Connections Public Relations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT
Rob Ainbinder
336-303-1834
chair@convergesouth.com
@convergesouth
facebook.com/convergesouth
www.convergesouth.com

Sixth ConvergeSouth Conference Planned for Oct. 6-7 at N.C. A&T State University

Speakers include AdAge Top 50 blogger, Bing executive and online marketing expert

Greensboro, N.C. August 10, 2011 – The Southeast’s original user-focused technology conference, “ConvergeSouth,” will take place Oct. 6-7 at N.C. A&T, with a full slate of speakers and educational sessions aimed at everyone from nonprofit managers and Internet beginners to experienced developers and entrepreneurs.
The conference, now in its sixth year, has grown and is adapting to meet the needs of the technology community, from early adopters to tech newcomers. This year, the conference will include a beginner’s track for those new to these topics, a one-day nonprofit track and CultureXchange, which will focus on arts and cultural events.

The conference brings together internet newbies, social networking strategists and internet experts sharing their stories and advice. Workshop topics are geared to individuals and small-to-large businesses with topics including WordPress, search engine optimization, digital crisis communications, mobile web sites and an entire track for developers and much more. There will also be many opportunities for attendees and presenters to network in the halls between sessions and over meals.

Friday’s keynoter is Mark Schaeffer, a globally-recognized blogger, educator, business consultant, and author of “The Tao of Twitter”. His blog, www.businessgrow.com, is recognized as one of the AdAge Top 50 blogs of the world.

The two-day schedule features nationally-known experts including Duane Forrester from Bing and Dan London from ShareFile. Past presenters at the conference have included the late Elizabeth Edwards, Robert Scoble and Craiglist’s founder Craig Newmark.

New to ConvergeSouth 2011 is one-day Nonprofit Track for tech-savvy nonprofits. Three special sessions are designed at the introductory (101) level to assist nonprofits move deeper into the tech world. Also new this year is CultureXchange, which will showcase projects that use new media, from social networking to podcasting, to create community around arts and cultural events.

‘PitchCamp’ returns again this year. It is an interactive session designed to prepare entrepreneurs and start-ups for pitching their business to investors.
Full schedule and registration available at www.convergesouth.com. The schedule grows daily; so check back frequently for new additions. Conference prices are $75-$99 with early bird pricing available through September 1. Special pricing for students, faculty and nonprofits is available and special scholarship pricing is available for a limited number of hardship cases. Sponsorship opportunities available by visiting the ConvergeSouth sponsor page.

ConvergeSouth also recently incorporated as a non-profit. The conference is managed by an all-volunteer board, officers and committee members.

The following officers and board members for 2011:

ConvergeSouth Officers
President Mark Tosczak
Vice President Rob Ainbinder
Treasurer Sue Polinsky
Secretary and Attorney David Polinsky
Accountant David Scheumann
Conference Chair 2011 Rob Ainbinder

ConvergeSouth Advisory Board
Rob Ainbinder

Mark Tosczak

David Scheumann

David Polinsky

David Horne Joe Killian

Debbie Foster Fuchs

Janet Wright

Jeff Harbert

Sue Polinsky

Jeff SanGeorge

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Earth Fare, the Healthy Supermarket

2965 Battleground Ave

Greensboro, NC 27408
Ph: 336-369-0190
Fx: 336-369-0194
www.earthfare.com

Greensboro, N.C., October 14, 2005 — Asheville-based Earth Fare, the healthy supermarket, is gearing up for Thanksgiving with it’s annual “Reserve Your Bird” campaign.  Beginning October 14 and extending through November 24, customers can call in or visit their local Earth Fare and reserve a fresh, all-natural, local or organic turkey for their Thanksgiving table.

This year, Earth Fare is excited to be working with Alison’s Family Farms, a local North Carolina farm approximately 35 miles southeast of Charlotte in Marshville.  Alison’s turkeys are all-natural (no growth hormones or antibiotics, ever), free-range (allowed to roam outside in the fresh air), raised on an all-vegetable diet feed (no animal by-products), and are also “Certified Humane Raised and Handled” by the Humane Farm Animal Care Program.

“We make sure that the flocks are properly cared for through preventive measures, receiving fresh air and sunlight, having the ability to walk around outside and to accommodate the natural behavior of the birds whenever possible.  The flocks are raised in a low stress environment, they aren’t filled with antibiotics or pumped full of water and because we raise them from conception forward, we know that our birds will always be the best for your family,” says Bruce Cuddy, Alison’s Family Farms’ president, owner, and resident hands-on farmer.

