Am currently reading a new book by former President Clinton and the one line that is the theme of the book is the need for us to be in the future business.
Almost every day in Hartsville I am talking with someone about how we can grow our small city of Hartsville and why we need to grow our small city of Hartsville. The answer is that We have to be in the future business. A couple of days ago I met the Mayor who was having a late lunch and we talked about this idea of being in the future business by reflecting on some of what we are seeing today --
In Hartsville we need to be in the future business and we are fortunate that there are those within our area who are working to help Hartsville move to that future. We need more of those efforts and people behind those efforts. There are businesses and people who are not in our community who often tell those who are seeking to build that we are too old, too small, too isolated. But, much like our small, private college that has been home in this community for more than 100 years (we find if they visit they often catch the vision.) Word is there is a developer who is working aggressively to find a way to make a new hotel a reality. Word is that the Winn Dixie store will not be vacant for much longer. Eyesight tells you that First Citizens sees the future of Hartsville with their new bank, which is right across from Heritage Community Bank, which is just about right across from a modern office building that is soon to become the home of the Malloy Law Firm. Senator Malloy and his staff are looking forward to taking possession of this state-of-the-art office.
Those offices show proof that people in Hartsville are in the future business. And, when speaking of financial institutions in that business we should not forget that Wachovia is now Wells Fargo with an enlivened presence in downtown Hartsville and during a resurgence of downtown a few years back SPC Credit Union set the standard in future thinking. Mutual Savings is not exactly downtown but their thoroughly remodeled building was a forerunner of some of the current growth.
There is real proof that Hartsville is in the future business and word is that some additional formal announcements coming this week from the big company in town will underline some of this discussion.
And, when you really want to look at being in the Future Business the Governor's School for Science and Math could be the new Standard Bearer. How great was it to see an ad in the Sunday paper looking for new, high-quality faculty members to fill NEW positions at the expanding school. GSSM is creating jobs in Hartsville whose main goal is teaching some of the best and brightest high-school age students that South Carolina has to offer-- our FUTURE.
Just up Second Avenue from GSSM, Coker College is continuing on planned growth path that is adding new programs, (the recently announced Masters Degree in College-Sports Management for example); new students, new faculty and a growing commitment of partnership with its host community. This is being in the future business.
Being in the future business is hard work that requires nerve, energy, investment, vision, leadership and collaboration. Being in the future business means pulling together, creating a team ready and willing to build. Being in the future business means listening and then MAYBE, responding with something like -- How could we make that happen -- rather than, No, no way that can work.
Look at the resources we have in this community. As we move close to this new year let's all work to remind ourselves that if we are going to have the tomorrows we want, we have to be in the future business today.
(author's musing -- Hope some of that makes sense. I am going to look at it as sort of a first draft because there are lots of things I have left out and probably many things that still need saying. Guess it goes without saying that I would love to have some of your thoughts and comments as we all work to make Hartsville one of the best places in the world in which to live, work, study and play.)
Showing posts with label Sonoco. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sonoco. Show all posts
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Sunday, November 13, 2011
STATE Newspaper has excellent story on Charlie Coker
Charlie Coker is one of the business legends in South Carolina. Here The State newspaper provides an interesting overview of a long career building a company and a community. Charlie's efforts continue today. I think you will enjoy reading this story from The State newspaper on the influence Charles W. Coker has had on the State of South Carolina, Sonoco and Hartsville.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Believing in your community is fundamental to building your community
The past few days there has been some news about a variety of things taking place within the city that show leaders are moving to affect change that they believe will be important to moving us forward as a community.
For example, last night the Hartsville City Council took some steps to chanhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifge the way citizens need to handle the recycling and garbage -- they are hoping to eliminate the "Yellow Bag" program in the city of Hartsville.
This has been on the Mayor's agenda since he started running for the job. His talks with citizens reinforced his idea of the need to get rid of the Yellow bags because he found so many people who find them so aggravating. But, as the Mayor found out when he began his attack on this issue -- nothing is as simple as it seems.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
The result of the focus on "yellow bags" is a partnership that has come about between the City of Hartsville and Sonoco aimed at expanding recycling in the community while adding to the efficiency of recycling and garbage collection. (This is not an issue on which I feel any competence but it is an issue that I think helps exemplify what it takes to affect positive change in a community.)
