Stories - Spring/Summer 2008

Cover Story: Westminster Village
New look for its 25th anniversary

Westminster Village Retirement Community in Spanish Fort recently completed a major renovation program that has given it a new look. Commencing in 2006, the entire exterior of the three-story main building has been replaced, and the interior has been expanded and refurbished. Gone are the screened-in porches that had limited seasonal usage. In their place are sunrooms designed for year-round use. “The Board knew that the porches were a distraction to the building’s appearance and offered minimal usage to the residents,” says Bobby Fortenberry, Chairman of the Board of Directors. “By adding four more feet of depth to each porch, each resident apartment received a minimum of 120 square feet of additional living space with the larger apartments gaining 240 or more square feet.” “I absolutely love my sunroom,” says Elizabeth Hollingsworth, a first floor resident. “The room is such a great space to entertain guests or to just sit and read or to watch the birds outside my windows,” she adds.

The renovations were completed in time for Westminster’s 25th anniversary. Opened in 1983, the Village was founded by clergy and lay persons of the local Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church USA who saw a need for a place in South Alabama for seniors to live out their days. Westminster has 97 garden homes, 161 apartments in the main building, 28 licensed assisted living apartments, and 60 licensed skilled nursing units. The campus contains 54 acres in the center of Old Spanish Fort off US Route 31. The Village has just under 400 residents, is one of the largest employers in Spanish Fort with 180 employees, and generates over 10 million dollars annually to the local/state economy.

Since its opening in June of 1983, Westminster Village has been home for over 2,000 senior adults. Approximately one-third of the current residents come from Baldwin County, one-third from Mobile County, and the remainder from other locations in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, the Carolinas, and a number of other states.

Westminster Village will celebrate its Silver Anniversary in 2008 with several events, the main one of which will be held in June, the month when the first seniors took up residence. On Monday, June 2 at 11:00 AM, a gala family celebration will be held in the central building and will feature greetings from local and national government officials. Keynote speaker will be Dr. Larry Minnix, President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, a national organization representing over 5,000 housing, health care, and related services for seniors.

On Saturday, September 6 at 7:00 PM, the cast of the Monroeville production of “To Kill a Mockingbird” will perform at the Saenger Theatre in Mobile. Tickets will be available at the Saenger Theatre box office after June 1. Proceeds will benefit the Westminster Village Foundation. Actress Mary Badham who played Scout in the film version of the play, will talk about her experience and take questions from the audience.

To learn more about Westminster Village, contact Kay Korb, Director of Marketing at (251) 626-2900.

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United Bank
Letter from the President

Experts advise their clients to have a goal and then follow a plan to reach that goal. United Bank has put this advice into practice in working with its customers for over 100 years. We work every day to ensure that United Bank is the best choice for customers’ financial needs to help them achieve their financial goals. The Right Path. The Right Bank.

Several years ago, we established a vision for United Bank. This involved identifying and expanding into communities that would value a strong, progressive, community bank; a bank that was focused on generational relationships; markets’ needing innovative solutions delivered with a personal touch. A place where customers were not numbers, and bankers could help them not just take orders. This strategy involved expanding into those markets with facilities that matched the community in appearance and services. This past year, we made major strides toward those goals. The bank expanded its footprint by opening five offices in Baldwin County, Alabama, and Santa Rosa County, Florida. This growth was not undertaken without hard work and expense. We believe that having a long-term view to these investments will benefit United Bank for many years to come.

Part of that vision was a realization that today we live, work, and play not just in our towns but in a region: the coastal gateway region. This coastal gateway region reflects a range of lifestyles covering small towns, farms, rural homes, and emerging centers of growth. Geographically, it is located inland from the beaches, but close enough to enjoy the benefits. Its people have been here for generations or have come here because of the attraction of our quality of life. While we may live in different communities, we share many of the same interests and values. United Bank’s mission is to deliver financial services to this coastal gateway region and to be the Hometown Advantage in each community it serves.

