If you, or someone you know, has demonstrated strong community involvement during their high school career, and is beginning college in fall of 2012, you are encouraged to apply. This year there will be four, one-time $500 scholarships for college or technical school awarded.

Applications detailing the criteria for consideration for the awards have been distributed to the local high schools and the Volunteer Center of Door County. The application is also available on the United Way’s Website at www.unitedwaydc.com. All high school seniors residing in Door County, whether home-schooled or attending any in or out of county school district, are eligible for these scholarships.

A few of the goals of the program:

• to encourage volunteerism,
• to promote greater understanding of the stewardship role of the United Way,
• to stress the importance of education in young people’s lives.

Scholarships are given on the basis of their community involvement, rather than academic achievement.

The service-based scholarship program was initiated by former United Way Youth Board members, Michele Lodl and Jacque Jorns of Sturgeon Bay. Volunteerism in general has been on the rise within the younger population, especially in Door County. In fact, 73% of young people nationwide think their efforts can have a positive impact on their communities according to a report released by the Research Department at Princeton University. The report also asserted that the younger a person began volunteering, the more likely he or she would continue later in life.

“United Way of Door County encourages all high school seniors who live in Door County and have volunteered at some point during their high school career to apply for this scholarship,” says Amy Kohnle, Executive Director of United Way of Door County. ”United Way wants to reward young adults for the positive impact that they have had on their communities.”

The deadline for submitting applications for the program is March 31, 2012. This year’s recipients will be announced at the annual awards ceremonies at their high school. Any questions about the guidelines for the scholarship program can be directed to the United Way of Door County office at 920.746.9645.

Individual, confidential sessions will be held the second Tuesday of each month, from 8am until Noon at the Sister Bay Fire Station, 2258 Mill Road. The next date will be Tuesday, February 14th. An appointment is requested and can be made by contacting Sam Perlman at 920.743.3113 x 204 or via e-mail at sam@doorcountybusiness.com. Walk-ins are also welcome, based on availability. (There might even be chocolate involved!)

DCEDC Economic Development Manager Sam Perlman offers free, one-on-one business counseling sessions, providing advice on business planning, financing, business incentives and other issues. As a member of the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Network, DCEDC also has the ability to tap into the expertise of the statewide support network to help find solutions to business issues and questions.

Sam Perlman is the Economic Development Manager for the Door County Economic Development Corporation, a position he has held for eight years. His efforts on behalf of local entrepreneurs were recognized by the Wisconsin Innovation Service Center, which named Sam a 2007 “Wisconsin Innovation Champion Award” winner. He is also Past-President of the Northeast Wisconsin Regional Economic Partnership and a member of the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Economic Development Association.

The Door County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC) is a public/private partnership dedicated to improving the economic vitality of the county and its residents. Founded in 1989, DCEDC has been successful in helping existing businesses create and retain thousands of jobs through a myriad of programs and initiatives. Additionally, DCEDC places strong emphasis on fostering entrepreneurial instincts in county residents as well as those who vacation on the Door County Peninsula. Door County Economic Development Corporation offices are located within the small business incubator DCEDC founded in 1997 at 185 East Walnut Street in the Sturgeon Bay Industrial Park.

On Sunday, December 4, several of Sturgeon Bay’s top Bed & Breakfast hospitality providers participated in the Annual B&B Christmas Walk, collecting more than $600 in donations for United Way of Door County.

David Tauber, Jr. and Rebecca Fredrickson presenting a check for $600 to United Way

On Thursday, December 22 the students of Sturgeon Bay High School hosted a Talent Show which helped their Student Council to support United Way of Door County with a $600 donation.

But the local United Way chapter still has a bit further to go to meet its annual goal. Your donation to Door County’s United Way is invested locally in nonprofit programs that focus on helping needy families and individuals meet basic needs, provide community wellness programs, health care and assist in addressing alcohol and other drug related issues.

The money that is raised in Door County stays in Door County to help nearly 7,000 people from Brussels to Washington Island and all areas in-between, who receive assistance from 42 human service programs. The staff and volunteers at those agencies thank you for your support of their work through your donation to United Way of Door County.

To learn more about United Way of Door County, please visit their Website at www.unitedwaydc.com. If you would like to help your neighbors in 2012 by making a donation, or by making a pledge towards the 2011 goal, you can call the office at 920.746.9645 or visit online. All pledges and donations for the 2011 goal must be postmarked no later than January 7, 2012.

The public shared ride taxi service is affordable and wheelchair accessible and will now accommodate a larger Sturgeon Bay service area, as well as select portions of northern Door County.

