Black Business News - November 2012 by Black Business News Group

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Publisher’s Message Earl “Skip” Cooper, II

he November 2012 General Election has come and gone. Whether the candidates and issues you supported came out on top or not, we should all be proud to live in a nation where the Voice of the People is heard and heeded. As a fellow member of the electorate, I congratulate you on making sure you are not discounted or labeled irrelevant for lack of participating in the election process. WE COUNT, one and all. While it goes without saying that the re-election of President Barack Obama is important, we need to take stock of the significance not just in the United States but for the implications around the world. News media reported globally on the joy and, in some cases, relief that has been expressed in countries from every continent. I do not think it is an exaggeration to say that the benefit of having Barack Obama in the White House is worldwide. Now, he and we have so much more to accomplish in the next four years. I urge that we all join together to support our president as he strategically takes on the challenges of making campaign promises come to fruition. On a related note to the Obama re-election story, be sure to consider becoming part of the Black Business News Special 2013 Commemorative Edition honoring the presidency of Barack H. Obama. This historic edition will be read and preserved for generations to come. See the details about

the Commemorative’s advertising rates on page 21.

MED Week Also in this issue, be sure to check out the “Save the Date” for the upcoming National Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week Conference, taking place December 5-6, 2012 at the Omni Shoreham in Washington, DC. (page 24) This 30th anniversary of the largest federally-sponsored event on minority enterprise development is a must-attend, at least once in every businessperson’s lifetime. Moving toward the holiday season, I would ask that you lend a hand along with our partners, Dickerson Employee Benefits and the Black Business Association, to bring Christmas joy to less fortunate children through our Annual Toy Drive. This year’s beneficiaries of toy donations will be the children of Kedren Community Health Center in Watts, California. Information can be found in this issue (page 57) on where and how to make your much needed contributions.

LAOIC Breakfast of Champions Lastly but certainly not least, the Black Business News is pleased to share word that California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) President Michael R. Peevey will soon receive the Los Angeles OIC “Political Champion” Award at LAOIC’s Breakfast of Champions on December 7, 2012. Mike Peevey has shown himself to be more

than a political champion; he has been a public service champion, as the most CPUC outstanding president ever. Michael Peevey has represented the best interests of the citizens of California and most especially those of the underserved citizens of the state. With his vast background and experience in the utilities industry, the knowledge and insight he employs on behalf of Californians comes rarely in public agencies. Mr. Peevey was also the recipient of the Black Business Association’s Chairman’s Award at its 38th Annual Awards Dinner. For more information on participating in LAOIC’s Breakfast of Champions, see the article in this edition (page 38-39).

We Appreciate You! Thanks again for your readership of the Black Business News, and we appreciate your support. Be sure to visit our Fall 2012 International Edition online (www. bbala.org) where you can see how Black business is making the world go ‘round, and how you can take part in it! While online with the Black Business News, give a look at the two issues of our new publication Travel Africa and begin planning for that 2013 vacation of a lifetime.

Happy Thanksgiving! 

3  October 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

About the Black Business News… The mission of The Black Business News is to inspire and inform public and private sector industry representatives on the importance of smart small business growth. As a versatile source of socioeconomic development activity, the Black Business News imparts current local, national and international industry trends related to small businesses across the United States of America (USA), detailing greater access to financial capital, management efficiencies, business education, mentors and networks. The goals of the Black Business News include: •

• • •

•

Black Business News P.O. Box 43159, Los Angeles, CA 90043 323-291-7819 Fax: 323-298-5064 www.blackbusinessnews.net

PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Earl “Skip” Cooper, II

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Sarah Harris

ENTREPRENEUR EDITOR

increasing the use of business enterprises owned by USA-based blacks, by advocating for greater access to leading finance lenders and successful business managers.

ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

working to merge resources, values, profits, technology throughout the public and private sectors.

PRODUCTION MANAGER

balancing major public and private sector contracting methods with positive outcomes of black-owned and operated enterprises. providing an affirmative influence for emerg-ing entrepreneurs sharing innovative design n and creative cultural content that exposes them to the history of black enterprises and excite them to participate in the USA’s future. advocating and promoting on behalf of black-owned businesses by promoting the need for expanding an economic foundation that supports an unfettered and self-sustained urban society with USA job creation and economic opportunity, where blacks work, live and operate viable business enterprises.

www.blackbusinessnews.net

Kim Anthony Belinda Foster Narishima Osei

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS LaSandra Stratton • Dean Jones • Linda Ware

GRAPHIC DESIGN Sarah Harris • Phallu Morgan

STORY EDITORS Wanda Flagg ▪ Jennifer Marie Hamilton

PHOTOGRAPHY Ian Foxx ▪ Sabir • Narishima Osei

CONTENT ADMINISTRATOR La Sandra Stratton

LAYOUT/TYPESETTING Lion Communications Copyright © 2012 by Black Business News All Rights Reserved. The posting of stories, commentaries, reports, documents and links (embedded or otherwise) on this site does not in any way, shape or form, implied or otherwise, necessarily express or suggest endorsement or support of any of such posted material or parts therein.

FEATURES… November 2012

Publisher’s Message

GOVERNMENT… 10 14 22 2 25 2 29 2

Obama Elected to Four More Years in Office Special Report - Respnse Around the World Make It In America Hurricane Sandy Tests Response Capacities SBA Sets New Financial Services Record

Entertainment… E 38 3

Ki-Khanga, New Role Play Game

4 40 44 4 46 4

Photo Collage: Procurement Exchange Summit

Entrepreneurship… E

soleRebels, Ethiopian Firm Manufactures Shoes Morgan Bailey Premium Coffee Debuts

BUSINESS… 4 48 54 58

Small Business Saturday 2012 Holiday Tips for Your Website Marketing Success Building a Better Webiste

PUBLIC INTEREST/COMMUNITY… 70 76

EOY Corporate Giving Suggestions Let’s Move! - Community Garden Guide

INTERNATIONAL… 78 COLUMNS 65 - Take A Look! 108 - Books to Consider... 109 - Calendar ACTION ALERTS 2 - AEG Supplier Portal 90 - HOLIDAY SHOPPING SPONSORS 06 - Black Business Association Cover image - Phallu Morgan

p Start Up Fever Heats up in Africa

GEW in Africa Taking Shape

2nd African First Ladies Health Summit Announced

5  November 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819 1 32 3233 29 2911 78 7819 19

profits, technology and people; •

Promoting development and support of minority business enterprises within the domestic and international economies by encouraging and generating greater access to market opportunities and capital;

•

Providing training for entrepreneurial professional development;

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Supporting and contributing to the economic base and progress of the African-American community; and

•

Developing coalitions that support our political endeavors to effectively achieve public recognition and political influence for African-American business owners.

Over 40 years of service Founded 1970

About the BBA…

Since 1970, the Black Business Association (BBA), a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, headquartered in Los Angeles, has been instrumental in the incubation and development of more than 15,000 African-American businesses. Nationally, we have access and influence with more than 85,000 African-American-owned and women/minority-owned firms via strategic alliances with more than 100 women/minority trade associations in more than 42 states nationwide.

___ Our Mission ___ The Black Business Association’s mission is to advocate and promote the development of African-American owned businesses with the goal of creating a firm economic base that support the self-determination and survival of the African-American and urban community by: •

Identifying and creating financial opportunities for the growth and stability of African-American owned businesses;

•

Being a community voice that advocates for the success of small businesses;

•

Being a conduit for the merging of resources, values,

___ Advocacy ___ The Black Business Association maintains very effective working relationships with elected and appointed officials for the support of African-American business development. Locally, statewide and in Washington, DC, we are constantly aware of pending legislation that might affect our member’s businesses, their growth and even their ability to conduct business. When legislation is being considered that affects our mission, the BBA quickly mobilizes to work with key policy makers to support, defeat or modify the bill and pursue the BBA position. As an organization, we are constantly at the helm, securing innovative means and policies that protect our constituency and their business interests. 

Coming Events 2013 February 39th Annual Awards Dinner March 30th Salute to Black Women Black Business Association P.O. Box 43159, Los Angeles, CA 90043 USA Tel: 323-291-9334 Fax: 323-857-4610

• Call 323-291-9334 for information on sponsorship and participation •

mail@bbala.org www.bbala.org www.facebook.com 7  November 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Barack Obama Wins 2nd Term as U.S. President

U.S. President Barack Obama stands on stage with his wife Michelle Obama, left, and daughters Sasha, second left, and Malia, right, before making an acceptance speech during an election night rally in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., in the early morning on Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012. Photograph: Daniel Acker via Bloomberg

arack Obama was elected to a second presidential term Tuesday, defeating Republican Mitt Romney by reassembling the political coalition that boosted him to victory four years ago, and by remaking himself from a hopeful uniter into a determined fighter for middle-class interests. Obama, the nation’s first African American president, scored a decisive victory by stringing together a series of narrow ones. Of the election’s seven major battlegrounds, he won at least six.

“While our journey has been long, we have picked ourselves up,” Obama told a cheering crowd of supporters in his home town of Chicago early Wednesday morning. “We have fought our way back. And we know in our hearts that, for the United States of America, the best is yet to come.” He said he intends to sit down with Romney in the weeks ahead to talk about how the two can work together. Obama also made an oblique reference to the hard, negative edge of his campaign, saying that even

this bitter election was something to be envied in nations around the world that enjoy fewer freedoms: “These arguments we have are a mark of our liberty.” His election capped a night of gains for the once beaten-down American left. Democrats Tammy Baldwin in Wisconsin and Elizabeth Warren in Massachusetts won Senate races, as the party kept control of that chamber. Liberal causes also won in several states: Maryland and Maine became the first to legalize same-sex marriage by popular see Four More Years on page 11

10  November 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

U.S. President Barack Obama delivers his acceptance speech during an election night rally in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., in the early morning on Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012. Photograph: Chicago Tribute

Four More Years from page 10

vote. Colorado and Washington passed laws that legalized some marijuana use. Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, had built his campaign around the single contention that the U.S. economy is battered and adrift because of Obamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s failures, and that his business experience uniquely qualified him to fix it. In the end, that wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t enough, in part because the economy undermined his argument by showing signs of improvement. Just weeks before Election Day, the national unemployment rate dropped below 8 percent for the first time since Obama took office. Voters also did not warm to Romney. Even after many months and millions of dollars put toward trying to make him look good, exit polls showed that just as many see Four More Years on page 12

U.S. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.

