Heard on the Street

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GOT ETHICS? The Society of Financial Service Professionals has announced its seventh annual American Business Ethics Award. The award honors companies that exemplify high standards of ethical behavior in their everyday business conduct and in response to specific crises or challenges, according to a release from the society. The award was established in 1994 and embodies the society's long-standing commitment to the advancement of sound business ethics in insurance and financial services, especially among its 32,000 members. Entry forms are available through the society's national headquarters at 888-243-2258. Past winners include Bell Atlantic, Pricewaterhouse/Cooper, Starbucks Coffee Co. and Merck & Co. |ret||ret||tab|

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GOOD OLD DAYS. Thomas J. Donohue, president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, reflected on the advances of the last century related to free enterprise and consumer choice in a recent "Speaking for Business" weekly radio address. "In 1900, one in every two families grew their own vegetables. The typical homemaker personally hauled seven tons of coal and 9,000 gallons of water, baked a half a ton of bread and made most of the family's clothes," Donohue said. "Today," he added, "we enjoy a consumer economy of unlimited choice, convenience and comfort to free enterprise and the innovations of American business."|ret||ret||tab|

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IN THE BANK. While record profits flowed from banks' third-quarter operations, the number of banks with problems continues to increase. More banks are losing money, agricultural banking is still sliding in the wrong direction and bank failures have been on the rise, according to bank rating service Veribanc Inc. Seven banks failed during 1999, up from three in 1998 and one in 1997. However, Veribanc states that current indicators suggest the failure rate will not worsen during the new year. The number of banks receiving Veribanc's lowest rating stands at 21, down from 31 a year ago but up from 13 two years ago. Veribanc also reports that of the 369 banks with headquarters in Missouri, 17 were unprofitable in the third quarter, but none have encountered serious losses, defined as quarterly losses exceeding 18.75 percent of equity. |ret||ret||tab|

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TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADER. Applications are now available for the 2000 class of Leadership Missouri, the state's premier leadership enhancement program, according to a release from its sponsor, the Missouri Chamber of Commerce. The program offers an in-depth study of the state's goals and operations, and how those goals impact Missouri's livelihood. The course involves seven, two-day segments, one each month beginning in April and ending in October. Each segment is held in a different Missouri city and features a different theme, such as "Policy Making in Jefferson City," held in Jeff City, and "Developing Communities in Missouri," held in Springfield. The fee is $1,175 for Missouri chamber members, $1,375 for nonmembers. Fees include scheduled class meals, breaks, group transportation, special materials and other organizational costs. Hotel and other costs are additional. A limited number of partial scholarships may be available for nonprofits. For an application, contact Cheri Morgan at 573-761-9305.|ret||ret||tab|

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ERGO SUM. The National Coalition on Ergonomics announced Dec. 16 that the number of repeated trauma injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, continue to decline, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. According to the BLS, these injuries have shrunk by 24 percent from 332,000 to 253,300 since 1994, and they make up just 4 percent of workplace injuries and illness, NCE stated in a release. NCE, which represents more than 300 associations and businesses, points to this data in opposing the proposed ergonomics regulation from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. "We oppose (OSHA's proposed regulation) because it would be extremely costly; but more importantly, it fails to assure the prevention of even one injury. This new report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is reason No. 1,001 to call it into question," said NCE co-chair Ed Gilroy.|ret||ret||tab|

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13 AT DINNER. Pro baseball player Gaylord Perry has joined the ranks of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame 2000 induction class. The winner of the Cy Young Award in both the National and American leagues, the former Kansas City Royals pitcher will be honored alongside fellow Hall of Fame inductees Orlando Cepeda, Darrell Porter, Tom Henke, Larry Wilson, Mo Moorman, Curt Merz, Nelson Burton Jr., Bob Ferry, Cheryl Burnett, Al Houser, Paul Mullins and Denny Burrows. The honors will be bestowed at a banquet at University Plaza Feb. 6, 2000, sponsored by The Killian Group of Companies. Tickets for the banquet and the preceding enshrinement reception are $100 and can be purchased by calling 889-3100.|ret||ret||tab|

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