There are a lot of elements involved in this type of change and to affect change of this scope it takes people from differing areas demonstrating belief in process, demonstrating belief that others will cooperate, demonstrating belief thttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifhat the community is worth investing in with time, talent and treasure. Sonoco uses recycled materials for lots of their products and they became willing to collaborate. The mayor and city council members began to see how doing things a bit differently might result in doing things even better. The new city manager helped lots of people look at more than just the immediate issue and on Monday night a major step was taken to eliminate the aggravating yellow bags. While this issue may not yet be totally resolved, it is on example of how believing you can make a difference can result in actually making a difference. Rich Harwood, of the Harwood Institute, who often discusses community building does a good job of discussing this question of belief in his current blog.
The following is a paragraph from this blog and I find it important because without people reaching out to one another and beyond their initial reaction to an issue, nothing can be accomplished. This is what Rich Harwood writes: "The restoration of belief in ourselves and in one another is pivotal to all our efforts to make a difference in communities. Without such belief, we may hold back from doing what we know is required to bring about change; we may choose not to reach out and forge key relationships with others; we may step back just when we need to step forward."
In Hartsville we have a strong need to continue stepping forward!
For example, last night the Hartsville City Council took some steps to chanhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifge the way citizens need to handle the recycling and garbage -- they are hoping to eliminate the "Yellow Bag" program in the city of Hartsville.
This has been on the Mayor's agenda since he started running for the job. His talks with citizens reinforced his idea of the need to get rid of the Yellow bags because he found so many people who find them so aggravating. But, as the Mayor found out when he began his attack on this issue -- nothing is as simple as it seems.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
The result of the focus on "yellow bags" is a partnership that has come about between the City of Hartsville and Sonoco aimed at expanding recycling in the community while adding to the efficiency of recycling and garbage collection. (This is not an issue on which I feel any competence but it is an issue that I think helps exemplify what it takes to affect positive change in a community.)
There are a lot of elements involved in this type of change and to affect change of this scope it takes people from differing areas demonstrating belief in process, demonstrating belief that others will cooperate, demonstrating belief thttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifhat the community is worth investing in with time, talent and treasure. Sonoco uses recycled materials for lots of their products and they became willing to collaborate. The mayor and city council members began to see how doing things a bit differently might result in doing things even better. The new city manager helped lots of people look at more than just the immediate issue and on Monday night a major step was taken to eliminate the aggravating yellow bags. While this issue may not yet be totally resolved, it is on example of how believing you can make a difference can result in actually making a difference. Rich Harwood, of the Harwood Institute, who often discusses community building does a good job of discussing this question of belief in his current blog.
The following is a paragraph from this blog and I find it important because without people reaching out to one another and beyond their initial reaction to an issue, nothing can be accomplished. This is what Rich Harwood writes: "The restoration of belief in ourselves and in one another is pivotal to all our efforts to make a difference in communities. Without such belief, we may hold back from doing what we know is required to bring about change; we may choose not to reach out and forge key relationships with others; we may step back just when we need to step forward."
In Hartsville we have a strong need to continue stepping forward!
Monday, February 21, 2011
P.U.L.S.E. Initiative to Quicken Hartsville's Push for Excellence at all levels of education
Harris DeLoach announces that Sonoco will invest $5 million in an initiative to put Hartsville area schools in competition for best in the state and maybe even the nation.
Caption -- Dr. Robert Wyatt announces a cooperative effort between the Yale Comer Project and Coker College to help make significant strides in elementary schools in the Hartsville area.
Caption -- People from many areas of the Hartsville community were on hand at Thornwell Elementary School on Monday (Feb. 20) to hear the major announcement of the PULSE initiative.
Sonoco announced this morning a major investment in an initiative called PULSE whose aim is to expand opportunities for excellence in the Hartsville area schools. This initiative is a major five million dollar investment and a combined effort of the Darlington County School District, Sonoco, Coker College, the Governor's School of South Carolina and the Comer Project of Yale University. It is an exciting innovation for Hartsville whose aim is to put Hartsville on the map when it comes to excellent schools in the State and in the nation.
The following news release comes from Coker College but you will also find a release from Sonoco that discusses their $5 million, five-year investment in this major program to push for Excellence in the Hartsville Schools.