U.S. President Barack Obama making “Get Out The Vote” calls at Hyde Park campaign office in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012. Photograph: Chicago Tribute

Special Section-Election 2012

Four More Years from page 11

voters trusted Obama to handle the economy as trusted Romney. “This is a time of great challenges for America, and I pray that the president will be successful in guiding our nation,” a slightly hoarse Romney told his supporters in Boston early Wednesday morning. He said he and his running mate, Rep. Paul Ryan (Wis.), had left “everything on the field,” adding: “I so wish that I had been able to fulfill your hopes.” As of early Wednesday, November 7th, Florida was too close to call — but also irrelevant, as Obama had passed the threshold of 270 electoral votes.  By David A. Fahrenthold www.washingtonpost.com/

politics/decision2012/aftergrueling-campaign-polls-openfor-election-day-2012/2012/11/06/ d1c24c98-2802-11e2-b4e0346287b7e56c_story.html

Guess What? The Polls (and Nate Silver) were right.

ow could the electorate be nearly as friendly for Obama as it was in 2008 when 2008 was such a good year for Democrats, people argued. Well guess what. The electorate wasn’t just almost as friendly for Obama; it was probably more friendly. Exit polls showed Democrats, who had a seven-point turnout edge in 2008, rivaled that on Tuesday, winning the turnout battle by 6% points, 38% Democratic to 32%

Republican. But when it comes to key demographics, the electorate actually likely skewed more Democratic/liberal than in 2008. The electorate was less white (from 74% in 2008 to 72% this year), more Latino (9% to 10%), just as African-American (13% to 13%), more female (53% to 54%), more low-income (38% making less than $50,000 in 2008 to 41% Tuesday) and — perhaps most remarkably, younger (18% to 19%). It all suggests that Obama’s laserlike focus on turning out each of his key constituencies — minorities, women and young people — paid dividends. And in many cases, these groups backed him as much or more as in 2008. Women gave Obama 55% of the see Four More Years on page 13

12  November 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

 Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney (R) and US President Barack Obama (L) shake hands after their first 2012 Presidential Debate at the University of Denver in Denver, Colorado, USA, 03 October 2012. EPA

 Paul Ryan and Joe Biden at the conclusion of the U.S. vice presidential debate on October 11, 2012, in Danville, Kentucky (Pool New/Courtesy Reuters). Four More Years from page 12

Angus King caucuses with them, as many expect. That’s as many as they currently have. Three Western states had yet to be called early Wednesday morning, but Democrat Heidi Heitkamp led by 1.6 points in North Dakota with 96 percent of precincts reporting, and Democrats also had good chances in Montana and Nevada. By the end of the night, National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn (R-Texas) admitted defeat. “It’s clear that with our losses in

the presidential race, and a number of key Senate races, we have a period of reflection and recalibration ahead for the Republican Party,” Cornyn said. “While some will want to blame one wing of the party over the other, the reality is candidates from all corners of our GOP lost tonight. Clearly we have work to do in the weeks and months ahead.”  Posted by Aaron Blake www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ the-fix/wp/2012/11/07/guess-whatthe-polls-and-nate-silver-were-right

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Special Section-Election 2012

vote and low-income voters gave him 60%, about the same as four years ago. Latinos gave Obama 67% of their vote four years ago, and 71% on Tuesday. And Democrats supported Obama even more than they did four years ago, with his share of the Democratic vote rising from 89% to 92%. Republicans gave Nate Silver a hard time for projecting that Obama would win 313 electoral votes. If Obama carries Florida (as it appears he will), he will have won 332 electoral votes. Yep, the polls (and pollsters) were right. Senate Democrats may expand majority: Senate Democrats may have pulled an improbable feat on Tuesday, potentially gaining seats in an election in which their majority was supposed to be in danger. Democratic victories in tossup states Virginia and Wisconsin gave them 52 seats, and 53 seats if independent Maine Sen.-elect

Special Section-Election 2012

Kenya Declares Holiday to Celebrate Barack Obama’s Re-Election enya has declared Thursday a public holiday to celebrate the election of Barack Obama to the US presidency. Mr. Obama’s father was from Kenya and his victory has prompted jubilation across the country. “We the Kenyan people are immensely proud of your Kenyan roots,” President Mwai Kibaki said. The BBC’s Juliet Njeri says

watching the election count, and they are now preparing for a big party. African leaders from South Africa to Somalia have sent their congratulations to the US presidentelect. Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first black president, welcomed Mr . Obama’s victory as a sign of hope for everyone.

Sarah Onyango, Mr. Obama’s stepgrandmother, was seen dancing and cheering jubilantly outside her house after the results were declared. She says Mr. Obama’s family stayed up all night in the western Kenyan village of Kogelo

“Your victory has demonstrated that no person anywhere in the world should not dare to dream of wanting to change the world for a better place,” he said in a letter of congratulations.

planned in the city, which considers Mr. Obama their chosen son, she says. In January, Kisumu was the scene of running battles between members of the public and police after riots broke out over the Kenya’s contested elections. But correspondents say the US election seems to be a unifying moment for the country, with people reported to be saying that Mr. Obama’s victory is a victory for all Kenyans. In the c a p i t a l , crowds were seen singing and dancing, w a v i n g branches Jubilation at Obama home. Barack Obama’s Step-Grandmother, Sarah Onyango, and residents and carrying of Kogelo, a small village in western Kenya where the father of the next US president was born posters of Mr. Obama along and raised, celebrate.

has “Your victory that no demonstrated ld not dare person... shou anting to to dream of w orld for a change the w better place.” Nelson Mandela

Unifying U In Kisumu City, near the Obamas’ O home village, there th is a carnival Pamela Menya, Officer, Kenya stayed up to atmosphere a and people watch the election returns. have h poured onto the streets s singing Mr. Obama’s Ngong Road, one of Nairobi’s major praises, p our reporter says. highways. Political leaders are expected to join massive celebrations

see Kenya Celebrates Obama Win on page 15

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Kenya Celebrates Obama Win from page 14

ll night here “I stayed up a as raining in Kogelo. It w e tents. I was r e w e r e th t u b wanted to anxious but I ults as they watch the res came in. s very His win mean e’s the much to me, h merican in first African-A se and the the White Hou merica is president of A ent of the like the presid whole world.” Officer, Kenya , a y n e M la e m Pa “ Yo u r victory is not only an inspiration to millions of people all over the world, but it has special

resonance with us here in Kenya,” Mr. Kibaki said. Mr. Obama’s victory is being celebrated across the continent. South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu said it showed “that for people of colour, the sky is the limit”. The BBC’s world affairs correspondent Adam Mynott says Mr. Obama will inherit a foreign policy legacy in Africa that has been one of the high points of the George Bush administration. Earlier this year President Bush toured through five African nations and people greeted him in their thousands to applaud him for America’s huge contribution in the fight against HIV/Aids. Since its launch five years ago, his Aids relief programme has spent more than $15bn dollars (£9.5bn) on the continent and saved many thousands of lives. He says Africans will look to Mr.

Obama to deliver more when he takes office in January, and his difficulty will lie in matching the soaring expectations.  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/ africa/7710394.stm

Kenya Celebrates U.S. Election Results, November 2012

obert Godec, U.S. Ambassador to Kenya, hosted guests, students and media at his residence in Nairobi for a post-election program. Students lined up to take part in the embassy’s straw poll. Ann Mwangie, 21, a student at Kenya Polytechnic University College, says she was rooting for President Obama. “We identify with Obama - he’s an African. He’s a Kenyan,” she says. “Everyone knows about Kenya now.” 

15  November 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Students and guests lined up to take part in the straw poll held at the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya.

Opinion: Why

the U.S. Election Matters to the World

By Reuben Abati, Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) to President Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria

Special Section-Election 2012

could not turn down the invitation to comment on this subject and express my personal views. US Presidential elections are important for one primary reason: they bear far-reaching implications for geopolitics, and since President Barack Obama’s emergence, even for racial relations across the globe. America remains, at the moment, the world’s superior power.

Asia and the Obama Victo ry “The Devil T h e y K now” If it had a vote in th

is election, m of Asia, thoug uch h dissatisfied with many American polic ies of the past years, would, four like The Econ omist, have plumped for th e devil they kn ew. by Banyan | SINGAPORE

close exception perhaps must have been demonstrated rated in the wake of President Barack Obama’s emergence in 2008. Americans wanted change, and many Africans saw that change in the colour of President Obama’s skin. They raised funds, they organized street campaigns, they promoted the candidate...they did all of that although they had no say in the outcome of the election, they were motivated nonetheless by the symbolism of hope represented by the Obama candidacy, and its resonance. The evaporation of that global euphoria today attests to the temporocentricism of human emotions; more so for the Americacentric international audience, race is not such an important issue in the 2012 US Presidential election, and for the American, there are more urgent existential considerations. Still, US elections continue to matter to the rest of the world. The significance lies in the influence of America in the world, and the variegated economic

and cultural implications lt l i li ti of the outcome of the election. One quick example: the world economy is linked to the American economy almost umblically; with current unemployment rates and domestic stress generating doubts about the efficiency of the system, further contraction in the domestic US economy and an isolationist President in power, could translate ll a r e b m into a withdrawal from global e m e ‘I r ’: responsibilities in the shape of in a of the pain ag reduction in aid. Many African y Obama victor countries continue to depend on US istani k a P s te ia aid, too many economies have their r fu in s m ti fortunes tied to America’s. ic drone v For the average American, and there is a lesson here for us well conveyed by the ObamaWhoever, or whichever political Wh hi h liti Romney debates, a Presidential party gains control of the White election is more about difference House automatically influences the and ideological choices about the levers of geo-politics, for no other future of the United States and its reason than that the identity matrix people. The American voter that of America’s politics is properly we have seen in the run up to defined and in that definition the elections was, in this context, lies the character of America’s constantly reminded of his or c political engagement with the rest est her significance. What was h of the world, and the other’s signposted was the right of s responses to its projections. Oops! Team Romney accidentally the voter to choose. Thus, t I hasten to add however, releases his VICTORY website... when all is said and done, the w that the reasons why the US ut an pe a in t for com ks see morning after November 6, m tt Mi Presidential election due on as d an ... the final scene of the drama t Tuesday, are important to the butter and honey sandwich of the last few weeks will be o average American living in to s triumphant Obama return the voter’s choice, with the t or outside America may not begin four more accent properly placed on the be and are rarely, the same White House to rk. wo fact that the American people f years of reasons why the same election would have spoken. Elections M is important to non-Americans, .CO MAILONLINE l .htm in an established democracy dex outside America, say for www.dailymail.co.uk/ushome/in are not won on the basis of example, Nigerians. The only see Wh Why the U.S. Election Matters on page 17 16  November 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Why the U.S. Election Matters

incumbent bullied and forced his way through to a second term. Not since President Jonathan assumed the mantle of office, though. In the recent Gubernatorial elections, in Bayelsa, Edo and Ondo, and in other elections since 2011, we saw how the incumbents had to struggle hard to convince and mobilize the electorate. President Jonathan’s signature cry of one man, one vote, one woman, one vote, one youth

