Heard on the Street

TEA FOR TUTU

The Springfield Ballet Guild will present the Nutcracker Tea, 1:30-3 p.m. Nov. 19 at the Walnut Street House of Tea, 1129 E. Walnut. Guests will enjoy an authentic English afternoon tea. Large groups are encouraged to arrive early. Patrons will be greeted by costumed dancers and directed to the tea tables and the upstairs Ballet Boutique. A silent auction will be held for an 18-inch doll-size tutu. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for children ages 5-12, and may be purchased at the Walnut Street House of Tea; Springfield Ballet, 400 South Ave.; or the Market Caf, 1845 E. Sunshine. For more information, call the Springfield Ballet at 862-1343.

UNTANGLING THE WEB

"Developing a Web Page for a Small Business" is the topic of the next Home-Based Businesses of the Ozarks meeting, which will be held at 7 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Library Center, 4653 S. Campbell. The program will be presented by Russ Weatherby of ServiceWorld Computer Center. For more information, call 725-4311.

A MATTER OF TRUST

In a study of MBA students working together in small groups, University of Missouri-Rolla researcher Tony Ammeter found that people with similar job backgrounds were less likely to trust others from the same background than they were people from other areas of employment. "In cross-functional teams, this somewhat curious finding might be explained as a byproduct of a desire to be the sole holder of expert power in one's area of expertise," Ammeter states in a paper presented Nov. 9 to the Southern Management Association. Ammeter added that the levels of mistrust "seemed to dampen as time passed, suggesting that if these undercurrents of competition exist initially, they decrease as coworkers coalesce to perform their tasks." The paper, "Demography, Social Contact and Trust Among Coworkers in Project Groups," received the 2000 SMA Outstanding Doctoral Paper Award.

DOWNTOWN DECOR

A 25-foot lighted Christmas tree, lighted wreaths and bows will grace Park Central Square this holiday season. A lighting ceremony will be held Nov. 18 immediately following the Springfield Christmas Parade. Downtown merchants are being encouraged to join in the holiday spirit with decorations of their own.

DISTINCTION AND SERVICE

The Missouri Women's Council is seeking nominations for two special awards that honor individuals or organizations for significant contributions to the advancement of women and their families. The Award of Distinction and The Rose Kemp Public Service Award will be presented at the fourth annual Governor's Economic Summit for Working Women April 25-26 in Columbia. The Award of Distinction is given to a woman, man or organization that clearly goes beyond the call of duty to advance the status of women. Nominees should demonstrate an exceptional commitment to making a difference in the lives of women and families. The Rose Kemp Public Service Award honors a woman who has worked for the improved quality of life for women and families in the public service area. The deadline for nominations is Dec. 1. Nomination forms can be obtained by calling 877-426-9284 or visiting www.womenscouncil.org.