Being that advantage requires us to approach each day with an inquisitive mind. Constantly finding ways to improve. Listening to our customers and non-customers. Identifying areas of opportunity. Empowering our team to bring solutions to our customers and delivering on our commitments. If we do these things consistently, it is our belief we will be rewarded with the opportunity to earn our customers’ business. We are blessed to be in this coastal gateway region. United Bank has been here for 104 years for a reason. The Right Path. The Right Bank.

Robert R. Jones, III
President & CEO

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All Points Restoration & Cleaning
Recovering your property—Restoring your life

The gravity that comes with losing something you’ve worked your whole life to earn is more than most of us can bear alone. Fire and flood damage stop the flow of everyday life, rushing in the emotional and financial strains that only tragedy can bring. Fortunately, at times like this, there are professionals in balancing sympathy and intensity, technique and foresight. In their role as recovery experts, All Points Restoration & Cleaning stands as a leader in bringing order to the chaos.

Owner Mike Magazzu simply says, “We understand.” And he contends that it is understanding that makes a restoration company a good restoration company. “Our trained professionals understand the difficulty of our job as well as the hardship our clients are going through. We listen to their concerns and respond with total customer satisfaction.”

The primary goal of any restoration and cleaning company is the return of a safe and healthy environment to a home or business. All Points Restoration & Cleaning makes it their mission to remove this burden from their clients. They begin immediately to mitigate loss while providing a detailed overview of the client’s restoration needs. With 24-hour emergency service, the All Points Restoration team reduces the scope of loss by capturing the most crucial factor in any restoration project: time. Inaccurate or delayed action can make the restoration process much more difficult and time consuming, leading to higher costs and more extensive losses. All Points Restoration brings the experience and state-of-the-art technology necessary to minimize these concerns.

Damages resulting from fire and from water are unique, and as such, call for very different responses. Each condition requires highly specialized equipment and techniques. Water damage worsens over time as mold begins to develop, so All Points Restoration employs tools to identify the otherwise hidden pockets of water and applies techniques such as Rapid Structural Drying to eliminate the long-term effects of mold and deterioration. In addition to the physical damage resulting from a fire, residue from smoke and soot leave deeply-ingrained odors that can turn an otherwise functional asset into a devastating loss. All Points Restoration brings the experience necessary to determine the restorability of each affected item and the steps required to make it happen such as ozone and air space deodorization with hot fogging. Property owners can rest assured that whatever the scope of work, the All Points team brings a level of specialization and careful attention to detail that guarantees quality results.

The average property owner rarely if ever gives thought to the far-reaching impact of fire or flood damage. But if that day comes, it is good to know that a team of experts like All Points Restoration is there to relieve the burden. They are independently owned and operated, bringing a local and personal touch to their superior service, and as Magazzu puts it, they “are not the most expensive nor the least expensive—just the best!” Give All Points Restoration & Cleaning a call at (251) 610-5231 today!

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Farmers Insurance
The McGoogan Agency

It’s not always about insurance…

When we interviewed Tom McGoogan, the owner of The McGoogan Agency, for this article, we were surprised he didn’t want to talk about insurance. Not to start with anyway.

“I can talk about insurance anytime, and you know I love to do that, but right now I want to talk about something else that’s important to me.” Our curiosity aroused, we wondered where this was going.

McGoogan then related this story, “Three years ago, my older brother and his wife had their first child. That was the good news; the bad news was the baby was born prematurely, very prematurely, about 9 weeks. Babies born 8 weeks early are at extreme risk; babies born 12 weeks early generally don’t survive; babies born 9 or 10 weeks early could go either way. ”

“Little Stevie Ray (yes, he was named after the blues guitarist), weighed less than 2 and 1/2 pounds at birth. The first couple of months of Stevie’s life were touch and go. After nearly two months in intensive care, Stevie got to go home. Weighing a stout 4 lbs and 14 ounces, Stevie was a miracle of modern medicine. It was his good fortune to be born at Los Robles Hospital in Thousand Oaks, California, a facility with an outstanding neo-natal unit.”