electoral processes to suit their own purposes will be among the many from page 16 observers of the US elections. They need to look beyond the drama at the power of incumbency. Witness the morality of the experience. Barack Obama, a sitting American The US Presidential election President having to fight for his shirt, further matters because institutions county to county, city to city, state to matter. Americans are going into the state, sweating, lobbying, arguing... election on Tuesday convinced that yet at this moment, the race is so the system will protect the voters close the leading contenders are and their choice. So much money losing their voices and pleading has been spent on the campaigns with volunteers to help out. The -over one million TV ads, dictatorship of the American and more than $7 billion voter should matter a lot to on television advertising the African voter who for the alone- but not money on most part is disempowered a desperate attempt to and discounted. bribe the voter. There are The changing pattern of political parties but those the public opinion polls has political parties function as proven further that in this institutions not as personal election, as in every other US fiefdoms. There are election, more dramatically individuals occupying such shown in the Dewey-Truman positions as Chairmanship 1948 debacle, the outcome of the political parties and of cannot be taken for granted Perhaps the best thing that came out of the the Electoral Commission, until the race is over, and United States presidential poll is that the world’s but they are not part of the battle is won and lost. most powerful nation did not land in the hands of a the debate because the This should mean novice at a time when Asia needs a seasoned hand system does not make them something to us in Nigeria, at America’s wheel. unduly obtrusive. Apart from and in the larger African Too much is at stake for things to have been the Presidential election, community, for it is at the handed to a man who vowed to declare China a Americans will determine centre of President Goodluck currency manipulator on his first day in office, or who controls the Senate. Jonathan’s Transformation made so many position adjustments that few knew There are 33 Senate seats Agenda. It is the same what the real Mitt Romney stood for. up for grabs. The Democrats electoral ethic that President Ravi Velloor, The Straits Times currently hold a 53-47 Jonathan has insisted upon majority; if the Republicans since his assumption of one vote, reiterates the power of are able to gain 4 seats, they will office as President. Nigerians, the voter. I have seen the same gain control of the Senate and long used to a political situation in principle well advertised in the also maintain their control over the which the privilege of incumbency humility of the two US Presidential House of Representatives. These confers all powers have seen under candidates, and the struggle over elections are just as important as President Jonathan’s watch, a the swing states that are so crucial to the Presidential election. completely different arrangement. It the electoral college arrangement. The candidates are important used to be the case in this land, that Candidates will go to the polls on too. This sounds like a restatement all that was required of an incumbent Tuesday completely humbled by of the obvious. But of course, that in the position of a President or the supremacy of the American is what it is. There is no candidate Governor was to sit back and voter, who has been called upon in this election who has not been assume that incumbency will confer to use his vote as an instrument subjected to laser jet scrutiny: who automatic re-election, and if the of either power or “revenge.” That they are, what they represent, what incumbent managed to stir at all, is what democracy is all about: they say, what they will do or not do, he did so with so much arrogance. Ideas, competition, debate, choice. Most of the time, this worked. The African politicians who manipulate see Why the U.S. Election Matters on page 18

Asia has Reason to Cheer Obama’s Win

Special Section-Election 2012

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Why the U.S. Election Matters from page 17

Special Section-Election 2012

this is not really about their villages or state of origin; but their beliefs and non-beliefs. The voter can make a mistake, but he or she is given enough opportunity and latitude to make an informed choice. There is no room for anyone to smuggle himself or herself into office without passing through the crucible of scrutiny. The emphasis is on the responsibility that comes with office and the ability and character of the applicant to it. When all is over, Americans want to wake up with the feeling that they have chosen the better man for this time and that the choice is a true reflection of the majority. That is what matters. And all of these matter because it is the country that matters most. Pro patria: Love of country. This is all about country, that is, America’s

prestige and place in the world. The average American will make a choice to sustain the exceptionalism of the United States as a country that can still be remembered and protected as “God’s own country,” a country where all Americans can still feel that sense of pride, that they are “the best” in the world. And that is why the key issue has been how to make America better for Americans: healthcare, medicare, social security, housing, energy, immigration reform, taxes, jobs, national security, the economy, foreign policy- issues that connect with the ordinary people in their daily circumstances. And one more thing: in the midst of last minute 2012 US electioneering, Hurricane Sandy occurred, wrecking such havoc on the Eastern Coast of the United States that should be familiar to Nigerians who had also just witnessed the same devastating

impact of climate change in parts of the country. During that critical moment, Americans refused to play the politics of disaster. They all united as Americans, Republicans and Democrats alike, even the Romney team praised Obama for his leadership. Great lesson! So, as they say, what is our own in this matter? As Nigerians monitor the US elections along with the rest of the world, we must spare a thought for our own democracy and this administration’s efforts at its consolidation; in noting the differences and commonalities, we should reflect on the projected values of duty, responsibility, institutional integrity and love of country. That is what I think. And let me add: Good luck to the Americans.  http://allafrica.com/ stories/201211050108.html

World Hails Obama Victory

erman Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday led a chorus of European praise for Barack Obama, with the United States’ traditional allies looking to yet more openness and better trade ties from the President’s second mandate. “I look forward to continuing this (cooperation), so that both our countries can continue to work side-by-side to master the most important foreign and economic challenges that we face as friends and allies.” Ms. Merkel cited the pair’s past “close and friendly cooperation” regarding the ongoing financial

crisis, peacekeeping in Afghanistan and efforts to control Iran’s nuclear programme. British PM David Cameron stressed cooperation on efforts to revive the world economy and resolve diplomatic conundrums, such as the Syrian conflict, as the key issues facing transatlantic relations over the next four years. “There are so many things that we need to do: we need to kick start the world economy and I want to see an EU-US trade deal,” Mr. Cameron said in a statement issued during his current tour of the Middle East. “Right here in Jordan I am hearing appalling stories about what has

happened inside Syria, so one of the first things I want to talk to Barack about is how we must do more to try and solve this crisis,” Mr. Cameron said. In his congratulatory message to Mr. Obama, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh referred to the association between the two leaders over the past four years and recalled that cooperation between the two countries has not only been advanced across the full spectrum of ties but engagement has been deepened. In Brussels, European Union President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission

18  November 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Times Square, New York, NY

Why the U.S. Election Matters from page 18

Other reactions “When you were elected in 2008, you inspired the world with a call to take responsibility for the problems we face as global citizens. Since then, you have made earnest efforts to live up to that great hope and trust placed in you by the American public. I believe you have been reelected now in recognition of that effort,” said the Dalai Lama. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen: “The bond between Europe and North America, based upon the shared values on which our

alliance was founded over 60 years ago, remains as strong, and as important to the preservation of Euro—Atlantic peace and security, as ever. President Obama has demonstrated outstanding leadership in maintaining this vital bond.” “I will continue to work with President Obama to preserve the strategic interests of Israel’s citizens,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has had a strained relationship with the American president over Iran and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. “As a mother and as a grandmother who raises boy children, I think that the symbolism of having a black man occupy the highest office is something that can make my children very aspirational to know that this is possible, you know, in their lifetime” said Zindzi Mandela, daughter of former South African President Nelson Mandela. www.thehindu.com/news/ international/world-hails-obamavictory/article4073959.ece

19  November 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Special Section-Election 2012

President Jose Manuel Barroso said Mr. Obama should help them address “global challenges, including in the fields of security and economy.” They also highlighted efforts to “unlock the unparalleled potential of the trans-Atlantic market” as a priority. French President Francois Hollande congratulated Mr. Obama on his re-election as US president, saying voters had made the choice of “an open America” that believes in solidarity and multilateralism. “It’s an important moment for the United States but also for the world,” Mr. Hollande said in a message to Mr. Obama. “Your re-election is a clear choice in favour of an open America that shows solidarity and is fully committed to the international stage and aware of our planet’s challenges: peace, the economy and the environment,” he said. Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt praised Mr. Obama’s

“inclusive campaign” but noted that Mr. Obama faced major challenges since Congress was politically divided, and it remained to be seen how the President would be able to carry out his economic policy. Lithuanian Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius said he had “no complaints” about Mr. Obama, despite describing himself as a conservative, while Belgian Prime Minister Elio di Rupo said Americans had opted for “a more just and more tolerant America.”

Puerto Rico Votes to Change Relationship with US; Majority Wants Statehood

Special Section-Election 2012

By DANICA COTO Puerto Ricans have supported U.S. statehood in a vote that jubilant members of the pro-statehood party say is the strongest sign yet that the Caribbean island territory is on the road to losing its secondclass status. But Tuesday’s vote comes with an asterisk and an imposing political reality: The island remains bitterly divided over its relationship to the United States and many question the validity of this week’s referendum. Nearly a half million voters chose to leave a portion of the ballot blank. And voters also ousted the pro-statehood governor, eliminating one of the main advocates for a cause that would need the approval of the U.S. Congress. “Statehood won a victory without precedent but it’s an artificial victory,” said Angel Israel Rivera Ortiz, a political science professor at the University of Puerto Rico. “It reflects a divided and confused electorate that is not clear on where it’s going.” President Barack Obama had said he would support the will of the Puerto Rican people on the question of the island’s relationship to the U.S., referred to simply on the island as its “status,” and this week’s referendum was intended to be the barometer. But the results aren’t so clear cut. It was a two-part ballot that first asked all voters if they favor the current status as a U.S. territory. Regardless of the answer, all voters

then had the opportunity to choose in the second question from three options: statehood, independence or “sovereign free association,” which would grant more autonomy to the island of nearly 4 million people. More than 900,000 voters, or 54%, responded “no” to the first question, saying they were not content with the current status. On the second question, only about 1.3 million voters made a choice. Of those, nearly 800,000, or 61% of those expressing an opinion, chose statehood – the first majority after three previous referendums on the issue over the past 45 years. Some 437,000 backed sovereign free association and 72,560 chose independence. Nearly 500,000, however, left that question blank. “We made history with this plebiscite,” said Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi, the island’s representative in Congress and a member of both the prostatehood New Progressive Party and the Democratic Party. The certified results will be sent to the White House and the congressional leadership, and it would be up to them to begin

the process of possibly admitting Puerto Rico into the union. “The ball is now in Congress’ court and Congress will have to react to this result,” Pierluisi said. “This is a clear result that says `no’ to the current status.” Puerto Rico has been a territory for 114 years and its people have been U.S. citizens since 1917. Residents of the island cannot vote in the U.S. presidential election, have no representation in the Senate and only limited representation in the House of Representatives. It’s a situation that frustrates many, as does the long-simmering political uncertainty. Independence

was once the dominant political movement on the island but no longer: Only 6% of voters opted to sever ties from the U.S., a prospect that scared voters like 31-year-old Jose Ramos. “I prefer that the United States helps us, because to stand on our own two feet, no,” said the father of three. “I don’t want this to become a republic. That scares me.” 