Public-Private Partnership to Implement Comprehensive Scholastic Excellence Program in Hartsville, S.C., Public Schools
Darlington County School District, S.C. Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics,
Coker College and Sonoco Join Forces to Launch New PULSE Program
Yale University’s Child Study Center to Join Initiative with Pilot School Development Program in
Four Hartsville Elementary Schools
Sonoco to Support Programs with $5 Million Grant
Hartsville, S.C. – An unparalleled public-private partnership has been formed to implement a comprehensive scholastic excellence program in Hartsville public schools that will expand curriculum opportunities and further improve student achievement through collaborative academic and social development initiatives.
The PULSE (Partners for Unparalleled Local Scholastic Excellence) Program is a first-of-its-kind public-private partnership involving the Darlington County School District, the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics (GSSM), Coker College and Sonoco. Sonoco will fund the initiative through a $5 million grant that will be paid over five years.
“The P.U.L.S.E. program will set the standard for public school education in South Carolina. Through the opportunities and promise of this new initiative, the Darlington County School District can and will be
counted among the very best school districts our state has to offer,” said Dr. Rainey Knight, superintendent of education, Darlington County School District.
Yale’s Child Study Center to Help Create Pilot Elementary Student Development Program
A key component of the Hartsville PULSE initiative will be the implementation of a pilot School Development Program (SDP) at four Hartsville elementary schools that is focused on improving academic achievement and personal development. The program will be created with the assistance of Yale University’s Child Study Center Comer School Development Program, which was founded in 1968 by Dr. James P. Comer, Maurice Falk Professor of Child Psychiatry and associate dean of the Yale School of Medicine. The nationally recognized Comer SDP model has been successfully implemented in hundreds of schools in more than 20 states, the District of Columbia, Trinidad and Tobago, South Africa, England and Ireland. The pilot program will begin in the 2011-2012 school year in Hartsville’s Thornwell School for the Arts, Washington Street Elementary, West Hartsville Elementary and the Southside Early Childhood Center.
In future years, professional development programs for educators and multiple service-learning activities offered at Coker College via the growing Yale-Coker partnership will play a vital role in the continuing process of improvement in Hartsville.
“Development and learning are inextricably linked, but traditionally development is not intentionally addressed,” said Dr. Comer. “The School Development Program enables educators, parents and families, and community partners to support development, integrate learning, and as a result, improve academic and behavioral outcomes.”
Governor’s School, Coker College to Provide Curriculum Excellence Program
The second PULSE initiative is focused on expanding scholastic learning opportunities for eligible students in Hartsville’s secondary and high schools through collaborative teaching programs from the Hartsville-based GSSM and Coker College.
As an example, GSSM instructors will provide qualified Hartsville public school students with enhanced science, math and language classes, such as organic chemistry, advanced physics and Mandarin Chinese.
Coker College, a leading liberal arts private college also based in Hartsville, will provide college credit courses to eligible high school students in such programs as art, design, music, theater and dance.
“GSSM is a statewide residential high school for academically talented students that just happens to be located in Hartsville. As a result, there is no place we would rather make a positive educational impact than right here in our own backyard,” says Dr. Murray Brockman, GSSM president. “As a national leader in science and math education, we are excited beyond words to help implement a program that will advance the students of Hartsville in a way that exposes them to new opportunities and inspires them to reach their full potential.”
Brockman adds, “PULSE will be available to every student who meets the academic requirements, regardless of financial means, and it complements both local and statewide outreach programs already under way. Hartsville schools and our community’s commitment to education will look dramatically different in the next five years thanks to PULSE.”
“Students who aspire to scholarship at the highest levels can look forward to participating in intellectually enriching experiences in the fine arts under the mentorship of Coker’s distinguished faculty and in our unparalleled facilities, including the Elizabeth Boatwright Coker Performing Arts Center, a jewel of Hartsville named for South Carolina’s ‘First Lady of Letters,’” said Coker College President Robert Wyatt.
“And, as pleased as we are to welcome our community’s young women and men into Coker’s classrooms, we are humbled by the knowledge that working with Hartsville’s brightest young minds and with one of our nation’s strongest corporations will inspire us to strive for greater achievement as well,” he said.
Sonoco’s Targeting Education Improvement in its Hometown
Primary funding for the PULSE programs will come from a $5 million grant made over five years from Sonoco, one of the largest diversified global packaging companies. Founded in Hartsville in 1899, Sonoco employs nearly 1,800 workers and has more than 750 retirees and their families living in the Hartsville area.
