Stokes Folks

10 Questions to ask every day

2012-01-25T08:17:00.000-08:00

I found this in my daily reading and thought it was worth sharing. I have always been told that as you start looking back at your life, you never wish you had worked more.

10 Questions That Create Success
Want help focusing on what really matters? Ask yourself these on a daily basis.

Think that success means making lots of money? Think again.
Pictures of dead presidents have never made anybody happy. And how can you be successful if you're not happy? And buying things with that all money isn't much better. A new car, for instance, might tickle your fancy for a day or two–but pride of ownership is temporary.
Real success comes from the quality of your relationships and the emotions that you experience each day. That's where these 10 questions come in.
Ask them at the end of each day and I absolutely guarantee that you'll become more successful. Here they are:
1. Have I made certain that those I love feel loved?
2. Have I done something today that improved the world?
3. Have I conditioned my body to be more strong flexible and resilient?
4. Have I reviewed and honed my plans for the future?
5. Have I acted in private with the same integrity I exhibit in public?
6. Have I avoided unkind words and deeds?
7. Have I accomplished something worthwhile?
8. Have I helped someone less fortunate?
9. Have I collected some wonderful memories?
10. Have I felt grateful for the incredible gift of being alive?
Here's the thing. The questions you ask yourself on a daily basis determine your focus, and your focus determines your results.
These questions force you to focus on what's really important. Take heed of them and rest of your life—especially your work—will quickly fall into place

On the Farm with Joel Salatin

2011-12-13T11:56:00.000-08:00

Found this in the Richmond Times while researching another story. Joel is a definately a pioneer in the local food movement and proof that we can grow food differently. This is a good read, hope you enjoy!

On the farm with Joel Salatin (Added: December 11, 2011)
Alternative farmer and author Joel Salatin says returning to the simple life is perfect antidote for today's fast-paced times. (more) 0 Ratings | 276 Video Views Post a Comment or Rate this Video
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Next Image > < Previous Image Credit: BILL LOHMANAlternative farming pioneer Joel Salatin raises pigs, cattle and chickens, among other things, at his Polyface Farm in Augusta County.Alternative farming pioneer Joel Salatin raises pigs, cattle and chickens, among other things, at his Polyface Farm in Augusta County. Credit: BILL LOHMAN The Polyface Farm in Augusta County owned by alternative farming pioneer Joel Salatin where he raises pigs, cattle and chickens, among other things. Credit: BILL LOHMAN Alternative farming pioneer Joel Salatinhas written a new book, "Folks, This Ain't Normal: A Farmer's Advice for Happier Hens, Healthier People and a Better World." Credit: BILL LOHMAN 1 By: Bill Lohmann Richmond Times-DispatchPublished: December 11, 2011 Updated: December 11, 2011 - 12:00 AM » 1 Comments | Post a Comment SWOOPE -- Last summer, Joel Salatin and his wife, Teresa, were eating breakfast at their farmhouse in Augusta County when they realized they were not alone: a couple with two children — strangers — were standing on their back porch."They're peering in the kitchen window, saying, 'Here's where they live! Here's where they live!' " Salatin recalled with a laugh.Salatin is far from an A-list celebrity, but in some circles — farmers and foodies, in particular — he's as famous as they come. His Polyface Farms is on a quiet country road west of Staunton, but many people find their way here, usually to buy fresh meat or eggs, or to see how he does what he does. Rarely, though, do they come to watch him eat breakfast.Salatin, 54, has become the face of the alternative farming movement, the plain-talking antidote to industrial agribusiness. He has been cast as hero in food-related documentaries ("Food Inc.") and books (Michael Pollan's "Ominvore's Dilemma"). He gallivants around the world — he's on the road 140 days a year — talking about his pastured chickens, grass-fed cattle and the pigs he sends into the woods to forage for acorns. Like a pied piper, he encourages others to come along, for the good of their food, their families and their planet.It's heady stuff for someone who self-deprecatingly characterizes himself as "a peasant with a pitchfork" whose primary crop is grass. Whatever fame he has achieved goes in the closet with the suitcase when he returns home.Influential as he is on the road, he's just one of the crew at Polyface, toting feed, digging postholes and cutting wood. The dirt under his fingernails represents a badge of honor as, in a way, does the "Steve" patch stitched to his ancient work shirt.Steve?"It's just a shirt from down at the thrift store," he said during a late-November interview at his farm. "We don't care what names are on them. They cost 50 cents, and when they wear out you just use them for rags."To Salatin, that's just normal, which also happens to be the thrust of his new book, "Folks, This Ain't Normal: A Farmer's Advice for Happier Hens, Healthier People and a Better World." It's his eighth book, but the first one he's not self-published. Center Street, a New York publisher with a Park Avenue address, is betting the folksy but outspoken Salatin will appeal to a broad audience longing for simpler times. * * * * *"I enjoy the theater" of media interviews and the speaking circuit, Salatin said as his all-terrain vehicle bumped along a dirt road on his farm. "But, man, do I enjoy getting out there and just grubbing and sweating. "My calluses are still plenty good and hard."Salatin is not an easy man to categorize. He's a champion of the local food movement, natural farming and self-reliance; he's no fan of pesticides and man-made fertilizers, government regulations and the wasteful ways of modern society. A graduate of Bob Jones University, a conservative Christian institution, he is welcomed warmly as a speaker at liberal outposts such as the University of California-Berkeley. His faith is deep, his politics well to the right and he's something of a tree-hugger.He's gregarious, but not in an acquiescent way. He's blunt and opinionated; he says more of us should raise chickens instead of parakeets. For those struggling to label him, Salatin saves them the trouble, describing himself as "a Christian libertarian environmentalist capitalist lunatic farmer.""I have a really odd constituency," he said. "I'm loved and hated by everybody."Matthew J. Lohr, commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which represents farmers large and small, sometimes agrees with Salatin, and sometimes doesn't."We absolutely agree on many core values, chief among them the importance of home-grown agriculture," Lohr said. "His low-impact methods appeal to many people who prefer food grown under certain production practices. Joel has raised the consciousness of many people across this nation about the importance of farmers and of buying locally and eating seasonally. We thank him for that." * * * * *Salatin was 4 when his parents moved to Swoope, acquiring a farm that was overused, under-loved and visibly worn out. Shale poked through where lush grass should have been. But the Salatins couldn't be too choosy. They had come from Venezuela, where they had tried farming — his father worked for an American oil company as an accountant, which is how he wound up in Venezuela — but they lost their farm and their savings to political unrest, and returned to the United States for a fresh start. Though his parents never made a living from farming, they nurtured the property back to health by focusing on soil development and composting. His father developed a portable electric fence system that allowed him to move grazing animals from one patch of pasture to another, proving beneficial to the animals and the land.Joel Salatin took to farming immediately. At age 10, he managed his first flock of chickens and started an egg business. He wanted to farm, but wasn't convinced he could make a living. After college, where he majored in English and honed his debate skills, he returned to live at the farm but took a job in town as a newspaper reporter at The News Leader of Staunton. In 1982, having saved a small sum from living with his parents, he and Teresa took a leap of faith: He quit the paper and gave full-time farming a try."It was about three years until we looked at each other and realized, 'This is going to work,' " Salatin said. "We weren't making much money. Just enough to live on. But it was working."National attention was about the furthest thing from his mind, but it started knocking at his door. In the late 1980s, a writer from the Stockman Grass Farmer magazine attended a field day at Polyface, liked what he saw of Salatin's approach to farming and wrote about it. Before long, Salatin was writing a monthly column for the magazine.Then came invitations to make public speeches. There seemed to be a genuine hunger for information about the sort of small-scale farming he was doing. He started getting phone calls from farmers and would-be farmers. He wrote a manual, thinking that might stop the calls. He cranked out 40 pages on his typewriter about raising pastured poultry, made photocopies, clipped together booklets — and sold 1,000 of them. All that did was lead to more speaking invitations and more books."Joel Salatin is the alternative food industry's true pioneer," said Allan Nation, editor of the Stockman Grass Farmer. "He has never been afraid to leave the comforts of the fort to expand the frontier for everyone who is following him. When things go wrong he's quick to warn others, and when things go right he's never been afraid of spurring competition for himself by telling others about his success. He is one truly exceptional person."Salatin still farms the way he always has, but he's no longer small-scale. Besides the 550 acres of Polyface, he leases eight other farms to accommodate his multitude of chickens (20,000 broilers and 3,000 to 4,000 layers) and 1,000 head of cattle. His son, Daniel, manages the day-to-day operations, and Polyface apprentices run the satellite farms as subcontractors. Polyface has become an economic engine driving business to other small farmers in the area, Salatin said.The Salatins refuse to ship their food long distances. They prefer selling direct to customers at the farm or through buying clubs across Virginia, although their products are in select stores. He finds farmers markets too inefficient for his taste. Too many "nibblers," as he calls some shoppers. He wants to see people "really buying their food" at farmers markets, not just "little ribboned bottles of condiments and cute bow-tied mini-breads," and seriously move away from supermarkets.Salatin and his wife live in the house he grew up in, his mother lives next door, his grown children live on the farm, and his grandchildren roam the place as he did. Four generations at Polyface is perhaps Salatin's happiest harvest. * * * * *Polyface is open to visitors, who are welcome to shop, look around the farm, even watch the processing of poultry if they wish. Salatin says it's a wonderful idea for people to have a "visceral connection" to their food. He says people must take a greater interest in their food, where it comes from and what it takes to grow. He says they should get to know a farmer, grow vegetables and stock their pantry. Salatin says Americans should change their eating habits — starting with not eating as much processed food and clamoring for out-of-season fruit and vegetables — and become more self-sufficient."I've met people in the middle of pretty big cities who have a freezer and a large pantry," he said. "They show you their dried goods and all the things they've gotten locally. It's available. You have to plan for it. You have to think about it, and you have to prioritize your life."It's a mind-set that says, 'Our family is going to re-establish normalcy in our life.' "

Meat processing for organic and local products

2011-12-07T11:46:00.000-08:00

Great news in this release as well as additional verification that more people are showing a concern over what they are consuming and taking steps to make changes in their food choices. Hope this trend continues and that Stokes County can be a participant in thes evoulution:

December 7, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE N.C. Meat Processor Goes Organic

Taylorsville, North Carolina- In a boon to the local and niche meat industry in North Carolina, a Taylorsville meat processing company has been approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to process certified organic meats. For over 30 years, Mays Meats has provided custom and inspected meat processing services to local farmers who produce and sell niche meat products in local marketing channels. Mays Meats has been a leader in supporting the growth of the local meat industry by providing high quality inspected meat processing services (e.g., slaughter, fabrication and value-added product development). Longtime Mays Meats employee, Misty Dyson, coordinated the effort for USDA National Organic Program certification. “Our customers do a great job raising animals responsibly; having the option for processing under organic certification provides them with a level of third party verification that many consumers find valuable. Mays Meats is happy to provide this service to farmers as part of an overall effort to help them better market their meat products,” Dyson says.

Local beef producer Shelly Eagan, of Cleveland County’s Proffitt Family Farms, worked closely with Mays Meats in navigating the application process for organic certification. “Misty and I started working together on this back in February 2011. I really don’t think we could have done it without working together. Our beef has been certified organic for the 3 years but we couldn’t legally market using an organic label because we had nowhere to have the animals slaughtered under organic certification. We’re thrilled to now have that option. I think there are a lot of folks out there who are actually raising animals ‘organically’ who might consider getting certified now that they can actually make those claims on their labels.”

NC Choices Coordinator, Casey McKissick, notes, “It’s exciting to see the positive outcome of farmers and processors working together toward a common goal. It’s these types of partnerships across the supply chain that are moving the local meat industry forward in North Carolina. Mays Meats is the only commercial processor in North Carolina to provide slaughter and cut and wrap services under organic certification. This will create more market opportunities for local livestock producers and product choices for local consumers.”

Niche meats are meat products marketed based on attributes such as “organic,” “local,” “pasture-raised,” “grass-fed,” “humanely raised,” and “grown without antibiotics or added hormones.” The local and niche meat industry in North Carolina has enjoyed unprecedented growth in recent years, bringing new economic opportunities for farmers, processors and other industries that support the local food economy.

A recent review of meat and poultry sales through natural foods retailers shows the “natural and organic
sector” growing at a much stronger rate than conventional meat and poultry sales. For example,
between 2008 and 2010, nationwide red meat sales increased 1.7 percent whereas natural and organic
red meat sales increased by 15 percent (Mintel 2010).

According to the NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (NCDA&CS), there has been a steep
increase in the number of farmers in North Carolina who are securing their meat handlers’ registrations—a
requirement for transporting and selling packaged, inspected meat. As of November 2011, 499 farmers held a
meat handler’s registration. That number is nearly four-fold increase since 2007 (NCDA 2011).

Think Stokes First: Holiday Night on the Town in King

2011-12-05T09:49:00.000-08:00

Friday - December 9- 5:00-9:00 pm- Holiday “Night on the Town” The King Chamber of Commerce invites you to an evening of holiday celebration and shopping in the local shopping centers and downtown stores. There will be carolers from Miss Joyce’s Dance Studio and Wishful Thinkers will perform from 7:30-9:00 pm at Coffee, Tea & Me. Many merchants plan to offer refreshments in sharing the holiday spirit. Habitat for Humanity will be celebrating the Grand Opening of their Re-Store with a ribbon cutting at 7:00 pm, and with a Holiday Market of vendors in their building. Dalton’s Crossing, a new clothing store coming to the downtown area will also provide a “sneak peek” and their corner building will house Bubble Me Pink girls’ accessories, Pampered Chef, Mary Kay Cosmetics and Tupperware vendors. Stop by the Chamber office to visit vendors there including Elke’s Shoppe collectibles, Mimi’s Accessories for Women, Pitter Pat Boutique with decorative clothing and accessories for children, Bill McKinnis and Jennifer Sealey with tinware and beeswax candles, the Loveday’s woodcrafts and Jan Rollyson’s ceramics. Stop by Bunny’s Trees to have your picture made with Santa. Stores including those below will be open in many locations with special merchandise ready for your gift giving:Downtown King -Gentry’s Store-Radio Flyer toys, Schrade Commemorative Knife-150th anniversary of the Confederate States of America, Eden Pure Heaters and sleds Terry’s Furniture-great selection of quality furniture ready for delivery now Nothing Ordinary Unique Gifts-huge variety of gifts and decorative items with up to 75% from 6:00-9:00 pm on selected items Carroll Memorials-marble bookends and desk nameplates, fossil stone candlesticks, pen and pencil sets and flags Mickey & Co. Hair Designs-specials for the evening: single color shellac-$20, double color shellac-$23, French shellac-$25; Waxing: eyebrows-$7, lip-$5, lip & eyebrow-$10 Gift certificates , flat irons and haircare products will be available for purchase. Coffee, Tea & Me-live music, women’s accessories, and of course wonderful beverages King Music Center-instruments, music and lessonsKing Computer Center-electronics and suppliesB.J’s Shoes-boots, Converse and Pointer Brand overalls. Miss Joyce’s Dance Studio- dancewear, gift certificates and performances by the Musical Theatre students Dalton’s Crossing-men and women’s clothing store opening in February Talley’s Flower Shop-live plants, home décor, candles, stuffed animals and much more Habitat for Humanity of Stokes County-Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting at 7:00 pm on Friday, December 9 at the new office and ReStore, 117 Dalton Road. Habitat will also have a Christmas Market in their new facility featuring Carolyn Tilley with Handmade Baskets, Kim Burroughs with quilted items, Amanda Hamilton with Premier Designs Jewelry and Jeanette Pardue with Scentsy. King Shopping Center King Antique Mall-antiques, collectibles, advertising items, glassware and Mrs. Hanes’ Moravian Cookies
Tradewinds Consignments and Jewelry-nice collection of winter apparel and accessoriesAbba’s Family Thrift Store-toys, clothing, books and holiday decorating items. All porcelain dolls-$3.00, all Christmas items-25% off, all books $0.25 .King Chamber of Commerce –Limited Edition King T-shirts - (Construction Survivor). Prices are (S-M-LG - $10.00) and (XXL - $12.00) Yhese make great socking stuffers

Lodging Needed

2011-12-02T07:43:00.000-08:00

A common theme during my time in Stokes County has been the lack of available lodging. Here are the facts: we have nearly 1,000,000 visitors a year, they have very limited options on where to stay if they want to extend their visit.

We understand the reality of the situation, it is very unlikely that one of the large chains will pick Stokes County as a location. That means we need to look at other options: campgrounds, RV Parks and individual cabins. This idea works in other areas across the state, especially along the coast and in the sparsely populated rural areas of the Appalachian Mountains, there is no reason that it will not work here.

The EDC Board and I have discussed this in detail, along with our Planning and Envirnmental Health Departments. We believe that we can work with prospective lodging developers with the guidelines that are already in place to assist them in creating the rooms necessary to fuel tourism spending.

We already have mechanisms in place to help with marketing cabins or vacation rentals. Our PurePlay tourism website receives 70-80,000 visits each month, we work closely with Hanging Rock State Park, all our river hosts and the other tourism venues across the county. What we need are people who believe in this opportunity to step in and make things happen.

We have scheduled a meeting to discuss this matter in more detail on December 12 at 10 AM. It will be held in the third floor conference room of the Reagan Building in Danbury. I ask that if you know of anyone who shares our passion and the vision of the future to join us. Good things are taking place, be a part of it.

Assistance for Organic Farmers

2011-12-01T12:30:00.000-08:00

I received this today and wanted to share it. Please pass it on to anyone who is farming organicly or looking to do so.

Subject: USDA SEEKING APPLICATIONS IN NORTH CAROLINA FOR ORGANIC INITIATIVE

Raleigh, NC. (Nov. 22, 2011) – USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is seeking applications for a national initiative being offered in North Carolina. Administered under the 2008 Farm Bill’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the EQIP Organic Initiative helps certified organic producers and those transitioning to organic production meet their conservation goals. Technical and financial assistance will help producers plan and implement conservation practices to allow their organic operations to be environmentally sustainable.

Funding for the EQIP Organic Initiative will be available soon. Now is the time for certified organic producers and those transitioning to organic productions to work with their local USDA Service Center to establish eligibility and apply so that their applications can be considered when funds become available.

EQIP is primarily used to provide financial and technical assistance to implement conservation practices to address soil, water, air, plant, animal, and energy resources. An organic provision targets organic producers and producers transitioning to organic production:

Assistance is for conservation practices related to organic production
Assistance is limited to $20,000 per year and $80,000 during a six year period
Producers are required to develop and carry out an Organic System Plan (OSP) or carry out practices consistent with an OSP
Producers must be pursing an organic certification or in compliance with their organic certification The initiative is available for farmers who are certified organic, transitioning to certified organic, or organic exempt according to USDA’s National Organic Program regulations. Farmers can submit applications for the initiative anytime throughout the year. However, NRCS will begin ranking eligible EQIP Organic Initiative applications on February 3, 2012 for possible funding. Applications are ranked based on greatest environmental benefit. For an application to be considered complete for ranking all land and producer eligibility requirements must have been met. Applications that are not complete by the first ranking date will be deferred to the next ranking period, which is anticipated to occur on March 30 and June 1, 2012.
Under the EQIP Organic Initiative applicants can apply for numerous conservation practices that benefit natural resources including: experimenting with cover crops and crop rotations, installing intensive grazing infrastructure (grazing plans, internal fencing and water lines), establishing wildlife and pollinator friendly habitat, and installing seasonal high tunnels. Applicants who apply for the national initiative can also apply for conservation practices under the general EQIP program.

Farmers should visit their local USDA Service Center today to apply for available funding for Farm Bill programs and initiatives; locations are listed on-line at http://offices.usda.gov or in the phone book under Federal Government, U.S. Department of Agriculture. General program information is available on the NRCS North Carolina website at www.nc.nrcs.usda.gov. The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Marketing opportunity for local farmers

2011-11-29T12:53:00.000-08:00

Please take a moment to look over the list of available areas where several social media workshops for farmers will be held over the next 12 months. Sound like a good opportunity to help de-mystify these marketing opportunities:

Dear Friends,

This winter and summer, CFSA is excited to present Social Media for Farmers workshops designed especially to help farmers reach new customers and expand their farm businesses. This workshop got rave reviews when it was offered at the Sustainable Ag Conference earlier this month!

We will be offering the same great workshop 7 times in locations throughout NC (see below for dates and locations). And, through the generous support of the Golden LEAF Foundation, we're able to offer the workshop for just $10, including lunch!

All workshops are limited to 25 participants to allow for lots of hands-on, one-on-one training. Register now at - http://carolinafarmstewards.org/socialmediaforfarmers.shtml

Please pass this information along to any interested farmers or ranchers!

Social Media for Farmers
http://carolinafarmstewards.org/socialmediaforfarmers.shtml

Want to harness the power of Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to reach new customers and grow your farm business?

You won’t want to miss this all-day hands-on workshop designed especially for farmers and taught by social media experts, Johanna Kramer (@durhamfoodie) and Cary and Grace Kanoy (GeoCore Films).

You will leave this workshop with a fully-functioning Facebook and Twitter page (or upgrade your existing pages), the skills to shoot your own short farm video using your cell phone, camera, or iPad, and the training to take better farm photos. Includes lunch.

Cost: $10

DATES and TIMES:
All workshops will be held from 9:00-4:00 PM.
January 24 - Guilford County

January 31 - Watauga County

February 1 - Gaston County

February 16 - Lenoir County

March 6 - Buncombe County

August 16 - Chatham County

August TBA - Forsyth County

REGISTER TODAY!
Call 919-542-2402, Email cheryl@carolinafarmstewards.org or On the web at CFSA's online store http://bit.ly/dUjvcS

These workshops are funded by a grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation and presented in partnership with the Center for Environmental Farming Systems, 10% Campaign, Food Corps, NC Cooperative Extension, and Know Your Farms.

A piece of good advice.

2011-11-10T08:46:00.000-08:00

Thanks to my good friend Derek Edwards for passing this along. I am thankful every day for the guideance and wisdom of my grandmother and my mother. I am very fortunate to have had a wonderful relationship with all my grandparents and to still be able to depend on the wisdom of my mother.

Why execs turn to grandma for business advice
October 31, 2011: 11:55 AM ET
Quaint as it may sound, successful executives often turn to the insights they gleaned from grandparents to navigate today's business world.
By Vickie Elmer, contributor
FORTUNE -- Some people turn to a mentor or maybe even a boss for management insights. Others look to Peter Drucker's books for pearls of business wisdom. Atlanta-area attorney A. Wayne Gill counts on the wisdom of his grandmother.
Gill runs a law firm outside Miami; he's bought and sold a few businesses and he is the author of Tales My Grandmother Told Me: A Business Diversity Fable. Despite his considerable business experience, he often recalls lessons he learned while at his grandparents' general store in Jamaica, which he visited in the summers as a child. The store, which was located in the town center in Moneague, Jamaica, sold fish, meat, rice, sugar, sandwiches, and sodas for workers. His grandmother offered ice cream and even ran a small bar in the evenings.
"She was just such a central figure," Gill says. She served as the sales person, and the deal maker, managing figures in her head and creating an ideal business environment.
Gill's grandmother was all about diversification. She bought land and a couple of gas stations. Gill followed her model by moving into public speaking and minority business consulting.
His grandmother, known as Doris (her real name was Irene Macosta) also taught him to deal fairly with vendors and other business people. "My grandmother was already practicing win-win," he says, which to him means being strong in your negotiations but not going overboard. Suppliers always wanted to do business with her, he recalls. Now, when he's negotiating: "If I get a little less, if I make the other guy happier, we can have a long-term deal, and treat each other with trust and respect."
A silent army of grandma disciples?
Gill is far from alone among executives who refer to their grandmothers as leadership guides, whether her name was Estee Lauder or Louisa.
Tim Sanders, a former executive at Yahoo and currently an author and consultant, weaved his grandma Billye's insights and lessons on gratitude and confidence into his latest book, Today We Are Rich.
"She taught me confidence, and with confidence I could do anything at all," says Sanders. "I understand where it started. I'm challenging other gurus and biz authors to 'fess up' on their grandmothers' contributions." Sanders says that he runs into half a dozen people a week who refer to their grandmother as a source of business inspiration.
Executives do not spend much time talking about their family and family histories, but their impact is considerable, says Michael Useem, director of the Center for Leadership and Change Management at the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School. "I've always been impressed in how many people I encounter -- how much the family, their ancestors did what they did and influenced how they think about life now," he says.
Sometimes it's grandma or grandpa, and other times it's an ancestor going back several generations. When Useem asks people who participate in his leadership programs which leaders they most admire, he often hears Nelson Mandela or PepsiCo's Indra Nooyi or the recently deceased Steve Jobs. Around 10 to 15% refer to their parents, which is an extension of grandparents' influence, Useem argues.
Cultivating a grandmother's business sense
It may seem like a quaint idea in an era of constant change, where we receive a barrage of management insights and ideas via Twitter, blogs, and other sources. Leaders today must understand international finance and world economic crises, changing social media platforms and evolving societal tastes and trends. So how can grandma's ideals or sampler-stitched wisdom really resonate amid such a dense business landscape?
Some say they use their grandmother's wisdom as a firm foundation for how to behave in the business world. They rely on her principles and ethical standards.
Michael Platt, co-founder of hedge fund BlueCrest Capital Management, credits his grandmother with starting him in stock trading. "My grandmother was a serious equity trader," he told Bloomberg News in an interview last year.
Alexandra Lebenthal, president and CEO of Lebenthal & Co., works at a desk that her grandmother used every day and says that she sees her lessons as useful in navigating Wall Street's unsure waters. "She was very passionate about doing things the right way. I definitely got that from her," she says of Sayra Lebenthal, who co-founded the Fifth Avenue municipal bond trading firm in 1925 with her husband Louis.
Her grandmother would always encourage clients to educate themselves about finance and their investments. "She would always caution people not to live beyond their means, which is important to business as well," Alexandra says. So while other Wall Street honchos talk up a complex new product, if Lebenthal doesn't see it clearly, "at the end, I say no." This bit of wisdom has saved her from investing in some faulty products in recent years, she says.
Tim Sanders was raised by his grandmother, from the age of five until he graduated from high school. Grandma Billye, who is now 96 years old, loaned him $100 to start his first business, a fireworks stand he established in the 8th grade. When he hired friends and gave too much to them, she helped him understand profit margins. "You've got to get better at hiring people," she told him.
Billye showed Sanders the lesson of the pecan -- "eat the nut, dump the shells" -- after he was teased at church camp. They called him squeaker because of his high voice. Billye showed him a pecan and asked him, "Can you eat this thing?" He said, "of course not," and was then told to crack it open. "Every piece of criticism is a pecan," Billye said. "Your job is to crack it open and find the nut and throw away the shell. What can you see that's good? Every piece of criticism is a gift. Every failure is a gift -- if you throw away the shell."
Sanders says that he returns to this notion all the time, as he's promoting his book and seeing reviews or receiving feedback from a speaking engagement. "People are incredibly direct, both negative and positive," he says. Yet the criticism teaches you something you need to know; a lesson learned that would make any grandma proud.
Posted in: Careers, Elders, Grandma, Grandmother, Grandparent, Leadership

News on Tobacco Trust Fund Grants

2011-11-02T12:09:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share info on changes in the Tobacco Trust Fund Grant Program. After you have a chance to review the information, if you have any questions, contact me and I will attempt to point you in the right direction:

We are excited to announce the 2012 Tobacco Communities Reinvestment Fund Grant Cycle! Most of you know that our program was in jeopardy due to the State's budget reduction of the Tobacco Trust Fund. Last week we got the good news that we have been awarded $225,000 to give out in farmer grants this year, of which around $75,000 will be granted in the Western Piedmont. We will be making grants up to $10,000 to individual and collaborative farm projects. Early Bird Applications will be accepted for review until November 22nd. Grant application deadline is December 15, 2011.

NEW THIS YEAR: Due to the reduced number of grants we will be awarding this grant cycle, we have chosen to limit applicant criteria as follows:
1. Applicants must receive 50% of their household income from farming to be eligible to apply. For community applications, at least 3 farmer leaders in the group must receive 50% of their household income from farming to be eligible to apply.
2. Farmers or groups who have received a grant through the TCRF grant program or from the Tobacco Trust Fund in the past are not eligible to apply.

Attached is the news release, flyer and a copy of the producer and community applications.

Please visit our website our website for additional details: www.ncfarmergrants.org and don't hesitate to call if you have any questions.

Best,
Francesca

p.s. Due to the reduced number of grants we will be awarding this cycle, I will only be hosting 3 workshops in the Western Piedmont Region. I chose locations that would require no more than a 1.5 hour drive from the furthest points in the region. The schedule is as follows:

Lincoln County Cooperative Extension Office -- November 3, 2011. 7pm
Surry County Cooperative Extension Office -- November 8, 2011. 6pm
Cabarrus County Cooperative Extension Office -- November 14, 2011. 7pm

Eye-opening article on jobs

2011-11-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

and the relationship between employee and employer.

I have been on both sides of the jobs equation. It is easy to sometimes forget that both sides have responsibilities. Please take a few moments to read the article below and give consideration to whether or not you are living up to your part of the agreement.

Who Owns the Jobs, Anyway?
It's a simple trade relationship

By Jim Walton
CEO, Brand Acceleration, Inc.
Indianapolis and Charlotte

Recently, I met a young man who, for the first time in his life, is self-employed. A custom cabinet maker, he specializes in high-end cabinetry for homes, offices and commercial buildings. Curious, I asked, “How did you come to be self-employed?” “I was fired,” he told me. “Because of the economy?” I asked. “No, it was because of my laziness and bad attitude, but I’ve learned a lot since being on my own.” “Really,” I asked, “like what?”

He told me that he had been employed by another cabinet company for several years and that he had become overconfident, self-absorbed and arrogant about his own value. When his employer didn’t place him on the pedestal he felt he deserved, above his co-workers, he became sullen, angry and lazy. After several months and a few heart-to-heart talks, his employer asked his to leave.
“So, what was the biggest lesson you learned from being fired?” I asked. “I learned that the job didn’t belong to me,” he said. “It belonged to my employer.”

He explained that, as an employee, he failed to understand the terms of his employment, or anyone else’s employment. Here’s how he explained it: “When anyone accepts a job, it’s not something that is given to him or her, it’s a trade arrangement. The employee is expected to show up every day, on time, work hard and do great work. The employer will then provide a pay check and competitive benefits in return. If each party honors the terms of the agreement, all will be well. When one party underperforms, breaking the promise, the deal is subject to termination.”

I was thoroughly impressed. This young man had had a revelation, but I was curious about his sudden awakening. When fired for lack of performance, employees usually just go away mad and blame the boss. “What was your moment of clarity?” I asked. “What made you suddenly see that you were the problem?”

“Because I couldn’t find another job,” he said, “I decided to take on some cabinetry work on my own. I had the tools and skills, so I decided to go for it. It was a very scary endeavor. I was fortunate that my wife had a job and we had saved a few dollars. We risked it all. Things went well and I eventually had to hire an employee. Having to deal with payroll, benefits, vacations, customer expectations, taxes, two trucks and a wife and child, I learned what it was like on the other side of the employee-employer equation.” “Looking back,” I asked, “how do you now view your previous employer?” “I would have fired me, too,” he said. “The job didn’t belong to me. It belonged to him and I disrespected my agreement with him. I broke the promise. If I had been a better employee, I would probably still be there.”