20  November 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Administration Teams Up to Bring Jobs Back to America

he U.S. Departments of Commerce and Labor recently announced the Make it in America Challenge – a $40 million multi-agency competition that will help accelerate business investments in the U.S. This includes insourcing, where U.S.based companies bring jobs back, or foreign investment, when foreign companies build factories here and hire American workers to run them. The competition is being funded by Commerce’s Economic Development Administration and National Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership, and Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. It builds upon the administration’s efforts

the deadline. The challenge is expected to give out approximately 15 awards, depending on the number of eligible applications. Winning applicants will be selected by an interagency panel, which will evaluate applications

to strengthen the economy and create jobs by partnering with state, regional, and local partners. Beginning in 2013, three-year grants will be available to states, cities, nonprofits, colleges and economic development districts that develop plans to help attract companies that want to build in the U.S. but might need a few more resources. A federal funding opportunity will be published by early 2013, which will provide detailed guidelines for submitting an application, including

based on the proposed project’s ability to satisfy the following core evaluation criteria: 1. The project’s ability to promote at least one of the following, including: a. Insourcing of productive activity by U.S. firms; b. Increased foreign direct investment; c. Retention and growth of U.S. businesses and jobs; 2. Development of a highly skilled and diverse American workforce that moves new and current workers up and along career pathways with measurable outcomes, especially skills training completed and entered employment; 3. The project’s sustainability/ durability; 4. Soundness of approach and applicant’s organizational capacity in terms of building regional publicprivate partnerships and attracting necessary resources; 5. The project’s alignment with Acting Secretary of Commerce Rebecca Blank, announcing the $40 million multi- a relevant strategic economic or agency competition, the Make it in America Challenge in Virginia Beach, VA .

see Built in America on page 23

22  November 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Built in America from page 22

is very high. And that means a stronger American middle class for generations to come. The world’s business leaders – both here and abroad – are continuing to learn that there has never been a better time to invest in

Barry Johnson, executive director, SelectUSA

promotes investment in the U.S. in partnership with state and local economic development agencies. In addition, to strengthen the trend toward insourcing by U.S. firms, the President has called on Congress to end tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas and – instead – give relief to companies that bring jobs back. Overall, efforts such as these are crucial because when a company builds a new factory in the U.S., the likelihood of jobs staying here long-term

the United States, to build factories here, and to hire Americans to work in them.  www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/09/26/ administration-teams-bring-jobs-backamerica

23  November 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Government

business growth plan; and 6. The project’s anticipated economic and workforce development impacts, with measurable outcomes; especially jobs created/ retained and private-sector investment leveraged. Together, we’re going to provide financial and technical support for communities to grow and expand local businesses and jobs here in the United States. We’ll help communities make infrastructure improvements like building new roads to access under-used industrial sites. We will provide better technical assistance and information through our Manufacturing Extension Partnership. And we’ll work with local communities to ensure they have a workforce with the skills employers want to see on day one, making them attractive manufacturing hubs. This is going to be a coordinated, multi-agency effort to promote job creation and expand domestic production. The fact is, when we travel here and abroad, we are hearing from business owners that now is the right time to invest in America. It’s the right time because with both foreign labor costs and international shipping costs on the rise, it makes sense for the company’s bottom line. But it’s also the right time because our workforce remains the most skilled and most dedicated there is. And the U.S. energy outlook has never been brighter, with growing supply and falling prices. Already, foreign direct investment

(FDI) into the U.S. has jumped from $144 billion in 2009 to $227 billion last year – an increase of over 50%. The Commerce Department is working to build on that through efforts such as SelectUSA (http:// selectusa.commerce.gov), which

Government

www.medweek.gov

Minority Enterprise Development Week Conference - 30th Anniversary

he National Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week Conference is the Nation’s premier event for minority entrepreneurs and the public and private sectors. The Conference offers a venue for minority-owned firms to access information, tools and resources to grow their businesses both domestically and internationally. Each year, thousands of minorityowned firms across a variety of industries converge upon Washington, DC to connect with public and private sector buyers, explore avenues for business expansion, and develop thriving

partnerships with firms across multiple industry sectors. This is done through networking events, workshops and issue forums, including: • Business-to-business matchmaking sessions with corporate procurement officials and capital providers; • Global networking events with embassy officials from Latin America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East; • The MED Week Awards Program honoring some of the fastest growing minorityowned firms, entrepreneurs and advocates in the country. 

Date December 5-6, 2012 Venue Omni Shoreham Ho te 2500 Calvert Stree l t NW at Connecticut Ave Washington, DC 20 00 Phone: (202) 234-0 8 700

24  November 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net ews net  1-323-291-7819 1-32 13233-29 2911-78 7819 19

Hurricane Sandy Tests Federal Response Capabilities

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie with President Barack Obama and victims of Hurricane Sandy.

Government

25  November 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Coastal town in New Jersey

Destroyed house in New Jersey

President Barack Obama receives an update from Cabinet and Federal officials on the ongoing response to Hurricane Sandy

t the requests of the governors, the President approved major disaster declarations for New Jersey and New York, making additional federal support for state and local efforts available, as well as direct federal assistance to affected individuals in declared counties. The President said “There are places like Newark, New Jersey, for example, where you’ve got 80, 90% of the people without power,” he said. “We can’t have a situation where that lasts for days on end. And so my instructions to the federal agency has been, do not figure out why we can’t do something; I want you to figure out how we do something. I want you to cut through red tape. I want you to cut through bureaucracy. There’s no excuse for inaction at this point. I want every agency to lean forward and to make sure that we are getting the resources where they need -- where they’re needed as quickly as possible.” For the latest information about recovery efforts, visit FEMA. gov and keep checking back at WhiteHouse.gov. 

Hurricane Sandy - A Teachable Moment By Chris Nelder

Photo courtesy of hoeboma/ Instagram: Hurricane Sandy destroying the Atlantic City boardwalk uptown

www.smartplanet.com/blog/take/ resilience-lessons-from-hurricanesandy/201?tag=nl.e662&s_ cid=e662

27  November 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Editorial • Editorial

hen this is all over and the reckoning begins, it’s going to be as hard to find a climate change denier in the wreckage as it is to find an atheist in a foxhole. And so we will arrive at yet another “teachable moment.” The question is: Will we learn this time? I think we will. And this time, the prescriptions will sound eminently sensible. First and foremost, the wisdom of distributed power supply will be plainly evident, as businesses and residences with backup power blaze on through the power outages. When the rebuilding begins, residents should be inquiring about installing some solar power and battery backup on their homes, and businesses equipped with natural gas lines should be looking into fuel cells. Micro-grids, a strategy I’ve been banging on about for years, should

finally get the attention of city planners and administrators w h o s e municipalities are now without power. With good planning and modest investment — particularly compared to the losses t h e y ’ r e realizing from outages — there is no reason why most communities can’t keep critical electrical loads running when the big grid goes down. We should also see a renewed commitment to building a smarter, more robust power grid, including burying overhead power distribution lines. More broadly, the notion that we should not take action on climate change until our global competitors (namely, China) do will seem silly. As indeed it is. That’s like sitting in a sinking boat and refusing to bail water until everybody else in the boat does. Only this time, I hope that we’ll get focus right and concentrate on building renewable energy capacity instead of trying to capture, sequester, cap, or trade emissions from fossil fuel plants…a strategy that has gotten us nowhere, and prompted vested interests to mount an anti-climate change campaign. Self-contained emergency response units with power

generation, cell towers, and water purification capabilities should also finally find buyers. I’ve seen several designs offered to the market since Hurricane Katrina, in nifty hardened boxes that can be pulled like a trailer or dropped from a helicopter, but none of them really seemed to take off. On Monday night, the New York City Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Service tweeted that NYPD cell phone batteries and radios were dying, and cell sites were down and overloaded. This problem has a cure, and again it’s very reasonably priced. Perhaps now municipal governments and the National Guard will invest in some of these units. Transportation should also get a fresh look, with an eye toward resiliency. Trains, while not immune to storm damage, can often run when airplanes can’t. Well-planned emergency ground transportation routes with strategic fuel dumps can get people and goods moving again long before all the gasoline stations are restocked and all the roads are cleared. I hope that this moment will inspire entrepreneurs and investors to forget about creating the next Zynga or Facebook, and start thinking about creating more resilient infrastructure for the real world. I hope it will remind all of us how crucial our shared, taxpayer-funded services are, and how we are really all in this together, red and blue states alike. And I hope it will finally put an end to the game of climate change denial. Play time is over. It’s time to get serious about protecting ourselves, and preparing for a much more disaster-prone future.

How Can Organizations Participate? > Employers > Financial institutions > Non-profits and governments > Educators and Youth Organizations > Military > Media

How Can Individuals Participate? > Assess your savings progress > Join America Saves > Test your savings knowledge > Take action to save more effectively > View savings messages > Read saver stories

What is America Saves Week? About America Saves Week Our Purpose Participating Organizations America Saves Week 2011 America Saves Week 2010 America Saves Week 2009

www.americasavesweek.org

www.TheArtofBidding.com is dedicated to the art and science of moving goods and services to market. This web site is useful to business managers responsible for their companies’ supply chain activities. This information is sponsored by the Southland Partnership Corporation that serves a wide range of supply chain management issues for large and small enterprises. Southland is in place to enhance supplier inclusion through the increased flow of goods and services by providing current information from initial sourcing all the way through to delivery to public and private sector endusers. Southland shares vital information of purchasing opportunities from production planning, order processing and fulfillment, inventory management, transportation, distribution, and professional service requirements. For some, this information on proposal estimating will be a refresher on how to submit an effective pricing plan, however, for other companies this may be just the information to create that winning response. All buyers seek to make the best investment when selecting outside resources. The supplier selection results from demonstrating efficiencies and generating the highest level of customer satisfaction at the most responsible lowest cost. In general all major buying entities look at the strategic, tactical, and operational functions of prospective suppliers. 28  November 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

he U.S. Small Business Administration’s Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) debenture program provided a record $2.95 billion to small businesses in fiscal year 2012, a 14% increase over last year’s $2.59 billion and an 85% increase over 2010, also a record year. “Over the past three years SBA has transformed the SBIC program to ensure small businesses have

Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) SBA’S Growth Capital Program Sets Record for Third Year America’s small businesses by supplementing the long-term debt and private-equity capital available to them. SBA’s SBIC FY 2012 results included the following: Record High Financing to Small Businesses: Total financings to small businesses by SBA’s SBIC debenture program grew to a 54year record high of $2.95 billion in FY 2012 – 14 percent more than in FY 2011.