“Today, Stevie is three years old, weighs 29 pounds, and stands a towering 37 inches tall. He is still catching up to his contemporaries in some areas of development, but you’d never know it. Like his father, he’s obsessed with guitars and motorcycles. He loves Thomas the Train and helping his mother with anything.”

“I’ve learned about 12.5 percent of babies born each year in the U.S. are premature. We’ve experienced a near 30 percent increase in premature births since 1981. The March of Dimes reports that pre-term births are the second leading cause of infant mortality in the U.S. I’d heard all of these statistics before, but they never hit home for me before Stevie arrived.”

“Here is the reason I wanted to talk about this today. For over 20 years, Farmers Agents across the U.S. have worked to raise money for the March of Dimes, an organization dedicated to improving the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. I’m proud of Farmers’ support for The March of Dimes. Helping March of Dimes researchers, educators, and outreach workers gives all babies a fighting chance. Farmers is the number two donor to the March of Dimes nationally. Just last year, Farmers and its Agents raised over $4,000,000 for The March of Dimes, over $2.7 million of that in a single day.”

“When I thought about what I’d talk about in this interview, as much as I’d love to use the space to promote my insurance agency, I think raising awareness of the March of Dimes and their mission is a better use of the space. Every donation is important; every baby is important.”

Donations to the March of Dimes can be made at any Farmers Insurance Agency or on McGoogan’s website, www.farmersagent.com/tmcgoogan, by clicking on the March of Dimes link. The McGoogan Agency is located near the intersection of Cottage Hill Rd. and Hillcrest Rd. in Mobile, AL. Call (251) 666-6766 or email tmcgoogan@farmersagent.com for information or a quote on Farmers’ outstanding Home, Auto, Life, or Business Insurance.

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Gulf Coast Office Products
Raising the bar for office products

“Lights, camera–action!” A new Hollywood blockbuster? No. A night at the Oscars? No. It’s Gulf Coast Office Products (GCOP) 15 year anniversary, and they have chosen a grand way to celebrate by opening a new 38,000 sq. ft. Gulf Coast office furniture showroom and warehouse center in Pensacola, FL.

This is a long way from GCOP’s humble beginnings, which began in 1993. Mark and John Wright started with just four employees. Lane Harper joined the company later, and the one small location has now grown to also include locations in Mobile, Bay Minette, and Montgomery, Alabama, and Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

“Gulf Coast Office Products is always looking for new ways to improve our service and product offerings to better serve our client,” said Mark Wright, company president. “By investing in this new facility, we will be better able to improve our business customers’ local delivery requests and physically show them the many possibilities available in office furniture and furnishings. We are committed to the Gulf Coast business community, and this was one way we could show them the depth of our commitment.”

In addition to handling a catalog full of day-to-day office products, printer cartridges, and toners, GCOP has partnered with the best office furniture and supply companies, including such top names as Global, Knoll, Indiana, and La-Z-Boy. “These high caliber companies are very restrictive with whom they work,” adds Lane. “In order for us to become a Knoll Furniture dealer, we had to pass strenuous interviews and a thorough inspection of company business procedures, philosophy, and business history. Companies like Knoll Furniture are known for their designs and quality. They go through great lengths to protect their good name.”

Another indication of GCOP’s commitment to the Gulf Coast area is their recent purchase of Core Services, which provides office products and furniture to local, state, and federal governments. “The addition of Core Services really compliments the work we have been doing with the private business sector and will add to the diversity of products that we can offer our customers,” says John Wright. “Core Services has been serving our government community for over 12 years and brings the proven Hon Furniture brand to our portfolio.”

“Business has been good, and our new home will provide plenty of room for growth. We’re very optimistic about the upcoming year,” says Mark. “We are planning to introduce seminars and host other special events like the Chamber After Hours for the business community and other key customers.”

For more information on how GCOP can help your business, visit them on the web at www.gcop.com or call: Mobile at (251) 476-7100; Bay Minette at (251) 937-9800; or Montgomery at (334) 279-8748, or in Florida: Pensacola National Headquarters at (850) 434-5588; or Ft. Walton Beach at (850) 244-6122.