Over the past few months, I’ve attended several economic development conferences where workforce has been a presentation topic. A common theme at each conference has been about worker skills and work ethic. Even though education and training are sometimes lacking, employers are frustrated by employees who are just unwilling to show up and do the work. “In addition to laziness,” an owner of a placement firm, said, “there’s a very significant sense of entitlement out there. People expect high wages and extensive benefits from day one, and then they might consider giving the employer a day’s work. The real world just doesn’t work that way. People need to wise up.”
What I heard at these conferences was that there are numerous jobs out there for skilled workers who are willing to show up (on time), work hard and become a valuable asset to their employee.

So, back to my cabinet maker friend, here’s what I asked next. “What advice would you give someone looking for, or in, a job?” After a few moments of pondering, he said, “Without getting into the employers responsibilities to employees, which are significant, I’d make these recommendations:

1. Understand that it’s a mutually agreed upon trade relationship.
2. Clearly understand the expectations of your employer.
3. Show up on time, every day. Be completely reliable.
4. Work your butt off (His words).
5. Always, always, always over-delivered.
6. Get better. Take classes or find other ways to bring more value to the relationship.
7. Be a positive force rather than a whiner
8. Be a problem solver, not a problem.”

This guy amazed me. His experiences have transformed him. He has gone from a lazy (his word), complaining malcontent to a self-employed, happy, hard-working employer, service provider, husband and father. He takes great pride in his work, even though the hours are long and the demands are great. I found his respect for the “trade relationship” to be very refreshing. If each of us were to remember that and follow his recommendations, I’m sure workplace contentment and productivity would soar.

Have a great week,

Jim Walton
jim@brandaccel.com
317-536-6255

Agriculture touted as next big job creater... In Michigan?

2011-10-14T10:33:00.000-07:00

In my daily reading, I came across a very interesting story that rings true not just in Michigan but in North Carolina as well. There is the petential that farming, yes farming will help replace a portion of the jobs we have shed during the "Great Recession". This could be really good news for our folks, especially if we are successful in cultivating (pun intended) our local markets and growing more of our food close to home. Please take a moment and read the story and share your thoughts on the matter:

SPECIAL REPORT: Michigan's next big job opportunity: growing agricultural industry?
Posted: Fri, Oct 14, 2011 : 5:59 a.m.
Topics: Business Review, News

•
When a million-dollar machine started milking his dairy cows, measuring output and spitting out data analyzing daily production trends in the early 1990s, Manchester farmer Earl Horning knew farming had changed.
He’s still waiting for the agricultural industry — Michigan's fastest growing major industry over the last decade — to shed its image as a bad place to work.

But if there’s one thing that might change that perception, it’s this: The 1-million-person Michigan “agri-food” industry — which includes farmers, food processors, equipment manufacturers, specialists and local food sellers — has quietly become a major job creator for the state of Michigan.
“You don’t have to be a farmer to be involved in the industry,” Horning said during a recent interview at his sixth-generation, 650-acre farm on Pleasant Lake Road. “The agricultural community itself has lots of opportunities, all the way from manual labor to the highest tech programs.”
That’s a message Michigan’s agri-food industry is desperate to communicate because the industry is surging as farmers benefit from a global uptick in food prices and as Michigan consumers buy more local products.
But the industry’s growth is threatened by a failure to recruit young talent, according to a new report by the Michigan Agri-Business Association.
Michigan’s 56,014 farmers sold $5.75 billion in products in 2007, up 52.5 percent from 2002, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2007 farm census. Much of that growth is driven by foreign markets as exports surge — a trend that's likely to continue after Congress on Wednesday passed free trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama.
But a Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development study describes the broader agri-food industry as much larger — about $71.3 billion in direct and indirect economic activity, reflecting the trickle-down effect of a healthy agricultural community, which affects grocers, restaurants, local sellers, farm contractors, food processors and others.
Although agricultural subsidies are a divisive political issue in Washington, their role in Michigan's farm industry is declining. Michigan farmers got $118.9 million in government subsidies in 2007, down 18 percent from 2002, according to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
To be sure, many jobs on the farm still involve long hours and low pay. Salaries vary wildly based on the position.
Farmworkers who handle livestock and ranch animals are paid average salaries of $23,980, according to the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget. Farm laborers are paid an average of $22,510.
But other industry workers are paid more, like agricultural inspectors ($53,640), farm purchasing agents ($64,750), agricultural engineers ($72,720) and farm managers ($69,720).
Washtenaw County — generally known to the rest of the state as a source of technological innovation because of the University of Michigan and a burgeoning entrepreneurial economy — also has a vibrant agricultural sector.
The county’s 1,300 farms sold $73.2 million in products in 2007, up 34 percent from 2002, ranking 29th among Michigan’s 83 counties. Washtenaw has the most sheep, lamb and horse operations.
The surge in Michigan’s agri-food industry is a recent phenomenon — which may help explain why many consumers don’t view it as a source of new jobs.
Agricultural jobs
Workers with experience in traditional industries like manufacturing, construction and engineering can often translate their skills to the agricultural industry.
Here are 5 agricultural jobs with translatable skills (and median salaries):
• Farm equipment engineers and agricultural research engineers: Engineering farm equipment, analyzing soil and water usage, examining processing procedures ($72,720)
• Farm product purchasing agents: Procuring products such as cotton and livestock for processing or resale ($64,750)
• Fence builders and installers: Constructing or repairing fences ($33,570)
• Agricultural equipment operators: Driving farm equipment, cultivating soil, harvesting crops, operating applicator machines (wide salary range)
• Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists: Diagnosing and repairing farm vehicles ($40,010)
Source: Michigan Works!
From 1969 to 2000, Michigan lost 30,300 farming jobs as global competition intensified, according to a 2010 report by MSU's Land Policy Institute.
That decline has reversed in recent years as local farmers found new markets for their products, including foreign countries, local grocers and local consumers.
From 2002 to 2007, the market value of crops sold by Michigan farmers rose by 52.5 percent. During the previous 10 years, the market value of Michigan crops rose only 24.4 percent, according to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Hiring challenges
All of a sudden, the sector is growing and hiring — which recently led the East Lansing-based Michigan Agri-Business Association to take the unusual step of issuing a report acknowledging that the industry has an image problem.
Although the industry is booming, it’s also aging — and it threatens to slow the industry’s growth.
About 30 percent of the industry’s managers are expected to retire within five to 10 years, according to the Michigan Agri-Business Association. Their average age is 56.3, according to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
“Their replacements must be found quickly to avert a vacuum in leadership and skills that could hold back the entire industry,” according to the report.
Michigan Agri-Business Association President Jim Byrum said the industry’s recruiting challenges start with a basic misunderstanding.
“A lot of folks don’t think about ag when they think about job opportunities, but we were the fastest growing segment of Michigan’s economy in the last decade and probably will be in the next decade, so it’s a pretty positive story,” he said.
First, Byrum said, jobseekers need to understand that the industry is diverse and high-tech. In fact, most agri-food job opportunities aren’t even on the farm. Michigan had about 56,000 “principal operators” of farms in 2007. Generally, their families work on the farm, too.
But the economic impact of the agricultural industry is amplified by the many people required to support a farm, such as truckers, machine technicians, various specialists, maintenance technicians and manufacturing companies.
As farmers flourish, they hire more specialists like Duane Kimpel, an Ohio resident who visits Horning Farm with an assistant to trim cow hooves once a month.
"For a large part of society, they would never see themselves working on a farm," said Jeff Horning, who runs the farm's day-to-day business. "There’s so many things on a farm that happen. It’s not the same thing every day. We do have specialists come here."
And, of course, farms generate jobs at local grocers and restaurants that are flourishing because of their focus on locally grown products.

Byrum said sales people are needed to market products and sell farm technology like crop protection systems, positioning farmers to expand their market presence.
“We can teach them ag, but they need to be able to talk to people and have great communication skills,” Byrum said.
The industry needs skilled workers capable of handling advanced pesticide applicator machines, soil scientists, grain elevator operators and truck drivers in the most rural parts of the state.
Central to the recruitment challenge is a difficulty in convincing young people to consider the industry as a place to work.
Groups like Ann Arbor-based think tank Michigan Future Inc. have pumped out numerous studies showing that Michigan’s top college graduates prefer to work in vibrant urban areas.
The Michigan Agri-Business Association acknowledges the dilemma.
For a lot of young people, it’s “a matter of the quality of life, including entertainment, socialization with peers of a similar background and experience, fast and reliable Internet access (broadband), proximity to cultural activities,” according to the industry’s report.
But the industry is not just having a hard time recruiting young people. Byrum said the industry is even having trouble recruiting laid-off manufacturing employees in the state’s most distressed urban areas.
“That’s why we’re reaching out as strongly and aggressively as we are,” he said. “Ag used to be viewed as a dirty, dusty occupation, and it’s not that way anymore for the most part.”
Horning, who co-owns his Manchester farm with his son, Jeff, said most farmers are using high-tech equipment to maintain their crops and livestock and using the Internet to monitor price trends.
The Horning farm owns about 750 to 800 cows and calves and grows about 600 acres of crops — corn, alfalfa and wheat — that are grown to feed the animals.
At any given time, 330 are milked twice daily in Manchester, and another 200 are sent to a farm in Chelsea to be milked due to limited space in Manchester. The rest are too young to produce milk or are resting.
From 4-9 a.m. and 4-9 p.m., the cows are milked. Two workers guide about 20 cows at a time into a high-tech milking station. The workers connect the cows’ teats to the million-dollar Bou-matic ProVantage IMS, and the machine milks the cows.
After each session, the machine’s software analyzes each cow’s production and tells the workers if there appears to be a health issue with one of the animals.
Yes, the days of milking cows by hand are long gone.
Horning said the farm is proud to say it produces an average of about 10 gallons of milk per cow every day.
“That’s very high,” he said.
Although machines do most of the work, the realities of farm life can be jarring for people not used to the workload.
There’s not as much manual labor as there was a century ago, but the Michigan Agri-Business Association acknowledged in its report that working the field can still involve “long hours” and a “lesser skill set.”
Many local farms, including the Horning farm, hire seasonal migrant workers and immigrant workers to fill those jobs.
But many have a hard time finding people to take those positions, according to the Michigan Agri-Business Association report. “The dairy, pork, poultry, fruit and vegetable industries in Michigan need people to harvest their crops and care for their animals. While many are critical that immigrant and migrant populations fill many of these jobs, it is not because they are low-wage positions with poor benefits,” according to the report.
Michigan agricultural facts and statistics
• Michigan farmers produce more than 200 products at 56,000 farms with about 10 million acres of farmland.
• 71.3 percent of Michigan farms are between 10 and 179 acres.
• 74.2 percent of Michigan residents say the agricultural industry is "very important" to Michigan's economic recovery, while 22.8 percent say it's "somewhat important."
• Michigan farmers sold $5.75 billion in products in 2007, up from $3.77 billion in 2002 and $3.03 billion in 1992.
• Farmers sold $37.3 million in products directly to consumers in 2007.
• Dairy is the largest segment of the Michigan agriculture industry.
• Farms sell 2.7 billion eggs a year for $211.5 million.
• The Michigan floriculture industry's 720 commercial growers sold $393.5 million in products in 2007.
• Michigan is the nation's largest producer of tart cherries, blueberries, cucumbers, squash and black beans, among other products.
• Michigan's grape and wine industry, including 70 wineries, had 5,400 employees in 2007.
• Farmers exported more than $1.6 billion in goods.
• Michigan has the fourth most farmer's markets in the U.S.
• 47,739 of Michigan farms' "principal operators" are men. 8,275 are women. Their average age is 56.3. 30 percent plant to retire within 5 to 10 years.
Sources: Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Michigan Agri-Business Association, Michigan State University, MSU Land Policy Institute
“Many of these operations provide health care and other benefits, while paying well above the minimum wage. It has simply been very difficult, if not impossible, to find workers locally to do these jobs on a reliable basis.”
Business opportunity
The agricultural industry has become lucrative for many. In 2010, Michigan farmers, in aggregate, made a profit of $1.82 billion, averaging more than $33,000 per farm, according to the USDA's Economic Research Service.
At the Horning Farm, which has eight full-time employees in addition to the Horning family members and many contractors, the performance has been strong, though Earl Horning declined to offer details.
One misconception about local farmers is that the entire industry is run by major corporations. In reality, Michigan’s farming industry is dominated by families.
About 4.3 percent of Michigan farms reported sales of more than $500,000 in 2007, though that was up from 2.5 percent in 1997, according to the USDA. Individuals or families own 86.9 percent of Michigan’s farms, while non-family corporations own 0.4 percent.
At the same time, Michigan agricultural exports have more than doubled over the last half a decade, rising to $1.75 billion in 2010, according to the Michigan Department of Agriculture. But small, family-owned farms often need help to pursue foreign markets.
The Michigan Economic Development Corp. and Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development say that building infrastructure to support the expansion of agricultural exports offers an economic opportunity for the state. Exports of soybeans, feeds, grains and wheat are growing particularly fast.
Training Michigan’s workforce to fill the various job opportunities within Michigan’s agri-food industry must involve a number of players, the industry says.
Michigan State University is still the state’s top destination for agricultural education — and most managerial positions in the industry require a college degree.
But the Michigan Agri-Business Association says community colleges also need to get involved in training workers for industry jobs.
Workforce development agencies are also moving to provide resources to jobseekers interested in pursuing jobs in the agri-food industry.
Mary Jo Callan, community development director for Washtenaw County, said her office is developing an initiative to provide a new job training program to prepare people to enter the industry.
“We’re trying to provide some comprehensive job development training and opportunities for low-skilled, low-income folks, folks who have traditionally been left out of traditional workforce development efforts,” she said.
She added: “The reality is that the local food movement and the farm-to-table movement has really reshaped people’s perception about agriculture and about local food systems. So, is it hard work? Hell yes. But is it worth it, is it important work, is it work people can feel proud about? Yes it is.”
Contact AnnArbor.com's Nathan Bomey at (734) 623-2587 or nathanbomey@annarbor.com. You can also follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's newsletters.
•

Is the price really how you want to be judged?

2011-10-11T09:23:00.000-07:00

I received the following from Jim Walton who is CEO of Brand Accelaration:In his most recent book, Collapse of Distinction, my good friend, Scott McKain, an outstanding speaker, trainer and author, states, "If you cannot find it within yourself to become emotional, committed, engaged, and yes, fervent about differentiation, then you had better be prepared to take your place among the vast throng of the mediocre who are judged by their customers solely on the basis of price. It is the singularly worst place to be in all of business. If you aren't willing to create distinction for yourself in your profession -- and for your organization in the marketplace -- then prepare to take your seat in the back, with the substantial swarm of the similar, where tedium reigns supreme."

This reminds me of the commercial that is currently running on tv, which ask the question: Who wants to have a huge foam finger showing that you are number 3? And yet I see it through-out the country, people are not engaged in what they are doing, just going through the motions, thinking that "good enough" is all that is needed.

My son recently had one of his first adventures into the world of beauracracy and while service and not price was his issue, he was met with the frustration of a world filled with people who did not return phone calls, who would not step outside of their box to assist him and left him wondering if the working world he will be entering in December (hopefully) is all there is. Luckily he persevered and was able to find the information he needed. This doesn's surprise me about him (knowing who his parents are and that they don't usually accept the status quo or suffer fools) but how many others are out there who throw up their hands in frustration and walk away.

I am asking the residents in Stokes County and the businesses here to try a different approach. We don't have retailers that will have the lowest prices, but if you look at the quote above, price can not be the only issue, service and the human side of the equation must be considered. And if our businesses expect the citizens to support them, they must make that extra effort and "try harder". It is a a big world out there and no one from outside our community really cares whether or not we succeed. Lets step up and support one another, show that we care and make the extra effort. Think Stokes First, treat each person as special and see what happens!

BE III Planning Underway

2011-10-04T08:18:00.000-07:00

Planning for The Stokes County Business Extravaganza-BE III: Business Stampede is underway. The third iteration of this county-wide business appreciation event will again take place at YMCA Camp Hanes in King. The dining hall, which already has a rustic feel will be transformed into a scene from the "Wild West" as we bring together every business in the county that wants to participate to share a "stampede" of ideas.

The event is open to all business owners in the county. Booth space is limited (45 total spaces) and will be provided on a first come/ first served basis. There is no charge for this one of a kind event in Stokes County. There will be great food, fellowship, sharing of ideas, music and more fun thant a barrell of cactus. January 19th, 2012 is the date and Stokes County is the place to be. Contact Alan Wood at adwood@co.stokes.nc.us to reserve your booth, they will not last long!

A Country Boy Can Survive...

2011-09-28T11:32:00.000-07:00

but will there be any country boys left?

I have always enjoyed Hank Williams Junior's music and this song in particular (along with his Monday Night Football theme) and I have been thinking of writing this for several weeks.

The song, for those of you unfamilar with it talks about the independent nature of young men who grow up in the country. They learn to make due,say sir, mam, respect their elders and grow up living with nature,not needing all the trapings of modern society to survive (though I would miss my ESPN.)

What is alarming, when you look at the changing demographics in rural America is how few of the boys and for that matter young ladies are actually staying in the country. The jobs that made rural living viable are now in China, India, Pakistan, Vietnam, etc. and they are not likely to return. This increasingly drives them to abandon their rural heritage and head for urban areas where most of the jobs are congregating.

Many people have written that this is normal evolution, I think there is nothing normal about it and it is leading to a large imbalance that needs to be addressed. There is something magical about the largeness of our countryside and the characters that have tamed it or at least tried too. Cities are ok but I can always go to town for entertainment and then return to the quiet countryside, to relax.

As an economic developer in a small community, I and a few other hardy souls are battling against the tide to keep our area viable. To keep the tax base solid, to create jobs that pay a living wage and create opportunities that will allow our brightest and best remain in the county and not have to relocate to survive. We want country boys and girls to have the opportunity to maintain their heritage and keep their close ties with nature. Only moving away because of choice and not necessity.

Let me know if you would like to help! A country boy can survive ut not if they become extinct!

Seems like there is always a thorn...

2011-09-27T08:24:00.000-07:00

Below is a story that was recently in the Raleigh News and Observer. The points are valid and worth taking a few moments to look them over. Even with a growing "Local Food" sentiment in the country and all the reasons that this should continue, it is extremely difficult for small farmers to survive. If they market the product themselves, they must consideer if they have sufficent markets to survive and if the decide to enter into agreements with big-time retailers, they end up competing with themselves.

From the Raleigh News & Observer ---

Picking markets: Some local farmers discover hidden costs of selling wholesale

By MARIA PANARITIS - The Philadelphia Inquirer

PHILADELPHIA Say you're a produce farmer near Philadelphia. You don't have Nebraska-size land, so instead of making money on high volume, you grow enough tomatoes, sweet corn, or apples to sell at your own farm store, or to swap with other local farmers who, like you, also run a retail shop.

Then supermarkets come to your door. The same ones that, for years, had stopped buying local produce because they simply stocked whatever their distributors sent from faraway warehouses. Now, they say, their customers want local. They offer to buy your crops in bulk and sell them with a "local" label, alongside the rest.

Easy money, you might think. A way, even, to unload extra produce at peak harvest that otherwise might have gone rotten.

But what may seem like an alluring opportunity is, in reality, a double-edged sword, say some growers with farm stands popular in their communities, who have come to realize that they are paying a hidden price for even modest deals with deep-pocketed supermarkets.

One farmer, Pete Flynn, eliminated his wholesale business entirely this year. His own produce was selling at a nearby Wegmans, under his farm's name, but at prices below what he was charging in his own little store.

The well-heeled customers driving into his Westtown Township, Pa., farm market in Land Rovers and BMWs asked time and again: "Why should I buy here when I see your stuff a few miles away for less?"

Flynn, who works 200 acres for his Pete's Produce Farm, sized up supermarket deals this way: "They're really good for the local farmers who don't retail in their market."

His business is not the only one wrestling with the costs and benefits of the growing interest in local produce among supermarket chains.

Linvilla Orchards in Delaware County has business relationships with a few supermarkets, but it is wary of the industry's penchant for "loss-leading," in which markets sell certain highly marketable items at prices lower than what they pay wholesale. They take a loss on apples but make up for it by attracting customers who will buy other stuff, too, once they come through the door.

"That's not great," said Ron Ferber, senior manager of the 110-acre Linvilla farm and retail store in Media, Pa., which is wholesaling more this year to Giant supermarkets.

Loss-leading is always in the back of a farmer's mind: "It's certainly a strong consideration. ... We're not excited about that," Ferber said.

For those farmers whose business is heavily focused on retailing what they grow, it's a calculation being done with greater frequency, as consumers ask for more and more local produce, and supermarkets respond by making wholesale-buying decisions that reflect it.

Ferdinand Wirth, an associate professor of food marketing at St. Joseph's University with a focus on agriculture, said the swell in shoppers' demand for local produce seemed to begin after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, as perceptions about safety became a bigger part of people's lives.

Surveys have pointed to two forces driving the consumer clamor for locally grown food, Wirth said.

"They believe they want to support local businesses, support the local community, keep their money there, help their neighbor out, that kind of thing," he said. Also, a spate of food-contamination problems in recent years fueled a perception "that locally grown foods are fresher and of higher quality."

Consumer demand for local goods further intensified as a result of federal country-of-origin laws, which require major retailers of perishable products to identify where their products come from. The law became mandatory for seafood in April 2005 and for produce in September 2008, Wirth said.

Some might expect the resultant rise in demand from supermarkets, with their vast buying power and customer reach, would be greeted as good news by small farmers, whose struggles are well-known.

Farms have dwindled in number as residential and commercial development has extended deeper into the suburbs of dense metropolises such as Philadelphia.

Flynn, for example, only got into produce farming after difficult years as a dairy farmer, when one farm after another where he worked disappeared. Produce, by contrast, seemed to have retail-market value.

That is what he discovered by planting produce as side crops on a Chester County dairy farm and selling it at reliably good prices each day to Westtown community shoppers. That dairy farm went idle about a decade ago to make room for a new high school in the affluent, vastly expanding community.

So in 2000, Flynn planted new stakes down the road - but as a full-time produce farmer with a retail store. He leases what had been long-standing farmland from Westtown School, a centuries-old Quaker boarding school. He tills one-third of the 600 acres that trustees have refused to divest, despite development pressures.

"Keeping the land open, keeping it in agriculture, keeping it open for future generations of students, keeping the farming experience close to the school, all were more important and trumped the money that we would have gotten from a onetime influx (of cash) from selling the land," said David Jones, a Westtown alumnus and board member, who recently helped reach a new 10-year lease with Flynn.

In that regard, Pete's Produce Farm is a utopian bubble, buffered from the raw real estate market forces that might otherwise have made his farm unsustainable as a business in Westtown. He even has the good fortune of being surrounded by the higher-income households that retailers covet.

And yet, with all those advantages, Flynn still needs to be able to charge premium prices for his corn, tomatoes, zucchini, squash, and beans, because 90 percent of his income comes from retail sales at his own store.

When Flynn first began supplying Wegmans in nearby Downingtown, Pa. about six years ago, business was strong all around. Even with the competition, his farm stand's business was holding up well.

But sales fell 20 percent between 2008 and 2009 and have been flat ever since, thanks to the poor economy. It's more important than ever to keep retail margins healthy. That means saying no to supermarkets.

"We were approached by Giant," Flynn said, "and we were approached by Whole Foods" - just last spring, an offer he declined, knowing the chain would be opening a store in nearby Glen Eagle, Pa.

For several decades, Wegmans has made an effort to stock fresh-picked produce because it's a customer draw and helps support farmers in the communities where it has stores. Despite its sometimes-aggressive pricing, the Rochester, N.Y., chain has not run into trouble keeping up a steady supply, said Dave Corsi, vice president of produce and floral.

"We've been operating this program for over 25 years," Corsi said, "and we've had over 500 growers partnering with us for a long period of time now, and we haven't found it challenging for too many growers."

At Linvilla Orchards, one thing that makes supermarket wholesaling attractive is that it provides a ready market for higher-than-expected yields - and on balance, that seems to be more of a good thing than a bad one.

"Overall, I think it's good to promote local produce no matter who's selling, because hopefully it keeps farmers in business," said Linvilla's Ferber.

Still, Flynn remains confident in his own unique retailing model. He sells corn picked that same morning and is equally vigilant about the freshness of other produce sold at his store.

He is not fearful even of the eventual arrival in his territory of Austin, Texas-based Whole Foods.

"Nobody can do what we do," he said.

Martha Glass
Manager, Agritourism Office

Marketing Division, NCDA&CS

Can you live on $9/hour?

2011-09-26T14:45:00.000-07:00

I found this story on-line today and it was an eye opener. I challenge you to take a few minutes and see if you can make it through the month. I make it but it calls for some tough choices and many of the ones I made went against what I would normally but to be true to the challenge, I opted to save money and not to spend money even when it was for a real need. I understand that it is only a game but it will make you think. Let me know how you do.

http://lifeinc.today.com/_news/2011/09/26/7926328-can-you-live-on-9-an-hour-play-the-game or http://www.playspent.org/

Saying Good Bye to Yam at Plum Granny Farm

2011-09-12T10:21:00.000-07:00

Everyone who has ever had a pet or worked on a farm understands how losing one makes you feel. I think our friends at Plum Granny have done a great job of expressing their feelings and I wanted to share them with you:

Yesterday we said goodbye to a good friend. On a beautiful clear morning, with the sun just coming up and warming her back, we let Yam go in search of new pastures where she could graze pain-free and roam in search of the perfect patch of clover. Yam, our 14-year old cow, had been getting weaker and was obviously in much discomfort. It’s always hard but we knew it was time.

We liked to call Yam “Badge 1” at Plum Granny Farm. She had been an employee here long before we moved back. She served as official greeter and as our entry into agritourism. She is an icon around here – because of her, everyone knows where the farm is: “Oh yeah, I know – it’s the one with that big black cow, right?” She graces hundreds of photographs taken by tourists and locals alike. People would stop and talk to her; children would wave and come and visit the pretty cow. She was called Bessie, Elsie, and more names than we know.

She was an orphan and so was a “bottle baby” which gave her a special bond with humans. Sometimes she did seem a bit more like a dog than a cow. And she put up with a lot – like the Santa hat for Christmas one year. Her personality was wonderfully unique.

We will miss seeing her peacefully gazing into the distance, chewing her cud. That’s when she was practicing the Zen of Yam.

So now our pasture is empty and our hearts are sore – we miss our Yam but know that she is here, as a friend told us, just beyond our ability to see her and she is waiting to train the next bottle baby heifer in the ways of Plum Granny Farm.

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Plum Granny Farm is responsible for the content of this email.
Cheryl Ferguson, 1041 Flat Shoals Road, King, NC 27021

Coldwater Clean

2011-09-08T06:37:00.000-07:00

I wanted to change gears a little on my blog post today. As with many things in life, it is all a matter of perspective and about making sure you ask the correct questions. I hope you enjoy this snippet, I chuckle each time I think about it, Thanks to my wife for forwarding it to me:

Can Cold Water Clean Dishes? (This is
for all the germ conscious folks
That worry about using coldwater to clean.)

John went to visit his 90 year old
grandfather in a very secluded, rural area of Saskatchewan.
After spending a great evening chatting
the night away, the next morning John's grandfather prepared breakfast of
bacon, eggs and toast.

However, John noticed a film like substance on his plate, and questioned his grandfather asking, 'Are these plates clean?'

His grandfather replied, 'They're as clean as cold water can
Just you go ahead and finish your meal, Sonny!'

For lunch the old man made hamburgers
Again, John was concerned about the plates,
As his appeared to have tiny specks around
The edge that looked like dried egg and asked,
'Are you sure these plates are clean?'

Without looking up the old man said,
'I told you before, Sonny, those dishes
are as clean as cold water can get them. Now don't you fret, I don't want
to hear another word about it!'

Later that afternoon, John was on his
way to a nearby town and as he was leaving, his grandfather's dog started
to growl, and wouldn't let him pass.
John yelled and said, 'Grandfather, your
dog won't let me get to my car'.

Without diverting his attention from the
football game he was watching on TV, the old man shouted!
'Coldwater, go lay down now, yah hear me!'
Meet Coldwater !

Think Stokes First buy Local Campaign

2011-09-07T12:19:00.000-07:00

The Stokes County Economic Development Commission (EDC) along with assistance from the King Chamber of Commerce and the Walnut Cove Main Street merchants are embarking on a “Buy Local” campaign for Stokes County. The campaign, to be tagged “Think Stokes First” is intended to raise the awareness of why making purchase of goods and services is important to not only the businesses in Stokes County but for our residents as well.

Let’s start the conversation with a number: $397,030,630. That is the estimated gap or amount of retail purchases made by Stokes county residents (in this case residents includes businesses located in the county) outside of the borders of the county or 62% of all retail purchases. Why should this concern you, you ask? There are many reasons but the most important are:
• Sales tax is now reimbursed to counties based on where purchases are made, not on the population of the county. When you make a purchase outside of the county, your are in effect supporting the economic health of those counties, not where you live
• Choosing to make your purchases outside of the county takes away revenue from local businesses that are the heart and soul of the community. These are your friends and neighbors who support your schools, churches and local charities. If you don’t support them, they can’t stay in business and we all suffer
• Making a special trip outside the county to make a purchase probably costs you money. If you have a 40 mile round trip to make a purchase you should add at least $20 to the price of your purchase (IRS allows .555/mile so you can consider this as your break-even rate) plus the value of your time it take to make the trip, your $100 purchase suddenly cost the equivalent of $135, not much of a saving, is it.
We know that it isn’t as simple as this, a large percentage of our residents work outside the county and there are many products that we have less than an adequate supply. That is okay, we do not expect to capture the majority or even a large minority of these sales but think about this: a change of 5% would mean an additional $19,000,000 in revenue to businesses in the county and a significant increase in sales tax revenue. Before you make your next purchase, Think Stokes First, it will make a difference.

Stokes Stomp Time of the Year

2011-09-06T13:25:00.000-07:00

It is hard to believe that, with the cooperation of the weather, over 10,000 people will be in Moratock Park this coming weekend. Yes it is Stokes Stomp time again. This annual event, brought to you by what I believe to be the "Best Arts Council in the World" provides two full days of entertainment, food and fun. It all starts with a parade from the Government Center in Danbury to Moratcok Park. Don't miss a minute of the fun. During the slow times, stop by the my booth near the stage and let me tell you about our "Buy Local Campaign. Have fun and be safe.