The expanded south service area will include Towns of Nasewaupee, Sturgeon Bay and Sevastopol and the entire City of Sturgeon Bay. The south service will continue to operate 7 days per week with additional taxis available during all scheduled hours.

The new north service area will provide localized public transit (shared ride taxi) in the Villages of Ephraim and Sister Bay, the Town of Gibraltar, and the southern portion of the Town of Liberty Grove. The Northern Door service area will initially operate Monday through Friday only.

Roger Tepe, director of the Door County Department of Social Services is excited about the expansion. “This is a community effort that will have beneficial side effects for individuals, families, seniors, and persons with disabilities to take fuller advantage of all the opportunities in Door County, whether for work, recreation, education or any other purpose they can think of.”

Door 2 Door Rides is a collaboration between the County of Door and the local non-profit transportation organization Door-Tran. The vans are all wheelchair accessible; and drivers have experience and training to assist passengers with special needs – whether they use a wheelchair, have mobility limitations, or are students needing a ride home from basketball practice.

“All of the drivers have received Passenger Sensitivity Assistance Training through a certified program. This program coupled with our internal program teaches drivers to treat passengers with dignity and respect,” says Mark Jones, owner of the taxi provider, Abby Vans, Inc..

For additional information on the Door 2 Door Rides program or other Door-Tran initiatives, visit www.door-tran.com or contact Pam Busch directly at 920.743.9999 or 877.330.6333.

Door 2 Door Rides is a shared ride taxi service offering public transportation in the Sturgeon Bay and select Northern Door areas. Their mission is to offer safe, clean and wheelchair-accessible transportation at an affordable price to persons of all ages.

Reynolds House Bed and Breakfast

Come and visit Sturgeon Bay’s Historic Inns and Bed & Breakfasts at this magical time of year. Enjoy the scent of fresh cedar and pine and the sight of sparkling lights as six Sturgeon Bay Inns and Bed & Breakfasts open their doors. Enjoy a warm welcome with creative decorations of the season and holiday music. Door County artists and fine craftsmen will be displaying handmade works of art in each inn offering the perfect opportunity for finding unique holiday gifts.

Chanticleer Guest House, Colonial Gardens B&B, Inn at Cedar Crossing, Reynolds House, Sawyer House B&B and White Lace Inn are participating this year.

All proceeds from ticket sales directly benefit United Way of Door County, a largely volunteer organization, to achieve the mission of a stronger and healthier community. United Way of Door County impacts thousands of people in our community each year, empowering people to live better lives. Tickets are $7.50 and can be purchased at any participating inn the day of the Christmas Walk. Additional information or advance purchase of tickets is available at Inn at Cedar Crossing or by calling 920.743.4200.

Each year WACVB gives out Wisconsin Tourism Trailblazer Awards to destination marketing organizations like the DCVB for outstanding marketing and partnership projects that help to advance Wisconsin’s tourism industry.  This year 10 organizations were nominated and awards in 3 different categories were handed out, including the honor in the marketing and communications budget over $50,000 category that the DCVB was awarded.

The DCVB integrated its “Your Stories. Our Setting. Like Nowhere Else.” advertising campaign to social media, creating an ongoing dialogue with visitors by having them tell their Door County vacation stories and having community members blog about the destination.  Since launching the new campaign on Facebook and Twitter in the spring of 2010, the DCVB has seen the number of Twitter followers and Facebook “likes” more than double, blog views are up dramatically and Web visits are up 5% over 2010 with lodging pages receiving the most visits on DoorCounty.com, the destination marketing organization’s web site.

Wisconsin Department of Tourism Secretary Stephanie Klett joined the WACVB in presenting the award to DCVB Director of Marketing & Sales Mary Denis during the WACVB’s 2011 Wisconsin Fall Tourism Convention in Lake Geneva on Thursday November 3, 2011.

“We greatly appreciate the recognition by our tourism colleagues across the state for this particular initiative,” Denis said following the awards ceremony.

The WACVB presents the Wisconsin Tourism Trailblazer awards each year in an effort to increase the visibility of Wisconsin’s tourism industry and destination marketing organizations. WACVB represents Wisconsin’s top destination marketing organizations and initiates cooperative ventures that enhance the state’s tourism industry.

The DCVB previously won Tourism Trailblazer awards for their Festival of Blossoms marketing and partnership project in 2009, their Explore The Door video podcast initiative in 2006 and for their Kingdom So Delicious promotion in 2005.

“Leaving a Legacy: Celebrating Those Who Inspire,” will take place at Stone Harbor Resort from 5:30 – 8:00 pm. The event is open to the public and will consist of a supper and short program to honor the nominees and announce each category winner. Tickets are $35 per person and you can order them online at www.familycentersdc.com or by calling 920.825.1430. Proceeds will benefit the Family Centers of Door County.