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Alabama Imaging & Network Systems
Local service and support

At Alabama Imaging & Network Systems, “local service and support” is more than just a marketing message: it’s the principle that guides Glenn Wilson’s business. Since launching his company in 2000, he has expanded service from Baldwin County, Alabama, to include Escambia and Mobile counties. Last March, he moved his business to a large, central location in Daphne.

Alabama Imaging & Network Systems sells and services fax machines, copiers, duplicators, printers, and plotters with brand names that include Mita, Muratec, Okidata, Savin, Standard, and Xerox. The company also handles wide-format machines used in engineering, architecture, and construction-related fields. Beyond sales and service, Wilson’s company is staying at the forefront of the industry by offering comprehensive solutions. This means that Alabama Imaging & Network Systems creates efficient ways to manage document workflow, installs and maintains equipment, and handles network setup and maintenance. “It’s a major advantage for our customers,” says Jeff Robbins, VP of Sales, “They can go to a single source for everything from changing business needs to support for their equipment and network.”

Through all the changes, Alabama Imaging & Network Support remains committed to local service. “Customers appreciate that when they call us, they get an immediate response from a real person—not a switchboard at a national call center,” says Robbins. “We take time to learn about their businesses, so we can anticipate their needs and solve their problems quickly.” Robbins backs this up by explaining that he keeps extra supplies handy on days that his customers do their heaviest copying. He also describes a technician who recently took a call late on Friday night and worked all day Saturday to help a customer. “That’s not unusual for us—it’s what sets us apart.”

To find out how Alabama Imaging & Network Systems can help your company, visit www.alimagingsystems.com;
call (251) 943-5770 in Baldwin County or (251) 625-1713 for Mobile and the Eastern Shore; or visit their showroom at 28623-A North Main Street in Daphne.

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New Horizons Credit Union
The Credit Union difference

Credit unions are member-owned, not-for-profit financial institutions that provide many of the same financial services that banks do. However, they are uniquely different from for-profit institutions. Each member of a credit union is a part owner. Because credit unions are not-for-profit, they are able to offer lower loan rates, higher savings rates, and low or no fees. They can offer special services, including signature loans under $1,000, and savings clubs for kids and seniors. Credit unions are led by an elected board of directors who volunteer their time and are not compensated.

New Horizons Credit Union started in 1950 as Scott Credit Union. Today, New Horizons has a community charter that allows anyone who lives, works, worships, or attends school in Mobile and Baldwin counties to join.

New Horizons offers branches in West Mobile, Midtown, Saraland, Theodore, Daphne, and Foley with more coming soon to Prichard and Semmes. Member services include free checking, free Visa check card, over 32,000 surcharge-free ATMs, eight savings products, online banking, free online bill pay, eStatements, free online check image retrieval, payroll deduction, direct deposit, and Money Market accounts.

Special savings accounts include the Sunrise Savers Club for children 12 and younger, New Wave Savers Club for teens 13 to 18, and Horizons Club for members age 55 or better. New Wave Savers, at the age of 16, are eligible for their own checking account and Visa check card.

New Horizons also serves the community by partnering with Nationwide Insurance to award college scholarships, and it financially sponsors the Hi-Q Academic competition.

For more information about New Horizons Credit Union, visit their web site at: www.newhcu.org or call (251) 316-3240.

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Pay-Less Carpets & Flooring, Inc.
Technology and “Green” coming of age

“Get the best for less” is the motto of Pay-Less Carpets and Flooring, but the family-owned company’s product offering can be described in so many other ways: innovative, convenient, and environmentally-friendly. Pay-Less, which has been in business since 1947, offers carpet, laminate, hardwoods, tile, and shower surrounds for both commercial and residential applications. The company’s location features an 8,000 square foot natural light showroom with designers and fully insured installers on staff.