Main Stage Entertainment
Saturday, September 10, 2011

10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Stokes Stomp Parade (Theme: Music, Music, Music)
11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Opening Remarks by Danbury
Town Mayor Janet Whitt
Boy Scout Troupe from Sandy Ridge will post the colors and lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance
North Stokes High School Marching Band will play the National Anthem followed by a program of music
South Stokes and West Stokes Marching Bands will perform
12:15 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. Matt Dylan
1:15 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. Star Catchers
1:45 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Travis Frye and Blue Mountain
2:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. Announcements
(which may include intro of Miss Tara Schiphof
(NC Cinderella Teen) and Suzie with Suzie’s Law) (maybe)
2:45 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. 36 Degrees North
3:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. Miss Joyce’s Dance Company
(in front of the main stage)
3:45 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tyler Nail
4:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Miss Joyce’s Dance Company
(in front of the main stage)
4:45 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Stoney Ridge
6:15 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. Matt Dylan

Sunday, September 11, 2011

11:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Opening Remarks by Danbury Town Council Member Wendi Uselton
Boy Scout Troupe from Sandy Ridge will post the colors and lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance
(Robbie Voss has been contacted to play Amazing Grace on the Bagpipes) – still waiting on a return call!
11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. One Special Blend
12:15 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. CC Dance Company
12:30 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. One String Over
1:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. CC Dance Company
1:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. Blu-Vue
2:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dance Perfections
2:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. Holly Creek Girls
3:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Dance Perfections
3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Katelyn Marks
5:15 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Blues Creek

Using the Right Equipment

2011-08-30T07:17:00.000-07:00

Stopped by Danbury General Store on my way to work this morning for a jolt of caffene and noticed in the parking lot a truck with fishing equipment in the back. This is not a rare occurance in Stokes County but taking another look, it struck me as odd that it was really heavy duty gear, not what you would anticipate for fishing in local ponds or the Mighty Dan River. The owner wasn't in sight, so I couldn't ask what he was fishing for and left scratching my head.

As any of you that might know me are no doubt aware, I have a vivid imagination and I started thinking about huge catfish that might be in the local depths and what fun it would be to hook one. It is more likely, however that you would land a 1/2 lb sunfish and not the monster you were after. That led me to my next thought: how often do we go fishing with the wrong tackle and end up empty handed or overmatched.

In my business, the right equipment includes making the right contacts, providing information in a timely manner, creating good content on our websites, preparing useful marketing materials and listening to what my clients and co-workers are asking for and responding in the proper manner.

I think I will take some time today to review the equipment that I have at my disposal, make sure I have the right bait and maybe daydream a little about a visit to my favorite fishin hole to try my luck!

Wise words from a friend

2011-08-19T06:10:00.000-07:00

I am reposting a blog from Mark Wells that I received today. Mark is the Executive Director of the Rockingham County Business and Tech. Center and a real ally for the farmers and small business oweners not just of Rockingham County but Stokes County as well. His words ring true and we should all take notice:

Local Green: Food, Environment, Money…Envy
August 16, 2011 | RCBTC

Local food has become trendy, chic or whatever “hip” word you want to throw at it. For those who have become local foodies because it makes you feel like one of those words, thank you. For those who have become local foodies because you truly believe supporting local farms improves lives, thank you even more! What’s the difference you ask? Well, the latter will likely be local foodies for a long time, while the former will only be local foodies as long as it’s in fashion.

Let me be frank; farmers need your money no matter why you might purchase, but our economy needs our farmers to keep people working. People have talked about “off-shoring” for years, mostly in the context of manufacturing, textiles and furniture, in the Piedmont Triad. But we have been letting other people grow and prepare our food for us even longer. Do you know where your last meal actually came from? Statistics tell us food travels an average of 1,500 miles before it gets to your plate. That’s roughly a trip from Greensboro to Denver. Let me assure you that food picked in California, Mexico or China and shipped to North Carolina was not picked at the peak of freshness.

So what is the alternative you ask? There are several. farmers’ markets, CSAs (Community-Supported Agriculture) and road-side stands have been around for a long time, but they haven’t changed our dependence on food grown far away. I argue that this is largely due to the convenience factor. Namely, if we can’t buy it when and how we want it, we go somewhere that will let us. Have you heard of delayed gratification? If not, don’t worry. Most of us don’t believe in it so it doesn’t matter.

That’s where Piedmont Local Food comes in. The Rockingham County Business & Technology Center, and Rockingham County Cooperative Extension have partnered to create a virtual farmers market. It’s different from the other local food efforts mentioned above. First, it’s online, which means it’s open for shopping 24 hours per day, seven days per week, 365 days per year. Think that’s convenient? Next, we don’t give you a “mystery box” of food that is typical of most CSAs. You order exactly what you want, period. You also get to choose from a variety of locations from where you want to pick up your food. This isn’t as convenient as ordering a pizza and having it delivered in 30 minutes or less, but PiedmontLocalFood.com hasn’t been around as long as pizza delivery; give us some time!

So as you go about shopping for your fresh produce, meats and even breads and jellies, remember that buying from your local farm supports your local economy, which ends up helping you. Every dollar invested in local agriculture is estimated to have a local economic impact of seven dollars. Every food item purchased locally helps burn less gasoline, which can provide positive environmental impact. And I assure you that after you compare the taste of local food to what you’re used to, you’ll take pride in knowing how envious your friends will be of the great food you’re eating!

Mark Wells is the founding Executive Director of the Rockingham County Business & Technology Center (RCBTC

Being Intentional

2011-08-16T07:47:00.000-07:00

I look forward each month to receiving my newsletter from Thomas Dismukes. Sometimes the information is full of humor and other times it pulls at the heartstrings. I don't always share them but the one below was very touching and I needed to send it along to those that read this blog. I am sure most of you have had a similar situation and I wonder how many handled it as well as young Thomas. Hope you enjoy:

Be Intentional Principle by Thomas Dismukes

He was the meanest kid I ever worked with. By the end of the first day, I wanted him gone. No way both of us would survive six days of camp. He was intentionally mean to other campers. He was a destructive disturbance and had to go back home, now!!

During college, I worked for the Clemson University Outdoor Laboratory, a camp and conference center. During the summer months it supported a number of “special population” camps that focused on specific needs such as children with cancer, visual impairments, muscular dystrophy, or mental handicaps. Camp Sertoma, one of the summer camps, was designed for children who are either underpriviledged or have a speech or hearing impairment. Sertoma campers were great kids with a vast majority growing up in tough environments. With most campers, you could crack their hard outer shell within a few hours and consequently have a joyful and memorable week. Matthew, on the other hand, was not like any camper I had ever had. Within an hour of his arrival he had intentionally star ted four fights, intentionally broke toys and seemed to intentionally tick me off. I wanted him sent back home, which rarely happened at camp! But we rarely had campers this mean!

Three days into camp, our cabin of 10-year old boys was in total chaos due entirely to Matthew. To make matters worse, we were scheduled to campout that night. No one wanted to be around him much less be stuck in the woods with him. When we arrived at our campsite we set up our shelter, made dinner over the fire and once it was dark, we told a few stories to encourage the kids. We then rolled out our sleeping bags and called it a day. Everyone was ready for a nice, quiet sleep, under the stars but apparently, Matthew had a bit more meanness he wanted to dish out.

It was the strangest thing. Everyone had found their places on the ground and was settling into their sleeping bags when Matthew would walk up and intentionally kick another camper. If he didn’t kick them, he would punch them in the chest or head. Oddly enough, that was the norm for the week. It was what he did immediately afterward that was strange. Matthew would walk up, punch or kick, and with a sincere and tender voice ask his victim, “Hey, can I sleep beside you?” It was bizarre! He would hurt a kid and then in the same breath ask if he could lie beside them. Of course, no one wanted him anywhere near them! In the darkness all you could hear was, “Ouch!”… < /span>“Can I sleep beside you?” … “NO!” … (Whack!)… “Can I sleep beside you?”… “GET AWAY!” We were all so exhausted I had to make this madness end, so I said, “Ok… Come HERE, Matthew. Lay beside me!” In the blink of an eye he was next to me in his sleeping bag and silent.

For the first time in days, everything was at peace. It was just after midnight when Matthew, the meanest kid I had ever known, taught me a lesson I have never forgotten. Everything and everyone was quite and I was just falling asleep when I heard Matthew unzip his sleeping bag and slowly extend his hand in my direction. At that moment, I truly thought he must have smuggled a knife out of the cafeteria and was now about to stab me in the heart. However, all he did was bring out his little hand and gently placed it on my chest. I laid there wide awake, my heart racing, waiting to defend a death blow. He kept his arm there for only a few seconds and then returned it to his sleeping bag.

I laid there for several minutes trying to process what had happened. Then again, he stretched out his arm and placed it on my chest. This time he moved his hand up to my face and touched each side. As quickly as it happened, he withdrew his hand. I lay there stunned and confused. Why was he doing this?

He performed the same little ritual several times over the course of an hour, until finally I had to know. In a voice more annoyed than concerned, I asked, “Matthew, what are you doing?! Why do you keep touching me?” The stab in the heart was a premonition. In just above a whisper, this mean little kid that I wanted to send back home, simply said, “I wanted to make sure you were still there. Every time I fell asleep, I had a nightmare that I was home. So I woke up and touched you, to make sure you were real.” I laid there as tears poured down my face. How bad is life when “home” is a nightmare?

The next morning, we broke camp and headed back to our cabin. While our cabin learned about archery and nature, I absorbed Matthew’s case history. I had never read of such abuse and neglect. Matthew had been physically and sexually abused. He had been taken out of his home to foster care, then a delinquency center and then sent back to the home where the abuse all started. For 10 years people had intentionally hurt Matthew. In turn, the only love language he knew was a punch in the face and intentional neglect. Matthew was simply replaying the messages that were recorded into him.

From that point forward I too would be intentional with Matthew, only I would intentionally love, praise, listen, encourage, teach and spend time with him. The “Be Intentional” principle rolled over to life outside of camp. I learned to be intentional with my friends and family, co-workers and customers. I would not wait for other people to fix the problems. I found a need and filled it. I learned to lead by example. If you want to be the greatest in the world, serve others! If you want to be first, put yourself last! If you want to get even with those that harm you, forgive them. I decided to live intentionally. Rather than have life just happen… I decided to be the cause .

I cannot lie and say everything was a bed of roses that week of camp, but things were considerably better. Matthew’s hard shell began to fall away and an amazing young man began to emerge. My time with Matthew ended years ago but I still find those same needs in others today. I see issues that need to be addressed and problems that need to be resolved. I have decided to be intentional, and that has made all the difference. I know this principle works, because by the end of the week, the one kid that originally fought to leave… cried to stay.

Business Plan Competition

2011-08-05T07:16:00.000-07:00

If you have a business plan that is just waiting for the right opportunity, if you have a fire in your belly to create something important that can lead to job creation, below if just the opportunity you have been waiting for. Please feel free to get in touch, if you need assistance.

TO: Friends of the incubator, area entrepreneurs, students, and colleagues

FROM: Stan Mandel, Professor of Practice, Director of Angell Center of ENT

DATE: July 29, 2011

SUBJECT: PTP NEXT Seed Funding Competition Opens August 15th

Trust your summer is progressing nicely and you are finding new opportunities to capitalize on. Following is one you may wish to participate in as it offers exciting opportunities if you are launching a new venture or wish to be part of an ecosystem to assist in such launches.

Please check out the PTP NEXT Business competition http://ptpnext.com, a brand new grant and support competition for innovative Triad NC region entrepreneurs, and share it with your colleagues, clients, students, constituents and friends.

PTP NEXT is spearheaded by a truly collaborative, talented and region-wide group of young leaders who are deeply committed to the Piedmont Triad's future economic vitality. They've forged partnerships with NC IDEA (who has granted more than $2 million to 57 young NC companies) and the Piedmont Triad Partnership. PTP NEXT is working closely with the Angell Center for Entrepreneurship and our incubator-among many others - so that young Triad companies can successfully compete for grants of up to $50K. (If you or your organization wants to be more actively involved, you can connect via their website.)

The online application launches on August 15th and is open only until September 9th, so our immediate task is to spread the word. Detailed info about eligibility and the review process is on the PTP NEXT websitehttp://ptpnext.com and I've also attached their recent press release.

We all know that lack of early funding is one of our biggest obstacles, so I encourage you to get behind this effort and spread the word.

Best regards, Stan

Stanley W. Mandel, Ph.D., CPA, PE
Professor of Practice and Director, Angell Center for Entrepreneurship
Schools of Business
Wake Forest University
P.O. Box 7659
Winston-Salem, NC 27109

mandelsw@wfu.edu

p 336.758.3689

c 335.671.9884
f 336.758.4514

More on young entrepreneurs

2011-08-03T11:53:00.000-07:00

I go to the Agurban Newsletter for update this week on your entrepreneurs that are making a difference in their communities. If you enjoy these entries and know of similar stories locally, please share them. I am sure that our young people are as creative and innovative as those that are shown below.

More Young Entrepreneurs!

Thanks to our many readers for submitting examples of young entrepreneurs. Below are three more stories.

Tyler Finchum, 18, of Muscatine, IA, developed Farm Manuals Fast as an online business that reaches customers around the globe. Tyler sells digital copies of operator manuals to farmers and agrarian workers through his website, giving those producers of the world's food supply information they need to keep older farm equipment operating. His customers purchase manuals and download the documents.

"Sometimes the manuals are so rare, if they couldn't get it from me, they'd probably just leave the equipment in a ditch somewhere," states Tyler.

Thirteen year old Jacob Bernhardt has taken a different approach to summertime entrepreneurship. He has been making and selling his own trout flies at the Great Falls Farmer's Market for the last few years. From a small kit, Jacob taught himself to make the lures. He has had to also learn everything about running his own business, from purchasing supplies to scouting out the competition to pricing his merchandise right. An avid fly fisher himself, he's able to recommend the flies for the right conditions, and now, what started out as a simple hobby has grown into a successful summer business.

AJ's Hawaiian Iceez is an ice-shaving enterprise started by Adam and Jonathan Holland of Prince George's County, MD. The resourceful brothers started the business to help their parents cover the steep cost of tuition at their private school. Their parents and 12-year old sister also help with the business.

"You have to make the sacrifice in order to reap the reward," Adam states.

The boys' expect to gross about $50,000 this year, with a profit of $25,000.

These are great examples of young people becoming entrepreneurs. Please keep the stories coming in!

Assistance for Organic Growers

2011-08-02T07:48:00.000-07:00

There is still money left for partial reimbursement for the costs associated with becoming certified as an organic grower. See the information below for more details.

NCDA&CS offers organic certification cost-share assistance

RALEIGH – Organic growers in North Carolina can apply for partial reimbursement of the cost of becoming certified or recertified producers through a program offered by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Growers who have been certified or recertified since Sept. 30, 2010 can apply for assistance. The program will pay 75% of the cost of certification up to a total of $750.

The program is for the 2010-2011 season, and is funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and the deadline to apply for reimbursement is Sept. 30, 2011.

To apply, growers must fill out an authorization form that can be found online at www.ncdaorganic.org. The completed form, a copy of the farm’s certification, a copy of the receipts from the certifying agency and an IRS W-9 form should be mailed to the NCDA&CS Division of Marketing, Attn. Heather Barnes, 1020 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1020.

Growers with questions can call Barnes at (919) 707-3127.

Program for Self-Sufficiency

2011-07-28T13:34:00.000-07:00

I attended our monthly meeting at the Job Link center in Walnut Cove yesterday and was very pleased to meet Elisha Harris, Success coach for the Community Service Block Grant progarm in Stokes County. Elisha is a very impressive young lady that has a passion for her work that is readily apparent. The Self-Sufficiency Program is designed to assist individual or families to overcome poverty. What a wonderful idea. It isn't about applying a temporary fix, it is about overcoming poevery and helping gain employment in a position paying a living wage.

This is accomplished by assisting clients in their efforts to improve their educational status but it appears to go deeper by looking for ways to empower their clients by teaching the coping skills such as: survival skills (I take this to mean surviving life, not necessarily the in wilderness conditions but what we face every day), budgeting classes, nutrition classes and much more. Many of us take these skills for granted but I think in the financial conditions we find ourselves in today, I think these skill sets are often not taught and they are not something that comes naturally.

Ther are a limited number of slots for this program in the county, but for some reason, they have a difficult time filling these positions, therefore, I challenge the readers of this blog, if you know someone who can use a hand and truly wants to improve their position in life, make them aware of Elisha and this program. She can be reached at stokescsbg@hotmail.com or by calling 336-593-2371. This is not a "Hand-out but a Hand-up" and we can all use one of those from time to time.

How to enter a room

2011-07-27T06:21:00.000-07:00

It my nightly reading, I found a note that said that it is a matter of respect to re-post good information that you find. My wife forwarded this to me this morning and I think it is good information for anyone who as the part of their normal routine enters a room with a group of people either known or unknown to them. My takeaway is show your interest in what they have to say and you will be successful. People love to talk about themselves and if you are polite and a good listener, you can carry the day. See what you think and remember, no fist bumps!

How to Enter a Room and Network Like a Pro
Consider these tips to make a lasting impression on new connections, before a meeting even starts.
Print Email
By Ross McCammon | Entrepreneur Magazine - August 2011 | 0
inShare12
So, we're assuming you're on time and you know why you're there and you know exactly what you want from the people in the room and you've Googled them and found out where they went to school and that according to LinkedIn they made a couple of questionable professional moves in the early '90s and at least two of them tweet. What we're interested in is that pregnant series of moments that lasts for around a minute and is ostensibly about introductions and handshakes and the offering of beverages and, if you're lucky, a Danish or something, but is really about the beginning of potentially important relationships.
The main problem with entering an unfamiliar meeting room is that it's like leaving a bar when it's still light outside. Things seem a little too bright, a little overwhelming, a little disconcerting. Yet no matter how thrown off you feel, the guiding principle is: It's your room. For the next, oh, 30 seconds to a minute, you're in charge. Even if it's their room, you're in charge. Even if your earnings are a 10th of the salary of that guy you're about to shake hands with, you're in charge. You're not the only one determining the mood of the room, but you have to take responsibility for it.
Consider a lesson from the forest. "Pretend everyone's a bear in the woods," says Robbie Pickard, a Santa Monica, Calif.-based comedian who spends his career entering rooms full of people he needs to impress. "If you look scared, the bear is going to attack you." Which we always thought involved yelling and waving your arms and stomping the earth and throwing a Coleman lantern. But what he's saying is, offer no apologies or expressions of trepidation or false humility. Protect yourself with confidence. Confidence makes you look comfortable.
It should seem like there's no other place in the world you'd rather be.
Key Technical Matters
1. WHEN people introduce themselves, say their names back to them or take a mental note. But try to keep their names in your head. Saying a person's name back to them 20 or 30 minutes after you've met them suggests graciousness and respect, and it will endear you to them.

2. DO NOT give out business cards before the meeting begins. Because it makes you look like a blackjack dealer.

3. LOOK everyone in the eye for, like, a millisecond longer than is comfortable.

4. Don't carry yourself in a way that could be described as "jaunty."

5. IF there are fewer than six other people in the room, shake everyone's hand. If there are six or more, shake approximately five hands, and then nod amiably to the rest. The shaking of hands can get out of hand.

6. At no time say, "Let's do this!"

7. NO fist bumps.

8. DON'T talk about anything that isn't pleasant, such as how much traffic you were just in or how hot it is or how you have a cold.

At this moment, more than any other moment in the meeting, you're your own agent. You're saying, "I'd like you to meet myself." (Note: Do not under any circumstances actually say, "I'd like you to meet myself.")
Bill Clinton is a useful example. The man knows how to enter a room. He might not know how to leave, but he knows how to enter. Two out of the two former press secretaries we called for help with this column (we figured they might know something about the subject of entering meetings, since they've seen people enter the most important rooms in the world) mentioned Clinton as the best room-enterer they've ever seen. Which is pretty easy to do when you're the president of the United States, but still, there are lessons in his approach.
"When Bill Clinton entered a room, he owned the room from the second he walked in," says Dee Dee Myers, Clinton's first press secretary and now a managing director at The Glover Park Group, a D.C. communications firm. "Because he was curious, he wanted to talk to people and would totally engage them. And pretty soon all the energy in the room was running in one direction."
Marlin Fitzwater, press secretary for Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, says, "Bill Clinton was probably the best I've ever seen. He walked in and demanded the attention of everyone. The lessons of Clinton are: Don't be aimless, don't be casual, don't be flippant. Let your audience know they're important and that you're there because you have a message to give them."
So, it's an act, yes. But it's not entirely an act. The act is supported by an important psychological underpinning: actual curiosity. "You have to be curious," says Thomas Huseby, managing partner at Seattle VC firm SeaPoint Ventures. "Most entrepreneurs are thinking about what they want to teach or what they want to convey, and everybody would much rather talk to someone who is curious. It's amazing what that attitude does."
That's how to enter a room. With curiosity. But not necessarily about the business at hand. Meetings at Esquire often start off with questions about the view from our conference room on the 21st floor of the Hearst Corporation tower in Midtown Manhattan. If the person we're meeting with asks anything at all about the city, we take them over to the window and give them a quick tour: the Empire State Building, the exact location in the Hudson where Captain Sully landed the plane, that statue of Ronald McDonald that somehow ended up on the roof of a four-floor walk-up on Eighth Avenue, how New Jersey looks vaguely bucolic if you squint. It's a rich, interesting conversation.
Who wouldn't want to be in a room with you now? You're amiable and confident and pleased with the way things are going. You're ready to talk and to listen. You haven't given them any reason why they couldn't see themselves giving you a lot of money or offering you a contract or partnering with you in some way. You're someone they could see themselves doing business with, is what we're trying to say.
All that, and you haven't even sat down yet.
Have a question for the Esquire Guy about how to comport yourself at work, on the road or maybe in a bar? (or even at work in a bar on the road?). Ask it at Askesquire@entrepreneur.com.
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Do you think this would work here?

2011-07-26T11:42:00.000-07:00

I found this story on my blog list today and my thoughts ran immediately to the point of why can't we do this here. We have empty buildings. We have farmers growing food and we have about 25% of our population that is having difficulty putting food on thier tables. If after reading this article you have a fire in your belly and it isn't just heartburn, give me a call and lets have a frank discussion on the matter.

From the Agurban:

He's Still At It!

Last week we told you about the Bulldog Express, a grocery store ran by high school business students in Leeton, Missouri. This week we want to update you on one of the first young grocery entrepreneurs we learned about back in 2006, Nick Graham.

Nick lived in Truman, MN with his grandmother. When the town's only grocery store closed during the summer of 2006, just before Nick's senior year of high school, he recognized what a loss the closing would have on the town. So, at age 17, Nick bought the store with his life savings of $10,000 and a $25,000 loan from the local city council, a gutsy move on the council's part. The store reopened it in October 2006. By July 2008, the store was profitable. Nick was offered a good price for the business and sold it.

Not only was Nick Graham running the grocery store in Truman, he was servicing about 14 customers as a wholesale distributor and generating $100,000 per week in gross sales.

Nick worked for several months for a couple other companies after he sold the Truman store, but couldn't resist the appeal of a business adventure. After hearing about a near bankrupt grocery store in Rolfe, IA, Nick drove an hour south of Truman to check it out. He purchased that store, and once again, was in the grocery store business.

Next came an investment in a combined grocery store and café in Pomeroy, IA in late 2009. The café that attaches to the grocery has been a great asset to Pomeroy's sense of community, serving as a gathering place for local residents.

Why are these small town grocery stores so successful? According to Nick, "We emphasize personal service to keep residents shopping in our stores. We call people by their first name. We deliver groceries. We do whatever somebody wants us to do to make our customers happy."

In addition to the stores in Rolfe and Pomeroy, Nick also owns stores in Fontanelle and Huxley, IA.

We love the Nick Graham story! Not only is he a millennial entrepreneur, he is providing a valuable service to small rural towns. We would like to learn more about other "Nick Graham's" out there. Please share your stories about your local millennial entrepreneurs.

Fun at the Shine Festival

2011-07-26T06:12:00.000-07:00

Sounds like a a good time.

Dear Farmers And Value Added Producers,

On July 30th from 11:00am-8:00pm and 31st 12:00pm-6:00pm the Southern Culture Society, in conjunction with numerous sponsors including the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, will be hosting the 3rd Annual Carolina Shinefest. The festival takes place in downtown Madison, North Carolina.The event is a celebration of North Carolina’s history, food, music, arts & crafts and NOW, its LOCAL growers. The current schedule of events includes performances by North Carolina born musicians, an antique car show with over 100 competitor car entries, appearances by NASCAR Hall of Famer - Junior Johnson, and many NC arts & craftsmen. Roughly 20,000 people are expected to flood the streets of downtown Madison for this event.
Through the support of the NC Department of Agriculture, this year’s Shinefest will feature an opportunity for farmers to sell their products throughout the show. Spots in the farmer’s market will be FREEof charge and located within the confines of the Shinefest event. These spots are open to any farmer who would like to attend; however due to the limitations put in place by the size of the event, only a certain number of spots are available. These spots will be assigned on a first come first serve basis.
To apply for a spot at this year’s Carolina Shinefest, please fill out the attached application and mail it to:
Southern Culture Society
ATTENTION: Jessie Paschal
939 Burke Street
Suite F
Winston-Salem, NC 27101

For more information: contact Jessie Paschal at Jessie@southernculturesociety.org, or 336-293-4299, or me at ryan@piedmontdistiller.com.
Sincerely,
Ryan Casey
Southern Culture Society Volunteer

2011 Carolina ‘Shinefest Farmer’s Market Application

July 30 (11 am - 8 pm) and July 30 (12 pm – 6 pm)
Downtown Madison, NC

Name _________________________________________________________

Phone Number __________________________________________________

Address________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

Email __________________________________________________________

Please list what you will be bringing and the pricing on these items _________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

For more information: contact Jessie Paschal at Jessie@southernculturesociety.org, or 336-293-4299, or me at ryan@piedmontdistiller.com.

Stokes County's Wealth

2011-07-25T06:46:00.000-07:00

I was cl

eaning out my email inbox this morning and came upon a story that caugh my eye. It was in a blog that I read called Land-Think. I will post the contents below for you to get the full impact but it basicly asked the question if you had the option would you buy an ounce of gold or an acre of land, if the cost was equal. After thinking about it for a moment, I go back to the old adage about fishing: if you give a man a fish, he can eat for a day, you teach him how to fish and he can eat forever. That is what an acre of land means to me. If you know how to care for it an nurture it, it can take care of you forever. The ounce of gold might be pretty and shiny but it won't fill you stomach, give me the land everytime.

Yesterday I noticed that the price of gold has risen to $1600 per ounce, and the thought struck me that land in my part of west Alabama is selling for approximately the same price per acre. I posed the question to two local business owners whether they would rather own an ounce of gold or an acre of land. Both men responded that they would rather own land. This is an intriguing question about investing and value.
Full disclosure, I am not a research economist, an analyst, or an investment advisor; I am a real estate agent that specializes in selling rural land, so here is how I approach the answer to the question.
The Caprice of Gold
Gold has been a highly prized commodity for several thousand years. Gold matches well with the criteria Aristotle laid out for a good money in that it must be durable, portable, divisible, and have intrinsic value. Gold is a good store of value, and its scarcity has contributed greatly to the desire of people to own it.
From a layman’s perspective the price of gold seems to rise when there is a decrease in the confidence in the strength of our nation’s currency. Gold began its current run up in price in 2001 at $265 per ounce and has climbed to a high this week of $1602 per ounce. That meteoric rise is being touted by experts as a reason for investors to jump into the gold market. I question that logic for 3 reasons:
1. Gold is at an all-time high. The real estate market bust that we are in has made me skeptical of buying anything at premium prices. If the market goes south, who is left holding the bag?
2. Gold is Capricious. In 1981, the price of gold had been experiencing strong gains, right before the bottom fell out and gold lost 2/3 of its value in one year. It wasn’t until 2006, that gold actually reached the price it had seen 25 years before. For gold to have any value, you must have other people who are willing to agree to the value of your commodity. When an item is assigned great value but has little utility, I am always cautious.
3. Gold has a historic bull’s-eye on its back. Feel free to disagree with me on this point, and yes I do know our currency is not tied to the gold standard any longer, but hear me out on this. 1n 1933, President FDR signed an executive order making it illegal for any citizen of the US to own more than $100 worth of gold. It wasn’t until about 1974, that citizens were allowed to own gold again. With the recent spikes in gold prices and the falling value of the dollar, it seems plausible to me that trading of gold could be more heavily regulated with price controls or even stopped if the government decided it was in their best interest. I would simply cite the increased government attention at regulating the speculation buying of oil as support for that argument.
The Utility of Land
I like land as an investment for several reasons.
1. Land has utility. I am a function over form guy; you can tell that from my wardrobe, from my vehicle, and what I spend my money on. I believe in investing in land because you can grow food, timber, find water, mine useful substances, shape it, hunt and enjoy it. Land can sustain your life or your livelihood in many ways. Just last week I was talking with a farmer from Iowa who is having his best corn harvest ever at 220 bushels to the acre. That is a staggering amount of corn from an acre of land. Corn is just one of dozens of useful and essential commodities that can be grown on your land.
2. Land is historically a sound investment. Most people have heard the old saying, “Buy land, they’re not making any more of it.” Land has a certain degree of scarcity that contributes to its value, like gold and other precious metals. The USDA reported the average cropland price per acre in Alabama in 1997, was $1270. In 2010, the USDA survey shows a $2700 per acre price for cropland in the state. That is a 112% increase in price over the past 14 years, for a nominal rate of return of 8% annually through that period.
3. Private land-ownership is essential for our government to function. Local governments across the nation depend on private landownership to stay in business. Each local government appraises real property and assesses ad valorem taxes on landowners. These property taxes are used to fund schools and other essential government functions. It is highly improbable that the right to private landownership would be denied or that vast amounts of land would be taken by imminent domain. Where the government might see a potential threat to its currency in a commodity like gold, private landownership would still be an essential revenue stream for local governments.
4. Land equals Opportunity. America has been called “The Land of Opportunity”, and I would say that land equals opportunity. It is exactly because of the historical value and multitude of uses of land that it presents so many opportunities as an investment. You have flexibility (in some types of soil) to grow row crops, or graze cattle, or plant trees based on whatever has the highest rate of return. Land has potential for development and there is always a highest-and-best-use consideration for a property whereas a fixed asset is fixed. Owning land is an avenue to having revenue generating avenues as well as owning an asset that has real value.
John D. Rockefeller is quoted as saying, “The major fortunes in America have been made in land.” I tend to agree with his assertion, after all he managed his wealth successfully. Given the choice between an ounce of gold or an acre of land, I take the land every time.

Piedmont Local Food update.

2011-07-18T13:13:00.000-07:00

Many people are curious about what an Economic Developer does. I can't tell you in the limited time that I have here and I am not sure you want all the trivial details but I would like to share a few moments from last week.

I had the opportunity to travel with Sandra Wesson, who is the direct point of contact for our local farmers and sales person, among a great deal of other jobs for the Piedmont Local Foods effort. I will tell you in no uncertain terms, that I am not sure I have enough energy to keep up with her on a regular basis.

The morning started early, around 7 AM at the pick-up site in Walnut Cove, from there we went to Wentworth and consolidated all the produce for shipment. It was a light day but I was able to get a sense of how much effort goes into insuring that all shipments are correct and the customers are getting quality food, 24 hours after it comes out of the field.