Record High Private Capital Attracted to SBIC Program: The SBIC debenture program has attracted more initial private sector capital in FY 2012 than in any year in the history of the program – approximately $1 billion compared to $840 million in FY 2011, the previous high. The average debenture SBIC has raised more than twice the private capital than the average debenture fund of a decade ago. More Licensed Debenture SBICs and Faster Processing Times: Thirty new debenture and unleveraged SBIC licenses were issued in FY 2012, exceeding last year’s total of 22 by 36 percent. Additionally, SBIC license processing time improved to just 5.4 months in FY 2012, down from 14.6 months in 2009. SBICs are privately-owned and

29  November 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

www.mbda.gov

Government

greater access to SBIC funds,” said SBA Administrator Karen Mills. “These record-setting numbers are proof that our efforts to streamline and simplify the process have made it possible to get capital into the hands of small businesses more quickly. When an SBIC invests in a small business, it can scale up and create jobs.” High-growth small businesses continue to face difficulties in accessing patient, long-term capital to grow and create jobs. Since 1958, the SBIC program has helped fill these gaps and has invested approximately $63 billion in more than 110,000 small businesses in the United States. The FY 2012 volume is the highest single-year volume in the 54-year history of SBA’s SBIC debenture program. Increased volume in the program is due in part to a number of improvements that contributed to an increased number of new SBIC licenses and reduced license processing times. The SBIC program was created in 1958 to stimulate the growth of

Record High SBA Capital Commitment to SBIC Funds: SBA capital commitments to debenture funds broke another record, increasing to $1.92 billion in FY 2012, up from $1.82 billion in FY 2011.

managed investment firms that are licensed and regulated by SBA. SBICs use a combination of funds raised from private sources and money raised through the use of SBA guarantees to make equity and mezzanine capital investments in small businesses. There are 301 SBICs with more than $18 billion in capital under management. As part of the President’s Startup America initiative, the SBA leveraged the SBIC program to launch two initiatives with up to $1 billion in leveraged commitments each for impact investments and early stage investments. These commitments are available to SBICs targeting early-stage firms or businesses located in targeted economic areas or industries. To date, SBA has licensed two impact SBIC funds under its Impact Initiative, while another five have an impact focus in their investment strategies. SBA also has issued a call for Early Stage SBICs under the Early Stage SBIC Initiative, and has issued “green light” letters to six potential applicants. For more information about the SBA’s Investment Division, SBIC program, Impact Investment Initiative and Early Stage Innovation Fund, go to www. sba.gov/INV. The web site offers much useful information including segments for: SBIC Applicants, SBIC Licensees, Private Partners & LPs, and Entrepreneurs & Small Business Owners. The site also includes useful SBIC forms, up-todate news and reports. 

34  November 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Ki-Khanga, New Role Playing Game on the Way By Balogun Ojetade

Entertainment

hirty-two years ago, as my friends and I sat at lunch discussing our latest s c o r e s o n

PacMan and Defender at the arcade – in the ancient of days, there was no Playstation, Wii, Gamecube or any other home game console (astounding to y’all yungins, I know) – I looked around and noticed that at every white table (yes, Caucasians sat separately from us – Chicago was, afterall, the most racially

segregated city in the nation – it is now third most racially segregated) the male students were having a good time hurling plastic cubes (which I recognized as dice), pyramids and an array of other polyhedrons as they referred to books and charts and sheets of paper. I alerted my friends to what was going on and – being the bold fellas we were – we sauntered over to a table and observed. “What are y’all playing,” I asked. No one answered. They were lost in what I discerned to be a battle that was w taking place entirely in their minds, but was represented by the charts and sheets and books. I asked again – “What are y’all playing?” p One of the guys, without looking up to acknowledge my presence, u replied “Dungeons and Dragons”. re The name of the game sounded ccool and being a fan of fantasy liliterature and of games my interest was piqued, as were the interests of w my friends. We stood watching the m a action, growing more interested in th this strange, new game with every ro roll…with every declaration of a h hit with a sword…with every spell ccast and every lock picked. It was a apparent that, within the world of Dungeons and Dragons, you could simulate anything with the game mechanics. I had to learn more! After the session was done, my friends and I spoke to Phillip – the one the players referred to as “the Dungeon Master” and “DM” – and asked if we could play. Phillip agreed to teach us to play, but said

he would only teach us “Basic D & D”, as “Advanced D & D” would be beyond our level of understanding. I felt an urge to punch Phillip in his ruddy face, but I hid my feelings and agreed to learn the game from him, determined that I would surpass him and would one day be a “Dungeon Master” without peer. Phillip agreed to meet us after school and left with a wave, saying “See ya later, Orc Clan!” My friends chuckled in ignorance. I did not. I had noticed the brutally inflicted upon an orc horde as the table of guys played and calling us orcs resonated as racist with me. My friends dismissed my suspicions. “Calm down, Farrakhan,” one snickered. “Yeah, Nat Turner,” another quipped. “Just keep your eyes and ears open.” I said. We met Phillip at the school’s library. We sat down and began making our characters. I chose to be a Fighting Man, as did my friend, Johnnie. My friend, Solomon chose to be a Cleric and my friend Reggie decided he’d be the Magic-User. “At lunch, you guys had cooler classes to play,” I said. “Yeah,” Phillip replied smugly. “That’s because we play Advanced Dungeons and Dragons. This is Basic.” “When can you teach us the advanced game?” Solomon asked. “Never!” Phillip shouted. “I told you, the advanced game is beyond your orcish capacity!” I slammed my fist on the table and see Ki-Khanga on page 39

38  November 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Ki-Khanga

pages of the 3rd Edition Player’s Handbook and Dungeon Master’s Guide, there is one (scantily clad) black woman and no black men. And finally, in the 4th Edition (2008), there is one black man. Thus, through four editions, over thirty eight years, and 1,691 pages, there is one non-Caucasian male and one non-Caucasian female! The creative team that is producing Ki-Khanga™: The Sword & Soul Role-Playing Game say it is time for a long overdue change! We are creating a unique tabletop gaming experience that puts you in an alternate Africa, wherein magic still lives and wondrous and fearsome creatures still roam the savannah. Where Sumunguru and Sundiata Keita meet on the battlefield and you become Imaro, Changa, or even Queen Nzingha. With over 2,000,000 people playing role-playing games on a regular, monthly basis (based on 2000 market research – and the numbers are rapidly growing), it is estimated that 17% are non-white. We will increase those numbers and of those 17% already playing role-playing games, most will play Ki-Khanga™ and love it! Many of the 83% will become players of KiKhanga™ too.  http://chroniclesofharriet. com/2012/01/19/racism-in-roleplaying

Quote of Note... “We recover, we rebuild, we come back stronger – and together we will do that once more.” President Barack H. Obama

39  November 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Entertainment

described Dungeons and Dragons to them. My family has always from page 38 been supportive of my passions growled. “Call another one of us an and – true to form – a week later, I had all three books in my hands. orc again and I’ll beat your ass!” The librarian peeked up from her I devoured them, committing the rules to memory and my friends desk. and I began to play an adventure I “Sorry, ma’am.” I said. The librarian went back to reading wrote. They loved it and thus began Wuthering Heights and I turned my three decades journey as a back to Phillip. “We will learn player, Gamemaster, collector, and now, creator of role-playing games. I realized that most of the roleplaying games on the market back then – and today – were played by, created by and written for the “Phillips” of the world. Non-Caucasian people were not a concern of Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson when they created Dungeons and Dragons, other than the striking similarity between orcs and the negative stereotypes of people of African descent and the Willie Lynchesque handling of “nonBalogun Ojetade white” races. In nearly 100 illustrations that Advanced Dungeons and Dragons and I will be a better DM than your depict adventurers in the 1st Edition racist ass!” I hissed, trying to be as of the Player’s Handbook and the quiet as possible while getting my Dungeon Master’s Guide (both published in 1978), there are NO point across. My friends and I tore up those non-white adventurers. In the over lame characters and “chi-town 100 illustrations in the 2nd Edition pimped-walked” off, leaving Phillip Player’s Handbook and Dungeon Master’s Guide (both published red-faced, sweaty and shaking. “How we gonna afford those in 1989), there are NO non-white Advanced D & D books? Solomon adventurers. In 80 illustrations sighed. “I looked at the prices. They spread over the combined 980 are twenty bucks each!” I knew that we needed the three core books – Players Handbook, Dungeon Masters Guide and Monster Manual – I knew we were all broke and I knew our parents would be hard-pressed to spend sixty dollars on a game, but I knew – somehow – we would prevail. I went home extolling the greatness of the game. How mathematical probability was generated with dice and even percent could be generated. My mother and sisters listened as I enthusiastically

Black Business Association 9th Annual Procurement Exchange Summit October 11, 2012

soleRebels by Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu

Entrepreneurs

y name is Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu and I am the founder and Managing Director of soleRebels (Bostex PLC) here in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It is my immense pleasure to introduce myself and soleRebels to you. For us here at soleRebels, creating great footwear is also a means of creating hope.

runAROUND gameON

This is the concept behind soleRebels. soleRebels began in 2004 as an idea: to bring jobs to our community, Zenabwork, a small village in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, a place where

selate & barabasso shoes

realDEAL n*kd ULTRA there literally were none (www. solerebelsfootwear.co/pages/ourethos). Having grown up watching our family a n d neighbors struggling, we decided to create the “better life” we were all waiting for by harnessing o u r

community’s incredible artisan skills and channeling them into a sustainable, global, fair trade footwear business. We have done that and more and we are proud to say that the soleRebels brand is being enjoyed by people in over 30 countries around the world. We selected shoes because we saw that footwear was an excellent platform to begin to share many of the indigenous eco-sensible craft heritages and artisan talents that we have here in Ethiopia with the world! It also meant that based on the approach we were taking to footwear creation – that being hand crafted and eco-sensible – that

44  November 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

soleRebels from page 44

we could source and make almost ALL our materials locally, thereby creating an export product from 100% local inputs. This allowed us to riff, recreate, and re-imagine the traditional “selate” and “barabasso” shoes, a recycled car tire soled shoe that has existed in Ethiopia for a LONG time (in fact, it was THE footwear from back in the day when the ORIGINAL “soleRebels” fought off the invading forces and kept Ethiopia as the only African nation

+ cool sandals, flip flops and shoes featuring recycled car tire soles (www.solerebelsfootwear. co/pages/recycled-tire-soles) and an array of recycled and sustainable ingredients like hand spun + hand loomed organic fabrics (and a pallete of unique natural fibers including organic pure abyssinian jutes and PURE Abyssinian KOBA. (www. solerebelsfootwear.co/pages/handspun-abyssinian-heritage-organiccotton, www.solerebelsfootwear.co/ pages/ethiopian-coffee-growers-fund, www.solerebelsfootwear.co/pages/

koba-plant-fiber)

So have fun, help others and be proud that you are making the world a better place. one step at a time. and really, what more could you ask from your shoes. Read my blog and stay up to date on my activities with soleRebels.  Very best, Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu Co-founder/Managing Director soleRebels (Bostex PLC)

bethlehem@solerebelsfootwear.co www.solerebelsfootwear.co/pages/ fair-trade www.facebook.com/soleRebels

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Entrepreneurs

to never be colonized!). We took this wonderful indigenous age-old recycling tradition and fused it with fantastic Ethiopian artisan crafts and excellent modern design sensibilities and turned it into footwear that has universal flavor + appeal that is now a market beating export brand being enjoyed by people around the globe!!!! We carry on that original riff everyday growing the styles, the product range, the quality and the brand. soleRebels features collections of superFresh, comfy

tooT000sxxYYY elite

Morgan Bailey hits GELSON’S SUPERMARKET! www.morganbaileycoﬀee.com

Entrepreneurs

www.morganbaileycoffee.com w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / p a g e s / M o r g a n - B a i l e y - P r e m i u m - C o f f e e - a n d - Te a Company/124814574226725?ref=hl

Roasting with proprietary roast profiles and a green roasting technology, we allow our customers to experience the "berry essence" of the coffee bean reveling every origin's unique and distinct taste. With only 50 of these roasting systems created, Morgan Bailey continues to conserve see Morgan Bailey on page 47

itting shelves all across the country, Morgan Bailey is now available in Gelson's Market; and in December expanding to Whole Foods, Vicente Foods, Fresco Market and Bristol Farms. Morgan Bailey is already selling out on shelves everywhere with its focused flavor, smooth taste, and rich mocha creaminess; a taste that will please even the boldest coffee drinkers. This high-end luxury cosmopolitan beverage is leaving its consumers "MORGANIZED" (a true fan and coffee enthusiast). Morgan Bailey has a locked time process that begins when the coffee is sourced from Africa. With every minute counting and cooperation from our farmer partners, Morgan Bailey ensures the quality and the exclusivity of the coffee beans that we roast to fit specifications for each and every coffee bag that's produced. 46  November 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Daniel Morgan, Founder/CEO (center) with two staff members.