Experience has taught Pay-Less the invaluable lesson of understanding and responding to consumer needs, and the company’s latest acquisition is a blueprint digitizer. The digitizer can take exact measurements from a blueprint via a scanning wand that is linked to a PC. The digitizer increases accuracy for flooring measurements while decreasing the wait time for a quote from several days to only 15 minutes. Quotes for carpet, vinyl, laminates, hardwoods, and tile are so expedient that customers can quickly receive and compare varying cost options. In a society where most people eat meals in their cars and conduct business on their cell phones, time is of the essence, and Pay-Less is attuned to this fact.

It is no surprise that Pay-Less is also a step ahead in another aspect of our ever-evolving culture: the need to go green. Model buildings that feature sustainable design and a sensitivity to environmental impact are beginning to appear along the Gulf Coast, setting the precedent for both commercial and residential new construction and remodeling. One such building is the Grand Bay Coastal Resources Center on the Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge. The Resources Center, which is currently under construction, will receive Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification, and Pay-Less is providing the flooring for this project, including cork flooring from DuroDesign, ceramic tiles made from 50% recycled tiles, and recycled rubber carpet pads.

If you want to save money, time, the environment, or all three, Pay-Less is certainly worth a visit. Pay-Less is located at 2818 Government Boulevard in Mobile, and they are open Monday through Friday 7 AM to 5 PM and Saturday 9 AM to 1 PM. Pay-Less may also be reached at (251) 476-5114.

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Scatter Joy Photography
Seeing the art and joy in your life

The digital revolution has changed the landscape of photography. A myriad of options are available for both the professional and amateur photographer. As a result, standards for professionals are changing every day as more creative options become available in technological advances and software improvements.

The days of film have receded into the past as new digital cameras with amazing features land on the market with each passing week. In order to stay current and en vogue, a good photographer has to put in many hours in continuing education and various professional workshops. While many can now buy an expensive SLR camera, few know how to use them and to manipulate the various functions.

At Scatter Joy Photography, they walk a tight rope. They maintain cutting edge technology and equipment while favoring old-fashioned client relationships—relationships carved out of respect, familiarity, and satisfaction. In this way, Scatter Joy strives to give you a personable and enjoyable portrait session while also offering you the latest in products and services.

While mixing traditional and photojournalistic approaches, Scatter Joy Photography likes to think of their style as eclectic lifestyle photography. With a storytelling approach to their modern style, Joy Blaylock’s patience and passion for photography produces crisp, classic images that last a lifetime. At the core of Scatter Joy Photography’s success is their attention to each client as an individual; as a result, no two portrait sessions are alike.

Whether photographing a newborn, special event, or wedding, Scatter Joy’s aim is to give each client individualized attention and unique portraits. They accomplish this goal by keeping their business a very personal affair: seeing the art and joy of each person in the story of their life. By keeping this goal both simple and fresh, Scatter Joy Photography keeps their enthusiasm and love for photography alive in their work.

If you are interested in scheduling a session or would like more information, please call Joy Blaylock at (251) 342-3111 or visit www.scatterjoyphoto.com.

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Mobile Marble
Quality products at affordable prices

In an industry where high-pressure sales pitches are all too often the norm and shoddy workmanship earns a quick buck, Mobile Marble is a breath of fresh air.

Founded in 1973 by Bob Lindsey, Mobile Marble’s longevity is attributed to the company’s quality product offering, highly competitive pricing, and convenient service.

“We’re a turn-key operation,” notes Bob Lindsey’s son, David Lindsey, who runs Mobile Marble today with his wife, Darla. “We can go in and tear out the existing fixtures and replace them with a high-quality product, as opposed to just covering them up, and all for less.”

These high-quality products are manufactured right here in Mobile by Mobile Marble. They also use quality Delta valves and faucets and licensed plumbers. This is an invaluable service in the remodeling market as bathroom trends lean toward the replacement of tubs with showers. In an industry that is constantly changing, Lindsey and his wife stay highly attuned to industry trends and innovations. One such innovation is TruStone, a revolutionary new product that features “photofuzion” technology to create the look of natural granite or marble minus the overwhelming costs, nightmarish maintenance, and immense weight.