We had eight stops to make, in Greensboro, High Point, Winston Salem and finally Eden. We covered a lot of ground to deliver the food and we covered a lot of ground in our conversation on how much the program has grown and how much room there is to continue the growth. It appears that the volume will triple this year and with the right type of nurturing, triple again next year. This would not be possible if not for a very dedicated group of volunteer board members, a group of local farmers that are willing to look at new models for growth and a few dedicated people, such as Sandra that are so passionate about their efforts that it is infectious.

If you are from the Piedmont Triad, or just thinking about driving through (Sandra was meeting a client from Ohio who saw the website and wanted to order) visit the website at http://www.farmersfreshmarket.org/rockingham/ The only way you can get food any fresher is if you grow it yourself!

Tomato Season

2011-07-07T08:13:00.001-07:00

We are in one of my favorite times of the year. The days have turned hot and humid, the nights are warm and fresh fruits and vegetables of all kinds are available for harvest, including my all time favorite the tomato. In honor of this wonderful time of the year, I thought I would share a recipe that my wife Kelly and I have been using for over 20 years and came from her Aunt Zelda.

Spaghetti Sauce

1/2 bushel tomatoes
2 cloves of garlic(or equal amount of granulated garlic)
3 pounds of onions (white or yellow)
2 hot peppers (I use Jalapenos but other types work well)
2 bell peppers- optional
1 tablespoon basil
2 tablespoons oregano
1/2 cup salt
1 1/2 cups sugar
48 ounces tomato paste

Peel and core the tomatoes (I use boiling water to loosen the skin on the tomatoes, saves a lot of time.) Peel and cube the onions,Chop the peppers and add mix all of the above into a large (12 quart) stock pot. Add the herbs, garlic and salt, bring to a boil and cook until the mixture starts to thicken (depending on what temperature you use, this will take around 90 minutes. Reduce heat, add the tomato paste and sugar and bring to a simmer for about thirty minutes, longer for thicker sauce.(if you add these at the beginning, the sauce has a tendency to stick to the pot and burn. We learned this early on in the process.) The sauce is then ready to can or freeze, it works equally well both ways.

We eat it with our without meat. It is a staple in our fall and winter menus. My only problem it getting enough made to make it through the year. Hope you enjoy this recipe. Please feel free to share other ideas for preserving the goodness of the harvest and remember to buy local!

Do we have leaders or are we destined to walk in circles?

2011-06-13T13:32:00.000-07:00

Below are some quotes and a story from Thomas Dismukes. I am always happy to see his newsletter appear in my inbox and enjoy the quotes he provides as well as his stories. This weeks is no exception.

As I read the news, I am more convinced than ever that we are becoming like a row- boat with one oar. We will row our hearts out and get nowhere. We as humans are tied to our needs to first insure that our basic needs are met. When times are difficult, as they most definitely are and have been for sometime, we are looking and grasping for security and leadership. I don't see it on the horizon but I am hopeful. Please enjoy Mr. Dismukes story and look him up to see more of his wit and wisdom.

“If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend six hours sharpening my ax.” A. Lincoln

“It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one’s mouth and remove all doubt.” A. Lincoln

“Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.” A. Lincoln

“I don’t like that man. I must get to know him better.” A. Lincoln

“I will prepare and some day my chance will come.” A. Lincoln

“I am a slow walker but I never walk back.” A. Lincoln

“The best way to destroy an enemy is to make him a friend.” A. Lincoln

“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” A. Lincoln

“Success is going from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm.” A. Lincoln

“As our case is new, we must think and act anew.” A. Lincoln
__________________________________________________

I am fascinated by the similarities between nature and human communication. Though my first experience with horses was riding one upside down in an international bareback rodeo competition, I soon gained a great admiration for the animal. A fascinating quality about these animals holds true to human interaction as well. Every horse looks for two things, security and leadership. To break a horse or as Monty Roberts calls it “joining up” you must first show the horse that you will protect it and it is secure in your presence. Secondly, you can and will, lead the horse. Those same characteristics are what human beings seek as well. Am I secure in your presence and will you lead me to greener pastures? Napoleon Bonaparte, said ba sically the same thing, “Men are moved by two levers only: fear and self interest.”

Even insects display the same desire for security and leadership. Have you ever raced termites? Next time you’re out in the woods, grab a few termites under a rotting log. Put them in a container; find yourself a sheet of paper and a “Bic” ink pin. (A few other brands will work as well, but you’ll have to experiment.) Place a termite on the sheet of paper, being gentle not to crush the little fella. Many insects secrete a pheromone leaving an invisible “trail” for others to follow. You’ll notice this phenomenon with a line of ants. Termites do the same thing, but it just so happens that the chemicals in a Bic pen are similar enough to the termite’s pheromone that you can trick it to follow you wherever you lead it.

Once you place the termite on the sheet of paper, let it walk around a minute or two. At this point the termite has no direction to follow. It is desperately searching for the security of its colony and the leadership to get there. As the termite walks the paper, start a line of ink just in front of the predicted path. It may take a few tries but the termite will soon follow the ink line wherever you draw it. If you draw a circle the termite will just keep going around and around. If you want to get creative, get a few friends over and have a termite race! But do you understand my point? People are desperately searching for leadership. Leadership they can follow because of the character you have established.

(Excerpt from “A Leader’s FOCUS” by Thomas Dismukes

Farm Grant Opportunities

2011-06-09T07:36:00.000-07:00

Here is a possible opportunity for cost share grants to assist local farmers water analyisi and good agricultural practice analysis. Please review the details and contact information listed below.

NCDA&CS is offering two cost-share grants to assist farmers with on-farm food safety efforts

RALEIGH -- Fruit and vegetable farmers can apply for two cost-share grants offered through the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to assist with the costs for water analysis and independent certification of an operation’s good agricultural practices.

“Both of these grants help farmers with their on-farm food safety efforts, which are critical to marketing their farm products,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “I am glad we were able to secure these USDA funds to assist our growers. Farmers can apply for both grants, which will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.”

This is the third year for the Water Analysis Cost Share grant program, which will reimburse growers up to $200 for certified laboratory analysis of irrigation and/or packing house wash water for the presence of generic E.coli bacteria. Growers can be reimbursed for one water test or multiple tests throughout the year.

For more information or to obtain an application for the Water Analysis Cost Share program, go to www.ncgradingservice.org, or contact Kevin Hardison at (919) 707-3123, or kevin.hardison@ncagr.gov.

The department has previously offered the Good Agricultural Practices Certification Assistance Program, which covers up to $600 for independent audits of a farm’s GAP or good handling practices.

To be eligible, growers must have a third-party audit from an approved government agency or company that verifies GAP or GHP efforts, the audit must be conducted in 2011 and the grower must submit an application to participate in the program prior to the audit. The audit can be for farm review, field harvest and field packing activities, packing house facility, storage and transportation, and traceback.

For more information or to obtain an application for the GAP Certification Assistance Program, go to www.ncgradingservice.org, or contact Shirley Nicholson at (919) 707-3126, or shirley.nicholson@ncagr.gov.

“Food safety is important at every level of the food chain,” Troxler said. “Produce buyers are demanding assurances from growers that their produce is safe. It’s going to become more difficult for farmers to market their fruits and vegetables if they don’t have a program in place to make sure their produce is free of contamination.”

Funding for both NCDA&CS-managed grants comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Food in the news

2011-05-31T07:25:00.000-07:00

Things are never as bad as they seem or at least we hope they aren't. If the report below is only half as dire as predicted, we need to change the way we think about food and our lifestyle. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43221576/ns/business-consumer_news/?GT1=43001 This report projects that food prices will double by 2030 and at the current time over 972,000,000 are going hungry.

We can't feed the world from our local economy but we can have real impact if we use our land wisely and buy local. There is a dedicated and growing group of local citizens that are pouring out their time, energy and money to make a change in the way we feed ourselves. Please take the time to get involved. I have started raised beds in my yard, I am buying food from the Piedmont Local Foods website, going to local farmers markets (there are now two in King) and plan to buy 1/4 of a beef from a local farmer. If enough of us change the way we think about food, we can change the world food situation, one garden plot at a time.

NC Rural Center Microenterprise Loan Program

2011-05-27T08:18:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity to meet with Mary Cox from the NC Rural Center this week to discuss their micro loan program. These loans are targeted to small businesses that are having difficulty finding loans from normal sources. If you are an entrepreneur or are thinking about striking out on your own and you think this program may be of assistance, please give me a call. I will be glad to walk through the process with you. We can assist you with the application as well as working on your business plan.

The Microenterprise Loan Program helps rural people become self-sufficient by providing the opportunity for self-employment and small-business growth. It provides loans for the start-up or expansion of small businesses by individuals who have sound ideas but do not qualify for bank loans.
History
The center launched the Microenterprise Loan Program as a demonstration project in 1989 to fill a gap in the types of business financing available in rural areas. It became a permanent center program in 1992. The program has been awarded the 1996 Presidential Award, the 1998 U.S. Small Business Administration’s Award for excellence in microenterprise lending and the 2000 Vision Award. It remains one of the largest microenterprise loan programs in the country.
Funding comes through a variety of sources. A Ford Foundation program-related investment capitalized the loan pool. Other private foundations have provided additional funds, and the N.C. General Assembly supports program operations.
Description
The program provides loans of up to $25,000 for new or expanding businesses. Loans are coupled with technical assistance, provided by community college small business centers, local offices of the Small Business and Technology Development Center of the University of North Carolina System and other community-based agencies.
Individuals may apply directly to the Rural Center or be referred through a network of partnering organizations that provide business assistance in the community. (See list on back.) Program staff and partners work one-on-one with potential borrowers to prepare loan applications based on the borrower’s business plan, character and the local economy.
Who is eligible
The program serves all 85 rural counties in North Carolina with an emphasis on low-income, female and minority borrowers. Loans support a wide range of businesses, including florists, automotive repair shops, child-care providers, small manufacturing firms, craft operations, hair salons and trucking companies.
The business, or proposed business, must be located in North Carolina, and the total project cost cannot exceed $50,000. Borrowers must be at least 18 years of age, be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and be a North Carolina resident.
Rural Center contact:
Carolyn Perry, Director
Microenterprise Loan Program
4021 Carya Drive
Raleigh, NC 27610
919-250-4314
www.ncruralcenter.org
Program Results
November 1992 Through June 2010
Number of People Served: 6,223
Number of Businesses Served: 2,948
Number of Business Loans: 1,421
Total Dollars Loaned: $7,512,000
Repayment Rate: 84%
Average Loan Size: $5,277
Service Area: 85 counties
Jobs Created/Sustained: 2,924
Number of Inquiries: 24,820
Technical Assistance Workshops: 198*
Number of Workshop Participants: 3,871*
Loan Customers: 48% Minority, 53% Women,
48% Low Income

Baby Steps

2011-05-27T06:11:00.000-07:00

Economic Development in Stokes County, just like most every place else in not an exact science. It contains many twists and turns and occasionally things work out right.

I had the opportunity yesterday to see three small "right steps" These were not home runs, they were more like bunt singles that you had to leg out for hits. Lets face it, most of us can't hit is over the fence and we don't have to. With persistence and hard work, we can score and win. That is what yesterday was about. It is no secret that we have an insufficient supply of lodging to meet our needs and with the economy in its current state, no one is going to come rushing to our aid to build a hotel. Knowing this we have to take alternative action, last night and additional 28 spaces came closer to reality, in the form of two small tent camping locations and a small RV park.

I visited each of these with David Suddreth, our planning department director yesterday and each of them has much to offer including access to the river and or some really incredible views. I salute the entrepreneurs that are working to make these new opportunities a reality (there is still one hurdle to cross: a public hearing before our County Commissioners on June 7th, hopefully this will go well.) It is with their spirit and the cooperation of all involved that we hope to soon make a significant dent in the lodging needs of Stokes County. By playing small ball, we will get there 1,2,3,5,10 rooms at a time, leading to other opportunities, creating additional jobs and investment to one of the most beautiful locations in North Carolina.

Positive Response to New endeavor

2011-05-12T08:54:00.000-07:00

WS Journal
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:
THE REV. LAURA SPANGLER
LLOYD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Winston-Salem
New endeavor
Thank you, Journal, for the excellent article about Jessup Mill in Stokes County ("Jessup Mill gets fresh start," May 7). Because of your description of the mill and the activities, we attended the opening-night events. The host and hostess, Andrew Jones and Marga Eichleay, welcomed us with excitement. We were entertained by Paperhand Puppet Intervention, an unusual and creative group from Chapel Hill. Sitting by the Dan River and hearing its flow was a perfect setting for a Saturday night out. I would encourage everyone to check out this new endeavor; they will be pleased with what they see.

It is all hard work

2011-05-12T07:52:00.000-07:00

I am paraphrasing from the story you will find from the post I am offering you today.It is from a couple that have started their own on-line business. It appears that they are very successful and offer a great product but what I take away from the story is that they spent the time on developing a plan and then they executed the plan. You can ask anyone that I talk to about starting a business and they will tell you that my first question is "Do you have a business plan?" More often than not the answer is "No, but I have been thinking about it." Folks, that just isn't good enough. Starting a business is hard work. The more effort you put in on the front end the better chance you have of your business surviving.

Planning on the front end won't take away from the hard work that is owning a small business, but it will double your chances of being successful and not making a big mistake. Please enjoy the interview and take today's sermon to heart.

Story by bluehourdesigns, marymary
Published on May 10, 2011 in Seller Handbook
Photo by Blue Hour Designs
Tell us about your previous working situation and how you discovered Etsy.
Before starting our Etsy shop, Norbert was working as a computer engineer and I was an elementary school teacher. We discovered Etsy through one of my old college friends who was selling handmade purses. The visit to the site, however, did not end in just purchasing a purse.

How did you prepare to transition to full-time Etsy selling?
For several years prior to opening our shop on Etsy, we had talked about owning our own business so we could have more freedom and control over our lives — we just never knew what type of business that would be. Norbert was unhappy at his desk job and I was craving an artistic outlet that had been suppressed for many, many years.

I soon took a weekend course in silversmithing and immediately fell in love with it. A chain of events quickly unfolded as we both realized that this could be our future. Despite all of the obstacles — the fear of starting a business during these tough economic times, having two young kids at home — this path just felt right. So we jumped in, like two giddy and ecstatic little kids. When setting up a strong business foundation, we did all of the following:

•Created business and marketing plans with short and long term goals
•Registered an LLC and a domain name
•Opened a business bank account
•Created accounts on Etsy, PayPal, Google Checkout, Blogger, Facebook and Google Analytics
•Designed business cards, banners and packaging
•Developed shop policies
•Expanded our home studio space
•Ordered additional tools and materials
We actually wrote all these tasks down on a big 2' x 3' sheet of paper and crossed them off as they were completed. Of course, not all this work was completed right off the bat, but at least the placeholders were there and we had a scalable business. After completing all of this preliminary work for our business structure and listing the first pieces of jewelry on Etsy, we were officially in business!

What are your best marketing tips?

•We quickly learned that if our customer feels like they are treated well, they are much more likely to tell their family and friends about us and return to our store.
•Good product photography is right up there with excellent customer service. That's what people see when shopping online, not the physical object. We always upload our best product photography to Flickr, which not only brings in additional direct traffic, but also serves as a virtual lookbook of our work. This also makes it very easy for bloggers to grab an image of our work if they want to talk about it.
•Advertising on blogs that cater to our potential customers has also worked very well for us. However, over time we have learned that blog advertising is much more than just supplying an image to be displayed on the blog side bar. Many bloggers love to do trades, so not only are you getting free ad space, but you also get your product into the hands of someone who has a big audience. In our experience, bloggers are also very willing to write sponsor posts and host giveaways, all of which can significantly boost the traffic to your site.
•Another reason why advertising on blogs (especially the higher profile ones) is great is that, by having a direct link to your shop, major search engines start to view your site as more important and increase your page rank. If potential customers spend a lot of time in your store, then Google and other search engines view your site as having relevant content and thus increase your page rank even more.
•Frequently listing new designs is another huge way for us to attract traffic. In most cases, small businesses have a limited audience. Our regular customers might lose interest if we don't keep our shop looking fresh.
•Blogging and posting on Facebook are excellent ways to establish a direct link between customer and artist. I share my work, inspiration and thoughts to provide a more personal connection and allow our customers to view the process behind the pieces they purchase.
•Whenever we send out a package, we always include a little bio card and a handwritten thank you note. We feel this gives deeper meaning to our pieces and separates us from big box stores.
What's been your most popular item or line to date?
Our Burst line of rings have been very popular. Our one-of-a-kind pieces that feature large natural stones also sell incredibly well. The patterns on the stones are unique and, much like fingerprints, can never be matched. While we have several designs that have been in our store from the very beginning, we also like to cycle certain designs in and out at different times. Similarly, if a design is just not doing well and better photographs don’t help it sell, we don’t hesitate to remove it from our store.

What have you found to be an unsuccessful promotion?
The danger for any small business is spreading yourself too thin. We always try to focus on tasks and promotions that yield the best results with the least amount of effort. The great thing about promoting online is that Google Analytics makes it so easy to track the resulting traffic.

What's the hardest part about running your own business?
It’s all freaking hard, but we absolutely love it! We have never worked this hard in our lives, but we don't want to do anything else — this is it! Every morning we wake up looking forward to our day. We’re very passionate about what we do and know that having our own business is what allows us to live our lives exactly the way we want to live them.

What is the biggest challenge you face during your daily schedule?
Honestly, our biggest hurdle is time — or the lack of it, to be more specific. We have two little rambunctious boys and whenever they’re awake, one of us is watching them. We have become quite good at prioritizing and scheduling. Each week we have a meeting and discuss the status of our previous week’s goals and come up with new goals for the following week. Knowing exactly what needs to be done also helps us come up with a realistic schedule. As funny as it may sound, even if you’re running a business by yourself, having a weekly status and goals meeting is definitely something we’d recommend.

Although we have made great strides, keeping business and life at balance has been a big learning process for us. Working from home has so many benefits, but at the same time it makes it too easy to work too much. Whenever we don’t spend enough time with our boys, put off household chores, don’t spend enough time with each other as husband and wife, or don’t eat or exercise properly, everything else starts to fall apart as well.

What do you enjoy most about not having a day job?
While we should be saying that we miss distinct cut off times and a steady paycheck, we don’t really ever think about it. We're too busy moving forward with our plans. We love that we have freedom in scheduling, business, creativity, and pretty much everything else.

Another really great thing about having your own business is seeing the direct relationship between how hard you work and the results that come out of it. Often times in corporate America, the slackers get paid just as well as the others who work really hard. If we do well, it’s because we worked hard for it and that feeling is simply amazing.

What are the positives and challenges of working with your significant other?
We shared a collective laugh here. The bottom line is that we’re very different people — an artist and a businessman. While this balances and strengthens us, it can also lead to clashes. But we’ve improved greatly since we figured out that each of our roles are indispensable and equally important. Date nights and non-business related conversations are key to keeping us connected as a married couple and keeping the personal relationship strong.

What advice would you give someone considering a similar path?
Don’t spread yourself too thin. Figure out what is the best course of action and do it well. Working on too much at the same time can only lead to mediocre results. Also, don’t re-invent the wheel — chances are great that somebody else has already faced the problem you’re about to tackle. A little bit of research (the Etsy Forums are a great resource) can yield some helpful results and significantly simplify almost any task.

Don’t forget that business ebbs and flows. When business is temporarily slow, instead of feeling down, use that time to come up with new designs, marketing techniques or anything to improve your business. Don’t worry, the sales will come — and when they do, you need to be prepared!

What goals do you have in store for the future of your business?
Growth within the context of a small business. We’re the kind of people who love to go to a quaint little restaurant and see the owners working behind the counter or head to the farmer's market and buy vegetables straight from the family who owns the farm. While we don’t exactly have a store front to serve customers, we always strive to maintain that personal connection.

Good Info on Social Networking

2011-05-04T09:38:00.000-07:00

The best place to be is in front of the curve. This means being inovative, looking for solutions to problems and searching for opportunities while everyone else is busy with what happened yesterday. This leads me to a blog post that I found today concerning social networking. If you are a small business owner and think that this is yesterdays news and that everyone is already aboard the bus, you are wrong. I hope you will take a few moments and read this post. If you are a business in Stokes County and don't have a web site, or business facebook page, get in touch with me and we can help you to become a leader and not a follower!

Most Small Businesses Don't Use Social Media. Big Mistake.
Friday, April 29 2011

By:Rieva Lesonsky

From the buzz it generates, you'd think almost all small business owners would be actively involved in social media. But you'd be wrong.

This disconnect becomes clear in the latest Small Business Success Index survey conducted twice a year by Network Solutions (disclosure: they're a client of mine) and the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business. While the SBSI showed an "almost universal awareness among small business owners of Facebook and Twitter" only 27 percent of the entrepreneurs used Facebook for business purposes, and a mere 7 percent were Twitter users. Linked In garnered 18 percent.

Despite the tepid survey results, Network Solutions is a big believer in the power social media has to impact business. To gain some insight I talked to Tim Kelly, Network Solutions' CEO and the company's Director of Social Media (known on Twitter as the Social Media Swami) Shashi Bellamkonda (@sashib).

And those small businesses who have tried social media often see results: 63 percent say it helped make their customers more loyal. Other say social media it has helped them:

1.Stay engaged with customers.
2.Build brand awareness.
3.Identify and attract new customers.
So why aren't more small companies doing it?

More than half of small business owners (56 percent) worry that social media is too "time-consuming." Bellamkonda acknowledges that at the beginning, "it's hard for small business owners to keep up with their many responsibilities, without adding social media into the mix." But, he adds, "Rather than viewing social media as time consuming, you should integrate it into your marketing plan from the start. Once you become familiar with social media, you'll find it's an easy and affordable way to grow a loyal customer base, and more often than not, see that it's absolutely worth the time investment."

Bellamkonda believes the benefits are more than worth the time for small businesses. "If building a loyal customer base is a top priority (which it probably should be), social media is a great way to start. Its reach is immense with more than 500 million active users on Facebook and 1 billion tweets [sent] per week. Putting your small business out there gives you an opportunity to build relationships with your customer base, and allows customers to personally bond with your business."

Bellamkonda is a big proponent of Twitter, especially for dealing with customer service issues. "Twitter is fantastic because it's real time, and an easy way to [quickly answer] customer questions."

Even so, getting started with social media can seem overwhelming. Bellamkonda recommends starting slowly. "Ask your customers what social media platforms they use the most and start there," he says. "When you get a feel for your voice and presence on that network, you'll find it easy to expand to other platforms."

He boils it down to a 2-step process:

1) Listen. Where is your key audience online? Set up Google Alerts for your business. You'll begin to see where the conversations about your business are taking place. Listening helps you develop your voice.

2) Engage. Be sure you aren't just blasting out information and news about your business. Interact directly with your followers. Ask them what else they would like to see from you and your business.

Network Solutions CEO Tim Kelly puts it this way: "Social media levels the playing field" for small businesses, giving you "access to the exact same audience that the big brands" have. "No matter whether a business is large or small," Kelly adds, "you have to go where your customers are. Given the huge popularity of social media, odds are that's where many of your customers will be."

Entrepreneur and AllBusiness blogger Gini Dietrich, CEO of Arment Dietrich, recently put it in perspective: "This is not the Field of Dreams. If you build it, they will not come. Choose one tool, implement it into your overall business strategy, get good at using it, refine its use, and move on to the next one. And be patient. It does take time. After all, you're building relationships online. Online or off, relationships don't happen overnight."

Stokes County Farmers market

2011-05-04T09:26:00.000-07:00

With the rising costs of food and transportation, it is more important than ever to support our local farmers and take advantage of the wide variety of fresh and healthy foodstuffs they provide. The market is moving to the Stokes YMCA starting today!

King Farmers Market has a new home

The King Farmers Market opens for the season today in a new location, outside at the Stokes County YMCA.

The market will be open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays through October.

The market was at the American Legion Post on the Stokes County Fairgrounds.

The move should give the market more opportunities because of the YMCA's large customer base, said Randy Fulk, a Stokes County extension agent.

The Stokes Family YMCA is at 105 Moore Road in King.

For information, call the YMCA at (336) 985-9622 or the Stokes office of the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service at (336) 593-8179

The Only Stupid Question,

2011-04-29T09:28:00.000-07:00

is the one you don't ask.

I was taking a few moments this morning and came across this topic in one of the blogs that I follow. Evidently a prospective entrepreneur asked a question at a seminar and was not treated with a great deal of respect. I think this happens way more than it should and it leads to many people sitting on their hands rather than jumping into the fray. Let me say this in the strongest possible terms: if you are an entrepreneur or thinking about becoming one, never be afraid to ask your questions. Sure there may be people in the room that already know the answer and bully for them. That does not lessen the legitimacy of the question or the fact that others are sitting there wanting to know the same thing.

To take this discussion a step further, I implore you to take the time to develop a written business plan! This includes balance sheets, cash flow statements and break-even analysis. If you don't know how to do these, ask for help. It is available from several partners across North Carolina and in many cases at little or no costs. This will lead to a better understanding of what you are trying to accomplish, who your market is, how much money you need to start and at what level you become profitable.

So don't worry about the guy or gal who sits there and rolls their eyes or snickers when you ask your question. Most of the times, these know-it-alls will be the first ones who go out of business!

Why Bringing it Back is Not the Answer

2011-04-18T10:02:00.000-07:00

Or at least not all the answer. I found the blog below during my daily reading and I think it makes many interesting points. I also think that is misses one very major one. Once companies have grown to a certain level of sophistication, they must start looking for ways to cut cost, increase production and add to the bottom line. The only way they are going to do this is increase productivity and cut labor cost.

Where we in the U.S. are falling behind is our R&D. We became a Super Power by being ahead of the curve, not figuring out how to cut costs and produce goods at lower margins. We would create a new product, or advancement of and existing product, skim of the cream (highest profits) and move on to something else. We won because we were creative and spent the time, energy and money to figure out what to do next. It really didn't matter that the Japanese or Chinese or anyone else were stealing our technology and reproducing it. By the time they had perfected the old technology, we were already two steps ahead. This is not happening today and we are facing a real crisis. So I applaud the efforts to "onshore" jobs, to tighten supply chains and to pay attention to customers, but if we don't get our act together on the research and development issue, I fear that we will find ourselves on the outside looking in.

Enjoy the attached blog and let me know your thoughts:

Why Bringing It Back Home Makes Sense
In Uncategorized on April 17, 2011 at 8:10 am

There has been much speculation and conversation of late about U.S. manufacturers considering “on-shoring” or “re-shoring,” essentially bringing production operations back home.

When I read articles on this subject, I cannot help but think of a quote from A.G. Lafley, the former CEO of Procter & Gamble, which goes to the heart of this issue.

“The only strategy that matters is one that touches the consumer.”

This quote, provided to me by a former P&G exec Ed Burghard, is one that I periodically revisit to remind myself of certain fundamentals that should never be lost on anyone in business, but frequently is. The customer really is boss, and if you don’t provide the product or service expected, watch out.

Certain American manufacturers have learned the hard way that they could not best meet the needs of their customers with production facilities offshore, especially if their customers were here in the United States.

What It Is and What It Isn’t

And that is by definition what off-shoring is all about. It is not about moving production to another country simply to meet customer demand in that particular market. If you are making widgets for a Chinese market, which is a very big and growing market, then it might be a very smart and appropriate move to build a plant in China. But I don’t consider that off-shoring.

Rather, off-shoring is about moving operations offshore only to later import the goods back into the U.S, which still remains the world’s largest market, to fulfill demand.

Mind you, it can work. It has worked, particularly for certain industries such as telecom. But for many U.S.manufactures, off-shoring has not proved to be the panacea as expected.

Let’s Get Closer

A recent survey conducted by Accenture among 287 manufacturing companies identified that, in order to compete effectively, they needed to rebalance their existing supply footprint to better match with demand location. The majority of 61 percent of the respondents said they are currently considering shifting their manufacturing operations closer to customers to provide better service and to enable accelerated growth.

“Companies are beginning to realize that having off-shored much of their manufacturing and supply operations away from their demand locations, they hurt their ability to meet their customers’ expectations across a wide spectrum of areas, such as being able to rapidly meet increasing customer desires for unique products, continuing to maintain rapid delivery/response times, as well as maintaining low inventories and competitive total costs,” the Accenture report said

Managing supply operations that are separated far from where demand occurs has weakened some companies’ overall operational planning, forecasting and general flexibility, while driving up costs, particularly when energy prices are soaring. In short, the off-shoring experiment for many has backfired.

It would probably not be accurate to call off-shoring a fad. Again, it does work for certain companies in certain industries. But it is also clear that there is a lot of me-too-ism in business, a lot of follow the leader because they might know something we don’t know. For many companies, these strategic moves were simply not well thought out.

For example, nearly half (49 percent) of respondents in the Accenture survey reported facing issues with cycle or delivery time, and 46 percent have experienced product quality concerns as a result of off-shored manufacturing and supply operations.

Seeking Nirvana

The simple truth is that global competition will always force factory managers to try to replace expensive workers with machines or with low-wage labor overseas. Seeking nirvana through low labor costs has been a prime reason for off-shoring. By the way, it is also been the reason why the U.S.manufacturing is as efficient as it is. Because we cannot compete in terms of labor costs, we have had to develop more efficient, more automated systems for production. The proof is in the numbers.

A recent report by HIS Global Insight said China required 110 million workers to produce approximately the same amount of goods that 11.5 million American workers could produce. You may want to read that again.

In 2009, productivity in U.S. manufacturing increased by 7.7 percent, more than any other country followed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The simple truth is that manufacturers in the U.S. beat sweat-shop wages in developing countries through innovation employed here at home. It is the only way we can hope to compete. It is our only chance.

But clearly it is a chance, a risk worth taking for many manufacturers who have discovered issues of quality control that is not to their (or their customers’) liking and that total costs of manufacturing off-shore turned out to be not as low as expected.

What Happened to Our Cost Savings?

For one, labor costs are rising in Asia, particularly China, where wealth is building and a middle class is being created. And on the energy front, many analysts are predicting $150 a barrel oil before the end year’s end. Any way you cut it, moving a container load of pink flamingos from a far-off plant in Shandong province in China to the U.S. and to eventually find its way into your local Tacky Wacky store (I just made that up) is going to become more expensive. That is just the way it is.

So the seemingly initial cost savings – the reason why many if not most U.S.manufacturers jumped into a off-shore strategy with both feet are no longer so big. In fact, they are diminishing. And then there are your customers, you remember them. They are those pesky, challenging people requiring better service, agility, speed, and quality.

And now it starts to dawn on you that your plant in Shandong province alone may not cut it. Indeed, if you are going to keep these customers as customers, you are going to have to bring at least some production back home.

And that is what is happening, pure and simple.

The Right Strategy

“Getting closer to the customer allows for improved flexibility to respond to uncertain mand and unknown customer requests in an agile way with fast delivery times while maintaining high quality and optimized costs,” the Accenture study said.

It may not always prove to be the lowest cost strategy, but it is the right strategy for keeping customers happy. So a rebalancing act is taking place to better match supply operations with demand locations. BMW, Nissan, Siemens, Electrolux are recent examples of companies investing hundreds of millions of dollars in this country in pursuit of a strategy that A.G. Lafley spoke about.