With help from the community nominations have been submitted identifying individuals in Door County who have made a difference in the lives of others.  The categories and nominees consist of

• Family Nominees: Allen Family, Brey Family and the Jarosh Family
• Teacher Nominees: Margaret Foss, Erika May and Mike McHugh
• Non-Profit/Business Nominees: Jennifer Fisher, Amy Kohnle and Rob Pollman
• Adult Nominees: Elizabeth Gierhan, Theresa Kinnard and Thad Tremble
• Older Adult Nominees: Merle Christiansen, Diane Jome and Beatrice Marchant

The "LinkedIn Guru" Wayne Breitbarth

But, I was one of them and I came equipped to deal with the dilemma. With Wayne’s permission, I recorded the entire event on HD video and will share the highlights at our next Social Media Breakfast Door County event on Wednesday, October 19 in Ellison Bay at Brew Coffeehouse. Proprietor, Jennifer Lee is baking a coffee cake, which will be available at 9 am for a 1/2 hour of socializing. The presentation will begin at 9:30 am and will include large-screen projected videos and a discussion of Wayne’s 6 Power Tips for LinkedIn. The presentation was exceptional at Glas, and I look forward to sharing it with you.

A business leader himself, Wayne Breitbarth is an owner of M&M Office Interiors in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. Prior to his involvement in the office furniture business, he spent nearly twenty years in the automotive industry. Wayne is also the founder of Urban Promise, a youth mentoring program that brings together business professionals and high school students in Milwaukee Public Schools. As a LinkedIn expert, he has inspired audiences at many of Milwaukee’s most prominent companies and organizations as well as nationally, at conventions, industry association events and corporate training sessions.

Wayne’s diverse business experience, pragmatic teaching style, and infectious sense of humor have earned him the praise of the press, branding him as the “LinkedIn Guru.” Wayne is continually asked to speak at Executive Agenda (EA), YPO and TEC meetings as well as CEO Roundtables, where his thirty years of experience as a business owner and manager enables him to help his peers understand how social media can benefit their companies.

“LinkedIn does many things really well, but based on my personal experiences, feedback from my audiences and my semiannual LinkedIn user surveys, the three things LinkedIn users find most beneficial are researching, networking and marketing,” says Breitbarth. “The moment we get our profile up, most of us old-school business folk want LinkedIn to produce lots of sales. Well, that’s probably not going to happen. On the other hand, those people who are spending time improving their researching, networking, and marketing techniques are certainly seeing an increase in their sales.”

Wayne has compiled his tactics in a new book, “The Power Formula for LinkedIn Success: Kick-Start Your Business, Brand, and Job Search” (March 2011, Greenleaf Book Group). His book is a simple, user-friendly guide aimed at the experienced business professional who is either skeptical about LinkedIn or looking for ways to more effectively use this cutting-edge tool.

“Have a well-defined, documented strategy so you can measure your results or forget it. Your time would be better spent enjoying your favorite hobby or leisure activity,” says Breitbarth. “It doesn’t bother me when someone comes to my class and says, ‘Great, I get it now, but I don’t see how it will work for me; so I am going to pass.’ Bravo to that person. At least he is on to the next new idea or thought about how he is going to grow his network and business.”

Check out his book for yourself by downloading a free chapter at: www.powerformula.net.

“The combination of Wayne Breitbarth’s passion for the power of social networking and his real-world business experience, deep knowledge, mastery of LinkedIn and his skill as a trainer make the ‘The Power Formula for LinkedIn Success’ a real standout.” – Frank Martinelli, President of the Center for Public Skills Training.

You can email SMBDC founder, stephen.kastner@smbdc.com or call 920.256.9449 with questions on SMBDC’s monthly meetups taking place at various, random locations all around Door County. More information is available online at SMBDC.com and at www.facebook.com/SMBDC.

Click to RSVP if you want to and invite your Facebook Friends…

Nancy Garcia

Nancy Garcia is visiting from Oaxaca, Mexico, where she works for the non-profit migrant support Center for the Orientation of Migrants (COMI). Nancy’s presentation will help us to see the human face of those forced to leave their homes and native culture due to economic displacement, fueled by US trade and military aid policies in Latin America.

COMI is integrally linked to the national migrant support network and provides services such as workshops and orientation for migrants and a point of contact and referral for family members of migrants trying to locate their displaced loved ones. Nancy will speak about migration trends in Oaxaca (as a place of origin, transit, and return) and about the experience of migrants from Central America as they travel across Mexico.