This partnership with Alison’s Family Farms is just another way that Earth Fare continues to lead the way in supporting local farmers and sustainable business practices.  During the summer, approximately 25% of produce sold at Earth Fare was from local farms.  “Our commitment to providing local products meets the customers’ desire for freshness and quality. It also lets them know exactly where their food came from, and many times, who the farmer was that tended the crops or the animals,” says Troy DeGroff, Director of Sales and Marketing at Earth Fare.

In addition to Alison’s turkeys, Earth Fare will be offering Plainville Farm’s all-natural, free-roaming turkeys, and Eberly Poultry’s organic, free-range turkeys.  “The turkeys we offer at Earth Fare are healthier and happier, resulting in a naturally superior meat with abundant flavor and greater meatiness and tenderness. And, our birds are never frozen,” says DeGroff.

To reserve your bird, call 336-369-0190 or visit Earth Fare at 2965 Battleground Ave., Greensboro.  Earth Fare can also cater your entire holiday dinner.  Cooked turkey dinners and delicious sides like smoked Gouda mashed potatoes, balsamic maple glazed roasted root vegetables, and apple sage walnut stuffing can be ordered to please your palate without all the work and stress.

Today, Earth Fare has grown into a premier chain of natural foods supermarkets located in N.C., S.C., G.A., and T.N.  All Earth Fare supermarkets provide customers with real food that tastes better.

# # #

Earth Fare, the Healthy Supermarket

2965 Battleground Avenue

Greensboro, NC 27408

Ph: 336-369-0190

Fx: 336-369-0194

www.earthfare.com

CONTACT

Debbie Foster Fuchs

Regional Marketing Coordinator
Office:  336-369-0190, x208
E-mail:  Debbie.fuchs@earthfare.com

PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE —

Asheville, N.C., April 18, 2006 – In honor of Earth Day, Earth Fare is rolling out its new plastic bag recycling program at all store locations on Saturday, April 22.  Customers can stop by and place their plastic bags in the specified containers and feel good about making a difference on Earth Day and on every day they choose to recycle their plastic shopping bags.

The plastic bag recycling program will enable Earth Fare to recycle approximately 50,000 pounds of plastic materials each year and effectively remove 10 Metric Tons Carbon Equivalent (MTCE) from the air.  The bags will then be reincarnated into various items like industrial trash can liners, wood-polymer lumber for decking and building materials, drain pipes, plastic envelopes, and even new plastic bags.

This new recycling program was implemented by Liz Bowen, Earth Fare’s environmental coordinator, who was hired in January 2006 to evaluate recycling and waste reduction efforts companywide.  Liz has a degree in environmental geology from the College of Charleston and is currently working towards certification in recycling and composting systems.  She is also serving on the Carolina Composting Council steering committee and has recently been a speaker at environmental conferences such as, Biocycle and the Carolina Recycling Association.

Since coming on board at Earth Fare, Liz has been gathering waste and energy baseline data from all 12 stores within the chain. Using this data, future plans include composting, bio-diesel fuel for Earth Fare delivery trucks, wind energy credits, and expanding the recycling categories currently available for customers at Earth Fare stores.

“Implementing the plastic bag recycling program was a great beginning project for my work with Earth Fare, and a perfect addition to the recycling programs we already offer our customers,” says Liz Bowen.  “The joy for me in this job comes from connecting the dots – figuring out what items found in our trash can be made into something useful like furniture, building supplies and fuel.  Recycling just makes good sense. One day we will look back and be astounded at the wasted resources in our waste.”

All Earth Fare locations offer customers recycling for plastic 1 and 2, paper, glass, aluminum, batteries, cell phones, and now, plastic shopping bags.  “These offerings will continue to expand as Liz creates and implements new ways for Earth Fare to grow in a greener direction,” says Troy DeGroff, director of sales and marketing.  “Through these conscientious efforts and our commitment to community service, we are making strides in contributing to the broadest sense of the term healthy environment, which is a vital part of Earth Fare’s mission.”

Today, Earth Fare has grown into a premier chain of natural foods supermarkets located in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee.  All Earth Fare supermarkets provide customers with real food that tastes better – fresh, locally grown organic produce, artisan products such as raw milk cheeses and specialty wines, traditional hard crusted bakery breads and pastries, as well as antibiotic and hormone-free meats and poultry, and sustainably harvested seafood.

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Twitter and Facebook

Debbie develops public relations strategies through social media and outlets such as Twitter and Facebook.

Examples include Woods of Terror, one of the country’s premier haunted attractions. Woods of Terror has been named one of “America’s Best Haunts” by AmericasBestHaunts.com.