Yes, indeed, it’s a brand new world out there. Heck, it’s always a brand new world.

Dean Barber is the president/CEO of Barber Business Advisors, LLC, a site selection and economic development consulting firm in Red Oak, Texas — www.barberadvisors.com

Stokes County Treasure

2011-04-15T11:51:00.000-07:00

As spring move onward, I wanted to take an opportunity to bring you up to date on the lake and beach opportunities at Hanging Rock State Park. In addition to the wonderful trails, wildlife and vistas to enjoy, you now have additional hours to enjoy the lake and beach area.

Hanging Rock Lake

Fishing is permitted year round on the lake for bass, sunfish, and catfish. Anyone over 15 years old must have a NC fishing license. Fish from the shore, the wheelchair accessible pier, or from a rental boat. Only the swim beach and stone dam are off limits to fishing. There is no fee for fishing.

Rowboats and Canoes are rented for use on the lake weekends April, May, September, and October, and daily Memorial Day-August. Spring and fall hours are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Summer hours are 10:00 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Rental cost is $5 for the first hour and $3 for each succeeding hour. To protect the lake from weed introduction, private boats are not allowed.

The Lake Refreshment Stand is open on weekends April, May, September, and October from 10:00 to 5:00 and is open daily to 5:45 Memorial Day through August.

If you are a regular visitor to the park, welcome and if you haven't visited the park, what are you waiting for?

What Consumers want from facebook

2011-04-08T11:24:00.000-07:00

Below you will see information that may surprise you somewhat. That certainly appears to be the case for many of the large corporations in America. They have been busy trying to have a conversation with their customers rather than offering them what they really want, which is deals or special promotions for their products.

The social media perception gap
April 4, 2011 by engagesciences0
inShare.Most companies are misunderstanding the massive opportunity that social media marketing represents. Last month the IBM Institute of Business Value published a report entitled ‘From Social to Social CRM’. The report surveyed 1000 consumers about the reasons they interact with companies via social sites and then compared this with the results from surveying 350 business executives on why they thought consumers followed them on on social media. The results highlighted a perception gap that can only mean companies are missing out on direct revenue opportunities.

The reality is social media followers WANT to be monetized – they are after deals, promotions and discounts. Unfortunately most business executives are barking up the wrong tree by thinking that conversation with the brand is what drives people to follow them. In reality it is quite the opposite. Of course this represents a massive opportunity. If brands build up large social followings they can distribute social offers into this community and the research suggests that commercial results will be healthy. You can’t get more focused social ROI than campaigns focused on revenue. Marketing executives need to meet consumers expectations when they follow companies on social sites through providing regular deals, coupons and social offers.

This reminds me of what an "old time" salesman told me one day after I had made my sales pitch. I was really excited about the job I had done and I had walked out with an order. I asked him to critique how I had done, just knowing that I had hit it out of the park. He looked at me for a moment, sort of nodded and said: " Wood, you did ok but you talked to #### much, just say your piece, ask for the order and shut-up." This sounds like sound advice to anyone trying to promote products on social sites. Give them what they want, then get out of the way.

Thank a Farmer

2011-03-22T07:52:00.000-07:00

We recently had National Farm Appreciation Week and Stokes County will be having its annual Farmer Appreciation Day this Thursday. In honor of this, I wanted to reprint some information I received from the Agurban Newsletter about agriculture in America:

Thank a Farmer!

Last week (March 13-19, 2011) was National Agriculture Week in the United States, with March 15, 2011, designated as National Agriculture Day. This is a time when producers, agricultural associations, corporations, agencies, and countless others across America gather to recognize and celebrate the abundance provided by Agriculture. The National Ag Day program is committed to increasing public awareness about American agriculture. Incidentally, National Agriculture Week always coincides with the first day of spring.

As the world population soars, there is even greater demand for the food and fiber that the United States farmer produces. American agriculture must meet global needs for food and fiber now and in the future.

Here are few facts about American agriculture:

2.2 million: At the end of 2009, there were 2,200,010 farms in the United States, a loss of 90 farms from the previous year. This translates into a $200 billion industry.
54.4 percent: In 2007, the majority of U.S. farms were smaller than 100 acres.
4.8 million acres: Between 2006 and 2008, the country gained almost 2 million acres of certified organic farmland. The certification process is lengthy and time consuming. If you prefer organic vegetables, talk to your farmer. Ask him about his farming practices. There are growers who follow organic practices but are too small of an operation to afford the governmental processes.
12 percent: Americans only consume a small amount of the corn produced here every year. The majority -- around 80 percent- - of the United States corn crop is used to feed livestock, poultry and fish throughout the world.
24 to 26 hours: The amount of time it takes a hen to produce an egg, starting the process all over again about 30 minutes after laying. The next time you're enjoying a three-egg omelet remember: it took a chicken more than three days to make your breakfast.
5 cents: Is farming a high-profit enterprise? The average farmer receives approximately 5 cents from every loaf of bread you buy. The last time I checked the price of Wonder Bread at the grocery store, it was almost $2 a loaf. Who gets the other $1.95?2 million: Honey bees are hard workers. In order to make one pound of honey, they have to visit 2 million flowers. Buying your honey from local producers keeps money in the local economy and is better for your health. If you suffer from allergies, those same pollens that cause your itchy eyes and sneezing will become part of your honey, helping to build immunity.
So if you have abundant food on your table and do not go to bed hungry, thank a farmer. The American Agricultural industry is perhaps one of the most important in the world!

Thanks to all the farmers in our county. We support you and we hope our efforts to develop a strong Local Food organization will have an impact on the amount of income you get to keep!

Food for thought

2011-03-07T10:00:00.000-08:00

As we see fuel cost escalating quickly and close on its heels rising food prices, it is time to think a little harder about where are food comes from, who is making money on it and if this is the best process. Here is a link to a story from the USDA on the current breakdown on where our food dollar goes. While it probably raises more questions than it answers, it is an eye opener. Take a moment to read the story, look at the comments and start developing your own ideas about this important issue in our world today: http://www.foodpolitics.com/2011/02/usda-recalculates-distribution-of-food-dollar/

Social Networking for Small Business

2011-03-03T10:48:00.000-08:00

I have spent some time recently working with small businesses and talking about varying marketing options. In connection with this, I found this blog recently and thought it was good information and has several valuable links. Hope it helps:

Social Networking – What’s the Big Deal?
Posted on March 1, 2011 by Ina Lejins
You’ve seen them — Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon, LinkedIn, MySpace, Slashdot, Blinklist, Newsvine, and hundreds more — little social networking icons popping up on most websites and blogs, each one a portal into communities built around social interaction and sharing common interest.

Each social network serves as a common meeting ground and, just as some folks prefer chocolate over vanilla, each social community has its own flavor of followers.

So what is the big deal? Social media has soared to the top of the news mainly because of the sheer number of participants and the subsequent effects of sharing information virally. It’s the old-fashioned way of spreading news with a new-tech touch. Not unlike the effect of television… back in the day.

With social networking, news can spread fast presenting opportunities to showcase your business, or your cause, to people you have never met.

If you are reading this you may already be familiar with social networking as are over 600 million people on the planet who currently use the top social networking platform, Facebook. But perhaps you’re one of the many entrepreneurs or business owners scratching their heads asking, “Just how can (or even if) social networking help my business reach new markets and increase sales?”

Can social media help my business? While social networking may very well become a marketing cornerstone for your business in the future, it requires targeted decisions and a clear plan; and for some, it might mean picking up a few new ‘social’ skills.

Ask yourself the following to determine if social networking might benefit your business:

1. Who are your customers and target markets? Consider their age and demographics for clues about how technically integrated they might be.

2. Where do your customers socialize on the Web? For example, specific age groups trend toward Facebook while other demographics seek more detailed information by following blogs or engaging in forums related to their interests.

3. Is your business primarily local or is it available nationally or globally? While geography may no longer be the barrier it once was, factor in culture, language and locality to determine which social media platform best speaks to your audience.

A little research goes a long way. Once demographics are established, take time to develop a clear social networking plan for your entrance into social media. The result will be well worth the initial effort. Below you will find a number of tools to help you wet your feet in the social media pool.

Resource Links:

Five Organizing Principles for Social Media in 2011
Top 15 Social Networking Sites

Resource Videos:

Short video featuring Mari Smith, well-known Social Media guru explaining Twitter Tips for Beginners

View a quick 3 minute video – Marketing with Facebook

Take a peek into the social media revolution, a dynamic YouTube video produced by Erik Qualman, author of “Social Media ROI: Socialnomics”, which illustrates how far the mind-boggling usage social media has reached in just a few years.

10% Campaign

2011-01-28T07:16:00.000-08:00

I have the good fortune to work with a variety of dedicated local farmers and their supporters. This group is working diligently to develop a sustainable regional local food community. When they are successful, it will create opportunities for new jobs, income our farmers, fresher and more healthy food, as well as the conservation of our land and natural resources.

To that end, I wanted to make you aware today of a statewide program could provide significant income to our local farmers as indicated from this quote: "Organizers say the program should be a huge benefit to more than just local growers. They add North Carolinians spend $35 billion on food each year. If just 10 percent went to local growers, the 10 Percent Campaign calculates that more than $3.5 billion would be available in the state’s economy.
“In these challenging times, buying local food will benefit our farmers and fishermen and help grow our economy,” says Dan Gerlach, Golden LEAF Foundation President

Please take a moment and visit this site and make a commitment to helping our local farmers, our environment and your health: http://www.nc10percent.com/ It gives you all the information you need to get started.

Who wants to do business with a man in a grass skirt

2011-01-21T11:58:00.000-08:00

This was a question posted in response to a photo of me taken at our 2nd Annual Business Extravaganza last evening. Now I will admit that you don't see a lot of men, especially 50 year old economic developers wearing grass skirts and trying to help build local economies, but maybe you should.

Stokes County is a very rural county located in the Piedmont Triad of North Carolina, just north of Winston Salem. It faces the challenges that most rural areas in the state and the US do, loss of our manufacturing base, loss of many of our young people to more urban areas, tight budgets and more. Most days I show up for work with my coat and tie, tackle the challenges before me and do my job.

But the job in front of us as Americans and for my friends in Stokes County is not business as usual. We need to try different methods, we need to develop our local assets and play to our strengths. If it takes me wearing a grass skirt and a cheap lei to get peoples attention, I will do it. I guarantee you that the 200+ people that turned out for our event last evening will remember it longer than most of the boring rubber chicken dinners that these events normally turn in to. I also believe they heard my message loud and clear and will remember it as well.

Stokes County is moving. We have several exciting programs being developed. We have new businesses in the works and we have some of the best people I have ever had the pleasure to work with. We will continue to push the envelope, look for new innovative ideas and work to build a cohesive economy. If you missed last evenings event, you missed a good time. You missed business getting done and you missed being with friends and potential friends. Start planning now for next years event, tentatively scheduled for Jan 19, 2012. I started planning it when I woke up this morning and you never know what next year might bring.

Oh and by the way, I have the legs to pull off the look!

Follow-up from a beautiful event

2011-01-05T06:29:00.000-08:00

If you live within driving distance of Stokes County and King and did not attend the Poinsettia display at Mitchell's Greenhouse and Nursery, you missed a beautiful affair. It is too late for this year but do not dispair, they are scheduled to have the show again in December of 2011. Please see information below provided by Judy Mitchell. If you want to see photos of this years event, visit the Stokes County Travel/Tourism and Development page on facebook. Many thanks to the Mitchells for their efforts.

Mitchell’s Nursery & Greenhouse Inc.

1088 W. Dalton Rd.

King, NC 27021

(336)983-4107

www.mitchellsnurseryandgreenhouse.com

Dec. 29, 2010

A survey of 65 varieties of poinsettias was taken at our Open House on Sunday Dec. 5, 2010. We grew over 9,000 poinsettias. Approximately 213 people attended from 12:30 – 4:30. Attendance was down because of cold weather. It snowed all Saturday afternoon and snow was still on the ground until noon. Three plants of each variety were labeled for judging. Judging continued until Dec. 11th by those who wanted to participate. The form for judging contained 5 lists – novelty, red, white, marble, and pink. The top five favorites in each category were voted for. This year we also had a fill in section for people to write in their 3 favorite over all. Ads were run in the Winston-Salem Journal, Weekly Independent, Stokes News, Mount Airy News, The Pilot, Foothill Times, and Yadkin Valley Living Magazine. We were featured on the cover of The Foothill Times with an ad inside about poinsettias. It was on the calendar of events for King Chamber of Commerce, North Carolina Commercial Flower Growers Assoc., North Carolina Agritourism Networking Assoc., Carolina Gardener Magazine, Winston-Salem Journal garden page, and Winston-Salem Journal Relish. Fox 8 News WGHP did two live stories on the morning show and on the 10:00 news and ran pictures on their website. WFMY TV – Digtriad .com news from Greensboro also did a segment at our greenhouse on the evening news “Made in the Triad” and listed us on their website. The Winston Salem Journal had a color picture and mentioned it on their garden page. We sent out over 1600 picture postcards to our customers. We list it on our website www.mitchellsnurseryandgreenhouse.com, on our facebook page, and on our blog.

To get points I gave each 1st place vote 5 points, 2nd place 4 points, 3rd place 3 points, 4th place 2 points, and 5th place 1 point. Attached is a copy of a blank ballot. If you have any suggestions on how to improve it, please email them to me.

The results of our open house are on another attachment.

Sincerely,

Judy Mitchell

2011 Business Extravaganza

2011-01-03T13:21:00.000-08:00

STOKES COUNTY
Economic Development Commission

MEDIA RELEASE

For Release: Immediately

Contact: Alan Wood, Director, Stokes County EDC, 335-593-2496

January 3, 2011
*****

RE: Stokes County Business Extravaganza II

The second annual Stokes County Business Extravaganza is scheduled to take place January 20, 2011 at YMCA Camp Hanes, 1225 Camp Hanes Rd. King NC. The “Extravaganza” is designed as a showcase for local businesses and is open to all business owners in Stokes County. Over 35 booths have been reserved by local businesses and more than 650 invitations have been mailed for the event, which promises to be even bigger than last year. The event is being hosted by the Stokes County Economic Development Commission and is made possible by corporate event sponsor NewBridge Bank.
Last years event, which was attended by over 200, was a light-hearted affair, with lots of laughs, good food, plenty of door prizes, networking and more. This year’s event is expected to be even larger and its “Tropical” theme is being developed to help remove some of the chill from a cold January evening.
The “Extravaganza” is an informal event centered abound the businesses that are participating at the affair. It is scheduled to begin at 5:30 and last until 8:00 PM. Music for the event will be provided by Josh Shelton and the food is being prepared by Stephen Doran and the Camp Hanes Staff. Door prizes will be announced all through the evening and the grand prize will be awarded just before the event ends at 8:00 PM. All guests are invited to come early and stay as long as they would like.
Bruce Younts, Chairman of the Stokes County EDC believes this event is extremely important to Stokes County and its continuing efforts to build an identity within its business community. “We have several challenges in the county, including a mountain
PO Box 20 Danbury, NC 27016 336-593-2496 adwood@co.stokes.nc.us

range that divides us geographically. It is important for our business leaders and county officials to have an opportunity to meet face to face in a relaxed atmosphere, where they can share ideas and plan for the future. This event provides such an opportunity.”
Alan Wood, CEcD, Director of the Stokes County EDC, believes that the economic development efforts in the county must take a “holistic” approach, paying particular attention to existing businesses, nurturing start-ups and developing infrastructure for new and expanding ventures. “The “Business Extravaganza” is a centerpiece of the ongoing efforts of the Stokes County Economic Development Commission to reach out to the business community. The EDC has worked directly with over 70 businesses in the last year. This includes assistance with web building, marketing, searching for grant funding, assistance with business plan development and many other activities. The only way we can continue to help our businesses grow is by having open lines of communication. That is what this event designed to do. I also want to send out a special thanks to NewBridge Bank for sponsoring this event. They are a great partner and we anticipate their continuing support as we move ahead.
Mr. Wood asks that anyone who would like to attend RSVP by Monday, January 10—either by email to: adwood@co.stokes.nc.us or by phone at 336- 593-2496. Although the goal is a serious one, the atmosphere of the Extravaganza will be casual. Hors d’oeuvres, free of charge, will be served the entire time, and a significant number of door prizes will be given away, perhaps as often as every 15 minutes. Winners must attend but do not have to be present to claim their prize.

* * * * *

It's all about the Education ...

2010-12-22T12:01:00.000-08:00

As I am cleaning off my desk, working through emails, reading articles that I haven't had time to look over and basically winding down before a few days off, I keep running into a common theme: if we in rural America are to be able to compete on a global level, we must become lifelong learners. This isn't a great epiphany and it doesn't immediately create jobs or put money in our coffers but I believe it is one of the few absolute truths that will stand the test of time for our generation.

During the times of rapid economic expansion that occurred after WWII and for many decades that followed, it was possible to leave school, take a job, have a family, buy a house, have children, buy a car,then retire 35 years later, with a pension provided by your company. You could probably do this without ever reading anything more than the daily news. It was almost an unwritten contract that if you were loyal to your employer, then they would take care of you. My, how times have changed.

Less and less companies offer a pension, even if you stay with them your entire career (that is if they stay in business). Most of us are going to face not only multiple job changes but multiple career changes. The only way to survive in this environment is to be adaptable and be willing an able to learn.

That takes me to the real meat of this post: we have 30+% of our population in Stokes County that have less than a High School diploma. We have less than 50% of the state average number of residents with a college degree. We have a significant portion of students leaving school each year without a diploma and this number is not shrinking. It scares me to think about what life will hold for many of these young people. Most will be faced with a life of low wage jobs and little chance of advancement.

OK, so that is enough of a downer for one post. There is light on the horizon. I am attaching a link to Tech Quarterly, a magazine produced by Forsyth Technical Community College. http://www.forsythtech.edu/uploads/97/49/9749afe331ed3ad8c13aa794dad5589e/FTC-10211-3_TQ_Fall_2010_finalREV_web3.pdf Please go to pages 23-4 and read the article on Paul Kindley, Adult Literacy Coordinator for Stokes County. I have had the pleasure of working with Paul occasionally during the past several months and he is as dedicated a person as I know. With people of this caliber, who are pushing to improve the educational attainment of our citizens, there is hope. If you see Paul or his brethren in the educational field this holiday season, stop to say hello and thank them for the jobs they are doing.

I think they are our best hope for the future!

Local Food as a hope for economic prosperity

2010-12-17T13:00:00.000-08:00

For the last month, I have been working on grants that in my opinion can lead to opportunity and even prosperity for rural Stokes County. If successful, these grants will provide funding to create a replicable system that allows four local, regional food systems to create economies of scale and logistic capabilities that will allow them to better compete with a huge, government subsidized food system (.62 of each dollar of food income is derived from government subsidizes.) This is a system that is based on low energy costs (just saw and article that projected gas above $3/gal by Christmas, not exactly cheap)and mass production of food stuffs. To help make my point, here is a link to a very interesting video. This is an eleven year old young man that speaks volumes: http://www.commondreams.org/video/2010/09/29-2

If we are successful, food can be produced locally and sold to a large and rapidly growing population across the Piedmont of North Carolina. This can lead to jobs and help keep more of our land in crop production. Food can be harvested and in your home within 24-48 hours. You can actually know the farmers that are growing it, where it is being grown and when it left the field. This is quite different than the 2 weeks+ that we currently see. There are many details to be worked out, we need more farmers, we need more variety, we need processing facilities for overflow, we need to expand our growing season and much more.

The second grant addresses another need. The need to add new farmers and help our youth procure a future. In Stokes County, the average age of our farmers is 58. They show an average net income of $3,000/yr. It isn't hard to understand why our children are leaving to receive an education and not coming home. I gave seerious thought to having a career in farming as I grew up. I just couldn't make the numbers work. We hope to create an educational facility in Stokes County that will allow our youth and displaced workers to learn sustainable, intensive agricultural practices that can mean a reasonable wage for their efforts. It will include profit models and plans for multiple income streams, using every available sq ft of land to produce income. This plan plays to two strengths we already have in our county: a strong farming heritage and available land.

This is not an answer to all our problems but I think it is a start. If we play to our strengths, create small businesses, called farms it becomes one step of many. Our Economic Development Commission's plan of work depends on paying attention to our local businesses, helping create new ones and building an economy that is sustainable for the long term. The local food program has a chance to be an important tool in our arsenal. Wish us luck!

Support your local area stores during the Holidays

2010-12-06T12:08:00.000-08:00

Feeling a little rushed, tired of all the ads from the big box stores: buy more, buy now, buy bigger. Maybe it is time to step back and think about staying closer to home and help support your local shops! Below is a list of ideas picked up from the King Chamber of Commerce Monday Minute. These are just a few of the local area shops that can provide you with unique ideas for your family, friends, children and anyone else on your shopping list. Lets make it fun, after looking at this short list, try to think of three more local shops that can provide fun, and diversity for a gift to someone you love!
2010 Christmas Shopping Guide

IT’S“BOW TIME”

That’s right-it’s time to grab the tape and paper, wrap up those special gifts and attach the fluffy bows! But if you are caught in the “what to buy” frenzy, we have timely suggestions aplenty.

Those animal lovers still on your list will find Polar Bear Poinsettias hard to resist. Mitchell’s Nursery and Greenhouse has these lovely white blooms in special packaging and a portion of every purchase will be donated to Polar Bears International, an organization dedicated to the worldwide conservation of the polar bear.
Mitchell’s Nursery & Greenhouse, Inc. - 1088 West Dalton Road, King, NC 336-983-4107

For that hard-to-please guy, we suggest this special option: A Schrade Collector Knife, “Tobacco Edition”. Gentry’s Store now has these knives and other great gift ideas in stock.
Gentry’s Store -117 South Main Street, King, NC 336-983-3440

Hand made pewter and blown glass ornaments, along with lovely art and framing, too; the folks at Hampton House Art and Framing can certainly help you. Hampton House also has the popular soap rocks which make very unique stocking stuffers.
Hampton House Art and Framing, Inc.- 613-A East King Street, King, NC 336-983-6688

Something that’s useful and practical may be just the ticket; LTD Farm & Garden has clothes to protect you in the woodiest thicket. For hunting, for working and general warm outdoor wear, LTD’s new line of affordable Key Clothing is the perfect idea for many. Check out the new arrivals and the variety of unique gifts available at LTD.
LTD Farm & Garden- 931 Meadowbrook Drive, King, NC 336-983-4331

Want to pamper someone and give them something for comfort and ease? A holiday package gift certificate from Serene Massage Therapy is sure to please. The special includes warm paraffin dip for hands and feet, warm therapy for the spine and a 30, 60 or 90 minute massage.
Serene Massage Therapy -223 Ingram Drive, King, NC 336-391-0760

Another practical idea and one that could save trouble: Budget Termite and Pest Control, Inc. is offering special rates with a money-saving double! Winter rates: real estate termite inspection-$49.00, radon test-$95.00 or $124.00 for both.
Budget Termite and Pest Control, Inc. 336-985-0808

Does Christmas fill you with nostalgia and bring memories flooding in? TNT Supplies suggests a special decoration that is reminiscent of the way things could have been. TNT Supplies has tobacco stick barn stars in two sizes complete with berry garland and lights.
TNT Supplies-Colony Centre Shopping Centre, King, NC 336-283-0308

Don’t forget about the gift basket that can be custom made for you. Venie Rose Florist will design it with lots of items or just a few. They are offering 10% off a special basket order from now until December 23 if you tell them you saw it in Monday Minute.
Venie Rose Florist-225 East King Street, King, NC 336-983-0045

Paintings of our agricultural past and the Dairi-O, too: both are waiting at Tim Bruce Art Gallery for you. Prints are still available on most of the “ghost series” as well as on several renditions of Pilot Mountain and two new releases.
Tim Bruce Art Gallery-401 East King Street, King, NC 336-985-610
Perhaps you are filled with joy and happiness this holiday season and feel as those you could dance the night away - Then you may be interested in having the younger ones learn the perfect steps! Snowflake classes are being offered January 15 – February 26 for 3, 4 and 5 years olds – the classes last for six weeks. (Creative Movement – Acrobatics – Ballet) – The cost for each class is $43.00. Gift Certificates are available.
Miss Joyce Dance Studio – 121 E. Dalton Street, King, NC 336-983-9458

Customer Service Thoughts for the Holidays

2010-11-23T08:15:00.000-08:00

We are entering the busiest retail time of the year. A large percentage of all retail sales take place between Thanksgiving and New Years. With that in mind, I found what I believe is some useful information that might help you with your business:

Happy Thanksgiving to all our faithful readers! And Thank You for following us every week as we share information that we hope you find of interest.

This week, due to reader request, we are rerunning an Agurban from late last year. The message is as fitting today as it was a year ago.

Holiday Marketing Tips for Businesses
by Scott Taddiken
Washburn Small Business Development Center

That's right - it's that time of year again! I'm amazed every season how many creative and wonderful marketing strategies business owners use during this season, and having spoken recently on the topic, I thought I'd share a few ideas I've come across.

1. Don't overlook any potential markets - Gifts are huge, but decorations, candy and food, flowers (poinsettias and others) greeting cards and postage, etc. are also big. These categories make up to 25% of Christmas spending!

2. Black Friday is big, but it isn't everything - Traffic is extremely high on the day following Thanksgiving and some say up to 25% of shoppers will start at 5 a.m. However, Black Friday isn't always the biggest spending day - for brick and mortar businesses, the last two weekends prior to Christmas may be the biggest.

Many people are looking for good deals and a place to have fun. Black Friday shopping is something fun to do with family and friends.

While many people get out to shop on Black Friday, stores must have a plan to bring them back in to buy.

3. People are shopping online - Online purchases tend to increase as the season progresses (people have checked out store specials and done comparison shopping)

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are often good online - people shop in stores over the weekend and then shop online at the beginning of the week. This means retailers must close the sale on the weekend while shoppers are in their stores.

4. Spending the week after Christmas and into January continues to increase! - Find a way to bring these shoppers back into your stores. Hand out "good for ___% off your next purchase" coupons to holiday shoppers. Offer surprises with a future purchase and make sure to promote your after Christmas and January sales.

5. When they are buying from you, be sure to "Bundle 'em up"! - Create gift packages (corporate gifts, related products, etc.) Remember people are four times more likely to buy something they can touch, so have items available.

Ask your vendors for displays or use displays that suggest a product's use or someone else's enjoyment in receiving a product.

6. Gift Cards - Did you know that 56% of people spend more than is on the card? So make sure all shoppers know you offer gift cards as a great gift idea.

Gift cards are also a great addition to any purchase (buy $25 for $20).

Another benefit of gift cards is that they expose new people to your business - great advertising!

And remember, some gift cards never get used.

Above all be positive, cheery and enjoy the season - your customers will notice!

The 3/50 Project

2010-11-16T10:15:00.000-08:00

I received this in an email today. I saw if first several months ago and find it as interesting today as I did the first time around. We are defined by the choices we make and every purchase is a choice. We can support our local businesses and they will thrive, we can ignore them and they will disappear. Please take a moment and read the info below. If you are intersted, get in touch and lets discuss how we can make a difference with and for locally owned businesses:

The 3/50 Project

We received a great email this week from Frankie Gilliam, CEcD and Community and Economic Development Specialist at ASU Delta Center for Economic Development in Jonesboro, Arkansas, introducing us to Cinda Baxter and the 3/50 Project movement. Below are the key points of The 3/50 Project, as outlined on their home page.

3 - What three independently owned businesses would you miss if they disappeared? Stop in. Say hello. Pick up something that brings a smile. Your purchases are what keeps those businesses around.

50 - If half the employed population spent $50 each month in locally owned businesses, it would generate more than $42.6 billion in revenue. Imagine the positive impact if ¾ of the employed population did that.

68 - For every $100 spent in locally owned independent stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll, and other expenditures. If you spend that in a national chain, only $43 stays local. Spend it online and nothing comes home.

1 - The number of people it takes to start the trend - you!

As you know, we have been long time proponents of supporting your local businesses. What a great idea that Cinda has put together! I encourage each of you to Pick 3 and Spend 50, to Save your local economy. Thank you, Frankie, for bringing this to our attention!

So you want to start your own business, do you...

2010-11-09T09:57:00.000-08:00

Much of my effort as an economic developer in Stokes County is spent in an effort to assist local businesses and to work with those that wish, for many reasons to start their own business. Many of them feel pressured into this because they have lost a job due to downsizing or they feel the pinch of stagnant incomes and rising prices. Whatever the reason might be, I would suggest they take a few moments and read the comments posted below. If after reading this and taking the time to really consider what Mr. Walton has to say please get in touch with my office and lets make sure you have the tools to start you own your way:

Entrepreneurship

How Badly Do You Want Success?
Are you fully committed?

By Jim Walton
CEO, Brand Acceleration, Inc.
Indianapolis and Charlotte

I recently had lunch with a young man who wanted advice about starting a business. He’s a very talented individual with a great work ethic. He has a job working for someone else but his long-time dream is to be self employed. Many have that same dream but few really understand what goes into starting and growing a business.

As a business owner, I am often approached for such advice. I’ve started, stopped, bought, and sold several companies. I’ve been self employed nearly half my career. I guess you could call me a habitual entrepreneur. It’s just in my blood and I love the process of creating and growing a business. I’ve made many mistakes and learned countless lessons along the way.

For the sake of clarity, when I talk about self employment, I am not referring to freelancing or projects taken on to fill a financial void while searching for a job. I’m talking about a real company – full-time self employment.

Today’s challenging economy has spat a large number of very talented people onto the job market and many have considered self employment as the next step in the career path. Before starting a business, there are several questions that must be answered. Only by clearly understanding where you stand on each should you move into the world of self employment.

Why do you want to be self employed?
People start companies for several reasons but the most common is the need for a job. Big mistake! Most new companies require at least 1 ½ to 2 years to become self-sustaining. If all the owner desires is a job, he or she had better have the patience, hustle, and resources to ride out this crucial startup period.

How far are you willing to bend?
There will be times, whether you’re self employed or work for someone else, when you will have to work with people you simply don’t like. As a business owner, you have the ability to decide which employees, vendors, and clients to allow into your circle.

We once had a series of meetings with a construction industry supply company which had expressed an interest in signing Brand Acceleration as its marketing communications agency. The discussions went well until the third meeting. As is often the case, when you allow someone to speak long enough, their true personality will eventually be revealed. At that point in time, the company owner/president became belligerent, not only with us but with virtually every one of his staffers. Now, we’ve worked with difficult people before but this guy was rude, condescending, and just downright abusive to every person in the room.

When I started Brand Acceleration, I vowed to myself that I would not work with any person I didn’t like, nor would I ask anyone on my team to work with such a person. At the end of that meeting, I politely declined the business, telling the owner that it just didn’t appear to be a good fit for us. As a business owner, you need to know how far you’re willing to be pushed, even if you desperately need the business.

Are you up to managing the details?
Companies often fail because they outgrow the ability of the owner to manage the details of running a business. For example, many restaurants are started by people who consider themselves great cooks, just to die because the owner is overwhelmed by the minutia of running a business. Staffing, accounting, taxes, insurance, leasing, equipment, and other details are more than some people can handle. At some point in time, it stops being fun and the business shuts down. If you’re not up to the daily grind of business ownership, don’t jump in. You’ll regret it.