Indeed, both TruStone and Mobile Marble seem too good to be true. The good news is that they’re not. “I walked in clueless, and they were so helpful and so friendly,” relates Cammie Singleton who used Mobile Marble on her recent home addition. “I think the fact that they did everything they said they would and delivered everything when they said they would is significant, and the finished product looks beautiful.”

For more information, call Mobile Marble at (251) 344-6272 or stop in at their showroom located at 6656 Overlook Road in Mobile.

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Majestic Tire and Service
Custom work and Customer service

Asked why he opened Majestic Tire and Service over 10 years ago, owner Rich Sterzoy’s reply is simple: “I’ve been in the tire business since I was a kid. I decided to open my own store because I figured I could do a better job than all the corporate tire companies.” That’s exactly what Sterzoy has done.

Sterzoy is no stranger to the industry. For the past 20 years, he has participated in competitive Jeep rock climbing, sporting a customized 1989 Jeep Wrangler YJ.

His enthusiasm for this sport translates to Majestic Tire where Sterzoy can usually be found right in the store office or out on the floor, meeting and getting to know his customers. With so much knowledge and gusto, it is no wonder that Sterzoy boasts a product unique to the area: custom-built lift kits for four wheel drive vehicles. Additionally, Majestic offers factory-built lift kits, custom wheels and suspension kits, and traditional tire and brake services.

Enthusiasm aside, Sterzoy’s experience scaling mountains in his vehicle has made him acutely aware of the need for strong, dependable tires. As a result, Sterzoy employs a highly competent service staff and deals in a variety of quality tire brands, including safe, quality used tires. Sterzoy’s invaluable knowledge is something most customers would be willing to pay more for, but there’s no need: Majestic will match or beat any corporate competitor pricing.

Majestic Tire and Service is located at 7909 Airport Boulevard in Mobile and are open Monday through Friday 7 AM to 6 PM and Saturday 8 AM to 1 PM. Majestic may also be reached via telephone at (251) 634-0313. Stop in and ask for Rich Sterzoy.

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Catfish Junction
Bringing the catfish (and more!) to you

Catfish Junction is excited to announce the addition of a new “rolling kitchen” to its already versatile catering service! This means that the restaurant now literally comes to your worksite, allowing Catfish Junction to offer its ever-expanding menu selection around the clock. Crews have served clients for multiple days, staying on site to provide hot, fresh food to the employees from rotating shifts. With refrigeration, preparation, and dishwashing capabilities, Catfish Junction comes ready to serve.

Catfish Junction is known in the area for its superior catering services. Owner Paul Stanley and Manager/Owner Ron Prater and their team of experts serve a wide variety of clients from office settings to manufacturing plants as well as formal events such as weddings and banquets. To serve varying tastes and budgets, Catfish Junction continues to expand its menu beyond its classic restaurant fare. In addition to superior seafood and catfish, clients can choose from heavy hors d’oeuvres for formal occasions to numerous meats (e.g., beef tips, hamburgers, grilled chicken, and ribs) and vegetables for informal environments. You can stop by the Catfish Junction website at www.catfishjunction.com for testimonials from satisfied customers or for more information about their catering services.

While you are at the website, take a moment to browse their mouth-watering menu and to pick up a printable coupon for a free cup of steaming gumbo or a plate overflowing with fried pickles! You can even get your hands on a recipe for their “The Best Banana Pudding” or purchase gift certificates for someone special.

Catfish Junction is now open six days a week and is expanding and remodeling to better serve its growing customer base. The restaurant offers a large, inviting dining area, and companies can reserve a 100-person banquet space for special events. Catfish Junction is a completely smoke-free, family-friendly environment complete with a stocked catfish pond—a remnant of the company’s origins as a “fishout” where customers pay for their catch by the pound.

If great food is a priority for you or your company, give Catfish Junction a call at (251) 679-6666, or you can drop by at 300 Industrial Parkway in Saraland. See for yourself why at Catfish Junction, great catfish is just the beginning!

