Heard On The Street

ENDORSED. The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors Sept. 21 endorsed the proposed 5-cent levy increase for Ozarks Technical Community College. The OTC proposal will go before voters Nov. 3 in Springfield and the 13 other area school districts that comprise its service area. The levy increase would be the local funding for a $3 million state matching grant to build a job training center, improve Lincoln Hall and undertake a study on the best location for an OTC satellite site outside of Springfield. A release from the chamber said the proposed levy increase would mean an additional $9.50 annually for a home appraised

at $100,000. The chamber cited

OTC enrollment growth and the need for a job training center among its reasons for supporting the levy increase.

BEST DESIGN. The Consulting Engineers Council of Missouri is accepting entries for its Engineering Excellence Awards. The state competition has nine categories for projects substantially completed between Jan. 1, 1997, and Dec. 31 of this year. Categories are studies, research and consulting engineering services; building support systems; structural systems; surveying and mapping; environmental; water and wastewater; water resources; transportation; and special projects. The deadline for entries is Dec. 1. More information is available from the Jefferson City-based organization at 573-634-4080. Both member and nonmember firms are eligible to compete.

MU & EU. The University of Missouri at Columbia has been designated a European Union Center, one of 10 such centers in the United States, designed to foster relations between the United States and the 15 member-nations of the union. The university will receive more than $412,000 in the next three years to establish the center. "This relationship opens up new opportunities for the campus and the state of Missouri," said MU's Interim Provost Brady Deaton. "Our partnerships with state government, the private sector and other educational institutions in the state will be enhanced." The center will sponsor academic conferences, as well as exchange visits. Though not mentioned in the university release, perhaps it will also offer recruiting advantages for Mizzou athletics.

CAMPAIGN UPDATE. We're in the midst of a campaign, and it has nothing to do with elections. The annual United Way campaign began Sept. 10 and runs until Nov. 12. Regular progress reports are scheduled throughout October on the 8th, 15th and 29th. Each meeting is scheduled for 7:30 a.m at the Findlay Student Center on the Drury College campus. At the Sept. 24 report breakfast, it was announced the campaign had reached 18 percent of its $2.8 million goal. Donna Fishel, communications director for United Way, said a 40 percent report is hoped for at the Oct. 8 breakfast.

OUTSTANDING. Lisa Hammaker was Sept. 25 named Outstanding Fund Raiser of the Year by the National Society of Fund Raising Executives Ozarks Regional Chapter. Hammaker resigned earlier this year as development director for Springfield Little Theatre after seven years in the position. She is now concentrating on raising her family. At SLT, she raised money for the theater's annual operating funds and was very active with the Blues Fest and Beer Fest events. She was a key player in the SLT capital campaign that has raised $800,000 in donations and pledges. The honor, announced Sept. 25, is one of eight awards to be presented by the fund-raising organization at its Nov. 17 National Philanthropy Day banquet at Highland Springs.

SLICE OF NICE. The sixth annual fall scholarship fund raiser for the Association of Women in Communications will be 6:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Discovery Center of Springfield. Tickets for the event, which will feature astronaut Janet Kavandi, who grew up in Carthage, are $10 and can be purchased at the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce in advance, or at the Discovery Center the day of the event. Proceeds from the event benefit the association's Angela Gram Memorial Scholarship fund. The memorial scholarship is awarded each year to a local college communication student. The evening also includes a silent auction and food donated by several local businesses. For more information, please contact Marci Bowling at 831-1546, ext. 238

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