Have a passion for excellence
As a business grows, the owner needs to remain committed to providing excellent products and/or service. You must be able to do this while managing the details and growing the company. The moment you turn your back on your clients and begin cutting corners, you’re doomed to fail.

Surround yourself with great people
Over the years, my most trusted mentors, some former employers, taught me to surround myself with great people and then get out of their way. This applies not only to employees but also to suppliers and vendors. I’ve found that they make me and my company look great by providing excellent deliverables to our clients. It’s also important to swiftly remove underperformers. Regardless of how great the team is, your customers will remember the poor service resulting from the actions of the one person who dropped the ball. As the business owner, you must build, monitor, and make changes in order to protect your company brand.

Always offer and demand loyalty
The glue that holds the Brand Acceleration team together is the loyalty and caring that we share for one another. Our clients, employees, and vendors are our friends, too. We care for one another and function much as a family.

How badly do you want success?
One of the biggest things that budding business owners fail to consider is the amount of work they’ll have to do. The idea that self employment means you won’t have to work as hard is pure fantasy. You’ll work harder than you’ve ever worked in your life. As a business owner, you can forget the concept of a 40-hour work week. Sixty or eighty hours may be more realistic, especially during the startup phase. You’re going to live and breathe that business during your every waking moment.

I recently saw a YouTube video of Mr. Eric Thomas, Advantage Director at Michigan State University. In his Secrets of Success video series, he asks the question, “How bad do you want your dream?” In it, he dramatically demonstrates the importance of the passion, desire, and commitment required to succeed at anything, including self employment. This is one of several of his speeches on YouTube. Click the picture to view his YouTube video.

To my young friend, here’s what I said: If, after considering these very serious questions, you still have a burning desire to start your own company, then you may just have what it takes to succeed. Develop a well written business plan, establish a team of advisors, get your financing together, and then go for it. I wish you much success and personal satisfaction

21st Century Program and Economic Gardening

2010-10-29T08:13:00.000-07:00

We had our "kickoff" for our 21st Century Program this week. This included a reception Tuesday evening and interviews with 30 local citizens on Wednesday. This process went on for the entire day and the I can't begin to tell you how proud I am of our participants. We were 30 for 30 with everyone being here for thier interviews and taking time from their busy day to help Stokes County move forward. Mark Roberts and the NC Dept. of Commerce team left here with reams of information and a giant task ahead: to assimilate all the information, then help us understand where we are and where we need to be. This is a big step for our community.

If my thougts and our efforts over the past 2 years are on track, we are going to be most effective with a program of internal development and entrepreneurial growth. A process called "Economic Gardening". It is summed up in detail in the article shown below. I hope you take a few minutes an review this information. I believe it is the best hope for rurual communities to be competitive in the future. We will find out in a few weeks if the 30 people that were interviewed on Wednesday agree with me!

Seven Steps to Developing an Economic Gardening Implementation Strategy

16 September 2010
Economic gardening is an entrepreneurial approach to economic development that seeks to grow the local economy from within. Here are the seven steps to developing an implementation strategy for your economic gardening program to succeed.

This article is an excerpt from the InFocus issue, Strengthen Your Local Economy through Economic Gardening, by Christine Hamilton-Pennell, published by ICMA.

Economic gardening is an entrepreneurial approach to economic development that seeks to grow the local economy from within. Its premise is that local entrepreneurs create the companies that bring new wealth and economic growth to a region in the form of jobs, increased revenues, and a vibrant local business sector. Economic gardening seeks to focus on growing and nurturing local businesses rather than hunting for “big game” outside the area.

Preparing a strategy for an economic gardening program can be complicated—there are many elements that must be developed first, taking into consideration unique community needs and available resources. Here are the seven steps to developing an implementation strategy for your economic gardening program to succeed.

1. Gain the support of local officials and other stakeholders

Governing bodies generally do not like to be handed a program and asked to vote on it. It takes time and effort to develop the support of elected officials for an economic gardening approach. The first step is to sit down with each official and other key stakeholders and listen to their concerns about economic development. Inadvertently or deliberately excluding a key stakeholder or someone on the governing board from providing input or participating in the decision-making process can lead to opposition and future undermining of your efforts.

2. Identify your community’s assets

Develop an inventory of community and business assets available to you. Ask yourself these questions:

■What human capital exists in my community? Human capital refers to “the unique capabilities and expertise of individuals that are productive in some economic context,” generally linked to formal education and experience.
■What skills and expertise can we tap into?
■What organizations can we partner with?
■What systems and organizations already exist to support entrepreneurs?
■Who is already motivated and passionate to make something happen?
■What cultural, recreational and other quality-of-life amenities do we have?
■What assets can we leverage outside our community?
Your list of assets should include the usual suspects such as economic development organizations, chambers of commerce, small business development centers (SBDCs), SCORE, workforce centers, universities and community colleges, financial institutions, and civic and social groups such as Rotary and Kiwanis. Other groups and individuals that can also provide value to your community efforts include:

■Public and university libraries
■Professional business associations and groups
■Community foundations and loan funds
■Microfinance organizations
■Elected and appointed officials
■Utility companies
■Successful entrepreneurs
■Council of governments
■Arts and cultural entities
■Consultants
■Policymakers
■Healthcare agencies
■Tourism offices
■Immigrant and citizenship initiatives
■Continuing education and training programs
■And more
Look for individuals in your community who have skills and expertise in areas such as business coaching and mentoring, finance, employment/workforce development, research, marketing, meeting facilitation, organizing/managing projects, public speaking, legal support, and fundraising.

Perhaps the most important assets you can identify in your community are individuals who can become champions and advocates for your economic gardening project. They might be successful entrepreneurs who want to give back to their community or individuals within any of the groups or organizations listed above.

3. Develop a collaborative effort among resource partners

Once you have identified the assets in your community, explore which entities and individuals are likely to become resource partners in moving your economic gardening venture forward. Set up a steering committee that can guide and implement the project.

Bring key resource partners together to reach common agreement on goals and directions for the project, as well as to identify who will take responsibility to carry out each piece. If key resource partners are not willing to take ownership of the project, then your community may not be ready to launch an economic gardening project. You may have to step back and address the political and community development issues that are driving your locality.

4. Create a system-wide operating agreement

Because an economic gardening project generally involves multiple entities, it is important for the steering committee to develop a formal or informal operating agreement that addresses key operational and long-term planning issues. Questions that must be addressed include:

■Which entity or group will make program-level decisions?
■How will the program be funded?
■Who will serve as fiscal agent?
■Who will oversee and coordinate delivery of services?
■What role will each partner fulfill in the overall project?
■What resources will each partner contribute to the effort?
■How will the program be tracked and evaluated?
■How will a sustainable capitalization plan be developed?
5. Determine the target audience for services

One of the most important questions an economic gardening project needs to answer is, “Who will we serve?” Economic gardening programs around the United States take a variety of approaches, depending on their identified goals and community expectations. Some programs support all types of small businesses; others work only with growth-oriented companies. The important thing is to know which group of businesses you are targeting and why.

The first step in determining your target audience(s) is to inventory the available entrepreneurial talent in your community. What kinds of businesses are located there? What is their level of growth or maturity? Small local businesses generally fall into three categories: start-ups, lifestyle businesses (local consumer-based ventures), and growth businesses (offering goods and services to external markets).

A template for the entrepreneurial talent assessment process is offered by the Center for Rural Entrepreneurship (energizingentrepreneurs.org/index.php).

According to existing research, growth-oriented companies produce the greatest economic impact on a region, because they bring money into the community from outside markets. Many of these are so-called Stage 2 businesses, those that have between 10 and 99 employees and at least $1 million in revenues, although growth-oriented ventures can be found across the entire universe of companies. Growth companies also tend to be relatively young (less than five years old). They can range from companies with a local market that want to expand and reach external markets (often through e-commerce) to companies that have specialized expertise or knowledge and primarily sell to external markets.

Rapidly expanding, high-growth companies, sometimes referred to as gazelles, are a rarity in many communities, making up only 3 to 5 percent of all businesses. Most small localities do not have the technical resources to support the needs of high-growth businesses. These companies typically have the connections and technical assistance they need to grow, and they will do it with or without an economic gardening program.

Stage 1 companies—those with one to nine employees and less than $1 million per year in revenues—are by far the largest group of businesses in the United States. They collectively represent 28 percent of all employment nationally. Most of these firms are start-ups and lifestyle businesses, but some are growth-oriented companies, too.

Lifestyle businesses (the so-called mom ‘n’ pops) are the small retail and service businesses in every community. They do not usually “grow” the local economy by bringing in new wealth, but they recirculate the wealth throughout the local community. They are essential to what makes a local community a vibrant and desirable place to live and work. They can also provide significant political capital for an economic gardening program through their testimonials and support.

The “sweet spot” for most local and regional economic gardening programs to target is entrepreneurs who have started a venture that is between one and five years old and who want to grow it, regardless of its size. These ventures aren’t necessarily high-tech, but they have developed some sort of innovation in their product, process, or delivery method. They also have a potential or actual market outside the local economic region and create high-quality, living-wage jobs.

These nascent growth-oriented companies can provide significant economic impact and can benefit greatly from the services an economic gardening program typically provides. To focus on this target audience, find companies that meet the following criteria:

■Firmly established (in business for one to three years)
■Have financial statements that include profit and loss and cash flow numbers
■Have a clearly defined market
■Demonstrate revenue growth over time (even if the company has not yet reached the break-even point)
■Clearly intend to grow (as expressed in the desire to hire employees, expand operations or market area, or seek capital investment)
■Have a product or service that is scalable and preferably unique (i.e., cannot be easily imitated)
■Have a potential or actual market outside the local region.
These growth businesses will sometimes look like secondary businesses—local retail and service companies. The key is that they have both the desire and the ability to sell their goods and services outside the local area. For example, a local producer of specialized jams and jellies can sell their products over the Internet; a local coffee roaster using solar technology can wholesale their organic beans to coffee shops throughout the region; or a local printing company can provide on-demand printing and graphic services through their website.

You can also consider offering tiered services to different audiences. You might, for example, provide basic services to your lifestyle businesses and more comprehensive support to growth-oriented companies.

6. Develop a delivery system to provide services to the target audience

Steps involved in creating a viable delivery system include finding or developing qualified business coaches, providing or linking to technical assistance resources, locating entrepreneurs within your target audience, offering market research services, identifying financial resources, and partnering with other providers within and outside the local area. A local referral network of small business professionals and service providers is a crucial element at this juncture.

Having the capacity to deliver economic gardening services is a challenge for many small and rural areas. Rural communities must often develop a regional initiative and take advantage of government resources that are available to their local area. These include land grant university extension offices, small business development centers, and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loan programs. Grant opportunities for rural community and economic development initiatives are available through federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Economic Development Agency.

Rural communities must have adequate transportation and broadband infrastructure to support local business logistical needs. They must also have an entrepreneurial climate—a business culture that supports entrepreneurship. They must provide quality-of-life amenities such as good schools, access to health care, and cultural amenities. They must also have access to a trained workforce that can meet local employment needs.

7. Develop a communication system to gain community support and buy-in

Make public presentations explaining the economic gardening program and gain the support of local media. Use entrepreneurs and your local referral network as advocates to deliver your message to funders, prospective clients, and the public. Build regular reporting functions into your ongoing activities.

The entire article, Strengthen Your Local Economy through Economic Gardening, published in ICMA's Infocus, is available for purchase in the ICMA Press online bookstore.

Housing Funds Available in Stokes County

2010-10-12T12:20:00.000-07:00

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
Housing Funds Available in Stokes County

• Stokes County has been awarded a $200,000 Single-Family Rehabilitation Grant (SFR) and will be awarded a $400,000 Community Development Grant (CDBG) toward the end of the year.
• The SFR grant is funded by the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency with the goal of helping seniors or the disabled make repairs to their homes to insure continued occupancy of the home as the occupant ages. The CDBG grant is funded by the North Carolina Department of Community Assistance and has similar goals.
• The County will have funds available to rehabilitate approximately 16 homes.
• Candidates are selected on a first come – first to qualify basis.
Eligibility Requirements:
• Applicant is elderly (62+) and/or disabled.
• Income less than 80% of county median. This income limit would cover approximately 85 percent of retired individuals or those who are living on disability.
• Owner occupied household located in Stokes County
• Site-Built homes only (sorry, no manufactured houses)
• Homes need to be in a relatively good condition but would benefit from:
Energy efficiency improvements
Handicapped accessibility
Roof and foundation repairs
Updated electrical, heating or plumbing systems
The cost of this work is in the form of a no payment, no interest loan to the owner which is forgiven at $3,000 per year for the SFR grant and over 8 years for the CDBG grant. Expenditures are limited to $40,000 per dwelling. The loan is secured by a Deed of Trust.
• Stokes County has requested the services of Benchmark, CMR to handle the application/intake process for these grants. If you have any questions regarding these grants or would like to apply for assistance, please call Cindy Ramsey at Benchmark, CMR, 1-800-650-3925.

RAFI Grant Workshops

2010-10-11T07:44:00.000-07:00

Please find below a press release on RAFI Grant Workshops in the state and our surrounding area. The workshop in Stokes County will take place on Oct 19th at 6:00 PM at the cooperative extension offices. Grants for individual farmers are available up to $10,000 and up to $30,000 for farm groups. If you have a project that you think might qualify or just want to learn more about this process, please take time to attend this informative session.

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Francesca Hyatt, 919-323-7587

RAFI is offering cost-share grants of up to $10,000 for individual farmers and up to $30,000 for farmer groups.
For information and application materials please visit: www. ncfarmgrants.org

Grants available for North Carolina farmers

Through its Tobacco Communities Reinvestment Fund, the Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA (RAFI-USA) is offering close to 2 million in cost-share grants for individual farmers and for farmer groups. The funding provides cost-share support for farmers’ to try new production, marketing, and processing strategies in order to earn more income on the farm.

Deadline for applicants in the Western Piedmont Region* is December 20, 2010. The application process is competitive. High priority will be given to innovative projects which show a new direction or opportunity in farming. All farmers who make an income from agriculture are eligible to apply.

RAFI is offering “How to apply” workshops across North Carolina through November.
The purpose of the workshops is to help potential applicants understand the application guidelines and process. The workshops also give farmers some face time to get specific questions about their projects answered. The following is a list of workshop dates and locations for this region. All workshops will be held at the local County Extension Agency office except when otherwise noted.
(See Attached Schedule)

*The Western Piedmont region is comprised of Alexander, Alleghany, Anson, Ashe, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Catawba, Cleveland, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Gaston, Guilford, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rockingham, Rowan, Rutherford, Stanly, Stokes, Surry, Union, Wilkes, and Yadkin counties. For other regions please see www.ncfarmgrants.org
How to Apply Workshops, Western Piedmont Region
Western Piedmont Field Coordinator: Francesca Hyatt (919)323-7587
Email: francesca@rafiusa.org web: www.ncfarmgrants.org

Workshop location details are available on our website, as well as a complete listing of workshops for the entire state. If you are unable to attend the workshop in your county, feel free to attend a workshop in a neighboring county. Note: Please check the website prior to attending a workshop in the event of schedule changes.

9/9 – Guilford County Workshop, 6:30pm
(Guilford County Cooperative Extension, Barn/ Kitchen)

9/13 – Surry County Workshop, 6:30pm
(Surry Cooperative Extension Office)

9/14 – Wilkes County Workshop, 1pm
(Wilkes Cooperative Extension Office)

9/16 – Yadkin County Workshop, 6:30pm
(Yadkin Cooperative Extension Office)

9/21 – Union County Workshop, 8am
(Union Cooperative Extension Office)

9/23 – Davie County Workshop, 6:30pm
(Davie Cooperative Extension Office)

9/27 – Forsyth County Workshop, 6pm
(Forsyth Cooperative Extension Office)

9/28 – Iredell County Workshop, 7pm
(Iredell Cooperative Extension Office)

10/13 – Rutherford County Workshop, 2pm
(Rutherford Cooperative Extension Office)

10/13 – Cleveland County Workshop, 6pm
(Cleveland Cooperative Extension Office)

10/14 – Alleghany + Ashe County, 6:30pm
(Upper Mountain Research Station, 8004 NC Highway. 88 E, Laurel Springs,

10/18 – Gaston, Lincoln + Mecklenburg, 6:30pm
(GASTON County Cooperative Extension Office)

10/19 – Stokes County Workshop, 6pm
(Stokes Cooperative Extension Office)

10/21 – Catawba County Workshop, 7pm
(Catawba Cooperative Extension Office)

10/25 – Anson County Workshop, 1pm
(Anson Cooperative Extension Office)

10/28 – Cabarrus County Workshop, 6:30pm
(Cabarrus Cooperative Extension Office)

10/29 – Stanly County Workshop, 9am
(Stanly Cooperative Extension Office)

11/2 – Caldwell + Alexander County, 9am
(Caldwell Cooperative Extension Office)

11/2 – Burke County Workshop, 3pm
(Burke Cooperative Extension Office)

11/4 – Rowan County Workshop, 7pm
(Rowan Cooperative Extension Office)

11/8 – Rockingham County Workshop, 6:30pm
(Rockingham Cooperative Extension Offic
NC 28644-8631)

The Tobacco Communities Reinvestment Fund is supported through a grant from the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission.
####
M

A Social Media Strategy

2010-09-17T06:39:00.000-07:00

I was on the road with other developers this week and our discussion turned to social networking and how much time it takes. I don't claim to be and expert but I believe social networking should be a part of most businesses marketing strategy. As I work to market Stokes County, I spend 20-30 minutes/day updating the local facebook page and blog. With this in mind, please take a few minutes to read the article listed below. A Social Media strategy is important but doesn't need to be all consuming:

Social Media: 4 Steps to an Effective Marketing Strategy
September 14, 2010 · by Paul Chaney

Print Email 4 Comments Comments RSS ShareThis Many small businesses are experimenting with social media to market their products. Based on my observations, however, most are doing it in piecemeal fashion, without a coordinated, overall strategy.

In this article, I present a practical, four-part social commerce strategy that minimizes the time required and that recognizes the overall purpose is to grow sales. Because I am a fan of alliteration and use it as a mnemonic device, each of the four elements begins with the letter "C."

Content
Think of social media as a form of content marketing, which is the creation of content for the purpose of engaging customers and prospects. The nexus for creating such content is a blog. I prefer to think of a blog as a social media "base of operations" from which content can be syndicated to digital outposts such as Facebook and Twitter.

One example of this approach is Ice.com, a leading online jewelry retailer, which publishes Sparkle Like the Stars, a blog focused on celebrities and their jewelry. Ice.com launched the blog several years ago and continues to leverage it to attract the attention and interest of consumers.

Screenshot of Sparkle Like the Stars blog.

Two factors are helpful for creating a cogent content marketing strategy: developing an editorial calendar and determining the frequency of the posts.

•Editorial Calendar. An editorial calendar is a listing of upcoming topics and features. For publishers, it is a helpful planning device and, for readers, it helps explain a publication's mission and content. For example, Practical Ecommerce has an editorial calendar that outlines articles to be produced on a weekly, bi-weekly and monthly basis. Similarly, merchants should consider what topics would be of most interest to customers and develop a calendar to address those.

•Posting Schedule. Once a merchant develops an editorial calendar, he or she should determine the frequency of the blog posts. For search engine optimization, daily posts are best, as search engines prefer frequently updated content. What's important, however, is to be realistic in terms of the time available, and then set a schedule and stick with it.

Because content creation can help with SEO, use essential keywords and optimize posts around them, using one in every post, both in the post's title as well as in the body.

I'm often asked whether a blog should reside inside the main ecommerce site or outside it. My answer is "it depends." In the case of Sparkle Like the Stars, it lives as a separate entity from the ecommerce site, but points to it via links within the main navigation and the post content itself. But a blog can reside within the main ecommerce site, and there are advantages to doing so. SEO professionals will say that, by having a blog as a sub-folder (or, sub-directory) on the main site and committing to make frequent updates, it will help attract search engine attention.

I think the choice comes down to the blog's purpose. If it has a unique topical direction, such as that represented by Sparkle Like the Stars, it should take up its own real estate. Otherwise, it could easily sit inside the ecommerce site.

To complete your content planning, determine which platform to use for the blog, and the personnel to write the posts. It's best to create content in-house, versus outsourcing it to professional writers.

Communication
Once a merchant develops the content strategy, he or she should determine which social media sites to syndicate the content to. This could include Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr and others. Whenever possible, I automate that syndication process using a tool called Dlvr.it, which eliminates having to manually post updates to each of those sites. Read our review of Dlvr.it at "The PEC Review: Dlvr.it for Social Media Distribution."

Screenshot of dlvr.it, a content syndication tool.

Conversation
Not all syndication should be automated, however. The merchant should add his or her own personal touch through direct interaction with friends, fans and followers.

For Twitter, this means using replies (@username), retweets and being "real." In Facebook, a merchant should respond to comments from fans and introduce attention-getting devices such as polls, trivia questions or games. Anything that will inspire engagement on the part of fans is useful to build brand-awareness, foster loyalty and encourage viral sharing.

To implement a conversation strategy, a merchant should determine who will be responsible for managing the conversations.

Conversion
The purpose of any marketing plan, social media included, is to grow sales and otherwise get more business.

Social media marketing will help merchants grow sales by keeping their products in front of fans and followers. More direct conversion tools include the use of a Facebook-enabled shopping cart, or the use of discount coupons. We've addressed many of these direct tools in previous articles, including:

•"Six Facebook Applications to Sell Your Products;"
•"Social Commerce Spotlight: Payvment, a Facebook Storefront Provider;"
•"Social Commerce: Shopping Carts Extend Reach Into Facebook, Other Social Sites;"
•"Profile: Retailer Spends Little Money for Big Social Media Impact;"
•"6 Facebook Apps to Enhance Your Company's Fan Page."
Getting fans to subscribe to an email newsletter or blog RSS feed will help keep them connected, and will also drive traffic to the main ecommerce website, which should always be uppermost in the merchant's mind.

Implementation
A merchant should address the following questions to implement a successful social media strategy.

Content:

•What topics would most interest customers and prospects?
•How frequently can content be updated?
•On which channels in social media should a presence be maintained?
Tools:

•What blog platform should be used?
•What syndication tool should be employed?
•Which third-party apps might be useful?
•What analytics or measurement tools should be place?
Personnel:

•Who can write the blog posts?
•Who can manage the social network interactions?
•Should a team or people assume these duties, or should a social media management position be created?
•Should outsourcing of these activities be considered?
Conclusion
Social commerce is most effective when merchants develop an overall strategy. To help with this development, I've broken it down into four Cs: Content, Communication, Conversation and Conversion. By addressing each of these, merchants will be engaging new prospects, staying in touch with existing customers, and, ultimately, growing sales and profits.

Related Searches
•social media, Facebook, social commerce

With Many Thanks

2010-09-13T13:31:00.000-07:00

To all the people that made this years Stokes Stomp a success. I was able to attend Saturday and even a few showers didn't dampen the enthusiasm of the event. There were a record number of vendors present, lots of good food, crafts music and even a few politicians. I will have some pictures posted on facebook in a few days.

While on the topic of offering our thanks, I found a nice article on how to thank our customers. Hope your enjoy it, I did.

Thursday, September 9, 2010
Ten Ways to Show Your Gratitude & Grow Your Business
The fall season is here and we all know it will quickly transition into winter. If not now, very soon, business owners across the country will be thinking about…or should be thinking about…those year-end greetings to clients, vendors and friends. Most companies send off cards and goodies in December. But, in today’s politically correct climate many business professionals get stumped. Should they forgo any mention of “Merry Christmas” for a more generic, safer version of “Season’s Greetings” or “Happy Holidays”? Should they wait and send “Happy New Year” wishes instead? When the goal is to boost client relations, the last thing you want to do is offend someone who might be sensitive to the issue.

Well, this year, why not bypass the quandary altogether and tell everyone how grateful you are for their business and support during the time of year made for being thankful… Thanksgiving.

We all know it’s vital to keep in touch with clients, but sending them an email or post card about your latest offer or sale isn’t enough to keep people around for another order.

The best way to increase customer loyalty is to be grateful…just thank your clients for doing business with you. Think about this, for every month that goes by when a client does not hear from you, you lose 10 percent of your influence with them. And, when clients don’t hear from us, they assume we don’t care (even if they don’t consciously say it). So, that makes those annual greetings even more important…so we need to make the most of it.

By saying thank you during November…the month of Thanksgiving…whatever you do will stand out from the crowd. That’s because everyone else’s cards and gifts will get lost in the flood of December mail. So act now to get more bang for your buck. And, when customers are thinking kindly of you - you may even snag a year-end order or two to boot.

So, along with Tip Number One – send greetings during November, what else can you do to make the most of your thank you efforts? Here are nine more ways to show your gratitude and make an impact on your bottom line:

2. Customize your cards: Don’t just get cards imprinted with a message, your company name and signature…write a personal note. Sure, it takes a bit more time, but it will get read rather than tossed aside with little more than a glance. And, customers really do appreciate the time and effort it takes to write that little note.

3. Include special offers: Prices going up the first of the year? Let your clients know that they can lock in current rates for their first order in 2011, or extend a special discount if they contact you before the end of the year. Remind them why you’re so great to work with and give them a reason to give you a call.

4. Personalize thank you gifts to your biggest clients: Don’t get all your customers the same gift. If you’ve got ‘big clients’, treat them special. Do you have a client that loves sailing? How about a gift card from the local boating supply store or tickets to the upcoming boat show. Think outside the box and show those important people that you really ‘get them’. People love to work with people who feed, support and understand their passions.

5. Remember the support staff or team: If you work with more than just the owner, be sure to include all the players that make things happen. From the receptionist who always puts your calls through to the accountant who gets you paid in a timely manner – remember everyone who’s a part of your business with that company. When you have a team of fans…you’re more likely to keep clients.

6. Themed gift baskets: Create fun, interesting gift baskets. It could be themed for your local pro sports team, feature lots of homegrown local goodies, or connect to your business or your client’s business. Have fun with it and it will be remembered.

7. Support a local cause: It’s not about what you want to support; it’s about what they care about. Do a little research to find out if your clients’ support a specific cause or charity in the community. Do they always sponsor a little league team or donate to an annual auction? A donation to a cause THEY care about will do wonders in building strong business relationships.

8. Throw a mini-party: Stop by their office with goodies for a coffee break or pizza lunch (plan it with the receptionist so you’re sure everyone’s in). First, people love to get food – especially during the work day and second, you’re taking the time out of your schedule to visit. It’s win-win – especially if you can stick around and eat with them.

9. Host a night on the town: Provide tickets to see a game or event in town, pay for a night of bowling or miniature golf. This is a great idea if you want to get a group of your favorite clients together and thank them all at once. It doesn’t have to be expensive…as long as it’s fun. Plan this one well in advance so people can schedule it into their calendars.

No matter what, take Tip Number One and get your thanks and year end greetings out ahead of the crowd. Use the Thanksgiving holiday to say…THANKS! Then pick the other ideas that work best for you, your customers and your business and go for it. You may even decide to combine of a couple of these ideas! The only limit is your imagination, your time and your budget. Thanking customers in a real and personalized way will help you maintain great relationships and build a base of loyal clients. So show your gratitude and grow your business.

Author: Janice Malone, a marketing consultant and speaker
Source: http://www.womenbiz.biz/documents/TenWaystoShowYourGratitude_000.pdf

New Business in Stokes County

2010-09-08T07:27:00.000-07:00

The Dance and Fitness Loft will soon be in operation in Stokes county. Joy Ackley, a lifelong Stokes County resident will soon fulfill her dream of having her own dance studio. The Dance and Fitness Loft will be opening in the old Vnable Brothers building located at 3172 NC 8 Hwy S, Walnut Cove. There will be an open house on Sept 11 from 10AM till 2:00 PM for prospective members. Joy will be offering classes in Jazz, Hip-Hop, Tap, Adult Aerobics and more. Classes will focus on the fitness benefits of dance.

Joy has many years of experience in dance and will bring a great deal of energy to the new venture. It is her hope to create a comfortable atmosphere outside the realm of recitals and competition, where people can meet friends, dance and have fun. If you would like additional information give her a call at 336-414-7238 or email her at theloft13@aol.com. Her new web site and business hours will be available shortly. Classes will begin Sept. 20. Please join me in offering her your best wishes for success and stop by to see what is going on.

Sadness in the Wood Household

2010-08-28T10:29:00.000-07:00

I normally blog on marketing tips, happenings in Stokes County or events that I feel are important or of note. I ask your indulgence today to let me take on a personal tone.

We lost a beloved member of our family yesterday. Murray, our Basset Hound/German Shepherd mix had to be put to sleep. Murray was going on 16 years old and we had the pleasure of having him in our family for almost 15 of those years. The vet kept saying how lucky he was to have been adopted by us but I beg to differ. We were the lucky ones to have this funny looking, lovable, dignified fellow with us for so long.

My wife brought him to our home in Lenoir just after we had moved in. He had been hit by a car near the mall in Hickory. He had a bad scar on his belly and hip but he recovered fully and soon was a full blow member of the family. He was a little lonely at first but we rescued Sophie from Burke County and soon had a happy duet. We lost Sophie about two years ago and Murray had to break in two new pups and did a wonderful job.

Murray was built like a basset hound, colored like a shepherd and would cry like a baby. When my dad would come to visit, Murray would come to sit by his side and stay for hours. Dad was in declining health but he loved dogs and I think Murray understood that Pop needed some comfort.

Murray wasn't one to do tricks, he wasn't fast or sleek nor did he have a pedigree, what he was, was a wonderful companion, a dignified hound and a great friend.

We laid him to rest with Sophie and Fig (the only cat I have ever owned.) They can keep each other company after we have to leave hear. I hope it is true that all dogs go to heaven. If it is, he and Sophie are with Pop, chasing rabbits, letting him rub his ears (his favorite thing) and having a grand time. He deserves it!

Rest in Peace your wonderful hound!

Business Facebook Pages

2010-08-24T12:13:00.000-07:00

Does your business have a facebook page? If it doesn't it is time to start one. You are giving away a tremendous opportunity to attract new customers. If it does, here are some good tips on how to make it more effective. I found this on LinkedIn and it was compiled by Zach Hanebrink, I think it is a good list. Do you have any additional pointers, if so please take time to share them.

9 Tips for Facebook Page Success

Having a Facebook Page for your business or website is quickly becoming a staple in any online marketing strategy. Just having a Facebook Page is not enough. There are 8 things you can do to ensure your Facebook Page is a success.

1. Add a link back to your website – Sounds simple right? It is! Add your website url to your page. Be sure you also feature it in the left sidebar for maximum visibility. This will help send additional traffic to your website as well as help with your SEO. Google loves links and a link from Facebook is a good one to have.

2. Company profile – Still standard stuff here, but you would be surprised how many people seem to skip over this. Fill out the Info section of your page to include “about us” type information. This will help visitors who are not so familiar with you know exactly what you do.

