April 15th is closing fast.  But as business owners and managers know, taxes are a constant concern and source of chores throughout the year.

This Thursday, McKay, Kiddy & Associates will hold a panel discussion / question & answer session.  They will answer tax questions for the audience.

This meeting is a great opportunity to learn more about your tax liabilities and how to address them. 
 
McCay, Kiddy & Associates, LLC, is a Charleston CPA firm dedicated to helping businesses succeed financially through quality tax, accounting and business advisory services. They recognize that each client is unique so they tailor their services to meet each client's  specific needs. The company is also a member of the MPBA.

This month's sponsor: 

Ross Evans of Edward Jones

 You may think all investment firms are the same. However, Edward Jones has made a conscious decision to serve you, the individual investor, differently. It's more than lip service. See for yourself how this approach can help make a difference for you and your family.

Let Ross Evans help you make sense of investing. Ross makes every effort to build one-on-one relationships with clients, offering personalized attention and financial guidance.

To find out more, contact Ross at:

ROSS K EVANS
(843) 881-3697
966 HOUSTON NORTHCUTT STE J
MT PLEASANT,  SC   29464
ross.evans@edwardjomes.com

We are off to a great start to the New Year! January's meeting had one of the highest attendances we've ever had.

I am very excited about the some of the new things we have implemented this year. (Featured Member Spot in our monthly newsletter that goes out to over 500+ recipients, the new Networking Contest and the Monthly Members Only Happy Hours.)

Not only have we seen an increase in membership, with inquiries coming in everyday, we also have many new members take an interest in the Association by attending out board meetings to get involved in making our association the best it can be.

And stay tuned...in the next couple of months we will have a BIG opportunity for our members!!

There are many different opinions on how the economy is doing. My observation? What I see is more optimism. I see more business owners and professionals taking charge of their own destinies. There is renewed energy around networking. Not to sell their product or service, but to create relationships. Advertising is one of the most important things any company can do. Unfortunately, it is one of the first expenses that are cut in uncertain economic times. If you can't get the word out about your product or service, then you won't get the traffic you need that will sustain your business.

So what else can you do to get business or get people to refer your business? The best way is through relationships with other professionals and through you existing clients. So take control of your destiny, get to know the other members of the Association. As we get to know each other, not only will our business increase, we will be creating lasting relationships that will change how we network.

Most importantly... remember to have fun along the way. It is the relationships that I've made through the Association that have sustained me over the years; offering encouragement, advice and prayers when I needed it the most. Its more than just business, its community!

I look forward to seeing you at Thursday's meeting!

Cheers to all!
Shawna Garris
MPBA President
Assistant Vice President for Tidelands Bank

 MPBA's 2011 Networking Contest
 
If you were at January's meeting, you heard about our new networking contest.  Not only will it hopefully encourage you to network more, but it can will you a free membership for next year!

There have been a few kinks along the way as this contest has been implemented.  However, I think most of them have been worked out.

We want to convey that this networking contest is on no way mandatory. Some people find networking challenging. So the intention of the contest is for members to take the time to get to know each other outside of our regular meeting.

Many of us would not refer a family member, friend or client to someone we don't know. And while we may know many of the members, do we know anything about them other than the name of their company? Do we know what their business does and all the products or services they have?  That's what this contest hopes to address.

If you take time and meet other members for coffee or lunch and talk to each other about what your company does I truly believe your business will increase. You may think at first that you will never need that person's product or service, but chances are, somewhere along the way someone you know will. You've then increased your value to that person. Chances are, the person you took the time to get to know will know someone that will need your product or service, even if they don't need it themselves.

That, my friend, is what networking is all about. It's not about selling anything. It all about relationship! Create your network of professionals so that you can be seen by your family, friend and clients as the person to go to when they have a need.

If you have any questions about the contest please contact Lynne Klosik or David Seay.

Click on this link to learn more about the rules and start earning points.

Thur., Feb. 17 - 12 p.m. - MPBA Meeting, Holiday Inn

 ** Thur., Feb. 24 - 5 - 8 p.m.

MPBA Members Only Happy Hour

- drop in for some off-hours social time with other members at O'Brien's Pub & Grill, located in the Harris Teeter shopping center next to the Rivertown entrance on Hwy. 41.  Members only!  But non-members willing to join the MPBA at the social are welcome!

Tues., Feb. 28 - 11:30 a.m. - MPBA Board meeting (Tidelands Bank)  

Stroman to travel to Honduras

Neila Stroman will be traveling to La Ceiba, Honduras Feb 18-26 to work with Habitat for Humanity & a local family to begin construction on a new home. The homes are very basic, all cement but the families take great pride in their homes. Please remember her in your thoughts & prayers for safe travel & a successful trip.