Morgan Bailey from page 46

Corporate Mission Morgan Bailey has a two-part mission. Part One: Serve a great cup of coffee. Part Two: Serve a greater good.

“ENJOY THE ROYAL CUP” We aim to support children in need and make a positive, creative impact on the local-and globalcommunity. People come first, ALWAYS. We strive to nurture and respect the planet, ALWAYS. We aim to deliver a luxurious cup of coffee that excites something meaningful in you, ALWAYS. In partnership with the Morgan Rich Foundation, for every bag purchased a portion of the sale goes to bettering a child's life. We are committed to bringing stability,

education and adventure to every child's eyes. Be an advocate today and help us build the bridges for their success. Now on shelves across everywhere, let Morgan Bailey bring continued warmth and love to you and your family. Find us at your local Supermarkets: Gelson's, Bristol Farms, Vicente Foods, Fresco Market, Whole Foods, etc. Visit our facebook page or website for more locations and information.

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Entrepreneurs

the natural wonders of the world by decreasing carbon emissions by 80% with every roast turned. Not only are you receiving a great cup of coffee but also you're promoting a social consciousness in our world community. Starting March 2012 the road for Morgan Bailey has been very rewarding. After three years of extensive research and development, Morgan Bailey launched their retail brand only six months ago and is getting great reviews from customers and coffee professionals. The branding and social responsibility is beginning to go viral and winning coffee drinkers everywhere.

MORGAN BAILEY PREMIUM COFFEE & TEA COMPANY 9663 Santa Monica Blvd. Suite 829 Beverly Hills, CA. 90210 Tel:1-888-527-2708 ext: 100 http://www.morganbaileycoffee.com

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY

Business

Neighborhood Shopping on November 24th

lmost universally, Americans say they support and value small businesses in their communities. How could you not?

to local, independently-owned small businesses that create jobs, boost the economy and preserve neighborhoods across the country.

independent business owner, make the day your own: Small businesses are known for having outstanding customer service and offering unique products. Think about having special promotions and join forces with neighboring small businesses to create a block party or holiday event. Don’t forget to leverage Small Business Saturday marketing tools on www.facebook.com/ shopsmall. • Spread the word: Sign up for email updates at www. shopsmall.com and make sure to ‘Like’ the Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ shopsmall). Tell your family, friends and loyal customers about Small Business Saturday on your social networks.

They provide products and services you can’t get elsewhere, customer service is generally more personal, and they contribute enormously to the fabric of our neighborhoods and cities. There are many organizations, national and local, that have done a great job organizing and getting the word out about the outsized contributions that small businesses make to our communities. One of those is the Small Business Saturday Coalition which we have joined to help spread the word about Small Business Saturday. What will you be doing on November 24, 2012, the Saturday after Thanksgiving? Participating in Small Business Saturday of course! Heading into its third year, Small Business Saturday, which falls between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, is a day dedicated

Last year, millions of Americans, shopped at independently-owned small businesses on Small Business Saturday. This year, we invite you to help make the day even bigger for small business. Here are ways your business can get involved and help support Small Business Saturday:

The Black Business News is excited to be part of the Small Business Saturday Coalition. We encourage all of you to shop small on November 24, 2012 and help spread the word. Let’s make Small Business Saturday, the biggest shopping day of them all - we’ll see you on Main Street! 

• Shop Small on November 24, 2012: By shopping small, you are showing your support for small businesses and creating goodwill within the communities where you work and live. Make a day of it by shopping with friends and dining out at your favorite small restaurants. • If you are an

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Tyson to Lead Kaiser Foundation Hospitals & Health Plan

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Business

www.anc.org.za/centenary Facebook: USA ANC Centenary Twitter:@USAANCCentenary

h e Board o f Directors of Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and Health Plan named Bernard J. Tyson, an African American healthcare executive, as the next chairman and chief executive officer of the organization. Tyson will succeed George Halvorson, who has served in the role since 2002 and recently announced that he will retire next year. To support a seamless transition process, Bernard Tyson, current president and chief operating officer of Kaiser Permanente, will join the board of directors next month. He will assume the role of CEO after a six-month transition period. Halvorson will remain chairman through the end of 2013, at which time Tyson will assume the role of chairman and CEO. Tyson, who lives in the Bay Area, has held his current position as president and COO for almost two years. Before that, he served as executive vice president of health plan and hospital operations for Kaiser Permanente as well as senior vice president and COO for the organization’s regions outside of California. Tyson was instrumental in the creation of Kaiser’s successful “Thrive” media campaign. 

GRANTS.GOV LISTINGS The following grant opportunity postings may be found on the Grants.gov Find Opportunities service: DOS Department of State Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs U.S. Embassy Islamabad PAS Grants Program, Modification 8 www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=114273

Business

USAID Agency for International Development Afghanistan USAID-Kabul Public Private Innovative Development Initiative, Modification 3 www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=129593 USAID Agency for International Development Kazakhstan USAID-Almaty Development Through Regional Cooperation, Modification 5 www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=172393 DOT Department of Transportation DOT/Office of Small & Disadvantaged Utilization Notice of Funding Availability for the Small Business Transportation Resource Center Program, Modification 3 www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=177273 HHS Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Immunization and Vaccines for Children Program, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178334 DOI Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service

Assessing Management Needs to Enhance Recovery for the Eastern Massasauga, year four Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178353 HHS Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health Population Architecture Using Genomics and Epidemiology (PAGE), Phase II Study Investigators (U01), Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178354 HHS Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health Population Architecture Using Genomics and Epidemiology (PAGE), Phase II, Coordinating Center (U01), Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178355 HHS Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Cooperative Agreement for the Development, Operation, and Evaluation of an Entertainment Education Program, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178356 DOI Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management BLM CA Lassen Land and Trails Trust LLTT Modoc Line, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178357 ED Department of Education Upward Bound Math and Science Program - CFDA 84.047M, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178373

ED Department of Education National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)-Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program-RERCs--Recreational Technologies Exercise Physiology Benefiting Individuals Disabilities, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178393 NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA Headquarters E.2 Leading Edge Aeronautics Research for NASA (LEARN), Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178394 ED Department of Education National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)-Disability Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program-Disability, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178413 USDOT Department of the Treasury Community Development Financial Institutions FY 2012 Bank Enterprise Award Program, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178433 DOI Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service University of California, Davis Species Project, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178453 NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA Headquarters COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT ON ASTROPHYSICS EXPLORER MISSIONS OF OPPORTUNITY, Grant

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GRANTS.GOV LISTINGS from page 50

www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178473 DOI Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management BLM NV Nevada Ecological Site Descriptions State and Transition Models Development, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178474 DOI Department of the Interior National Park Service Estimating grizzly bear use of large ungulate carcasses with GPS telemetry data, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178493

DOI Department of the Interior National Park Service Developing Chesapeake Youth Corps Network, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178496 DOI Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management BLM WY 2012 Challenge Cost Share Program, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178497 DOI Department of the Interior National Park Service Signage and Related Interpretive Media Along the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail in Metro DC, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178513

DOI Department of the Interior National Park Service War of 1812 in Southern Maryland: Traveling Exhibit and Traveling Trunks, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178515 DOI Department of the Interior National Park Service Assisting in Development of Potomac River Segment of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake and Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trails, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178516 DOI Department of the Interior National Park Service Interns CLI/LCS, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178517 DOI Department of the Interior National Park Service Development of LandScope Chesapeake, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178533

Irrigation Water Delivery Metering Project, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178573 DOI Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Mark Processing, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178574 DOI Department of the Interior National Park Service Technology Enhanced Interpretation Development, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178593 DOS Department of State Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs Middle East Partnership Initiative Tomorrow’s Leaders Scholarship, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178594 DOI Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service DURHAM DAM, Modification 1 www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178613 DOI Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Chumstick Barrier Removal Phase 4, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178633 

DOI Department of the Interior National Park Service Cooperative Agreement for the identification of sites and structures significant in Hispanic heritage, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178553 DOI Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation Bureau of Reclamation - Pacific Northwest Region

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Business

DOD Department of Defense Air Force Academy STEM Outreach to K-12 Schools in Southern Colorado, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178494

DOI Department of the Interior National Park Service Heritage Partnerships Program 3D Digital Documentation, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178514

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Digital Publishing Opportunities Poised to Take Oﬀ Worldwide By: James Sturdivant

Network data estimating Internet access via mobile phone has doubled in the past year, from 9% to 18%. The largest percentage of smartphone users accessing the Internet through mobile in 2011 were seen in China, Sweden, Japan, South Korea and South Africa—all eclipsing the U.S.’s rate of 50%. Internet access through tablets was projected to go from 2% to 14% in the last year, as the percentage of people accessing c o n t e n t through PCs and laptops fell from 74% to 47%. This has significant implications for content monetization that global companies are poised to capitalize on, Stone noted, saying the percentage of revenue from content sold on tablets going to non-U.S. companies is expected to skyrocket in the next eight years. Within this trend is some potential good news for publishers: a survey of global users on where they prefer to buy tablet apps found fully a quarter of respondents prefer to buy direct from publishers. (Unsurprisingly, iTunes, Amazon and Google topped

this list.) Stone stressed that the pace of change requires publishers to make strategizing for the explosion of global mobile use a priority. “It’s very important for all of us to move quickly, and involve change agents in our organizations so we can seize these opportunities” This insight on global trends in digital publishing was offered during a webinar co-produced by the World Newsmedia Network (WNMN) and FIPP (www.fipp.com), the international magazine media association using content from FIPP’s recently released World Media Fact Book.  www.pubexec.com/article/ global-scene-digital-publishingopportunities-poised-take-offworldwide/1

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lobal revenue growth in mobile usage, app and in-app purchases, social media and online subscriptions demonstrate conclusively that “there is money in digital,” Martha Stone, CEO of World Newsmedia Network (www.wnmn.org), said. Not surprisingly, the most significant growth for any global advertising segment in the last five years has been in the wired and mobile Internet space. Citing a chart from the PwC Global Entertainment and Media Outlook (www.pwc.com/outlook), Stone said total percentage Internet advertising gains over the next four years are expected to average 15.9%. Global in-app purchase revenues are expected to jump to $5600 million by 2015, from $970 million in 2011, Stone said, and total digital and mobile revenues for magazines to approach $2.5 billion, approximately doubling their current total. Mobile ad revenues represented only 2% of the share of Internet ads in 2007. In 2012 that percentage has jumped to 8%, and projections call for that share to be 13% by 2016. Conversely, Internet classified ads are projected to decline to 14% of total share by 2016, down from 22% in 2007, while search advertising will hold steady. More evidence for growth in mobile comes from World Newsmedia

Tech Tools:

Holiday Checklist for Web Success

anta called, and he wanted to make sure you were ready for Black Friday and Cyber Monday this year. He decided to leave an early present for Web professionals, business owners and retailers everywhere. As you may know, Santa’s a big fan of lists. In order to help out Website Magazine readers as they prepare for the rapidly approaching holiday shopping season, he left an informative checklist that you can all use to ensure your website and marketing campaigns are ready to go when consumers come knocking on your virtual doors. And, it just so happens his checklist follows Website Magazine’s content channels (www.websitemagazine. com/content/blogs/channels/ default.aspx).