3. Static FBML – Add the Static FBML app. This app will allow you to essentially have a custom landing page on your Facebook page. You can include custom html, content, images and graphics. Once you have everything in place, you can make this tab the default landing page. There is an option for “Default Landing Tab for Everyone Else.”

4. Blog feed – Install the Social RSS app. This app will enable you to publish your latest blog posts to your wall. There are useful settings that let you “like” your own posts, add the posts to your wall or in a dedicated tab/box.

5. YouTube – There are several good YouTube apps out there. I happen to like YouTube Video Box. This app will give you a dedicated tab where you can feature all your videos from your YouTube channel. Videos are a good way to breathe a little extra life into your pages.

6. Promotions – Let’s face it, your brand probably isn’t the most interesting thing on Facebook. Many of the people become “fans” because they are looking for discounts. So, give them what they want! Facebook is a good outlet for one off promotions, contests etc. Promotions is a great app that makes running Facebook promotions a breeze.

7. Poll – Don’t let your Facebook page become static. Interactivity is interesting. Give your fans something to do on your page. Polls are a great way to get others involved in your brand as well as give you an opportunity for some easy market research. Add a Poll to your page today!

8. Usernames – If you haven’t noticed, page urls are not attractive out of the box. They are long and hard to share. Once you have 25+ fans you can get a custom username for your page. This lets you further brand your Facebook page. Now your Facebook url can be Facebook.com/YourCompany.

9. Promote your page – One of the best ways to promote your Facebook page is on your blog. Give your blog readers an opportunity to connect with you. Facebook is a great way to better stay in front of your audience

Sokes County Included in 21st Century Community Program

2010-08-24T10:13:00.000-07:00

STOKES COUNTY
Economic Development Commission

MEDIA RELEASE

For Release: Immediately

Contact: Alan Wood, Director, Stokes County Economic Development

* * * * * *

(Danbury, NC August 23, 2010) N. C. Department of Commerce Sec. Keith Crisco announced on August 13 that four counties have been selected to participate in the continuation of the 21st Century Communities Program. Stokes County, along with Cleveland, Jones and Pamlico are the new counties.

The Stokes County Economic Development Commission applied for inclusion in this program, which is designed to foster growth in counties that are facing economic challenges to assist them in the development of programs and initiatives that will lead to economic growth. The application process was competitive and Stokes County was chosen from several candidates. The success of the application was in large part due to the support provided by the City of King, Towns of Walnut Cove and Danbury, who each provided a letter of endorsing Stokes County in their efforts to be included in this program. Having 100% of the taxing municipalities willing to participate in this process and the willingness the county has shown to partner regionally was seen as key to this selection.

Jimmy Walker, Chairman of the Stokes County Board of Commissioners was very excited about the inclusion of the county in the program saying “It is difficult to place a monetary value on the return this program will have for Stokes County and its citizens. It will help raise the awareness of the Department of Commerce as to what we have to offer, it should help foster a greater sense of cooperation within the county and it should help us further develop a plan for future growth in our economy.”

Alan Wood, the Director of Economic Development was very pleased with the news and responded with the following “I relish the opportunity to work closely with the Department of Commerce and their Community Assistance arm. Hopefully we can find a way to fine-tune our development efforts. We have many wonderful assets within our borders, we need to learn to work together in more meaningful ways and leverage these assets to our best advantage. I believe this program can assist with this.”

PO Box 20 Danbury, NC 27016 336-593-2496 adwood@co.stokes.nc.us

The 21st Century Communities program will focus on the communities for a period of 24 months. The process starts with a two day orientation session for officials of the selected
communities with the next step being a community assessment. This assessment will look at the strengths and weaknesses of each county and provide recommendations on how to proceed.

The full statement from N.C. Dept of Commerce Sec. Keith Crisco is included below.

* * *

Crisco announces 4 new 21st Century Communities

N.C. Dept. of Commerce Sec. Keith Crisco announced Aug. 13 that four additional counties in North Carolina have been selected to participate in the 21st Century Communities Program. The program, part of Commerce's Division of Community Assistance, fosters economic growth in less prosperous counties by helping them develop innovative economic and community development plans and initiatives. Cleveland, Jones, Pamlico and Stokes counties have been selected are the new counties.

"This two-year program prepares counties to be more competitive in today's challenging economic times," said Crisco. "Through collaboration and partnership, we are able to leverage local resources, strengthen infrastructure and support ongoing workforce and leadership development, ultimately bringing jobs and investment to these counties."

Some interesting thoughts on a rainy day.

2010-08-19T08:30:00.000-07:00

I am on a distribution list from Thomas Dismukes and wanted to share some of his thoughts on this rainy Thursday. Some of them made me smile and others gave me pause to stop and think for a moment. Hopefully, they will do the same for you!

Hello Alan,
Here are a few quotes to ponder. Several people have asked if I would also add one of my stories, so I've also added "The Meek Shall Inherit the Water." I hope my misery gives you great pleasure! :) Keep living a life of significance, by telling your story through your time, talents, treasures and touch! Remember, there is meaning behind the madness.
With warm regards,
Thomas Dismukes

Make others happy wherever you go, not whenever you go.
FEAR—is False Evidence Appearing Real.
Your life will either shed light or cast a shadow.
Courage is being scared to death… and saddling up anyway. John Wayne
If you work 75% of your capacity, 75% will become your capacity
If there exists no possibility of failure, then victory is meaningless. Robert Schuller
Everything has been said before, but since nobody listens, we have to keep going back and begin again.
A sharp tongue sometimes cuts it’s own throat.
The need to be right all the time is the biggest bar to new ideas.
Everything in the universe is subject to change and everything is right on schedule.

The Meek Shall Inherit the Water.

I’m not sure if it’s true but they say the last words of a red neck is, “Watch this!” I don’t think I’m a red neck, but I know I’ve certainly said it a time or two.
I am a compassionate lover of animals, bugs and birds. I tend to see them as the underdog, the less fortunate, the weak, and “helpless.” I enjoy being around them and if there is anything I can do to help them out I usually do what I can do. This day was no exception. I was enjoying the beautiful spring day with my wife Kim, out on the dock on Lake Keowee, SC. The birds were chirping, the squirrels were corkscrewing around the trees, the fish were splashing, it was a zip-pedee-dooda with a blue bird on my shoulder kind of day.
We were minding our own business just relaxing and eating our picnic lunch when off in the distance we heard the call of a family of Canada Geese. They must have been used to seeing people on the docks and scavenging for scraps of food because they were heading our way. They were a cute little family. The strong gander up front leading the charge as six tiny gosslets rapidly tried to keep pace. The graceful mother trailed shortly behind to protect the rear and to get a better view of her family making a wake toward us.
Kim had made us sandwiches for lunch so as they drew near to the dock I began to tear the crust off my sandwich. It was the least I could do for this poor helpless family. I would give up part of my sandwich… so that…they may live. Yes, I felt “one with nature.” They looked so sweet and gentle, treading patiently for me to feed them. Yes, just call me “nature boy”, in tune with the ecosystem dynamic. I grabbed the crust and began to bestow my bounty upon these needy birds with a toss of my hand. I anticipated them showing me with honks of gladness and thanksgiving but to my surprise, the gander began to aggressively HISS at me. I was shocked! Here I am providing his family with food, and he has the gall to HISS at me. Surely this must be a misunderstanding, so I tossed another handful their way. Once again the gander HISSED and even aggressively flexed his shoulders and bowed up toward me. And to beat all, he would do this AFTER his family ate my food. I was not trying to hurt his family I was trying to be KIND! Well, his little attitude got me a little angry. Here I am trying to help them out and this ungrateful recipient was trying to bite the hand that was feeding him!
I wondered just how tough he really was. Yeah, he thought he was big and bad, trying to show off in front of his little lady and kids! But I knew he was all honk. I continued to mildly harass the family with an overly exaggerated toss just to watch him fuss. When all of my sandwich was gone, rather than thanking me, the ungrateful heathens started to HISS at me more as if I had not given them enough! While they began to congregate at the end of the dock, obviously discussing their disappointment with my peanut butter and mayonnaise sandwich, I sat with Kim and told her how disgusted I was with their ungrateful behavior. And then I began to think. In hindsight that’s where the trouble began.
An idea came to my head that would satisfy my urge of revenge. I never wanted to hurt the geese; I only wanted to “put them in their place.” They would see my majestic splendor. The incredible power of a human being and humbly recognize that I am far superior then they. It would be a tough lesson for them to learn, but it had to be done, for the children.
I gently backed up 40 feet to the beginning of the dock and quietly mouthed to Kim the last words of a red neck. With all my might and speed I could muster, I sprinted to the end of the dock where the family of geese were congregated, and with a warriors scream, I jumped, spread eagle.
It was my contention that the geese would see me in mid air and recognize the error of their ways. With that, they would humbly scatter, in recognition of their fault.
I was in mid air, when my warrior’s scream turned to a whimpering shrill. Four feet from the waters edge, I realized they were not being humbled nor were they seeing the error of their ways! I wish someone had told me geese could retract their claws like cats. I didn’t know they even had claws. Nor did I realize they had razor sharp teeth like an Amazon piranha! For future reference they also have a keen ability to hone in on vital parts of the body such as eyes, nose, ears and other “sensitive” body parts. They nearly blinded me and took the ability to father children before I even hit the water. With a load splash, I gracefully belly flopped into the water, expelling any remaining air I vitally needed to escape the wrath of the most assuredly reincarnation of Satan. Under the haven of water I felt safe for a brief moment until to my horror, I saw two goose torpedoes bearing down on me. They must have followed to trail of blood! I could only flip my legs around, half kicking them off and half swimming deeper, which did not help my now near suffocation problem. Seconds pasted and they finally stopped their pursuit. I looked up into the water and saw no swimming claws and determined it was safe to surface.
I broke the surface gasping for air and freedom. BAM! Direct hit. They went straight for the jugular! Where did they come from and where was Kim?! I blew the ballast and sucked in half the lake. Finally after hearing my screams through my surfacing bubbles, Kim was able to shoo Satan’s helper away with a paddle. It was over! Thankfully Kim was a Life Guard and had been trained in how to drag limp bodies to shore.
A vital lesson was learned through this…humbling episode and can be summed up in a single phrase said by Jesus Christ, “But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
Thomas Dismukes

Tourism In Stokes County

2010-08-16T13:19:00.000-07:00

The only way this can succeed is for citizens to bet involved. Give me a call or send me an email: adwood@co.ctokes.nc.us if you have any questions.

August 16, 2010

What: Discussion of Tourism Opportunities in Stokes County

When: Thursday September 2 from 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Where: YMCA Camp Hanes Conference Room- 1225 Camp Hanes Rd. King, NC 27021

Why: A dedicated group of local citizens and officials have been working to map the tourism assets of Stokes County and determine how to best conserve, manage and develop these assets to create jobs and new investment in the community. We need your input and support to make this a success. Please join us to review our progress and for a frank discussion on how we can take full advantage of the opportunities that tourism offers to the citizens of Stokes County.

We can’t make this happen without your input and assistance. Please RSVP by August 30, 2010 to the email address or phone number shown below.

Alan D. Wood, Director

Out of Sorts

2010-07-30T12:08:00.000-07:00

I found the article below on Linkedin and it resonated througout my soul. I have been out of sorts for sometime, not because of new love but the fact that my love of 30 years and I have been having a long distance relationship for 18 monnths. This is not how my life was planned and has been and continues to be a very stressful existance. The four points that the writer shares can't fix my living situation but by using them as a guideline, it may help with the stress and hopefully the rest will work itself out!

Inspiration or Desperation – A 4 Step Process To A Happier More Fulfilling Life
by Sean Smith on July 29, 2010
Recently it seems like my life has been turned completely upside down. It’s as though I’ve lost that balance I used to have in life that made it all so wonderful. Several events have happened to cause me to seriously re-evaluate my life as a whole.
• I’ve moved in with my parents temporarily while transitioning to a new state of residence.
• I’ve been doing a lot of traveling as a result of my eventual move.
• I haven’t kept up with my own personal development regimen.
• The launch of my coaching program keeps getting delayed.
• I recently lost my Land Rover but luckily was able to get it back.
• And a whole lot of little things that seem to compound into bigger things.
The bottom line, my life is a mess right now and I have WAY to many balls in the air!
This got me thinking… What am I doing wrong? How is it that I let my life get so out of control? Am I operating out of inspiration or desperation?
Then suddenly, it donned on me! I knew in a sudden moment where I went wrong and when my life became such a disorganized mess!
WAIT FOR IT….
Yup, you guessed it, I FELL IN LOVE!
You’ll notice, there are a few pics of us together in the header of my blog
Ok now, don’t get me wrong… I’m completely beside myself for finally finding and reconnecting with the woman I fell in love with 17 years ago. But, it was at that point that my priorities changed and my routine deviated from that of laser focus on what I want out of life to doing everything I could to be with the woman I love.
I know, this may sound corney to some of you, but it became crystal clear to me, that the moment I reclaimed the woman I love, my whole mental outlook changed. Love is an amazing thing, and it is certainly capable of consuming you and take over your life. The key to success is in finding a balance.
Now, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It is merely an adjustment of priorities. You see, I failed to recognize the change when it happened and did not make the proper adjustments in my life to accommodate my new love appropriately in addition to my normal routine. Once I realized this had happened, the solution to my disorganization was soon presented to me.
What resulted was this 4 step process to an organized, happier, more fulfilling life.
Step 1: Return To My Personal Development Regimen
This was the most important step to recovery. I realized that I could still enjoy the company of the woman I love while still practicing my regular personal development regimen. This shouldn’t be to difficult to do, because she enjoys many of the same things that I do. She loves to read. She loves to workout and stay fit. She is a spiritual person.
This makes the whole process of reattaining my personal development ways much easier. So, I’ve gotten back to:
• Reading and focusing on Personal Development an hour every day.
• Working out an hour every day. (Starting P90X next week!)
• Meditating 10 – 15 minutes daily.
• Enjoying time with the people I love and care about on a daily basis. (After all, they are the reason I do what I do!)
I noticed immediately that once I started back with my personal development regimen, that my quality of life instantly seemed to improve. My outlook on life was much more happy and prosperous. Things are beginning to fall into place. I FEEL GREAT!!!
Step 2: Schedule My Day
One of the many things I used to do but seem to be lacking recently was that of a solid yet flexible schedule. I find it necessary and important to plan out my day, no matter how busy or not so busy it seems to be. Google calendar has been my friend here!
I created 3 calendars in Google calendar and sync them among my laptop, desktop and iPhone.
1. Blog (Business)
2. Personal
3. Tasks
I then use these three calendars to organize and prioritize my life. Yes, it may seem a little anal, but hey it works!
On my Blog calendar I schedule my time wisely. I schedule 1 hour each day to read other blogs. This helps me stay up to date on what’s going on in the blogosphere and helps inspire blog posts and discussions. I also schedule 1 – 2 hours daily for blogging. This is when I write my blog posts.
On my Personal calendar I put any events that are relevant to my personal life, such as events for my daughter (Although she is going to have to maintain her own calendar soon!) Personal events for me, i.e. doctor appointments, workout schedule, time with family, etc…
And finally on my Tasks calendar, I put any action items I need to complete. This calendar mostly contains product development events. Currently it carries a lot of events that relate to my new Internet Marketing coaching program I’ll be launching.
Having my day planned out helps to priorities things more clearly. It simply tells me where I’m at and what I need to be doing so I don’t lolly gag around and waste time that could be spend being more productive. And by more productive, I mean in business, love and life!
Step 3: Set Attainable Goals
This is HUGE!
At that start, I sat down and wrote out some short-term and long-term goals. The point of this is to simply give me something relevant to shoot for. A target that I could achieve in an effort to experience some success no matter how great or small it is.
Writing your goals down is very important and makes them real. Write them down and put them some place you will see them daily. Read them, memorize them and re-read them. Commit them to your mind and make an effort to attain them.
Setting goals also allowed me to formulate step 4 in the process.
Step 4: Formulate An Action Plan
The previous 3 steps helped me to get organized. In this final step, I created a plan of action on how I was going to attain my goals and implement the previous 3 steps.
Write down your plan and treated as your mission, one where failure is NOT an option!
Having a plan helps guide you through the process necessary to achieve what you desire out of life. Your goals are simply milestones which you attain while taking action on your plan. No amount of success can be conceived and attained without a plan.
Summarizing
I’ve only recently re-started this process and will keep you informed as to my progress. I’m excited and confident at what lies ahead and look forward to building a better future for myself, my daughter and the woman I love so very much!
I’d like to hear from you… What are you doing to achieve your goals and better yourself? Share your own personal development regimen in the comments. I’d love to see what others are doing. And maybe I can learn from you!

Wildlife in North Carolina Writes About the Dan River

2010-07-16T06:16:00.000-07:00

Below is a story in this months Wildlife in North Carolina. It is part I of II concerning the Dan River. Take a moment to read about this Stokes County treasure. Where it starts, where it goes and the wonderful discoveries along the way.
The Many Faces of the Dan River Part 1
I am kneeling on a boulder after just hitching myself
up the massive rock when I spot what I have been
looking for. There, bubbling up between moss-covered
rocks on the left and rhododendrons on the right, is a head -
water spring of the Dan River. The air smells earthy—a
mixture of pristine water, decaying leaves, lush rhododen -
dron, and verdant sugar maples, ashes and ironwood.
I am on a two-year quest to explore the multiple faces
of the Dan River, from where it trickles up from springs in
Virginia’s Patrick County to where it disappears into the
immensity of 48,900-acre Kerr Lake. North Carolinians
reading that the Dan begins in the Old Dominion may well
wonder what the Virginia section of the river has to do with
whether or not they catch fish from the waterway in Carolina.
And the short answer is, Everything.
For no river that I have ever explored is so intertwined
with two states. How Virginians treat the waters of the Dan
has truly everything to do with how clean and clear the
North Carolina portion is—and the reverse is true as well.
This is so because, although the Dan begins and ends in
Virginia, it flows deep into North Carolina for much of its
length but often meanders between the two states.
Here, then, are the many faces of the Dan, as well as the
virtues and fisheries that give the river such charm, and
the challenges and problems that the waterway must over -
come in the years to come.
Patrick County Headwaters
My journey begins on a summer day as guide Mike Smith,
who operates Greasy Creek Outfitters in Willis, Va., and I
drive down the Blue Ridge Parkway. We pass the famous
Mabry Mill and note that the pond that borders the mill is
part of the Dan River watershed. We also stop briefly to
fish a native brook trout rill that flows into the Dan. North
Carolinians may be surprised to learn that they don’t need
a nonresident license to fish any trout stream within the
Virginia section of the Blue Ridge Parkway, as both states’
licenses are honored on all parkway waters.
July 2010
But our real destination is a few miles past
the mill, Townes Reservoir—more specifi -
cally that part of the Dan River that flows into
the impoundment and courses through what
some folks call the Grand Canyon of Virginia.
Accessing the reservoir requires some
planning, as Townes Reservoir and its sister,
upper impoundment Talbott Reservoir, are
part of the Pinnacles Hydroelectric Project,
which the City of Danville owns. One has to
obtain a free visitor ’s permit from the city,
which includes the daily combination to a
locked gate at the entrance of Townes Reser -
voir, and wait until 8 a.m., when city per son -
nel open another lock on that same gate.
Smith and I drive down a precarious road
to reach Townes Reservoir and then paddle
his canoe some 30 minutes to where the Dan
rushes into the impoundment. Beaching the
boat, we wade a few feet, and almost imme -
diately the lake is left behind and we enter
the canyon. Steep mountainous terrain
envelopes both sides of the Dan, as the river
charges past banks where rhododendron,
beeches, alders, sycamores and the odd red
oak crowd the shoreline. Along the shore -
line and sometimes within the river, boulders
half the size of compact cars pock the area.
Sadly, though, we mark dead hemlock
after dead hemlock, corpselike, wan sentinels
on the river, victims of the woolly adelgid.
Mike says that many hemlocks have crashed
into the stream since his last visit.
On his second cast Smith drifts a size 12
Adams through a riffle, and a 7-inch wild
brown sips in the offering. He catches and
releases the fish and a few minutes later does
the same with a slightly larger rainbow.
“It is serious business when you travel
back into the canyon,” Smith says. “I once
had a guy twist an ankle, and it took us four
hours to evacuate him out of here and back
to the canoe.
“But just look at the majesty of these
mountainsides,” continues Smith as he
gestures to the rugged terrain that has been
chiseled through the ages by a stream that is
no more than 40 feet wide. “The Dan here
has a great trout fishery, with mostly wild
browns between 6 and 15 inches, and a fair
number of rainbows about the same size.
But it would be worth coming in here even if
the fishing were just fair.”
In a four-hour period, we wade a little
more than a mile upstream, periodically
watching ’bows and browns rise to our flies,
and often noticing the sounds of Acadian
flycatchers, Eastern wood-pewees, wood
thrushes and a host of other birds. But the
City of Danville requires that everyone be
out of the canyon and off the property by 5
p.m., and Smith and I want to visit one of
the native brook trout streams that com -
mingle with the reservoir.
So we hike out of the canyon, paddle
down Townes Reservoir and beach the canoe
where a likely stream enters. A jumble of
boulders lies where the stream flows into the
lake, and we have to ascend them, careful
not to break bones or fly rods. Smith has
fished this creek before and has regaled me
all morning with stories of its numerous
native brookies. But in two hours of fishing
the Dan River tributary, not a single trout
rises to our offerings. The water has a cur -
ious stain to it, and I make a mental note to
check into the matter later.
Once we leave the Pinnacles Hydroelec -
tric Project, Smith drives me to the upper
upper Dan, where the river is just the pro -
verbial “hop, skip and a jump across” and is
a put-and-take trout stream. He says that
superlative wild trout fishing also exists above
Talbott Reservoir, but it is the waters of the
Grand Canyon that still have the great est
attraction for his sporting soul.
Below Townes Reservoir to the Pinnacles
Powerhouse, continues Smith, the Dan is
catch-and-release fly-fishing only. Below
there, the Dan for the rest of its voyage
through Patrick County is a standard putand-
take trout stream.
North Carolina and Conservation Issues
The Dan rambles into North Carolina for the
first time in Stokes County and is designated
Hatchery Supported Trout Waters from the
Virginia state line downstream to a point
200 yards beyond the end of State Road 1421.
The first part of the Dan in North Carolina
receives a great deal of fishing pressure (espe -
cially after stockings), and its trout have a
reputation for wariness and selectivity regard -
ing fly and lure offerings.
A few days later, still troubled by the
curious stained water of the native stream,
I make some phone calls and learn that runoff
from agricultural and cattle farms is a serious
concern on the Dan watershed, and that
Virginia law does not require that farmers
keep their cattle out of streams—native brook
trout rills downstream or otherwise. I then
contact Roger Holnback of the Western Vir -
ginia Land Trust and ask if his organization
is having much success in recording con ser -
vation easements in Patrick County.
Conservation easements are voluntary,
permanent agreements wherein a land owner
agrees to give up certain development rights.
The more development rights a landowner
relinquishes, the more tax and other finan -
cial benefits the individual or family receives.
I, for example, have placed 392 acres I own
under conservation easements. I have seen
my taxes on the parcels dramatically decrease
and received other tax benefits totaling many
thousands of dollars. I also have gained the
satisfaction of knowing that I have per ma -
nently protected wildlife habitat. For fisher -
men, a major plus of easements is that they
often serve to protect riparian zones.
Holnback says that six easements totaling
917 acres have been placed in Patrick County.
Although none of that acreage is on the Dan
River itself, much of it does include land
within the watershed.
“What we are seeing in Patrick County
is typical of what is going on in the western
Piedmont of North Carolina and Virginia,”
says Holnback. “Folks are moving up from
urban areas in North Carolina and buying
former 100-acre farms that have been split
up into 10- to 20-acre parcels, each with its
own hilltop. Then the buyers build a home
or vacation getaway on that hilltop—a place
with a view.
“Conservation easements really have not
caught on here yet, but the interest I am
seeing is coming from two groups. The first
is from the ‘come-heres,’ people from outside
the area who have built their homes here but
don’t want to see the county further devel -
oped. And the second is from the ‘from-heres,’
multi-generational farmers who are worried
about the development and don’t want to
see their land broken up when they die.”
Holnback suggests that I call the
Piedmont Land Conservancy (PLC) in
Greensboro, and I contact Kenneth A. Bridle,
its stewardship director. Bridle has actively
worked on the Dan River watershed for the
past 25 years and has done Natural Heritage
Inventories in Stokes and surrounding coun -
ties, riparian corridor studies, water shed
plans and sediment studies. He has built
canoe access sites, done stream restor a tions
and surveyed for rare plants and animals, plusBasin Association (DRBA) and is in the early
stages of a 12-month water sampling survey.
“We have conducted Natural Heritage
Inventories in all of the counties that are in
the Dan River Basin, and we have done N.C.
Clean Water Management Trust Fund-spon -
sored riparian corridor studies of the entire
channel,” Bridle says. “We also received
several grants to study the suspended sedi -
ment in the river and to prepare a Dan River
Watershed Protection Plan, which was pub -
lished in December of 2006.
“This watershed plan is the most com -
pre hensive collection of data and recom -
men da tions on the upper Dan River Basin,
includ ing the Virginia portion. We have also
received grants for the purchase of pro per ties
and easements in Stokes and Rockingham
counties and have recently spent significant
effort on the establishment of and land pur -
chase for the new Mayo River State Park in
the middle of the watershed. This park is
being matched by an effort on the Virginia
side to put the upper reaches of the Mayo
into a Virginia state park.”
As is true in Patrick County, few pro per -
ties are under conservation easement on the
North Carolina part of the Dan watershed,
says Bridle, as a long-standing resistance to
land use planning exists.
“Residents, the from-heres and comeheres
in both states, don’t see the threats to
water quality and loss of scenic and eco -
logical values,” continues Bridle. “In this
area, development does not occur in big
easy-to-see blocks, such as malls and multihundred-
home housing developments, like
in the urban counties to the south, but in
subtler, harder-to-notice scatterings of new
homes, new roads, loss of smaller chunks of
forests and farms and ultimately a harderto-
perceive-and-regulate land conversion.
The citizens and politicians just don’t see
the threat or loss, possibly until it’s too late.
And unless land trusts have willing land -
owners who perceive the threats and want to
do conservation easements that would help
mitigate the threats, then there is really no
market for this kind of conservation activity.
“It might be argued that since the water -
shed threats are not dramatic, they are also
not imminent, which is true. But we know
that now is the time to work, when there are
reasonable land values, big blocks available
and resources still worth conserving. By the
time threats are obvious, all the resources
are impacted, the costs are much more and
conservation potential is limited.”
The most effective areas of impact have
been where the PLC has been able to meet a
wider range of conservation-minded land -
owner needs and also put a lot of easements
in a focus area. The PLC has placed much
emphasis on inventory, survey, sampling and
coalition building, and only recently has a
new swell of interest started that will lead to
more productive conservation partnerships.
Bridle says the Dan River watershed is
facing the same pressures that all of North
Carolina’s Piedmont is dealing with. He sees
as some of the factors “the need to improve
agricultural best management practices, espe -
cially on farms in transition to new crops or
new land use; increasing residential develop -
ment and resultant stormwater runoff; ripar -
ian buffer impacts; lawn and agricultural
chemical impacts; non-point-source sedi -
ment pollution; plastic trash and litter; and
ATVs being ridden in creeks and the river.”
But Bridle also lists a number of positives,
including the following.
•New communication across the state
line between agencies
•Increased recreational use of the river
because of the Dan River Basin
Association’s outings and programs
•The potential impact on the area of the
Mountains to Sea Trail coming through
•New rare aquatic species discovered
in the Dan
•The new state parks and potential to
designate a Dan River Trail State Park
•A push to make some of the Stokes
County canoe access sites permanent
•New county tourism boards
The Carolina Dan Becomes a
Smallmouth River
I ask Kevin Hining, District 7 fisheries biol -
ogist for the N.C.Wildlife Resources Com -
mission, to give an overview of the Dan as a
smallmouth river.
“To be honest, I don’t think many anglers
outside Stokes County know about the Dan,”
he says. “I’ve heard few people talk about it,
but from what I’ve seen, the section in Stokes
County downstream of N.C. 704 is a really
fun smallmouth river. We haven’t seen any
monster fish, but lots of smallmouth in the
12- to 16-inch size range. Also, we’ve talked
to a few anglers who routinely catch larger
fish than our samples indicate.”
As the Dan continues its path through
Stokes County, it passes under the Flippin
Road Bridge and through the communities
of Joyce Mill and Jessups Mill. Once again,
the Dan flows through a gorgelike area, and
two Class III rapids mark the waterway. But
the swift water comes to an end in the back -
waters of Jessups Mill Dam.
Downstream from the dam to the High way
704 bridge, a distance of about 6 miles, the
Dan is known for its remoteness and white
water. Paddlers may also encounter the James
River spiny mussel, an endan gered species.
The next section is the 12.4-mile float
from the Route 704 bridge (known as the
Hart Access) to the Hanging Rock State Park
access. Lexington’s Anthony Hipps and I
conduct a summertime float of part of this
section (that is, 4.5 miles from Moores
Springs Campground to the park) and catch
smallmouth bass and redbreast sunfish.
What impresses me most is that both
banks are heavily wooded, almost through -
out the entire excursion, and cliffs up to 60
feet tall often appear. Songbirds are numerous,
highlighted by appearances from scarlet tan -
agers, red-eyed vireos, orchard orioles and
hooded warblers. When the rhododendron
is in bloom, the white flowers add ambience
to our junket.
For Part II of this exploration of the Dan,
I’ll cover the river from Hanging Rock State
Park to Kerr Lake from fishing and conserva -
tion viewpoints, as well as look at how somelandowners are proving to be good stewards
of the watershed.
Bruce Ingram is the author of several books
on rivers and fishing, including, “Fly and Spin
Fishing for River Smallmouths” ($19.25).
To purchase one, contact Ingram at be_ingram@juno.com.

Moratock Park Story WS Journal

2010-07-06T13:32:00.000-07:00

Many Thanks to Lisa O'Donnell for bringing attention to our efforts to enhance Moratock Park. This is phase I of a comprehensive plan that will, if completed allow us to take advanage of our tourism assets help foster new development, new investment and ultimatley new jobs in the county. Tourism is not the panacea for all our ills but as part of a well thought out and developed Economic Development plan it can be an incredible asset. Take a moment, read the story and stop by my office in Danbury to view the notional site plans.

