MEMO

Coming Up:

March 22 -- SBA counseling session, Sikeston, 471-2498.

March 23 -- SBA counseling session, Cape Girardeau, 335-3312.

March 23 -- Career Planning and Placement Luncheon, University Center, 11:45 a.m., 651-2268.

March 24 -- SBA counseling session, Perryville, 547-8357.

April 6 -- Business Conference, Show Me Center, Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau. "Managing the Transition Into the 21st Century" topic. 335-3312.

April 7-8 -- Quinstate Economic Development Conference, Executive Inn, Paducah, Ky., with representatives from five states -- Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri and Tennessee. Contact Rick Sparks, Jackson, 243-3581.

The Small Business Development Center will conduct counseling sessions in three areas this month.

The counselor, Gil Degenhardt, will be available Mar. 23, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce office. The counseling sessions (about one hour each) are free. Call 335-3312 for appointment.

He will conduct sessions at the Sikeston Chamber of Commerce Mar. 22 from 9 a.m. to noon. Appointments are available by calling 471-2498. He will hold sessions at the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning office in Perryville Mar. 24 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Appointments are available by calling 547-8357.

The Small Business Development Center represents a "partnership for economic development" between Southeast Missouri State University, the U.S. Small Business Administration, local financial institutions, area utility companies and Southeast Missouri municipalities. The goal of the center is to stimulate diversity and growth in small-business by assisting new and existing businesses to become more productive and profitable.

Ford & Sons Funeral Homes in Cape Girardeau has been recognized for service by the International Order of the Golden Rule (IOGR) for a 45th consecutive year.

In order to qualify for the honor, Ford & Sons had to receive community recommendations, pass strict professional standards of service and earn 100 percent approval by the IOGR's Board of Directors.

IOGR is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1928 to identify outstanding funeral firms. More than 1,400 funeral homes in the United States, Canada and foreign countries are members of the IOGR.

TNT Dugan, a regional carrier unit of TNT Freightways, has opened its 30th trucking terminal.

"The Nashville operation gives us full coverage in Tennessee," said Granville Wright, president and CEO of TNT Dugan, in reference to terminals at Nashville and Memphis.

The new terminal is the seventh in the past year, including operations at Cape Girardeau; Atlanta, Ga.; Houston, Texas; Baton Rouge, La.,; Gulfport and Jackson, Miss.; and Birmingham, Ala. Among the 30 terminals are facilities at Kansas City and St. Louis and Chicago.

Southeast Missouri State University's Office of Publications and News Bureau recently received three awards in the Ninth Annual Admissions Advertising Awards competition in the 5,000 to 10,000 student category.

The Office of Publications received a silver award in the "annual report" division for the President's Annual Report. The office won a merit award in the "total public relations campaign" division for its Family Weekend series. Diane Sides, assistant director of university relations, served as editor of these two publications. Assisting with these publications were Wade Walker, graphic designer; Michael Grace, photographer; and Kathleen Butler, secretary.

In addition, the News Bureau received a merit award in the "internal publications" division for the This Week On Campus newsletter. Ann Hayes, news bureau director, serves as editor of the newsletter. Assisting with the newsletter are Rebecca Cantrell, graduate assistant; Butler, proofreader; Grace, photographer; and Barbara Kinsey, secretary.

SEMO Alliance for Disability Independence Inc., (SADI), a new independent living center at 1020 N. Kingshighway, Suite C, in Cape Girardeau, will hold an open house March 22, from 1 to 4 p.m.

Judy Moriarty, Missouri Secretary of State, will address a group at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 1 p.m.

SADI serves Cape Girardeau, Perry, Scott, Bollinger, Mississippi and New Madrid counties to offer independent living services to people with disabilities.

Special workshops will be held in conjunction with the open house on March 21, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at Christ Presbyterian Church in Cape Girardeau and March 22, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., at the SADI center.

For additional information, call Miki Gudermuth at 651-6464.

A.G. Edwards Inc. has declared a quarterly cash dividend of 14 cents per share, to be paid April 11, to shareholders of record March 11.

According to Benjamin F. Edwards III, the firm's chairman and chief executive officer, revenues for the fiscal year ending Feb. 28., will exceed $1.2 billion, a record for the firm. Net earnings for the year should exceed $150 million, also a record.

The annual meeting of stockholders has been set at the firm's St. Louis headquarter for June 23 at 10 a.m.

A.G. Edwards Inc. is a holding company whose primary subsidiary is the brokerage firm of A.G. Edwards & Sons Inc., which has 491 offices in the United States, including a branch at Cape Girardeau.

Dillard Department Stores plans to build four stores in Mexico in the next two to three years.

Two stores are planned in Mexico City, and one each in Guadlajara and Monterrey, said W. R. Appleby of Dillard's Fort Worth, Texas division.

Dillard, based in Little Rock, Ark., operates 227 retail department stores in 17 Midwest and Southwest states, including Marion, Ill., and Paducah, Ky.