Prepare for Customer Inquiries

he biggest difference for customers who decide to shop on the Web rather than in-store, is the lack of customer service. For example, a customer who is searching for a specific blue sweater in a brick-and-mortar store can easily ask a sales associate for assistance, however, this is not the case on the Web. Merchants can combat this problem by adding customer service solutions, such as live chat or virtual assistants, to their websites. These solutions not only provide consumers with a better shopping experience, but can also improve conversion and engagement rates. Learn more about bringing your company’s

sales team to the ’Net here (www. websitemagazine.com/content/ blogs/posts/archive/2012/08/25/ bringing-the-sales-team-to-the-net. aspx).

Advertise Everywhere

owadays, there are many avenues where brands can spend their advertising dollars on the ’Net, including within search, social and mobile channels. This is why marketers should analyze online advertising campaigns from holidays past to determine which campaigns generated the best return on investment. By doing this, marketers can also review which keywords from the 2011 holiday season sent the most and highest converting traffic. Once the bestperforming keywords have been discovered, marketers should also add a few more for the 2012 season and then select which words will be added to their holiday-specific paid search campaigns. However, marketers should also consider spending their advertising dollars on social and mobile marketing as well. This is because a recent study from Marin Software reveals that many consumers turn to Facebook during their hunt for deals around Thanksgiving time. Furthermore, a separate study from the Interactive Advertising Bureau reveals that consumers are very likely to take an action, such as investigate a product or local business, once they have engaged with a mobile ad.

Be Mobile Ready

obile shopping has reached $20 billion in 2012, with that number set to grow with tablet shopping, according to Javelin Strategy & Research. The company’s Strategy & Research EVP and Research Director, Mary Monahan, counts tablets as the ideal channel to transform PC-based online shoppers into mobile shoppers because of the large-screen real estate and mobile capabilities. “Increasingly mobile devices like tablets are being used as shopping tools but the mobile buying experience is not keeping pace with consumer activity,” said Monahan. “Apps engage consumers to make purchases. With the upcoming holidays, retailers must prepare for the mobile shopping trend or lose out on the opportunity to convert browsers into buyers.” Companies like Usablenet (http:// usablenet.com), which are behind the mobile experiences of some of the world’s top brands (Hilton, FedEx, Mercedes-Benz USA – to name a few) can help retailers create a mobile experience, quickly and at a low cost (www. websitemagazine.com/content/ blogs/posts/archive/2012/09/07/ usablenet-walks-the-runway-withu-experience.aspx). The Usablenet platform requires no client IT resources, no systems integration and no Web development.

Create a Savvy Social Campaign

etailers not leveraging social media’s prowess this holiday season – and in general – stand to lose out on revenue that is often unexpected. For brands looking to sell on Facebook, Website Magazine has compiled a how-to list of sorts ( w w w. w e b s i t e m a g a z i n e . c o m / content/blogs/posts/pages/moresocial-solutions.aspx). However, see Holiday Checklist on page 55

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Holiday Checklist from page 54

Pinterest (http://pinterest.com) is the real standout network of the season. Its potential and popularity is in its simplicity. It takes very little to get started. Any retailer, of any size, can create a Holiday Gift Board. In turn, users will like and re-pin these products. And, the real beauty of Pinterest is that a retailer’s products aren’t only limited to who is following that brand and who, among their followers, is friends with. For the most part, Pinterest users view boards and pins outside of their network. Capitalizing on this free channel is a slam dunk this season. Additionally, retailers can integrate Pinterest with email, to see how, follow this link (www. websitemagazine.com/content/ blogs/posts/archive/2012/06/27/ retail-pinterest-interest-amp-email. aspx).

Engage with Email ne of the best ways to encourage audience engagement with your brand during the holiday season is with email. In fact, a recent study from Listrak and Harris Interactive reveals that 41% of Americans who receive emails from retailers have made a purchase in the

Be Search Friendly

onsumers do a lot of searching during the holidays on their quest to find the perfect gift for someone special. In the online world, much of that searching is done through Google, whose search engine just happens to feature product listing ads, as well as a wholly re-imagined product search service called Google Shopping that essentially works as a separate retail-focused

search engine. P r e p a r e yourself by creating a product feed and linking it to AdWords. Your product rankings are based on four factors: data quality, bid management, quality score and enrollment in the Trusted Stores Program. So jam-pack product listings with as many extra attributes as you can, carefully organize your ad groups and set (accurate and appropriate) ad group level bids. Then, just write a promotional messaging, make sure your product listings have images and you’re off to the races. It’s far more effective than dressing up mannequins in a window.

Pick Up the Speed, Developmentally Speaking

he holiday season will inevitably bring about holiday traffic, and if your site isn’t adequately prepared, it could be costly. After all, most e-commerce sites are notorious for having slow site speeds to begin with, so you don’t want to be chasing away more customers (and losing more revenue) than you have to. In fact, optimizing your site and providing faster load times than your competitors will probably make you a more desirable destination for shoppers looking to research or purchase products online. You can use Google’s Page Speed Online website to quickly test the speed and performance of your website. But hurry, because there’s not a lot of time left; early bird holiday shoppers will be visiting your website before you know it, if they’re not already.  www.websitemagazine.com/content/ blogs/posts/archive/2012/10/19/ Holiday-Checklist-for-Web-Success-. aspx?utm_source=newsletter&utm_ medium=email&utm_ campaign=newsletter

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Business

past six months as a direct result of receiving the retailer’s email. This channel definitely shouldn’t be overlooked; instead, it should be in the forefront of your holiday marketing strategies. Holiday email campaigns should include frequent sending at optimal times (www. websitemagazine.com/content/ blogs/posts/archive/2012/10/18/ delivering-email-on-time.aspx) and days of the week, as well as contain promotional offers and gift idea suggestions. Additionally, email can be a valuable tool for creating repeat customers during the holiday season. For example, after a consumer makes an online purchase, marketers can automatically send a follow-up email that thanks the consumer for their purchase and offers a coupon to bring the consumer back – either in stores, online or after the holidays.

What SEO Tips Will Work in 2013? By John Vlasakakis • Video distribution (youtube, vimeo) • Article • Blogs • Social Media {Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook) • Web 2.0 Properties • Blog Comments {Please not these are relevant ones to your industry and not Spam ones)

Build up your Author Rank for SEO

Business

earch engine

optimisation ( S E O ) , especially this past year has changed drastically. R e c e n t changes to search engine optimisation have meant that people are scrambling to adopt new best practices but what are they now? Since both changes earlier this year the following have been tested to work wonders with SEO.

Social Media Signals for SEO A website which deserves to be on the front page of Google is one which should be reccommended by others, it is imperative to engage your community socially and get your site creating a social buzz in it’s niche. Many industries don’t have a

social buz, and if you can be the first in your industry to do so then you will be light years ahead with SEO. When I mean engage your community I specifically am referring to building up a following on social media platforms, install a blog to have peopl interact and become returning visitors, allow them to comment on the blog, etc.

Get Backlinks from as many Types of Sites as Possible

Probably going to become the most important factor in terms of content SEO. Wherever possible link up your Google Plus Profile to your content in your resource box or bio, eg- rel = author tag. Google can track your code and will monitor the social sharing of your content, and will determine based on the strength, influence and Klout of others how important your content is in it’s category. The time will come when search engine optimisation services will be selling Author Profiles which are highly influencial and appear to have a natural influence with SEO, Author Rank is set to become the new page rank so i suggest to all those investing in SEO, to set up a Google Plus Profile and link your blog/profile and all sites you write content on with this immediately as it will become an increasingly important factor closer to 2013. For all newbies still getting the hang of SEO check out http://www. seomoz.org/learn-seo.  www.business2community.com/ seo/what-seo-tips-will-workin-2013-0313744

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Your Website: The Core of Your Digital Presence

Tech Tools:

Productivity@Work

t’s a rare business today that doesn’t need a robust digital presence on the Internet, and even those for whom it is not an

that a good website should be the starting point for those efforts. “The most important thing you can do when planning your Web

Who they your your

outright necessity can benefit from planting a stake in cyberspace. While there are many areas where businesses should consider establishing a presence on the Web, digital marketing experts advise

presence is to develop a clear strategy and goals for the site,” says Paul Pierson, design director at Carbone Smolan Agency, a design and branding firm. Start by asking yourself several questions:

you can answer the most important question: How do you connect what’s unique about your offering to your customers’ needs? In relation to other elements

are your customers? What do need? What is unique about offering compared to that of competitors? Then, he says,

see Your Website on page 59

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Your Website from page 58

of online branding campaigns— such as participating in social media, SEO advertising, blogging, etc.—your website is the most important element for “99 percent of companies,” says Natalie Henley, marketing manager at Volume 9, an Internet marketing firm. “At the end of the day, all roads end at your website.” The best website design strategy for small and midsize businesses

it’s important that content gets to the point very quickly. “Visitors don’t want to read a lot on the Web; they respond more to imagery and areas that ‘pop,’” he says. “So it’s important that your content is written well, but keep it short and to the point.” Henley warns that you will also need a lot of it. “Three hundred to 500 words per Web page should be your target. A few pictures and 10 words won’t cut it.” There should be a variety of content types—words, pictures, video—and textual organization should favor bullet points, short paragraphs, and frequent subheadings. “Your average visitor will be scanning, not reading, so make it easy on them,” she says. Perhaps the most important takeaway of all when it comes to creating an effective website is to include a specific call to action. “Whether it’s ‘call us,’ ‘email us,’ ‘contact us,’ ‘follow us,’ or ‘buy this,’ every website needs a call to action,” Pierson says. “An effective website gives people a taste of what your business has to offer, and people will be motivated to act on your call when given the right content.”