By Lisa O'Donnell
JOURNAL REPORTER
Published: July 6, 2010
Updated: 07/05/2010 11:40 pm
DANBURY
Moratock Park, a popular summertime spot for people who want to cool off in the Dan River, may be in for a makeover.
An updated park could include an amphitheater, a disc-golf course, an area for a farmer's market and a new walking trail. Those are just some of the features included in two preliminary plans that were presented to the public in late June.
The county-operated park is spread over 50 acres on two sides of Sheppard Mill Road in Danbury. As it is, the park includes a ball field, picnic tables and easy access to the river. It also is home to the Moratock Iron Furnace, a historic structure that dates to 1843. Many people know the park as a convenient place to end a tubing trip down the Dan.
Alan Wood, the director of economic development for Stokes County, said that the park's development is one part of a larger plan to boost tourism in the county, which already attracts more than 400,000 visitors a year to Hanging Rock State Park.
"Hanging Rock is a huge draw and yet we don't reach out in significant ways to get the tourists more involved in the community," he said.
The Moratock Park plan and the master plan are costing the county about $45,000, Wood said.
Jimmy Walker, the chairman of the county's board of commissioners, sees tourism as one way to fuel the county's economy, which was dependent on tobacco farming for generations.
Walker viewed both preliminary plans for Moratock park and said he liked what he saw. One plan added a few features to what is already in existence, while the other plan included extensive changes, such as eliminating the ball field.
"I'm getting excited about the potential there and how it all ties in as another option for people coming to Hanging Rock," Walker said.
County residents can view the preliminary plans in Wood's office on the third floor of the Reagan Building at the county government complex in Danbury. The plans also will be on view at the Stokes Stomp, which will be at Moratock Park on Sept. 11-12. A survey also will be sent out to about 1,500 county residents.
Wood said he hopes the plan for Moratock Park will be finished in the fall. He will then begin looking for funding opportunities, which will likely come from federal and state grants. Without knowing what the final plan is going to include, Wood said it is too early to estimate how much the park would cost.
"That's what we're going to be working on for the next three months," Wood said.
lo'donnell@wsjournal.com
727-7420

20 Questions for Entrepreneurs

2010-07-06T08:03:00.000-07:00

If you are in business for yourself or thinking about going into business for yourself, these 20 questions need to be answered before you go any further. You can't get where you want to go if you don't have a map or at least have it plotted on Google Earth

The 20 Most Important Questions In Business
Christopher Steiner and Brett Nelson

Entrepreneurs can't completely inoculate their businesses from the vagaries of the market. What they can do is wrestle with the fundamental questions that govern the fate of any enterprise. We've done our best to compile the 20 most important ones.

Digging for those answers is a grueling exercise--one that takes serious intellectual and emotional honesty. With any hope, the process begins long before money's been spent, products are built and customers are lost.

The real challenge, though, is to keep digging. As businesses grow, new opportunities and threats emerge, and yesterday's answers probably won't suffice. Relentlessly asking the tough questions is how

With that essential struggle in mind, we present the 20 most important questions entrepreneurs need to answer--and keep answering--to build thriving businesses. Some highlights:

1. What is your value proposition?
2. Does your product address a viable market?
3. What differentiates your product from the competition?
4. Does the business scale?
5. How committed are you to making this happen?
6. What are your strengths?
7. What are your weaknesses?
8. What price will your customers pay?
9. How much power do your buyers have?
10. How much power do your suppliers have?
11. How should you sell your product?
12. How should you market your product?
13. How big is the threat of new entrants:
14. How do you protect your intellectual property?
15. How much start-up capital do you need?
16. How will you finance the business?
17. How much cash do you need to survive the early years?
18. What are your financial projections?
19. How do you keep the help happy?
20. What is your end game?

Peresonal Branding

2010-07-01T09:31:00.000-07:00

In the current enviroment of high unemployment, falling stocks and slow housing sales, everyone is looking for an edge. You can't just fill out an application, create a resume, post it on line or email it to hundreds of companies and hope you get a job. You need to create a brand for your self and create a niche for your skills. Below are five goods points on how to start the process.

30
Jun/105 Tools for Creating Your Personal Brand
by Tom under personal brand, personal branding, social media, success
“This democratization of personal branding is not likely to slow anytime soon. In fact, more and more ‘regular’ people are joining the content-creation party.”
– Beth Snyder Bulik, Advertising Age
The primary goal, but not limited to, of personal branding is to stand out from the crowded marketplace. There is far too much “noise” for you to separate yourself from your competition relying on traditional approaches. In fact, that’s the fastest way for your brand to die a slow and painful death.

There are five tools you need to consider when crafting your personal brand:

1.Buzz Marketing: This includes anything that gets people talking about you. It could be utilizing Facebook and/or Twitter to create a buzz by stating the unexpected and making bold, controversial statements. It could be creating a blog that enables you to apply a voice to the wild ideas you have.
2.Networking: Networking implies both online as well as the traditional forms. In addition to working the room at a Chamber of Commerce After Hours or Before Hours event, you need to reach out through channels such as LinkedIn. LinkedIn is the ultimate business networking site online and one that offers a wide ranges of tools and resources to network effectively.
3.Seminars: Using a seminar format, you can provide educational content that is less about a direct selling pitch and more about the value add that you bring to the table. Whether it’s inviting people to a local Panera Bread meeting room, your company’s conference room or renting a local hotel’s meeting room, this is a powerful tool in setting yourself apart as the local industry expert.
4.Professional Referrals: Are you involved with a leads group in your area? There are many options including Chamber leads groups, BNI, ABN, and others. There is also the option of creating your own leads group. The key is to find or start a leads group consisting of active, hungry professionals who are like-minded in their desire to succeed and reach the next level of success.
5.Email Campaigns: I am a strong advocate of quality email campaigns. Mind you, I’m not referring to spam and pitch emails but rather high quality, idea-packed emails that provide value added material to your clients and potential clients. Your readers will respect this approach and even look forward with anticipation of your next email or e-Newsletter.
Which should you use? I suggest finding a way to implement every one of these five tools. Your goal is to reach people where they are and create or strengthen your personal brand. The more creatively and consistently you take this approach, the more successful you will find your efforts. It takes time, but it is certainly worth the effort.

This was submitted by Tom Hackelman from Winston Salem.

Web Site Program Update

2010-06-30T13:15:00.000-07:00

As we near the end of June, I wanted to provide an update on the Stokes County Web Site Project. At this time we have 40 web sites live and functioning with 40+ more in process. These sites cover a wide variety of businesses and non-profits and range from the simple to a little more advanced. There are blogs, twitter accounts, facebook pages, flicker accounts, on-line shops, menus and much more.

The impact of this project over time can be significant. These are businesses that had little or web presence and now they do. As web marketing continues to evolve, the need to be engaged will become even more important. This isn't true just for businesses that intend to sell products on-line but to those that are supplying services of almost any kind. If you can't be found on a search engine, you are giving business away. It is the goal of Stokes County Economic Development that this not happen to our businesses.

There is still time to be included in the process. It is very simple: if you have a business in Stokes County and would like to have a web site, we can build on for you. The total cost to you is $59.95. This covers acquiring your domain name and hosting the site for 12 months. We will work with you to set up your site, populate the information, teach you how to update your material, link you to other sites, promote your site on our facebook page, blog, EDC and tourism web sites and you will be on your way. Each of the sites are using one of four templates developed for the project and each has internal content management.

If you have a business in Stokes County or know someone who does and they do not have a web site, have them contact us today!

Moratock Park Project

2010-06-28T13:19:00.000-07:00

Thanks to those who took time out from a stormy Thursday evening last week to attend the public meeting on how an updated Moratock Park might look. I think you saw a glimpse of what the future of the park could look like. The two notional site plans that were presented were well done and incorporated some very interesting alternatives. For those who were unable to attend and would like a quick overview, I have the boards on view in my office on the 3rd floor of the Reagan Building in Danbury.

Briefly, the two plans show how the park could be better utilized and updated to provide more recreational opportunities to the residents of Stokes County and our many visitors. This includes updates to the ball field, an open air theater, equipped playground, raised walkways around the river, protected stream banks, a frisbe golf course and much more.

The next steps will include a funding plan with costs estimates and a possible timeline for this project. For this project to be successful, we will need public input and participation. Let me know if you have any questions or comments on the Moratock Park Project and there is always room to jump on the bandwagon, it should be a great ride!

Don't let the Nays have it.

2010-06-24T11:16:00.000-07:00

Everyone meets people who have made up their mind before the discussion starts. They have reached a conclusion and no amount of factual reasoning is going to help. The article that I am attaching below addresses this very nicely. Don't let the nays get you down. If the idea is well thought out and you can get ample support then take the ball and run!

How To Win Over People
Started by Colin Thompson, Managing Partner, CAVENDISH
You have a great idea that will increase revenue and improve profits, but you have a challenge on how to win over people. There will be the typical naysayers who will be able say exactly why it will not work. There may be supporters but can they overcome the negativity of the naysayers?

There are ways on how to win over people to help implement your great idea despite the negativity of naysayers.

Often people get carried away by a small group of people who are typically very supportive of initiatives that are rolled out. These people do not need winning over.

On the other hand, there are the naysayers who typically know all the reasons why an initiative will fail and are resistant to management initiatives. These people can really drain your enthusiasm and energy if you let their negativity get to you.

The good news is that you do not have to focus on the naysayers! The more you focus on them, the greater the power you are allowing this group.

Other than the supporters and the naysayers, there are a whole bunch of people, who form the greater number of your employees. The technique is to focus on these people.

They are neutral and with the right presentation of the initiative and the benefits it will bring to the organization, this group of people can be won over to help you implement the initiative. Remember to make sure you include benefits to the individuals to motivate them in making it a success.

Of course, the supporters will be a great help in moving this forward. Once the resistors see the rest of the organization supporting the initiative, there is little else they can do but to join in. If they really feel opposed to the idea, they may leave. That, however, may be better for the organization.

While the group of people to focus on is a key part of the technique, it is crucial that the leader is mentally tough. This is a key ingredient in winning over people.

Mental toughness is the ability to remain internally focused, relaxed, determined and confident in the face of the external stress that you will face. You need to be able to perform at your peak even under pressure.

Be mentally tough. Be determined and persevere against whatever objections and the related stress that comes with it.

This is possible if you are convinced that the initiative you are planning has been thought through and thorough. Your sheer belief that it can succeed will give you the motivation and the mental strength to see it through.

In driving the initiative, it is best to work on things that you have full or at least limited control. It is also important to let go of things that you cannot change.

Another point to note will be not to create any more resistance than is necessary by controlling every aspect. While you provide guidance for delegated tasks, make sure that you give enough freedom.

If there is any resistance, do not take it personally. The resistance is targeted at the initiative or the extra work that needs to be done.

If it is against the initiative, take this as a good sign as people are actually giving thought to it. Take some time to study this and you might get some valuable feedback that will help you improve on the initiative.

Resistance to the extra work and needing to learn new things is normal in any organization when change happens. Just go about your normal steps in managing change.

Consider these factors when you next think about how to win over people for the next initiative or project that you want to launch.
Goals

My Glass is...

2010-06-09T07:41:00.000-07:00

If you have faith, you believe you get what you need when you need it. It is part of the human condition to worry and not have this faith. I am as guilty of this or maybe more so than most. I sweat the details and all the what ifs. I was discussing this very issue with Missy, my Administrative Assistant and friend this morning and she mentioned that her son had the attitude that you take care of what you can and then take things as they come. I think he is right and that worry is a waste of time, but how to take his advice and let go of issues after we have done all that is within our powers is easier said than done.

With this still on my mind, I saw the article below on optimism and it helped me put issues in better perspective. If you are in business, I think you must be an optimist but in a realistic way. Hope this article helps you in your quest.

How to Be an Optimist (Without Being an Idiot)

Jun 06, 2010 -

“If an optimist had his left arm chewed off by an alligator, he might say, in a pleasant and hopeful voice, ‘Well, this isn’t too bad. I don’t have my left arm anymore, but at least nobody will ever ask me whether I am right-handed or left-handed,’ but most of us would say something more along the lines of ‘Aaaaah! My arm! My Arm!’”—Lemony Snicket

It’s easy to mock an optimist, isn’t it? Those who hope for the best are scorned as “Pollyannas.” Bart Simpson mocks Lisa’s idealism. Lou Grant mocked Mary Richards in the newsroom. Voltaire enjoys many a knowing smile at the expense of his Candide.

Yet optimism is one of the key strategies for overcoming fear, anxiety, frustration and skepticism in order to make a small business thrive, argue Clate Mask and Scott Martineau in their new book, Conquer the Chaos: How to Grow a Successful Small Business (Wiley, 2010).

The key, however, is to practice not unbridled, idealistic, romantic notions of cheerfully annoying optimism, but rather to practice “disciplined optimism.”

“Disciplined optimism,” Clate and Scott say, inspires you to maintain confidence and get to work removing whatever obstacle is in your way. It allows you to own the problem, and do something about it, because you have a sense that doing so gets you closer to your ultimate goal.

The authors define disciplined optimism as “faith you will prevail plus discipline to confront the brutal facts.” In other words, disciplined optimists do something about the little black rain cloud over their heads—they erect a very large umbrella, say—while blind optimists simply sit in the muddy puddle and cheerfully wish for the rain to stop (and then get wet and chilled and distraught when it doesn’t).

A good way for small business owners to practice disciplined optimism is to spend some time with unhappy customers. It stings when a customer complains about our product or services, and it’s easy to get incensed, defensive, and, ultimately, be simply unresponsive.

A disciplined optimist, however, assures an irate customer that they both want the same thing: A seamless customer experience. So the optimist (1) apologizes for the malfunction or disappointment; and (2) thanks the customer for bringing the issue to his or her attention so that the business can make this right and help future customers avoid the same frustrations.

The key here, however, is the bigger picture: Responding with confidence and enthusiasm, not just going through the mechanics of fixing an issue, because you see customer issues and other roadblocks as entirely fixable things that, once corrected, hasten the progress toward your long-term goal, Clate and Scott point out.

I particularly like this section on optimism in Conquer the Chaos. Why? Because much as we all know that a doing something about a problem is a better response than simply wallowing in it, it’s easier said than done, right? We all know that a customer complaint is an opportunity to turn an opinion around, but it’s hard not to get ticked off and impassive.

“We’ve all heard that we need to view customer complaints as opportunities to improve, try to turn lemons into lemonade, blah, blah, blah,” Clate and Scott write. But actually doing it is way harder than simply voicing it.

In a larger context, too, it’s hard to maintain disciplined optimism with all of persistent business pressures that make up our workdays—competitive threats, cash flow worries, an underperforming employee, competitive threats, limited resources—or on those days when business feels more like a battle than an adventure. Some days, you need a shot glass full of optimism just to get through the afternoon. But the disciplined kind—not the clueless kind that makes you smile blithely and ultimately give up because things don’t change the way you want them to.

So how do you nurture disciplined optimism within yourself? How do you make an effort to be more of a half-full, and less of a half-empty, kind of person? Here are eight ideas, based on Clate and Scott’s advice in their book as well as my own two pesos.

Face the problem (and quickly). This one is from Clate and Scott, who say, “Don’t brood and dwell on difficult experiences,” like a thorny customer or looming cash crunch. “Go to work right away.”
Rewind. Go back and address situations you wish you’d handled differently. It’s never too late (well, it’s never too late at least to try.)
Rewire your brain. Be conscious of your negative thoughts. Boot them out of your brain and make room for positive thoughts. (This might sound squishy and New Age-y, but it works.)
Don’t take yourself too seriously. Believe in yourself and what you are doing, but don’t take yourself too seriously. (Those who do are one of my biggest pet peeves, by the way.) “Laugh at yourself. Have a little fun. Roll with the punches,” Clate and Scott say.
Read customer testimonials. Or shake the Magic Google 8-ball: Search on “I love {insert your company name here}.” This does wonders to remind you of the good feelings you engender.
Give a compliment. Spread sunshine yourself by telling someone what a great job they are doing. You’ll feel better about yourself, too.
Fake it ‘til you make it. This old catchphrase is a great way to shake up your behavior. It’s usually applied to confidence, but you can apply it to optimism, as well, especially if you aren’t naturally a half-full kind of person: Imitating optimism will generate real optimism by producing success; that in turn reinforces your optimism.
Be grateful. Those of us here at OPEN Forum are a lucky bunch, aren’t we? We have passion and a curiosity and willingness to learn and grow our businesses and ourselves. (Otherwise, why would you be reading OPEN Forum at all?) That’s an amazing thing, isn’t it? And for that, we can be grateful every day.

What about you? Are you a so-called disciplined optimist? How do you maintain it?

Ann Handley is the Chief Content Officer of MarketingProfs. There’s nothing more fun than following her on Twitter @marketingprofs.

Photo credit: KitAy

Fan Pages for your business

2010-06-08T11:42:00.000-07:00

If you have a business and you are not on facebook you should probably be there. If you have a business and are on facebook but don't have a fan page here's a good article on how to do it and why.

How to Create and Optimize a Facebook Fan Page and Why a Home Business Owner Needs One
.
If you use Facebook as part of your marketing strategy to generate leads for your home business it is a good idea to start a Facebook Fanpage. A Facebook site is limited to 5000 friends and while it is unrealistic to have a personal relationship with that many people it is easy to have a business relationship with many times that with attraction marketing. If you are building a home business and want to succeed, you will have to use attraction marketing principles.

Every successful home business owner or network marketer had to become a leader and to be successful you will have to become one too. That intimidates some people because they don’t understand that being a leader is a mindset and an assumed posture that happens as the result of a decision. Once you have made the decision to become a leader the only steps required to achieve that goal are working on your personal development to change your attitude, belief, and posture and learning skills that your followers will find valuable.

It is common for a top marketer to have hundreds of thousands of followers and with the current explosion of social media it wouldn’t take long to max out your Facebook friend limit. Since there is no limit on followers of a Fanpage it is a logical and necessary step for a home business owner to create one.

To have a Fanpage you must have a personal account. Then from your home page you will see a selection on the left for “ads and pages.” After you click there you will click on the "pages" selection in the same area. Then you will have options at the top where you can choose “create page.” You will be taken to a page where you can choose “local business”, “brand, product, or organization”, or “artist, band, or public figure.” Take the last selection, name your fan page, check the permission box and click on “create page.”

Just as you should have done with your personal page you need to upload a picture and fill in all the information fields they ask for. Doing so will help others relate to you and will cause Facebook to suggest your page to likeminded people.

Now to optimize your page there are 3 steps to get started. First go to http://www.Involver.com (this is no affiliate link) and get a free account. Then you can get 2 free applications for your Fanpage or upgrade your account and get more. I would suggest the Twitter and the YouTube apps. If you don’t have accounts with them, go set them up. Follow the prompts, get your apps and then return to your Fanpage and click the plus box, allow the connection and add them to your page. If you have these apps on your Fanpage they will look like mini sites and even include your profiles that were set up at those sites. As you build up your Youtube rank it will build your Fanpage rank.

The second thing to do is to put a Facebook badge on your Wordpress blog. To do that, click on “edit page”, then you will see on the right side below “admins” (where you could add other administrators if you wanted to) “create a badge.” When you click there you will be able to choose “other” and get an html code you can copy and paste into a text widget on your blog. Simply go to the dashboard of your blog, click on appearance, and widgets, and drag a widget to the location you want and paste in the code and click save. Now the traffic you drive to your blog can join your Fanpage.

My third suggestion is to buy a domain name and mask forward it to your Facebook Fanpage. It will be easier for you to promote it from different sites because the URL will not be so complicated and it can help you get the page ranked if you have a keyword in the title and the URL.

Dan Lambeth
919-876-1799
Get your attraction marketing system with free training on generating home business leads online=>
http://online.mlmbizwizard.com

Water Under the Bridge?

2010-06-07T12:08:00.000-07:00

Below is a nice article concerning the Seven Island Bridge and possible efforts to reuse portions of it. If you are interested in this or Moratock Park in general, Please join us June 24th at 6:30 to see the unveiling of two notional site plans being developed for this purpose. Things are happening and we need your assistance and input. Special thanks to the WS Journal and Lisa O'Donnell this article.

Water Under the Bridge? Preservationists hope historic structure can find new life at Moratock Park
By Lisa O'Donnell
JOURNAL REPORTER
Published: June 5, 2010
DANBURY
Like an old Chevy that has seen better days, the Seven Island bridge rests on blocks in a clearing in the woods not far from where it spanned the Dan River for 100 years.
Weeds shoot through what was once the floor of the bridge. Rust chips away at the posts and bracings that supported the weight of countless wagons hauling tobacco, horse-drawn buggies, trucks and school buses.
When workers with the N.C. Department of Transportation disassembled parts of the steel truss bridge and unloaded it in a field in early 2005, officials with the town of Danbury and preservationists hoped that it would find new life as a pedestrian bridge over the Dan at Moratock Park, a few miles down the road.
At the time, town officials estimated it would cost between $200,000 and $800,000 to place the bridge in the park.
The town, which was given ownership of the bridge, had hoped to start a fundraising drive, but those efforts were almost immediately put on hold while the town dealt with more pressing issues, such as the potential loss of Sheppard's Mill, another historic site in Stokes County, said Jane Priddy Charleville, who served as mayor of Danbury for several years.
"We delayed fundraising to focus on Sheppard's Mill so that the two wouldn't compete with one another," Charleville said. "And the town, as things go, started work on a sidewalk project. It was put on the back burner."
Although the bridge is tucked away in a sharp curve on the lightly traveled Seven Island Road, the passion to preserve it and get it back in service remains strong.
Willis Overby, a former county commissioner, has been a longtime advocate for preserving the bridge for nostalgic and practical reasons.
The bridge on Sheppard Mill Road, which links downtown Danbury with Moratock Park, doesn't have a designated walkway, making travel unsafe at such popular park events as the Stokes Stomp.
"We have a lot of people at the park when there are county functions, and there is a need for a walking bridge," Overby said. "But aside from that, people just like to walk over the river, and if we have that bridge there, we could construct it for walking and viewing the river."
People such as Charleville view the bridge through a sentimental lens.
She recalled how generations of people picnicked and swam in the shadow of the bridge. Many couples were married on it.
"We've lost a lot of our history and our historical things in and around Danbury," Charleville said. One of Stokes County's truss bridges, for example, is on display in Davidson County, she said.
Jimmy Walker, the chairman of the Stokes County board of commissioners, said that he believes people would support a fundraising project to move the bridge.
"Folks who live in that area and who know the area well really have strong feeling about the future for the bridge. I have a feeling if there were a project undertaken to move the bridge, there'd be good public support for it in that area," he said

Moratock Park Update

2010-06-07T11:25:00.000-07:00

As a part of our Long term focus on growing the economy and developing tourism, we have embarked on a project to ID our main tourism assets and establish a strategic plan to develop these assets. I have said many times during the past 15 months, we don;t need to create tourism in Stokes County, it is already happening, we need to learn to take advantage of it. We have approximately 600,000 people a year visiting Hanging Rock State Park, thousands more that visit the Dan River and many more who enjoy driving our roads, enjoying the scenery, hiking our trails and many other outdoor activities. What we do not have is a well developed plan on how to offer these visitors to our borders an opportunity to stop, visit our shops and spend more time and money.

To counteract this, we are working to map our assets, bring our allies into focus and for the first time, develop a plan that will have all the partners pulling in the same direction.

The first step in this is to look at Moratock Park and develop a plan to enhance it. We have contracted with and experienced planner to assist us in this and we are very excited about the possibilities. There will be an opportunity to view notional site plans on this project June 24th in the third floor conference room of the Regan Building in Danbury. The meeting will be at 6:30 and we hope that you will take a few moments from your busy schedule to join us.

It is our intent go look for State, Local and Federal funds to complete this project and public support and participation is very important to our efforts. See you on the 24th!

Interesting Facebook Facts

2010-06-04T06:10:00.000-07:00

Found this info on one of my feeds yesterday and thought I would share it with you.

Facebook: Did you know?
By vibelog
Facebook is quickly growing in popularity and usage on a daily basis. The statistics* are so amazing, I had to share some fun facts!

1.There are over 400 million active users on Facebook
2.The median user age is 33
3.1 in 3 U.S. residents has a Facebook account.
4.50% of users log in on any given day.
5.There are 55 million status updates on Facebook every day.
6.3.5 billion pieces of content are shared on Facebook each week.
7.The fastest growing segment of Facebook users is women aged 55+ years.
8.Facebook surpasses Google as the most important site on the internet.
9.There are more groups on Facebook than videos on You Tube.
10.Facebook supports over 65 languages.
11.Over 700,000 businesses use Facebook.

Are you on Facebook? If so, how often do you log in? Does your company use Facebook yet?

While I don't believe Facebook is a salvation for or sole answer to a company's advertising strategy, I think it should be incorporated into a well thought out marketing plan. It is hard to argue with 400 million users and why would you want to try?

Truffles in Stokes County

2010-06-03T12:19:00.000-07:00

Yes, you aren't seeing things. There are truffles growing in the hills of Stokes County. I just posted a link to their site on my facebook page ( http://www.trufflesnc.com/)and what an interesting story. Who would believe that such and exotic product would spring forth from the ground of this area. I think it is a testimony to the fortitude of our citizens to not give up or give in because their world is changing but to look for new opportunities and attempt new things. We have truffles, mushrooms, heirloom tomatoes, several varieties of sweet potatoes, herbs and many other crops being grown. These are not meant to replace the cash crops of the past, namely tobacco in Stokes County, but they are creating new sources of income and creating new opportunities.

Another site that went live today is OinknCluck (http://www.oinknclucknbbq.com/) I have had the opportunity to sample their food at several events over the past year and have found it delicious each time.

These are only a few of a wide variety of businesses, common and uncommon that we have had the opportunity to work with over the past six months. Many of these can be found via links on this blog and a host of others on our business directory at www.stokesedc.org. Don't leave the county to go shopping before you check these out and if you are here visiting, stop by and give them a try!

Secrets Revealed

2010-05-27T11:27:00.000-07:00

While it is not a secret to anyone who lives in Stokes County, it seems to surprise many of our friends nearby just how beautiful and relaxing our area is. Below is part of an article in today's Winston Salem Journal talking about Hanging Rock State Park, the Dan River and Priddy's General Store. If your are looking for a relaxing way to spend a weekend, you can't beat it.

By Lisa O'Donnell | Journal Reporter

Published: May 27, 2010

Updated: 05/26/2010 08:05 pm

The holiday-shopping season has Black Friday.

The camping season has a gateway day, too. A Green Friday, if you will.

And it begins in about 24 hours.

Oh sure, those of us who love to knock around outdoors don't need a season. But that stretch between Memorial Day and Labor Day is a golden period, custom-made for dipping your toes in mountain streams, hiking through banks of rhododendrons and falling asleep to tree-frog serenades.

What follows are a few suggestions for a holiday outing:

Stokes County

Sticking close to home, a float down the Dan River near Danbury has become an annual rite of summer for many folks. You can rent tubes at the Danbury General Store and the Hillside Market & Deli. If paddling is more your speed, the Dan River Company runs trips and shuttles down the Dan. Many trips end at Moratock Park, which has a nice little swimming hole.

Of course, if you are in Danbury, you may want to take a short hike to Hanging Rock State Park or jaunt over to Pilot Mountain State Park. Expect throngs of people to have that same idea, however. Hanging Rock's lake won't open until June 1.

One of the my favorite spots in the area is Priddy's General Store, which has been serving folks since the early 20th century. You can load up on drinks and homemade goodies or order a sandwich near the back of the store. Pickin' at Priddy's, a series of bluegrass shows, begins Saturday from 3 to 7 p.m. Bring a chair

Random Ramblings

2010-05-25T11:52:00.000-07:00

Our web building program continues to move forward. Samantha Martin, the intern that does all the work is doing a great job. The sites look better and better as the companies become more comfortable with how to update them and what the capabilities are. I invite you to visit Town and Country Restaurants site http://www.townandcountryrest.com/index.php and Walnut Cove Furniture's site as examples of what the is happening on this front. We have almost 80 sites either complete or in process. There have been a few bumps in the road but these have been addressed and I believe we are making a difference.

The Economic Development Board and I have just completed our priorities for the upcoming year. We have maintained our 4 areas of concentrations: Business Retention and Expansion, Business Recruitment, Entrepreneurial Development and Tourism as objectives. The board will be heavily involved in working with me to identify and gain control of an industrial site or sites, develop and implement a tourism master-plan as well as looking for ways to be of assistance to our existing businesses. It is an aggressive plan that will build upon the work of the last 12 months.

As a part of these efforts, we have applied to the NC Department of Commerce to be included in the 21st Century Communities Program. If successful, this will raise the county's profile with the Department of Commerce, assist us in refining our planning, point us to where potential partners are located and improve our opportunity to leverage State grants when the opportunities arise. The application was submitted on May 19th and the selected counties will be notified this fall.

If we are successful, we will hold a series of interviews with local elected officials, school officials, business people, students, working citizens in several industries, farmers and others to develop a profile of what is available and what is needed. I will keep you updated as soon as there is further news. Keep your fingers crossed.

The music event at Jomeokee was wonderful. The music was great, the food was good, the crowds were very well behaved and the Stokes County Arts Council should be very proud of the results. Can's wait til next year.

Our new Stokes County Visitors Guide is nearing completion. I think it is something we will be proud of and will be a great marketing tool. When combined with our new tourism website that is under construction, we will soon have more and better information available. Stay tuned for additional details.

Broadband for Rural Counties

2010-05-21T06:29:00.000-07:00

Below is an editorial from the Winston Salem Journal concerning efforts currently underway in the NC Legislature to curtail the ability of rural counties to provide broadband coverage. I agree that we should not be in competition with private business and if the companies that provide this service would provide it to all our citizens, we could focus on other problems. This, however is not the case and we can not wait for 10 or 15 years until it becomes profitable for them to do so. This is, in my opinion a need that is in many ways equal to the need in the early 20th century to bring electricity to rural America. Thanks to the Journal Staff for taking this stand.

Broadband battle
JOURNAL EDITORIAL STAFF

No law dictates that private telecommunication businesses must provide every North Carolina household and business with high-speed Internet. The companies are free to do business wherever they wish.

But, 15 years after Internet use became common, the telecoms still do not provide high-speed service to much of North Carolina. They can't expect people to wait any longer.

The telecommunications industry wants the legislature to make it more difficult for local governments to offer high-speed Internet service. The giant companies say they can't compete with local governments in towns of a couple thousand people.

Specifically, their bill would prohibit local governments from borrowing to build Internet infrastructure unless the public first voted to sell the bonds.

The Journal has long argued that government borrowing without a vote of the people is both unwise and unconstitutional. But that is borrowing backed by the "full faith and credit" of the borrower, in this case, the people of the jurisdiction involved. So, if that is what the telecoms want, we support them.

But that protection is already written into the state constitution. When governments borrow for public utility infrastructure, they generally pledge as collateral only the facilities that will be built and the revenues produced by the utility involved. In these cases, that would mean the equipment needed for the Internet service and the revenues it generates.

If the General Assembly were to give the telecoms what they want, they would be setting a higher standard for Internet borrowing than exists for most other government borrowing. And legislators would look hypocritical in passing such legislation because they've been borrowing without bond referenda for many years.

The issue here is that North Carolina's small towns and rural areas need fast Internet service so they can attract business. With high-speed Internet, people can work from home, too, thus increasing the likelihood that small Internet-based businesses can take advantage of lower costs in rural areas. Also many people currently work from home. They can move to rural areas and stay employed by urban companies if they have a high-speed Internet connection.

These communities can't wait until it will be profitable for a private company to serve them adequately. So, using the democratic process, they are asking their local governments to establish service for them. This is reminiscent of the early 20th century when small towns in this state developed their own electrical grids rather than wait for the big utilities to do so.

If the telecoms don't want local governments to establish these Internet services, they should rush into these areas and establish service now.

And the General Assembly should ignore the telecoms on this issue.