Dec. 29, 2008

HOLIDAY SAFETY – It's the time of year for holiday cheer. We all know drinking and driving don't mix, but did you know you can increase your safety and odds of surviving or saving the other driver simply by slowing down? The force at impact is what can kill. A 3,000-pound car traveling at 70 mph has 15.8 million pounds of force to release in a crash. In a crash, you actually are in two collisions. The first is with whatever you hit (or hit you), and the second is when you are stopped by the windshield or steering column if you’re not wearing safety belt. Unsecured flying objects can be a serious hazard, too.

ONLINE BUSINESS ASSISTANCE – The Senior Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), counselors to America’s business, provides an online mentoring service for entrepreneurs or business owners that’s available 24/7. Go to SCORE’s web site, www.score.org, to get free and confidential advice. Select the field and the mentor by the biographies and receive a personal and confidential dialogue. The SCORE web site also offers other online information such as online workshops and financial and business guides to use at your convenience. If it’s too difficult to schedule a personal counseling visit with a local representative, this invaluable online service is available. If a personal meeting is more your speed, arrange a visit and face-to-face counseling session with one of the 40-plus counselors in Volusia County. Call SCORE at (386) 255-6889.

BRAZILIAN TRADE FAIR – Enterprise Florida Inc. invites businesses to participate in HOSPITALAR 2009 – the 16th annual international trade fair of products, equipment, services and technology for hospitals, laboratories, pharmacies, health clinics and medical offices. HOSPITALAR is the leading health fair in Brazil and Latin America and a tremendous platform for Florida companies to exhibit current products and services or launch new ones. Enterprise Florida has secured space for a Florida section within the USA Pavilion to showcase some of the state’s most innovative companies. For more information, please contact Michael Schiffhauer at (407) 956-5634 or e-mail mschiffhauer@eflorida.com. 

VIRTUAL SCHOOLS COULD MAKE CLASSROOMS HISTORY – Thousands of Florida students may ditch public elementary and middle schools next year in favor of online classes. A new law that takes effect in fall 2009 requires every district in the state to set up an online school for kindergarten through eighth-grade. Online students won't have to get on the bus – or even get out of their pajamas. They’ll just head to school at the family computer. A handful of elementary- and middle-school students already are experimenting with virtual classes, withdrawing from regular schools and enrolling instead for online instruction. Online students take a full range of courses, including reading, writing, math, science, history, art, music and even physical education.

INNOVATION QUARTERLY – Enterprise Florida, the official statewide economic development agency, publishes a free quarterly report on business in the state and new ideas in manufacturing and other sectors. A calendar of upcoming events also highlights international venues. Go to http://www.eflorida.com/IQ/Fall2008/index.html to see the report.

PREVENT BATTERY POLLUTION – The battery industry has established a recycling program to discard old rechargeable batteries and cell phones at a number of local retail businesses. Nationwide, businesses such as Circuit City, Home Depot, Office Depot, Radio Shack, Sears, Target, and Verizon Wireless participate in this recycling program. To find the closest collection site, you can call (877) 723-1297 or visit www.call2recycle.org, the web site for the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC).

SUITS ME FINE – Hot weather certainly hasn’t killed the suit, but fewer businessmen are wearing a tie with them. According to Gallop, only 6 percent wear a tie to work everyday.

NEWS ITEMS WANTED! – Please send your business news items to Dave Byron, Volusia County Community Information Director, 123 W. Indiana Ave., DeLand, 32720-4612, by fax at (386) 822-5072 or by e-mail at dbyron@co.volusia.fl.us.