Mandy Kirby Wommack of Emanuel County Institute has been named Emanuel County's STAR (Student Teacher Achievement Recognition) Student System Winner. The announcement was made at the annual STAR luncheon held at Edenfield House Inn March 1st. Wommack selected Glenn Turner as her STAR Teacher.

Thomas Lance Fulghum of David Emanuel Academy and Jennifer Lee Rankine of Swainsboro High School were also honored as the STAR students from their respective schools. Sally Glover and Dabney Edenfield were the respective teachers chosen by Fulghum and Rankine.

STAR Recognition Luncheon is sponsored by Chamber of Commerce and Merrill & Stone, Attorneys At Law. The STAR program was created to focus public attention on Georgia's outstanding high school students and the teachers who have been most instrumental in their academic development. Since its inception in 1958, the Star program has honored more than 21,000 high school seniors, who have in turn chosen their STAR teacher to share in this recognition.

Mr. Turner received special recognition at the luncheon for his seventh selection as a STAR Teacher at Emanuel County Institute.

Be sure to get a copy of the March edition of Georgia Trends Magazine. Swainsboro/Emanuel County is featured in this month's edition along with Barrow County, Columbia County and Macon/Bibb County.

Written by Karen Kennedy, the Swainsboro/Emanuel County article states "a closer look reveals an area being transformed in unexpected ways." Highlighted in the article are the Nanotechnology Manufacturing Center, Flat Creek Lodge, The Coleman House, Vista Windows, Huber Engineered Woods and Mill Creek Foundation.

"It's great when our community is featured in one of the state's leading business magazines," stated Bill Rogers, Chamber Executive Director.

The National Nanotechnology Manufacturing Center of Swainsboro will host a two-day symposium on April 2nd & 3rd to update participants on the current environment for nanotechnology. Some 100 to 150 people are expected for the two-day event according to Andy Riley, president of the Swainsboro Emanuel County Joint Development Authorities. The symposium will also offer access to partners and projects that are shaping the future of nanotechnology in Georgia and the region.

"Nanotechnology has emerged as the single largest revolutionary science topic of the 21st century. The ability to manipulate materials on a very small scale may lead to extraordinary advances in areas such as material sciences, medicine and energy," stated Riley.

The event will be held on the campuses of East Georgia College and Swainsboro Technical College. The sessions will provide an overview of current nanotechnology activities in the United States with emphasis on commercialization and a tour of the National Nanotechnology Manufacturing Center temporarily housed at Swainsboro Technical College. Tickets to the event are available. Call the Chamber for more information.

Husqvarna Outdoor Products, in an advertisement in the Swainsboro Forest-Blade, has announced they are currently accepting applications for a mower assembly startup line here in Swainsboro. According to the announcement, some 80 employees will be needed in March to start the line. Needed are assemblers, auditors, fork lift operators, squeeze lift operators, material flow, expediters, utilities and computer savvy candidates. Apply in person at Husqvarna Outdoor Products, 561 Electric Road.

The Joint Development Authorities and the Chamber will host the Georgia Power Project Managers' Tour in our community on Tuesday, March 27th.

Project managers from the various economic development departments across the state will be here to tour our community. "This gives us the opportunity to show our community to the state's top economic developers first-hand. They'll see for themselves the opportunities we have here before they bring a prospect," stated Bill Rogers, Chamber executive director

The Chamber would like to urge all members to make a special effort to clean our community of unsightly trash before this important date.

Some 75 people were on hand to witness the opening of the Stillmore Museum on Saturday, February 24th. Located on Hwy 57, next to the Post Office in downtown Stillmore, the Museum offers a fascinating look at the earlier 1900's. From newspaper clippings and clothing, to a liquor still, the Museum has a unique collection of memorabilia. The museum is slated to be open on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

"Bulldog Day" will be held March 17 according to Marque C. Johnson, planning coordinator of Rising Stars, Inc. The event is to be held at the Swainsboro Wal-Mart beginning at 10 a.m.

A number of starting UGA football players are expected to be on hand to sign autographs and make pictures. There will be a silent auction at 12 noon with an autographed Bulldog helmet, UGA jersey and footballs set to be auctioned.

Scheduled at 3 p.m. at the Swainsboro-Emanuel Co. Recreational Gym on McLeod Bridge Road is a "meet and greet" players' time followed by a question and answer session.

A hotdog & hamburgers supper for every participant is to follow. For more information call Marque C. Johnson at 478-299-0176.

Tim Earls, television & movie set designer and a former graduate of East Georgia College, will be on the campus for a Vision Series event at 11 a.m., Thursday, March 8th.

Earls has a wide-ranging career in designing electronic games and designing sets and providing art direction for television programs and movies. Among his film credits are Poseidon, Mission Impossible III, Flightplan, Serenity, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Soul Plane, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, and The Italian Job. The presentation is free and open to the public. The event will take place in the Luck Flanders Gambrell Center Auditorium.

To benefit its members, the Swainsboro-Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce participates in a statewide program called "MemberCare Alliance," a network of 128 Chambers who have used large group buying power to negotiate favorable cost savings on group insurance products, many at discounted premiums.

The program features coverages made available through well-known carriers as a part of "MemberCare Alliance of Emanuel County" program. Group health insurance, group dental, group term life, disability income, vision care, and disability overhead expense insurance are available through the program.

Long term care insurance is available for both businesses and individual members and their families. For more information on member benefits call the Chamber office at 478-237-6426

The Chamber is continuing to host "Chamber Coffee Connections" in March. Meetings are planned for Thursday, March 15th and 29th. These meetings are being held to discuss membership services, the Chamber's role in the community, membership survey and membership directory. Invitations will be sent out.

If you were unable to attend a previous membership meeting and would like to attend a meeting in March, please call the Chamber at 478- 237-6426 to be included.