“We have always had a strong commitment to improving education in communities where we operate, particularly in our hometown,” said Harris DeLoach, Sonoco chairman and chief executive officer. “We believe we must continue to work with our public schools, as well as other centers for learning, to improve local educational excellence to ensure we have the workers we need to be competitive over the next century.
“In addition, we must do all we can to make Hartsville attractive to the others recruited to build our company and other businesses in the area. South Carolina, Hartsville and area businesses will not be able to grow without continued investment in education and economic development. That is why we are making this commitment to our public schools. Together we will all prosper.”
###
About Coker College
Coker College readies undergraduates for personal and professional success through a distinctive four-year program that emphasizes a practical application of the liberal arts as well as hands-on and discussion-based learning within and beyond the classroom. Coker is ranked among the “Best Colleges” in the South by U.S. News & World Report as well as The Princeton Review. Located in Hartsville, S.C., Coker is within two hours of the cultural, financial and recreational resources of Charlotte, Columbia, Charleston and Myrtle Beach. For more information, visit www.coker.edu. For more information, contact Barb Steadman, Media Relations Director: bsteadman@coker.edu or (814) 397-9959
Thursday, November 18, 2010
GSSM to the Max
The Hartsville based South Carolina Governors School for Science and Mathematics unveiled their newly constructed, newly named buildings during a ceremony this afternoon inside their new gymnasium.
IMPRESSIVE
This high school is one of the top high schools in the nation and the vision, drive and energy that is powering this institution is moving it toward the next level of being one of the most forward-thinking, high-achieving high schools in the world.
They joked a little during the presentation that maybe it is time to think of renaming Hartsville --- SMARTSville for smart people that represent so many of the areas that make our community so unique as a small city in the U.S.
Of course, part of the SMARTS is represented by the junior and senior students from around South Carolina who do the final two years of their high school work at GSSM. I was talking to one proud parent of an alumn whose son is finishing UGA in three years. His son's girl friend, also a Govvie, is finishing Vanderbilt undergrad in three years. Both are getting ready for graduate school.
The new name they are giving the Governor's School is E=MCsquared. The new name symbolizes Roger Milliken -- as the M. He donated the land on which the GSSM campus is situated. The C-squared = Campbell, former Governor Carroll Campbell, and Coker, Charlie Coker, former chairman, president and leader of Sonoco who joined forces to make the idea of this two-year accelerated, residential high school a reality in South Carolina and Hartsville.
The other major "Champions" of the school who were recognized with parts of the Campus in their name are Senator Gerald Malloy who worked hard to get funds from the state appropriations for the growth of the school; Representative Jay Lucas who provided that same type of leadership in the House of Representatives. The Activities building is named for Senator Malloy and the Academic wing is named for Representative Lucas. The female student living quarters are named for Representative Dennie Nielsen, a Darlington County representative who also worked for this funding. The male residential wing is named for Dr. James Daniels, former president of Coker College, where the Governor's School resided during its first few years.
It was an invigorating afternoon at the GSSM celebration and those of us who play host to this great school in our Hartsville community need to be proud they are with us and understand how this institution brings distinction of a cutting-edge variety to our cosmopolitan small city.
IMPRESSIVE
This high school is one of the top high schools in the nation and the vision, drive and energy that is powering this institution is moving it toward the next level of being one of the most forward-thinking, high-achieving high schools in the world.
They joked a little during the presentation that maybe it is time to think of renaming Hartsville --- SMARTSville for smart people that represent so many of the areas that make our community so unique as a small city in the U.S.
Of course, part of the SMARTS is represented by the junior and senior students from around South Carolina who do the final two years of their high school work at GSSM. I was talking to one proud parent of an alumn whose son is finishing UGA in three years. His son's girl friend, also a Govvie, is finishing Vanderbilt undergrad in three years. Both are getting ready for graduate school.
The new name they are giving the Governor's School is E=MCsquared. The new name symbolizes Roger Milliken -- as the M. He donated the land on which the GSSM campus is situated. The C-squared = Campbell, former Governor Carroll Campbell, and Coker, Charlie Coker, former chairman, president and leader of Sonoco who joined forces to make the idea of this two-year accelerated, residential high school a reality in South Carolina and Hartsville.
The other major "Champions" of the school who were recognized with parts of the Campus in their name are Senator Gerald Malloy who worked hard to get funds from the state appropriations for the growth of the school; Representative Jay Lucas who provided that same type of leadership in the House of Representatives. The Activities building is named for Senator Malloy and the Academic wing is named for Representative Lucas. The female student living quarters are named for Representative Dennie Nielsen, a Darlington County representative who also worked for this funding. The male residential wing is named for Dr. James Daniels, former president of Coker College, where the Governor's School resided during its first few years.