Click here to view the Twitter page. Click here to view the Facebook page.

She’s also tweets for ConvergeSouth’s Twitter page. The annual technology conference features workshops aimed at nonprofit managers and Internet beginners as well as experienced developers and entrepreneurs.

Click here to view the Twitter page.

Debbie has written for SeeMeWear’s Twitter page, an apparel company that designs and sells cycling  jerseys for daytime visibility.

Click here to view the Twitter page.

Other Twitter and Facebook pages Debbie writes for include Conversations With Yourself, which promotes national talk radio show host Joyce Anderson on Voice America.

Click here to view the Twitter page. Click here to view the Facebook page.

The Fun 4th Festival is an annual event held in Greensboro that Debbie promotes through Twitter and Facebook.

Click here to view the Twitter page. Click here to view the Facebook page.

Debbie helped promote Red Oak Brewery through its Facebook page.

Click here to view the Facebook page.

Debbie promotes Eastern Music Festival through its Facebook page.

Click here to view the Facebook page.

iRadio blog

Debbie is a contributing writer for iRadioBlog.com, a social media service of VoiceAmerica Talk Radio Network.

The blog allows its million-plus audience to exchange feedback with show hosts off the air.

Examples of some of her blog posts at iRadioBlog.com are here and here.

See Me Wear Bike Safety

Debbie helped create, promote and write for a blog called See Me Wear Bike Safety.

The blog discusses cycling news and safety topics.

Deuterman Law Firm

Blogging on behalf of a law firm about legal issues on a national legal blog “Injury Board.”

Deuterman Law Group continues public education campaign for injured workers

The Deuterman Law Group, a Greensboro firm specializing in workers’ compensation and Social Security Disability cases, this week unveiled a new Web site that is focused on educating injured people about their rights under the law. Read more

New study reveals hundreds of toys on store shelves are contaminated with lead and other dangerous chemicals

As a parent, it’s frightening to hear just how many toys are contaminated with lead. Read more

Allstate settles class-action suit in Washington state

Many injured drivers in Washington state were getting shortchanged by their insurance company, resulting in paying medical expenses out of their own pockets when they should have had coverage, according to a class-action suit that Allstate is settling out of court. Read more

Fun Fourth Festival 2011

Greensboro, NC June 14, 2011 – Enjoy road races, a block party, a parade, a World Record attempt, a street festival, fireworks and more during this year’s Fun Fourth Festival.

Read more

Fun Fourth Festival & WFMY News 2 Hope to Snare World Record in Greensboro, N.C.

Greensboro, NC, May 11, 2011 – The 37^th annual Fun Fourth Festival and WFMY News 2 hope to set a new world record for 1,776 drummers performing a 5-minute snare drum roll.

The drum roll will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, July 4 in downtown Greensboro.

Read more

The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis Returns to the Eastern Music Festival

Greensboro, NC – Eastern Music Festival (EMF) and Guilford College welcome the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis on Friday, June 10, 2011, at 8:00pm at Dana Auditorium, Guilford College, as part of EMF’s 50th and Guilford College’s 175th Anniversaries. Marsalis is a nine-time GRAMMY® award-winner and EMF alumnus.

Read more

Eastern Music Festival Accepting National and International Student Applications for 50^th Anniversary Season

Greensboro, NC -January 28, 2011– North Carolina’s Musical Treasure™ and one of America’s most premier summer music schools, Eastern Music Festival, is currently accepting national and international young artist’s applications for their 50^th Anniversary Season, June 25 – July 30, 2011.

Read more

M7 Tuning’s C-Wing Great Addition for the Track MINI

Pfafftown, N.C. – February 2, 2009 – Are you a weekend track warrior in your MINI? Looking for an edge at the next event?

Even if you’re not a professional racer, Sneed’s Speed Shop and M7 Tuning have teamed up to give you the edge you need.

Read more

Every Day is Earth Day at Earth Fare – New Plastic Bag Recycling Program

Asheville, N.C., April 18, 2006 – In honor of Earth Day, Earth Fare is rolling out its new plastic bag recycling program at all store locations on Saturday, April 22. Customers can stop by and place their plastic bags in the specified containers and feel good about making a difference on Earth Day and on every day they choose to recycle their plastic shopping bags.

Read more

Reserve Your Bird at Earth Fare for a Fresh, All-Natural, Local Thanksgiving

Greensboro, N.C., October 14, 2005 — Asheville-based Earth Fare, the healthy supermarket, is gearing up for Thanksgiving with it’s annual “Reserve Your Bird” campaign.  Beginning October 14 and extending through November 24, customers can call in or visit their local Earth Fare and reserve a fresh, all-natural, local or organic turkey for their Thanksgiving table.