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Lifegate
Assisting people in crisis situations

“Lifegate began as a vision in 1989 and today is a vital ministry helping the needy in our community,” says Maury Hazen, a longtime Lifegate volunteer. Lifegate, a ministry of Christ United Methodist Church, has assisted more than 2,000 families a year for the last five years.

The purpose of Lifegate is to aid persons of the community and members of the church in crisis situations (with priority given to, but not limited to, assisting the elderly and the disabled). Assistance is extended with utilities, food, clothing, and other areas as deemed necessary by Lifegate.

Spiritual as well as material assistance is offered. The Lifegate Prayer Team offers spiritual guidance, prayer, and Bibles for all those who request them. The Lifegate Prayer Team also assists people with finding a church home in their neighborhood.

Lifegate partners with many other ministries and agencies, including Waterfront Rescue Mission, Inner City Mission, Mobile Community Action, Red Cross, Salvation Army, Catholic Social Services, Volunteers of America, and other area churches that offer assistance to the community.

Lifegate is fully funded by loyal and generous donations—not through the budget of the church. Volunteers are needed to interview clients, register and screen clients, answer phones, enter computer data, and many other tasks. Lifegate, located at Christ United Methodist Church, 6101 Grelot Road in Mobile, Alabama, is open Mondays and Wednesdays from 8 am until 10:30 am. Lifegate can be reached via phone at (251) 342-0462.

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Wings of Life
Changing lives through Christ

It takes hard work, strong faith, and great compassion to help those who are lost, desperate, or suffering from addiction. That is exactly what Wings of Life does every day.

For funding, Wings of Life relies on churches, businesses, and individuals; however, the ministry also depends on the success of its wonderful new thrift store. Located at 4726 Moffett Road in Mobile, this clean, bright shop offers terrific deals on items that are in top condition:

• Complete dining room sets and ? individual tables
• Kitchen and bar stools
• Sleeper sofas and living room accessories
• Computers and office equipment
• Fashionable clothing for all ages and sizes
• Musical instruments (antique pianos, electric guitars, etc.)
• Collectables (dolls, music boxes, etc.)
• Toys

Wings of Life always needs quality merchandise, and they provide free pickup. To schedule a pickup, call (251) 434-6837. All donations to the shop and the ministry are greatly appreciated and tax deductible.

To learn more about Wings of Life, call (251) 432-5245 or come by for a visit at 800 St. Louis Street, Mobile, Alabama 36602.

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United Way of Southwest Alabama
More than a fundraiser

United Way of Southwest Alabama, an integral part of the community since 1926, is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating lasting positive change in the community. Presently, 58 local health and human service agencies receive funding from United Way. Each year, United Way helps more than 125,000 local people.

Most recently, United Way held the “Gone Volunteering” 14th Day of Caring, which is the single largest one-day volunteer event. Over 481 volunteers from 47 area businesses and organizations donated their time, talents, and energy to spend the day in 27 United Way partner agencies. Volunteers worked on projects such as putting the finishing touches on homes for Habitat for Humanity in Mobile County, painting interior and exterior doors at the YWCA of Mobile, and landscaping at Goodwill Easter Seals of the Gulf Coast. A total of over 3,750 hours were donated by volunteers within the community.

In Spring of 2007, the United Way’s 2-1-1 initiative was introduced to the greater Mobile area. 2-1-1 is an easy-to-remember, free phone number connecting people to health and human services that are available in our community. Since the introduction of this service, more than 10,885 referrals have been made.

“We speak to thousands of people every year. They are often surprised and pleased to learn that we do much more than fundraising. Every day in southwest Alabama, wealth and opportunity live side by side with tremendous need. There is much work to do, but with the continued support of our community and partner agencies, the future is bright,” stated Angelo Miller, Executive Director of United Way of Southwest Alabama.

To learn more about United Way of Southwest Alabama, visit www.uwswa.org or call (251) 433-3624.

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Saraland Board of Eduacation
New school bells to ring!

