Heard on the Street

REMEMBER YOUR MOTHER

No, it's not time for Mother's Day. That's May 13th. The mother we're talking about here is Mother Earth. April 21 is Earth Day 2001, celebrated at the Discovery Center, 438 E. St. Louis St., with music, magic, educational exhibits, activities and awards. For the second year, the Earth Hero Award will be given, sponsored by the Friends of the Service and Solid Waste Management District O. Several Choose Environmental Excellence awards also will be presented. A major new watershed exhibit will be dedicated that day. The exhibit is made possible through a partnership of the city of Springfield's Solid Waste Management and Sanitary Services divisions, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Silver Dollar City and the Watershed Committee of the Ozarks. All activities at the center are free and run 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and are underwritten by Clarian LSM (Missouri) Inc. environmental magician, Steve Trash, will be the headliner at the event.

STUDENTS ENTER BUSINESS WORLD

Some say the best way to learn about business is to run your own. That's the attitude of home economics students at Hurley High School who have their own company, Spring Creek Flavorings and Spices. For the past two years, the Drury University Students in Free Enterprise chapter has worked with Susan Fasler's class to develop a business and marketing plan for the company. Products created and sold by the business are mixes for chocolate chip cookies, brownies, hot cocoa, bread, "tiger tacos" and funnel cakes.

SIFE, founded in 1997, gives Drury students the chance to develop leadership, teamwork and communications skills through learning, practicing and teaching the principles of free enterprise. It operates its own Smal-Mart store on the university campus. The Hurley High School entrepreneurs successfully presented their sales pitch to Smal-Mart, which now carries "their brownie mix, which is phenomenal," said Ashlie Pruett, SIFE team member. Smal-Mart also carries Spring Creek'schocolate chip cookie mix, a cappuccino mix and takes orders for Spring Creek gift baskets, Pruett said. For more information about Spring Creek call 417-369-3271.

BUSINESS WOMEN'S SYMPOSIUM

Women toughing it out in the business world can learn some tips for success as well as network with others at the Women's Day Symposium, from 8 a.m. 3:30 p.m. April 24 at the Information Commons of Ozarks Technical Community College, 1001 E. Brower. The symposium, a service of the Outreach and Extension departments of the University of Missouri and Lincoln University, will feature five speakers.

Sinara Stull O'Donnell, will deliver the keynote lunch address "From Stress to Success." O'Donnell, of SinaraSpeaks, is a regular contributor to the Springfield Business Journal and The Wall Street Journal's On-Line publication, and she will discuss how to turn fears and stress into success in one's personal life and business. Motivational tips will be delivered by Marlene Chism of ICARE Consulting. Chism, another SBJ contributor, also will present the results of a survey of positive life changes from last year's symposium participants.

John Baltes, president of the Silver Dollar City Foundation and a certified trainer of Stephen Covey's "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People," will teach in the morning. The afternoon will be devoted to breakout sessions. Betty Neal, a SCORE counselor and certified financial planner and investment representative with Edward Jones Investment, will lead discussions on the spirit of entrepreneurism and the basics of starting or expanding a small business. Chism will teach networking power for women while Loa Freeman, owner of Success Naturally and the Yoga Center, will discuss image enhancement. Call 417-862-9284 for details.

SLICE OF NICE

An annual golf tournament to raise scholarship funds for journalism students will be held May 5 at Deer Lake Golf Course. The two-person scramble costs $75 person. Proceeds go to the Steve Snyder Foundation, which each year awards $5,000 in scholarships to southwest Missouri high school seniors with journalism interests. Snyder, a local television news director, died in a 1998 car wreck. For more information, call 417-859-5709 or e-mail djsnyder@mindspring.com.

TWICE OF NICE

One in three Americans will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. It could be you or someone you love. The Relay For Life, May 18 and 19, raises money and awareness for the American Cancer Society. Teams will come together at Hillcrest High School's Shumate Stadium to run or walk in turn for the event, which begins at 7 p.m. May 18 and ends at 1 p.m. May 19. For information, call the Relay for Life Information Hotline at 417-881-4668.