Read more

Piedmont Triad Council of Governments

Redesigned a newsletter for an organization that promotes cooperation among local governments to tackle regional issues.

Part of redesigning the newsletter involved Debbie working with several different government agencies including interviewing various officials.

View it here

Conversations With Yourself

Debbie produced Conversations With Yourself, a weekly e-Newsletter promoting national talk radio show host Joyce Anderson on Voice America.

Debbie also promoted the newsletter through social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter. The newsletter, according to Anderson, has helped boost the radio show’s popularity.

It’s now one of the most popular radio shows on Voice of America’s 7th Wave network.

Contact:  Debbie Foster Fuchs

Connections Public Relations

336-509-0743 Phone

336-856-8296 Fax

connectionspr@yahoo.com

PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

M7 Tuning’s C-Wing Great Addition for the Track MINI

Pfafftown, N.C. – February 2, 2009 – Are you a weekend track warrior in your MINI?  Looking for an edge at the next event?

Even if you’re not a professional racer, Sneed’s Speed Shop and M7 Tuning have teamed up to give you the edge you need.

Now even weekend warriors can benefit from the same aerodynamic testing as the pros.

M7 Tuning wanted to test the down force capabilities of their C-wing and Front Splitter. They enlisted the expertise of Chris Sneed and Sneed’s Speed Shop, a high-performance MINI race shop in Pfafftown, NC.

“We test, install and race these parts at tracks all over the South, so we know what works to get top performance” said Sneed, owner of Sneed’s Speed and a life-long racer.  “And now we have the numbers to back it up”.

All the testing was performed at the A2 Wind Tunnel in the heart of racing country in Mooresville, NC.  It’s one of only a few wind tunnels in the entire country that can accommodate a MINI Cooper (link to view video).

The A2 Wind Tunnel is incredibly versatile, capable of testing many different types and styles of race cars.  Whether you have a specific handling issue, or you just looking for more top speed, a wind tunnel is a good place to make some measurable differences.

MINIs in stock form create positive lift by taking weight off the tires and causing poor grip at high speeds.  They need aerodynamic aides, like M7’s C-Wing and Front Splitter, to keep the air going over the car not under it.  This pushes the car down on to the ground, giving the tires better grip and better overall handling through sharp turns at high speed on the tracks

Unfortunately, many techniques used to increase down force also increases drag, making it harder for the car to move though the air.  This reduces top speed and fuel efficiency

So, what’s more important: going as fast as possible, or being able to turn corners.

“Fortunately, with the M7 C-wing and Front Splitter you don’t have to compromise one for the other,” said Sneed. “The pieces are very low drag with high down force. It’s the best of both worlds.  M7 did a really good job.”

In their testing, the C wing made 18 lbs, 73lbs, and 126 lbs of down force from position 1 -3, respectively, over the stock wing at 130mph.

The Front Splitter made 149 lbs of down force over stock for a total down force improvement of 275 lbs with the C wing in position 3.

“The C-wing and splitter make an excellent team for the track because they enhance the MINI’s already great capability” said Sneed “The C-wing is a great, all-purpose wing for race and street MINIs because of its adjustability to change down force loads for different conditions.”

www.sneedspeedshop.com

www.m7tuning.com

www.aerodynwindtunnel.com

www.miniusa.com – Official MINI Web site

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Contact: Carrie Miller

336.333.7450, x32

carrie@EasternMusicFestival.org

Gerard Schwarz, Music Director

Stephanie Cordick, Executive Director

www.EasternMusicFestival.org

Facebook/ EasternMusicFestival

Twitter:  @EMFGreensboro

PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Eastern Music Festival Accepting National and International Student Applications for 50^th Anniversary Season

Greensboro, NC -January 28, 2011– North Carolina’s Musical Treasure™ and one of America’s most premier summer music schools, Eastern Music Festival, is currently accepting national and international young artist’s applications for their 50^th Anniversary Season, June 25 – July 30, 2011.

Applicants must be between the ages of 14 to 22 and submit a completed Application for Admission and audition, live or recorded, before March 1, 2011.

The Eastern Music Festival (EMF) is committed to providing a well-rounded learning experience for every student.  While our primary focus is orchestral and piano studies, all students are coached in chamber music, receive private lessons, and may attend optional academic music classes as part of this comprehensive approach to musical training.

A vital component of the EMF experience is the 2:1 student/faculty ratio.  With a full faculty orchestra in residence and concerts nearly every night of the week, the level of interaction is not just limited to private lessons – students and resident faculty attend each other’s rehearsals, performances, and sometimes even take time out for a game of football!