In June 2006, Saraland residents voted, by an overwhelming 70%, to separate from the Mobile County Public School System to form their own city school system and increase the sales tax rate by a half-cent to help fund the new system. The Saraland Board of Education was formed on September 15, 2006. Board members Maria Bladorn, Renee Clarke, Dr. Veronica Hudson, Dr. John Myrick, and Bill Silver were appointed by the Saraland City Council after interviews with many interested Saraland residents.

Board meetings began immediately so that negotiations between the Mobile County System and the Saraland System could begin. A Board Attorney, Bob Campbell, interim Superintendent, Paul Sousa (former Mobile County Superintendent) and financial consultant, Charles Willcox (previously with the Mobile County Public School System) were hired soon after. A separation agreement between the two systems was finalized in October 2007.

The Saraland City School System received U.S. Department of Justice Pre-Clearance on January 7, 2008—the final step in forming the Saraland City School System. The Board hired Dr. David Stiles as Superintendent of the system on April 1, 2008. Dr. Stiles was Director of Organizational Development for Mountain Brook City Schools from 2002–07 and most recently a Financial Advisor with Morgan Keegan.

Classes in the Saraland City School System will begin this fall at Saraland Elementary and Adams Middle (ninth grade classes will be held at Adams). Clearing is currently taking place at the site for the new Saraland High School near Interstate 65 and Alabama 158. A groundbreaking ceremony will take place in July with the school opening for classes 2009/10. It’s a very momentous time for the students and citizens of Saraland!

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Welcome Friends
Celebrating 5th anniversary!

Millie Sue Hawk and her husband, Charlie, moved to Satsuma in January, 2003, from East Tennessee. “We were welcomed by our Realtor, our neighbors, and many of the friendly shop owners in Satsuma, but not by an ‘official’ welcome service. So I knew there was a need in this area for something like Welcome Friends.”

“In April of 2003, having just sold an eight-year-old Welcome Friends business in Cleveland, TN, I decided it was time to start it again here.” Hawk explains, “After unpacking my boxes and getting settled, I went down to get my business license and started getting business cards printed.”

Welcome Friends was started in her own community (Satsuma) in April of 2003 and then expanded to Mobile. Two years later, the owner of Welcome Newcomers in Eastern Shore approached Hawk and needed to sell the business because of some health problems. In April 2003, Hawk took over Welcome Newcomers in Baldwin County and the Greeters continued the Newcomer visits in Daphne, Spanish Fort, Fairhope, Montrose, and Point Clear, now under the name of Welcome Friends. A recent merging of the packets with City Hostess has benefited both her clients with more information and gifts being delivered to Mobile area newcomers.

Besides the Newcomer visit, Welcome Friends also has a mail-out that goes to families who have moved within the Gulf Coast area. Today, Welcome Friends contacts over 10,000 families per year with either the Newcomer packet or the mail-out welcome packet. “It is the best way to get in touch with new families,” Hawk says.

“I couldn’t do it without the support of the local businesses,” explains Hawk. Jackie Benson, owner of North Mobile Internet Services, Inc., a website design business, states, “I have benefited not only from being in the welcome packets, but also from my entire association with Welcome Friends and Millie Sue. She encouraged me to network and join Chambers of Commerce to promote my business. I have also seen a great example in the way she uses every opportunity to refer customers to her merchant sponsors. And we all know that referrals are the best type of business leads.”

Hawk gives a special thanks to the local Chambers, too. “They have been a big help to me!” Hawk explains. She is a member and diplomat of Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, a member and an ambassador of E. Shore Chamber, a member and diplomat of Saraland Chamber, and a member of S. Baldwin Co. “Chamber membership has really helped me get my name out and has given me a chance to get to know the area quickly,” Hawk explains.

Interested in community involvement, Hawk is a charter member of the Board of SeniorAdvantage of North Mobile, a Board member of the North Mobile YMCA, and a member of Satsuma Community Development Organization. “I didn’t want to only do business in Mobile; I also wanted to be a contributing member of the community!” Hawk has become involved in Women Who Mean Business and the Christian Professional Network.

For more information about Welcome Friends, call Millie Sue Hawk at (251) 422-7777.

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