| Business Beat |
| Thanks for giving! |
 With leaves falling and a nip in the air, we long for the warmth of good company. It is during this time of year especially that companies focus on reaching out to their communities. Giving to area charities or services is a corporate choice and a wise one; it strengthens their local visibility and credibility.
Our electric cooperative clients are a good example. They have a vested interest in the communities they serve and have been improving the quality of life in those areas for over 60 years. One project, Operation Round Up was launched in 1989 by a lowcountry cooperative. Member-owners opt to round up their electric bills to the nearest dollar and the difference goes to the ORU fund. This fund provides food and emergency aid to those who need it the most -in their communities.
The co-op's volunteer corps, WIRE (Women Involved in Rural Electrification) are ever busy in their home counties.
Another Semaphore client, 3 Rivers Behavioral Health, sponsors "Food for Thought," free lunchtime seminars that also earn continuing education credits for social workers. Classes deal with issues like substance abuse crime and are presented by experienced professionals. See www.threeriversbehavioral.org.
Columbia College is particularly proud of The Clubhouse Gang of Eau Claire. This student-led after-school program serves first through sixth graders in the surrounding Eau Claire community. The program meets two to three times each week, with special programming offered on designated Saturdays. While Clubhouse is religious in nature, it also contains an academic/tutorial component as it strives toward its mission to connect Columbia College, the Eau Claire community, and College Place United Methodist Church.
At Benedict College, the Service-Learning Program has received national recognition for its commitment to student learning through community engagement. Benedict College is one of the premiere historically black colleges that has instituted service-learning as a graduation requirement. See their current programs.
It's not hard for us to toot the horns for groups like these and there are many more that we were not able to fit in this article. If you are a Semaphore client, please update us about ALL that you do to help your community and let us help spread the word. We'd be proud to!
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