Business memo 11/07/05

Big River Telephone wins excellence award

STAMFORD, Conn. -- Cape Girardeau-based Big River Telephone has received Gartner Inc.'s CRM Excellence Award in the small-to-midsize category. The awards are given to enterprises that demonstrate excellence in customer relationship management initiatives. The seventh annual awards were presented during Gartner Inc.'s CRM Summit, held last week in San Diego.

Saint Francis among auxiliaries honored

Four hospital auxiliaries have been honored by the Missouri Association of Hospital Auxiliaries for their volunteer services to the health-care community, including Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Other recipients of 2005 Auxiliary of the Year awards are the Bates County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, the Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital Auxiliary and the Christian Hospital Auxiliary. The awards were presented Thursday at the Missouri Hospital Association's 83rd annual convention in Osage Beach, Mo.

Saint Francis earned honors for its volunteer services as an auxiliary with 151 to 300 members. From June 2004 through May 2005, 300 auxiliary members and volunteers performed 67,000 hours of work. During the past year, proceeds from various auxiliary fund-raising activities generated $150,000. The auxiliary donated $125,000 to the hospital and awarded $21,000 in health-care scholarships.

Economic agency holds poverty simulation

The Delta Area Economic Opportunity Corporation Community Action Agency held a poverty simulation for about 70 Southeast Missouri University students majoring in social work at the Show Me Center on Oct. 21. The students participated in the three-hour-long simulation to get a glimpse of what it means to be in poverty. As the students entered the Show Me Center, each of them was assigned to a "family" unit and given information as to how the family unit was constructed. The simulation involved four 15-minute weeks. Each week the participants were to maintain shelter, obtain food, maintain employment or become employed.

Education Day set for management association

The Medical Group Management Association's Education Day will be held Tuesday, with a session from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and another session from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The registration fee is $50 per person per session. The event will be held at Expedition Hall at the Plaza Conference Center in Cape Girardeau. The speaker will be Chet Marshall, who has a background in finance, health care, manufacturing, retail and entrepreneurship as a general partner for a venture capital partnership. For more information, contact Robyn Crocetti at 334-8870, extension 210.

Coldwell Banker holds appreciation day

Coldwell Banker Abernathy Realty held its annual Customer Appreciation Day last month. There were several activities and food, with more than 100 past and present clients attending the event. Also attending were the associates from the company and their families. Activities included face painting, pumpkin carving, and a pumpkin decorating contest. The winners of the pumpkin carving contest were: Lizzie Hosler, first place; Collin Herzog, second place; Ashton Dorri, third place.

-- From staff reports