Chamber wants to honor business of the year

BUZZ on BUSINESS

Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009

Now is the time to suggest a favorite business for recognition by the Charles County Chamber of Commerce.

Nominations opened Monday for the Reed W. McDonagh Memorial Award, named for the first chamber president and given annually to a chamber member business that demonstrates exceptional commitment to the community or to the chamber.

The award has been given out for at least the past decade to businesses with admirable public involvement, according to Michelle Lekan, director of communications and events for the chamber.

"Just their activity in the community, the community or within the chamber," Lekan said. "… Any extra things that they've done to help the community or improve quality of life in Charles County. It's an award [where] we try to recognize those kinds of businesses … that are kind of well-rounded with their peers, business and industry, and they do what they can to give back to the community."

Only chamber members are eligible to receive the award but anyone can make a nomination. Call 301-932-6500 to get a form.

The form provides additional guidelines for choosing nominees and lists the winners for the past 10 years, who are ineligible this year. The completed form must be received by the chamber by 4 p.m. Dec. 11.

The winning business be recognized at the chamber's 54th annual Presidential Ball on Jan 23.

Monthly business mixer goes Italian

Mama Stella's Restaurant will host this month's mixer organized by the Charles County Chamber of Commerce from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 5 at the restaurant at 7075 Indian Head Highway in Bryans Road.

The fee is $15 for chamber members and $25 for nonmembers.

To RSVP, e-mail brich@charlescountychamber.org.

China orientation meeting rescheduled

An orientation meeting for a trip to China sponsored by the Charles County Chamber of Commerce has been moved to 6 p.m. Nov. 12 at the chamber building at 101 Centennial St. in La Plata.

Participants in the trip, which costs $1,999 per person for chamber members and $2,099 for nonmembers, will leave Charles County on March 30 for a week of tourism and meetings with Chinese businesspeople while enjoying luxury accommodations, according to promotional materials.

To attend, RSVP to kgould@charlescountychamber.org by Nov. 10.

Comcast announces customer service initiative

Comcast has recently introduced a "customer guarantee" program in Southern Maryland to define what customers can expect from the company, according to representative Alisha Martin.

Among other statements, the company now promises a 30-day, money-back guarantee on all services; to provide easy-to-understand bills; to address customers' problems quickly; and to be mindful of customers' time when scheduling appointments, she wrote in an e-mail.

Also, if the company fails to install something or cannot resolve a "routine" issue, it will temporarily give the customer a free service, like HBO. A missed appointment will result in a $20 credit to the customer's account, Martin wrote.

Experts give free estate planning talk

The Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission will hold a free advanced estate planning seminar 6 p.m. Nov. 9 at the SMECO auditorium at 15035 Burnt Store Road in Hughesville.

Wealth Management Partners and Edward Pennfield of Bank of New York Mellon, which was recently named the safest American bank by Global Finance Magazine, will give the presentation. Topics will include transferring assets within the family, selling or keeping a business, philanthropy and other estate-related matters.

Call 301-274-1922 to register.

Southern States elects officers

The Southern States Charlotte Hall Service has elected officers and members of its stockholders committee, service manager Paul W. Bowers announced last month.

James K. Raley of Avenue was elected chairman of the committee, while Glen Russell of Morganza was named vice chairman. Raley was also elected as delegate to a district election meeting to be held in September 2010, with Russell chosen as alternate.

Michael Russell of Clements and Walt Wells of Prince Frederick were also elected to the committee at the annual meeting at American Legion Post 238 in Hughesville. Bowers estimated that about 110 stockholder-members attended.

At the same meeting, Helen Marie Walter of Hughesville and Brenda Goddard of La Plata were elected to the Southern States Farm Home Advisory Committee. Paula Rice of Newburg was chosen chairwoman of the Farm Home Advisory Committee and Melinda Rice of Faulkner was named secretary.

Employee Leonard Russell received an award for 17 years of safe driving.

Bowers gave an overview of the past year and reported that the service did about $5.8 million in business.

Wes Messick of Hurlock, an elected member of the main Southern States board in Richmond, Va., who represents an area including Southern Maryland, discussed national policy with the members.

Susie Hance Wells of Prince Frederick, an appointed member of the national board, also attended. Her father, Y.D. Hance, Maryland's first secretary of agriculture, once held the same position, according to Bowers.

"She's following in her father's footsteps," Bowers said.

According to Bowers, the meeting was a success. "I think it was pretty good. The speeches weren't too long; we got home early. Thompson's cooked the food. What else do you want?" he said.

emitrano@somdnews.com