It was an invigorating afternoon at the GSSM celebration and those of us who play host to this great school in our Hartsville community need to be proud they are with us and understand how this institution brings distinction of a cutting-edge variety to our cosmopolitan small city.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Harris DeLoach - Business Leader of Year
The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce recently delivered their November 2008 SOUTH CAROLINA BUSINESS magazine. The magazine is crammed with business statistics and business news and stories on people making a difference in South Carolina.
Harris DeLoach has been named the South Carolina 2008 Business Leader of the Year and there is a great portrait (page 52) by photographer Pat Crawford and interesting, readable article about Harris' career. We came to Hartsville very close to the same time back in the early 1970s and I got to know Harris when he was city attorney and I was covering the City news as a reporter for THE HARTSVILLE MESSENGER. My career moved to Sonoco in 1979 and Harris joined the company in a full-time capacity in 1986. He had been doing the legal work for the company since he arrived in Hartsville. He moved from being the lawyer to being a business operator. I worked for Harris when he had a couple of his Sonoco positions and always enjoyed the work. And, he was a major factor in my joining The Byerly Foundation.(disclaimers over)So, from pretty much first-hand knowledge, I can attest that the current chairman and CEO of Sonoco has been involved in a wide variety of activities in the community as well as making a significant difference in the operations he headed at Sonoco. The Business Leader of the Year is well deserved and it would be great if there were a line of people like Harris who were lining up to do work affecting the public good. I don't see enough of those people on the horizon.
The philosophy that I have watched Harris live is embodied in the quote from his commencement speech to Lander University's Class of 2008,which is quoted in the story: "You came to Lander as seekers of knowledge...If you haven't already done so, find a cause you are passionate about. Make a pledge to devote your own personal resources to service projects. Infuse your time, money and energy into building communities and doing good works."
Harris is one of those Leaders (community builders)who understands how much can be accomplished when it does not matter who gets the credit. He understands the need for collaboration, cooperation and commitment. He has been a catalytic force in Hartsville, at Sonoco, in the South Carolina and within industry to push for solutions through those three Cs. He not only understands leadership, he is a leader and the Hartsville community has been better because he chose to move here in back in the early 70s.
I think you will enjoy the story by Stefanie Caraviello if you can find a copy of South Carolina Business pages 52, 54, 55 and 56.
Harris DeLoach has been named the South Carolina 2008 Business Leader of the Year and there is a great portrait (page 52) by photographer Pat Crawford and interesting, readable article about Harris' career. We came to Hartsville very close to the same time back in the early 1970s and I got to know Harris when he was city attorney and I was covering the City news as a reporter for THE HARTSVILLE MESSENGER. My career moved to Sonoco in 1979 and Harris joined the company in a full-time capacity in 1986. He had been doing the legal work for the company since he arrived in Hartsville. He moved from being the lawyer to being a business operator. I worked for Harris when he had a couple of his Sonoco positions and always enjoyed the work. And, he was a major factor in my joining The Byerly Foundation.(disclaimers over)So, from pretty much first-hand knowledge, I can attest that the current chairman and CEO of Sonoco has been involved in a wide variety of activities in the community as well as making a significant difference in the operations he headed at Sonoco. The Business Leader of the Year is well deserved and it would be great if there were a line of people like Harris who were lining up to do work affecting the public good. I don't see enough of those people on the horizon.
The philosophy that I have watched Harris live is embodied in the quote from his commencement speech to Lander University's Class of 2008,which is quoted in the story: "You came to Lander as seekers of knowledge...If you haven't already done so, find a cause you are passionate about. Make a pledge to devote your own personal resources to service projects. Infuse your time, money and energy into building communities and doing good works."
Harris is one of those Leaders (community builders)who understands how much can be accomplished when it does not matter who gets the credit. He understands the need for collaboration, cooperation and commitment. He has been a catalytic force in Hartsville, at Sonoco, in the South Carolina and within industry to push for solutions through those three Cs. He not only understands leadership, he is a leader and the Hartsville community has been better because he chose to move here in back in the early 70s.
I think you will enjoy the story by Stefanie Caraviello if you can find a copy of South Carolina Business pages 52, 54, 55 and 56.
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