Our guest artists for 2011 include Gerard Schwarz, conductor, José-Luis Novo, conductor, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, violin, Stefan Jackiw, violin, André Watts, piano, Robert Vernon, viola, and others.

Repertoire highlights include Kodály – Háry János, Mahler – Symphony No. 1, Stravinsky – Petrushka, Revueltas – Sensemayá, Prokofiev – Symphony No. 5, Respighi – Pines of Rome, and Barber – Essay No. 2.

“I’m elated…and invite you to join us in 2011 for an exhilarating summer that will change your life!  EMF provides one of the most enriching summer experiences available.  I believe that EMF is one of the finest music festivals in our country and is the most extraordinary summer music school.” – Maestro Gerard Schwarz, EMF Music Director and Music Director of the Seattle Symphony

EMF challenges students to prepare a full-length program each week presented as part of the Festival’s concert series.  Treated like musicians in a professional orchestra, out students are exposed to an accelerated learning process in a positive musical environment.  At EMF, we believe each student must be inspired and challenged by the repertoire.  With this in mind, the School’s artistic staff selects a mix of musically and technically demanding repertoire for each instrument.

To learn more about the Eastern Music Festival and how you can apply for the 50^th Anniversary Festival Season, visit www.EasternMusicFestival.org. You can also visit us on Facebook and Twitter.

About Eastern Music Festival

The Eastern Music Festival’s mission is to promote musical enrichment, excellence, professional collaboration, innovation, and diversity through a nationally-recognized teaching program, music festival, concerts, and other programs which will enhance the quality of life, health, and vitality of our region.

The Eastern Music Festival and School, founded in 1961 in Greensboro, North Carolina by Sheldon Morgenstern, is an internationally-renowned classical music festival and institute for young musicians that runs for five weeks each summer. The institute accepts students ages 14 through 22 from around the country and the world. The EMF faculty consists of world-class performing artists selected from top orchestras and music schools nationally and internationally.  Gerard Schwarz serves as the music director and principal conductor for the Festival, and also serves as music director of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra.  The upcoming 2011 season will mark Eastern Music Festival’s 50^th anniversary in the Piedmont.

Eastern Music Festival is supported with an investment from the United Arts Council of Greater Greensboro.  This project received support from the North Carolina Arts Council, an agency of the Department of Cultural Resources, and the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.

*Dates, programs, venues, and artists are subject to change.

EMF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
All contributions are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law.

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Contact:

WFMY News 2

David Reeve

dreeve@wfmy.com

336.379.5724

topics.digtriad.com/drumming

www.funfourthfestival.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Fun4thGSO

Twitter: @Fun4thGS

Fun Fourth Festival & WFMY News 2 Hope to Snare World Record in Greensboro, N.C.

Greensboro, NC, May 11, 2011 – The 37^th annual Fun Fourth Festival and WFMY News 2 hope to set a new world record for 1,776 drummers performing a 5-minute snare drum roll.

The drum roll will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, July 4 in downtown Greensboro.

The previous world record was 1,682 drummers set in Diedenhofener, Germany on August 30, 2009.  Festival organizers are asking for the community’s help.  Snare drummers from North Carolina and other states are being asked to volunteer for this potentially historic event.

Snare drummers from all drum corps, student drum corps, schools, churches, garage bands and individual drummers are encouraged to register and participate at the record-setting event.

“We want to celebrate July Fourth in the biggest possible way and breaking a Guinness World Record is huge!” said David Reeve, Director of Marketing for WFMY News 2.  “Who among us hasn’t thought about appearing in the Guinness Book of World Records in some shape or form?  Well, this is the chance we’ve all been waiting for.”

“The Fun Fourth Festival is excited about hosting this challenge for the world record.  We encourage every snare drummer in North Carolina to signup and practice a five-minute drum roll every day.   Bring your family to cheer on the drummers and stay to enjoy all the other Independence Day activities at our 37^th annual street festival!”  said Betty Cone, Festival Chairman.

The rules are that only snare drums are allowed and every drummer must be able to sustain an open five-minute drum roll.  Festival organizers are also seeking volunteers to assist and organizations to lend snare drums in case some who want to participate don’t have one.

Visit topics.digtriad.com/drumming for details including how to register yourself or your group and about travel accommodations.

Want to help snare a world record

What: Snare Drumming World Record

When: Monday, July 4, 2011

Time: 11:00 a.m.

Where: Greensboro, N.C. Fun Fourth Festival (downtown Greensboro).

How: Register and information at topics.digtriad.com/drumming

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