Free Investor Workshop: February 15, 2011 from 6 - 8 pm

Joseph and Lynne Klosik with Keller Williams Realty are holding an INVESTOR WORKSHOP to facilitate and teach the following:
- Shift from buying like a consumer to buying like an investor
- Learn the ways to invest for long term equity & positive cash flow
- Practical application using foreclosures from our area as examples
- Ask questions about the opportunities locally
- Opportunity to see & walk through example properties (or any) within 48 hours
- Take-away budget guidelines for creating funds to invest in 2011
 Materials: The Millionaire Real Estate Investor, 4 Laws to Financial Freedom, Charleston Cty MLS
Location: 496 Bramson Court, Suite 200, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464


Got a bit of news to share with the membership?   Keep it short and to the point and we'll be happy to include it in the next newsletter.

MPBA "Featured Member"

MPBA is proud to announce "Featured Member" as a new segment of our monthly Newsletter. (See below for January's winner.)

The Featured Member will be given the opportunity to showcase themselves and their business in our next Newsletter. 

So how do you become a Featured Member?  Easy, It is a new addition to our Members-Only Drawing. Just attend the monthly luncheon and you will have the chance to become our next Featured Member!

Another reason to attend meetings?  We  continue to give away $1000 in radio advertising from Clear Channel Communications as well as the coveted fruit arrangement from Edible Arrangements. Also, this year, the Holiday Inn will be donating room nights as a prize for the member drawings.   ... Lots to win!  Be sure to attend!

East Cooper Community Outreach (ECCO) is an ecumenical organization dedicated to helping our neighbors in need and providing emergency disaster relief. ECCO serves residents from the Ravenel Bridge to McClellanville to  Huger through cooperation with other organizations and agencies.

ECCO provides emergency assistance for food, clothing, household furnishings, and financial needs. As well as, ongoing services including medical, dental, prescription drug assistance, education and counseling.

All programs and services strive to guide and empower clients toward self-sufficiency. ECCO's ministry of "Neighbors helping Neighbors help themselves" attempts to improve the quality of life in our community in a compassionate way that respects the dignity and worth of every person.
 
Efforts began after Hurricane Hugo when Christ our King Catholic Church began to give out emergency food and clothing. Six local churches came together to form East Cooper Community Outreach. Twenty-one years later, ECCO's ministry has grown to include programs for empowerment, financial stability and health. All services and are provided at no cost to the recipient.
 
2010 Report of Ministries:
Empowerment:
187 participated in the GED
16 graduated from Financial Literacy
26 finished Getting Ahead
126 participated in Work Readiness Programs
 
Health:
1911 patients were served in the Dental Clinic
1303 were assisted in receiving prescriptions
1027 patients were seen at the free medical clinic
428 received counseling
                                  
Financial Stability:
161,760 emergency meals were provided
627 families were helped with $173,607 in emergency funds for rent and utilities
5 opened savings accounts
2 saved enough to put down payments on their first home

"Neighbors helping Neighbors help themselves"

www.eccocharleston.org
 
1145 Six Mile Road
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29466
843-849-9220

Have you checked out the new Association website at:

www.MyMPBA.com

(The old link - mpbpa.com - will also lead to this new site.)

Of particular note is the searchable Membership Directory.  You can search by business name, business type, or member first or last name.  Likewise, you can see all members in a single list.  There are links with each profile that will allow you to email the member or visit their website.

If you are a member and have not done so, please take a moment and look up your listing in the directory.  If you are not there, if you need some information changed, if you'd like to add a photo or change your photo, please email Diane Pauldine by clicking here.  She will collect updates from members and then make them on a monthly or semi-monthly basis.  (So if your submitted change doesn't happen immediately, please be patient.  We will get to it asap.)

Coming soon to this new website will also be the ability to pay luncheon, event or membership fees via Paypal.  Also, we will launch on online forum that will allow members to communicate with one another on a wide variety of topics.

We welcome you to check out the new website and offer feedback.

For those of you who have become involved with the hottest social network out there - Facebook - you can now join the MPBA Facebook group. We intend to develop this as an adjunct to our website as a method to share information and communicate with one another.

Because it has been asked, be aware that joining our Facebook group does not automatically make other MPBPA Facebook members your friends. It's simply a way to keep up with the MPBPA.

Please join our Facebook group to network, stay informed and further extend the wonderful connections you've made at the meetings. Click the link below to go to our new page and contribute:

Click Here To Go To The MPBA Facebook Page

Get real-time information on business events (i.e., grand openings, and what's "coming soon"),
meeting notifications, and relevant project updates. Follow @mtpleasantbiz  for updates on all things business & everything Mount Pleasant.

Follow @mtpleasantbiz on Twitter for information & updates, and for direct questions, contact: Quin Stinchfield, Business Development Coordinator, via @ mpbiz@townofmountpleasant.com or 843.377.5365