and completed by his sons, Victor Gifford and John Woodhouse Audubon. Audubon died on January 27, 1851, in New York City.

-- Excerpted from the entry by Roberta Kefalos Sokolitz. To read more about this or 2,000 other entries about South Carolina, check out The South Carolina Encyclopedia by USC Press. (Information used by permission.) To read more about this or 2,000 other entries about South Carolina, check out The South Carolina Encyclopedia by USC Press. (Information used by permission.)

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THE LIST
MLK Day events

Events are going on around town this week in preparation for Martin Luther King Day on Jan. 18. Here are five celebrations to honor the life and work of Dr. King.

"Lift Every Voice and Sing": 6 p.m. Jan. 16, Royal Missionary Baptist Church, 4761 Lucella Ave., North Charleston. The Charleston Symphony Orchestra Spiritual Ensemble will offer a free concert. While the event is free, tickets are required for admission; contact the church, North Charleston City Hall or that city's Cultural Arts Department.

Tri-County Ecumenical Service: 4 p.m. Jan. 17, Morris Street Baptist Church, 25 Morris St., downtown. The YWCA of Greater Charleston will presents the Harvey Gantt Triumph Award to Charles Traynor "Bud" Ferillo Jr., producer of the documentary "Corridor of Shame," which chronicled the poor conditions of schools on Interstate 95. Ferillo will be the first white recipient of the award.

MLK Holiday Parade: 11 a.m. Jan. 18, downtown Charleston. Participants will line up at Burke High School, with the parade proceeding along Fishburne Street to Sumter Street and then to King and Calhoun. Following the parade, at approximately 12:30 p.m., the Youth Speak-Out will be held at the YWCA, 106 Coming St.

"Evolution of a Dream" Concert: 4 p.m. Jan. 18, Gaillard Auditorium, 77 Calhoun St., downtown. The Charleston Symphony Orchestra will present a concert for all ages titled "The Evolution of a Dream," with CSO music director David Stahl, soprano Roberta Laws and the CSO Gospel Choir and Chorus. Tickets: $10 adults, $5 children; purchase at Ticketmaster online or at the Gaillard box office.

MLK Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. Jan. 19, Gaillard Auditorium. The communitywide Business and Professional Breakfast will feature speaker Marco Cavazzoni, vice president and general manager for the new Boeing facility in North Charleston. Tickets: $25. Reservations (required): YWCA, 722-1644.

QUOTE
On good books

"Just the knowledge that a good book is awaiting one at the end of a long day makes that day happier."

- Kathleen Norris, novelist and short-story writer (1880-1966)

CALENDAR: THIS WEEK

(NEW) Restaurant Week: Jan. 11 through Jan. 17, various local restaurants. More than 30 local restaurants are taking part in South Carolina's first statewide Restaurant Week, sponsored by the Hospitality Association of South Carolina and, locally, the Greater Charleston Restaurant Association. Discounts and offers vary; for details and a list of participating restaurants, visit this site online.

Small-Business/Nonprofit Lunch: 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Jan. 12, Charleston County Main Library, 68 Calhoun St., downtown. Casual networking lunch for small businesses and nonprofits. Business librarian Amanda Holling will share tips and advice for making the most of one of a business' smallest assets: the business card. Participants are asked to bring a bag lunch. More info: 805-6930.

Sounds at the Sea: 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 13, South Carolina Aquarium, 100 Aquarium Wharf. The Charleston Symphony Orchestra and the aquarium are teaming up to offer aquatic-themed performances throughout the aquarium. Attendees can wander through the exhibits, interact with the musicians, and sample light hors d'oeuvres and nonalcoholic beverages. Tickets: $10 for aquarium and CSO members; $20 for nonmembers. Call 577-FISH (3474) or go to http://www.scaquarium.org or http://www.charlestonsymphony.com.

Legislative Reception: 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 14, South Carolina Aquarium. The Charleston Metro Chamber will host the reception to provide the community a chance for informal networking with local town councils, mayors, state legislators and federal legislators. Leaders who helped secure the Boeing facility will offer special presentations. Cost: $54 for chamber members, $65 nonmembers. More.

New Park Tour: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 16, Two Pines Park near McClellanville. A Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission naturalist and historic specialist will lead a preview tour of the new Two Pines county park site, an 812-acre covered with pine flatlands and bottomland hardwoods. Open to ages 12 and up; a registered, paid chaperone is required for participants younger than 15. Cost: $12 Charleston County residents, $15 nonresidents. More info/registration or 795-4FUN (4386).

CALENDAR: ONGOING AND SOON

(NEW) Post House Wine Dinner: 6:30 p.m. Jan. 18, Old Village Post House, Mount Pleasant. Wine dinner featuring wines from Schug Winery, with special guest Michael Cox, the winemaker at Schug. Menu includes pork belly, barramundi, grilled lamb chop and garlic sausage, and vanilla bean cheesecake with Oreo cookie crust. Cost: $58 plus tax and gratuity. Reservations (required): 388-8935 or here online.

"Beautiful Creatures" Signing: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Jan. 21, Blue Bicycle Books, 420 King St. Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, authors of the young-adult novel "Beautiful Creatures," which is set near Summerville, will sign books. "Beautiful Creatures" opened at No. 3 on the New York Times best-seller list (Chapter Books), and Warner Brothers has acquired the screen rights. More info: 722-2666.

'The Art of Dueling': 7 p.m. Jan. 21, Charleston Museum. Museum Curator of History Grahame Long will give a presentation titled "Two Pistols, Two Seconds: The Art of Dueling in South Carolina." Discover why it has been argued that Charlestonians participated in more duels than any other community in the United States. Free and open to the public. More info or 722-2996.

Oysters for Pets: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Jan. 22, Charleston Crab House, 145 Wappoo Creek Drive. Oyster roast to benefit Pet Helpers with 100 percent of proceeds going to the Pet Helpers Adoption Center and Spay/Neuter Clinic. Cost: $20 adults, $10 kids. More info: 795-1110, ext. 16.

(NEW) ABWA Dinner: 6 p.m. Jan. 25, Wescott Country Clubhouse, Wescott Plantation, 5000 Wescott Club Drive, Summerville. Dr. John Clarkin of the Tate Center for Enterpreneurship will speak to a dinner meeting of the American Business Women's Association on the topic "What We Can Learn from Entrepreneurs." Networking at 6 p.m., meeting at 6:30 p.m., dinner served during meeting. Open to any interested businesswomen in the Lowcountry. Cost: $15, payable at the door. Reservations (required): Make online or send an e-mail.

Lowcountry Oyster Festival: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 31, Boone Hall Plantation, Mount Pleasant. Gates open at 10:30 a.m. for the event, sponsored annually by the Greater Charleston Restaurant Association to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House, Hollings Cancer Center, Travel Council and Charleston County Science Materials Resource Center. Oysters sold by the bucket (three to four dozen) for market value and served with cocktail sauce and crackers. Other food available as well, along with beer and soft drinks. Live local music, oyster-shucking and eating contests, children's area and more. Free parking. Tickets: $10; available online here.

(NEW) Gourmet Wild Game Dinner: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 10, Halls Chophouse, 434 King St., downtown. One of several new events associated with the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition. Five-course dinner with wine pairings. Menu includes local oysters, quail, bison ribeye and more. Cost: $115/person. Tickets: Buy online or phone 723-1748.

(NEW) Women in Business Conference: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 12, Charleston Marriott. The Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce and the Center for Women will present the conference, which focuses on integrating female business professionals into mainstream networks and expanding their business opportunities by providing access to successful business leaders in the region. Cost: $75 for chamber or Center for Women members; $100 for nonmembers. Registration: Online.

(NEW) An Evening with Jack Hanna: 7 p.m. Feb. 12, South Carolina Aquarium, 100 Aquarium Wharf, downtown. Spend an evening with animal expert Jack Hanna during his visit to the Lowcountry for the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition. Guests will be able to meet Hanna, enjoy hors d'oeuvres and cocktails, and hear stories about his animal adventures around the world. Cost: $85 per person ($75 for aquarium members, who can order by calling 723-1748 and giving their member number). More info: Online or 723-1748.

FOCUS ARCHIVES

3/11: Whiteside: Economic conf
3/8: Echols: RiverDogs baseball
3/4: Martin: Celebrating parks
3/1: Bledsoe: Help library
2/25: Mettler: Network policy
2/22: Arnoldi: Chas Twestival
2/18: Fleming: Outdoor living
2/15: McFadden: Health savings
2/11: Tompkins: Patriots Point
2/8: Williams: EXECnetSC
2/4: Postell: Wine + Food ahead
2/1: Butler: Past Haiti effort
1/28: Bingham: Women's conf
1/25: Slane: New at SEWE
1/21: Franklin: Long-term care
1/18: Lindbergh: New school
1/14: Lahm: Riverfront Race
1/11: Holling: Business cards
1/7: Graham: Chamber's agenda
1/4/10: Flinn: Getting help

• More of Focus in the archives

THRASH ARCHIVES

3/4: Green mowers
2/25: Get outdoors
2/18: Local guide book for kids
2/11: Reviewing Jenny's book
2/4: MSNBC looks at success
1/21: Tell Mt. Pleasant
1/14: Winter plant tips
1/7: New books

• More Ann Thrash in the archives

BRACK ARCHIVES

3/1: Cut all of the cuts
2/22: A look at summer camps
2/15: School district Einsteins
2/8: About mules
2/1: Bauer should get out
1/28: Gibbs at White House
1/25: Friend's new show
1/18: Rockwell painting
1/11: Palmetto Priorities
1/4/10: Piggly Wiggly visit

• More Andy Brack in the archives

LIST ARCHIVES

3/4: Tickets still left
3/1: Eat & Run
2/25: RiverDogs' auction
2/22: Recycling bins
2/18: Designer data
2/15: SC Olympians
2/11: Prohibition cocktails
2/8: Tops for Charleston
2/4: Sweet treats
2/1: Free at SEWE
1/28: Artists' gift
1/25: Sharks at Aquarium
1/21: Church turns 100
1/18: 3 helping Haiti
1/14: Civil War lectures
1/11: 5 for King Day
1/7: New at SEWE
1/4/10: Staying warm

• More Lists in the archives