Learn more: • Marketing Grader, a free tool from Hubspot that tracks your website performance (http:// marketing.grader.com). • SE-Inspector, a free site that shows how your website looks from an SEO point of view and current results (www.seinspector.com). • Search Engine Reports, another free tool to view how your site is ranking for specific keywords (www. searchenginereports.net).  www.inc.com/comcast/yourwebsite-the-core-of-your-digitalpresence.html

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Business

skews towards simplicity. Design and layout should make it easy to get to information on your site. “That’s its primary function—not to rock the world with your earthshattering design,” Henley insists. However, Pierson notes that smaller businesses can also take bigger risks online. “You don’t have to attempt to position yourself as established, like ‘the big boys.’ Be true to your business personality, even if that means being different,” he encourages. Having a professional look and feel is critical to the success of any business website. Mark Friedman, COO and cofounder of website

design firm OnlyBusiness.com, says studies show that a website has approximately eight seconds to project a professional image of your business to first-time visitors. “Generally speaking, in today’s Web environment the cliché ‘less is more’ is highly relevant,” he says. “Too much clutter results in confused branding and presentation.” Three key pieces of information a website should impart are who you are, what you do, and why customers and prospects should buy and use your products or services. Henley shares a couple of technical tips to make your site more userf r i e n d l y. One is to avoid A d o b e Flash (a multimedia platform used to add animation, video, and interactivity to websites) if you can. “Search engines hate it, and conversion studies show that your users could really care less if you have a cool flash banner or not,” she says. She also suggests building the website on an opensource content management system (CMS) such as WordPress. “It’s typically cheaper, and you can edit the content yourself without having to learn HTML.” When it comes to website content, business owners can definitely write it themselves, but it’s a good idea to have it checked for grammar, spelling, clarity, and readability by a qualified professional, Friedman advises. As with the website design,

SERVING THE INDUSTRY and the TRADE PIPE - VALVES - FITTINGS - METALS - TOOLS PROCESS CONTROLS - INSTRUMENTATION - WATER WORKS

Brandon Supply Corporation is a world class distributor of industrial supplies. Brandon has been proven to be a dependable source of supply to the petrochemical, power generation and waterworks industries providing fast and reliable service. Brandon, in maintaining the policy of selling only superior products, represents only the nation's top manufacturers.

SBA CERTIFIED We offer a full range of valves for all piping applications, pressure tubing in all sizes and schedules, a complete line of fittings, flanges and couplings in all metallurgies. We also offer a full range in PVC, HDPE and other materials.

Clarence D. Scott, CEO CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS 14120 Gannet Street Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670

MAILING ADDRESS P.O. Box 5354 Buena Park, CA 90623

Phone: 562-921-0407 | FAX: 562-921-5945 800.238.5906 (Outside California) www.brandonsupply.com | cdavis@brandonsupplycorp.com

ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED

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Celebrate Thanksgiving Day with Flowers!

Technology:

Take a Look! by LaSandra Stratton Check out what these firms and organizations have to offer for your personal interests, personal wealth building, and business expansion opportunities.

www.talkdesk.com Talkdesk is browser based software, all that is required is an internet connection. Without installations or complicated setups, your staff can start working immediately. You will have a complete enterprise level Call Center in minutes. It is easy to migrate or add numbers, add and remove staff and connect with your systems. The interface

You can create a Book With Book Creator, a tool in Wikipedia. The type is a book full of pages from articles. Your book of articles can be exported in different formats, and the tool also gives you an option to print the book. Get started on the Wikipedia language page (www.wikipedia.org) by selecting the language you will work in; then create an account; go to any page and click on “Print/ export” and then, click on “Create a book”; then “Start a book”; go through the process to assemble the pages you want in this book; save your book; then when ready, download your book. When you need help during this process click on Help:Books. www.path.to

www.wikihow.com/Create-aBook-With-Book-Creator-inWikipedia

Path.To connects the right people with the right job opportunities through personalized recommendations that deliver the best and most compatible matches for talent and businesses. Through a deeper and more meaningful understanding of each applicant and business, Path.To

surfaces only the most relevant job opportunities – making the job search more effective and targeted, and saving everyone time. Path.To features the “Path.To Score,” a ranking system that analyzes the unique characteristics of each applicant, business and position to determine compatibility.

visual supports •Promotes a healthy community of parents and professionals focused on creating visual supports utilizing best practices •Features an easy-to-use editor with great image search, dragand-drop editing, and more •Runs completely in the web browser without the need for any special plugins (no Flash, Silverlight, etc.) and is accessible from anywhere in the world •Connects parents and therapists together more than ever before through ease of use, sharing capabilities, and real-time collaborative editing •Provides the best mobile experience possible, allows you to view and edit your supports on the go. Submitted by LaSandra Stratton, Chief Content Administrator of the Black Business News.

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Business

is intuitive and user friendly. Your staff members will easily navigate Talkdesk and interact with customers with more knowledge and efficiency. Your team trains quickly – so your workforce can be more productive and professional. Your coordinated and closely supervised team can work anywhere – globally, from home, on their mobile phone or at the office. Talkdesk mobile application and international phone numbers allows your team to work from anywhere in the world. Only pay for what you use. Your account will be prorated depending on when a new staff member is added.

http://symbly.us Symbly is a new way to create, share, and go with visual supports, communication boards, visual schedules, social stories, and more. The primary design goals of Symbly are to provide a new tool for special education that: •Makes it easy for beginners to create visual supports through the support of templates and examples created by experts •Provides the tools that power users need to quickly create, manage, and share an entire library of

Charitable Giving Suggestions It’s That Time of Year

he Black Business News is following our tradition of providing a few brief profiles of organizations that would benefit from your business, and personal, charitable donations. T h e s e donations b e c o m e part of the pa deductions that help to th reduce our re 2012 tax 2 requirement. r The benefits T of acts ac of charity go way beyond a reduction in your local and federal tax burdens. Being part of the revilization of our nation through giving is good citizenship. So in addition to your church, and the sororal and fraternal scholarship campaigns, use the organizations profiled here to suggest some giving opportunities that you might have missed. Look around your neighborhood for opportunities to ensure services for veterans, senior citizens, young mothers, school children, and our enivronment. Need more options, check the

Community/Public Interest

GIVING IS NOT A BURDEN, IT IS A PRIVILEGE.

Ben Jealous, NAACP

crowdfunding sites for other giving options.

NAACP:

The venerable civil rights organization, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, remains “on the case” and needs our continuing contributions to remain strong and fully capable. www.naacp.org

TransAfrica Forum:

(PESS):

Project Education South Sudan is a US 501(c) (3) Charitable Organization, a registered NGO with the Republic of South Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, and registered with the Jonglei State Ministry of Education. PESS was created as a partnership of Sudanese and Americans in response to the destruction that resulted from the twenty-year civil war between northern and South Sudan. High illiteracy rates resulted from these decades of civil war. On July 9, 2011, South Sudan became

Danny Glover TransAfrica Forum is a research, education, and advocacy center dedicated to global justice for the African World. A center for activism focusing on conditions in Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America and other parts of the African Diaspora, TransAfrica sponsors seminars, community awareness projects and training programs. These activities help promote alternative perspectives on the economic, political, and moral ramifications of U.S. foreign policy. TransAfrica disseminates information on issues of concern to the African World with various events in the Washington, DC metropolitan area and beyond. http://transafrica.org

Project South

Education Sudan

its own independent nation and seeks its future as a functioning democracy. In response to the high illiteracy rates, PESS is helping to fund and support the building of primary schools in rural Jonglei State, South Sudan. We emphasize the inclusion of girls and women in the educational opportunities we promote. PESS fosters community empowerment and leadership development in order to ensure that educational progress is sustainable. PESS provides clean water wells, commercial grinding mills, cinderblock-making equipment, see Charitable Giving on page 71

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Charitable Giving from page 70

sewing machines and annual school supply money. Beyond brick and mortar, our organization mentors indigenous community and girl’s leadership development, teacher training, feminine hygiene health and income literacy programs thus providing a micro economy in the village. We serve 3,000 children in four schools. PESS follows the UNICEF accountability model in funding projects, inspection and verification of spending. www.projecteducationsudan.org

Dr. Darius Mans, more than 150 Africare programs reach families and communities in some 18 nations in Sub-Saharan Africa. http://africare.org

US Doctors for Africa (USDFA): US

Doctors

for Africa

Africare

: For four decades, Africare has traveled to more than 36 countries across the continent of Africa moving through every imaginable terrain to reach communities where the needs are greatest. Africare is the oldest and the largest African-American led

humanitarian organization committed to increasing access to medical care for diseases and conditions affecting the people of Africa. By mobilizing and distributing medical manpower, supplies, and equipment to medical institutions throughout the continent of Africa, we are able to provide medical and preventative healthcare and capacity-building to regions of Africa without available medical services. US Doctors for Africa believes that healthcare is a basic human right, and recognizes that a healthy population is essential for growth, development, and prosperity in every society. Ted Alemayuhu is the Executive Director. www.usdfa.org

NCNW:

The National Council of Negro Women, Inc. (NCNW) is a nonprofit membership organization founded in 1935 by Mary McLeod Bethune, a child of slave parents, distinguished educator and government consultant. With a mission to lead, develop and advocate for women

entrepreneurship. • Providing mentoring and educational support to our young people. NCNW has truly united to enhance our power for the benefit of African and African American women and their families. Even a brief sampling of our programs and partnerships illustrates the breadth and depth of our program offerings. www.ncnw. org 

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Community/Public Interest

organization in the development field, and is a leader in development assistance and humanitarian aid to Africa. Since its founding in 1970, Africare has delivered more than $1 billion in assistance to millions of beneficiaries across the African continent. Today, under the leadership of

Ted Alemayuhu

of African descent as they support their families and communities, NCNW addresses issues of human welfare and rights through public education, community service and advocacy. NCNW reaches nearly 4 million women through 39 national affiliate organizations and more than 240 sections through activities such as: • Disseminating information about issues affecting African American women and their families. • Promoting healthy lifestyles and behaviors through wellness projects. • Sponsoring events, such as the Black Family Reunion Celebration, to build on strengths and traditional values. • Training and supporting women and youth in career development and community leadership. • Supporting economic development and

Exhibition Commemorates 150th Anniversary of America’s Civil War African American Military Portraits From the American Civil: Selected Images From The Library of Congress Collections”

Community/Public Interest

s America’s Civil War approaches it’s 150th Anniversary the California African American Museum (CAAM) will celebrate the participation of the approximately 180,000 African American Civil War soldiers with its latest exhibition African American Military Portraits From The American Civil War: Selected Images From The Library of Congress Collections currently on view at the CAAM through January 20, 2013. “When most people think of the Civil War they just think of slaves and they don’t realize a lot of these guys (African American soldiers) were volunteers from the north...I wanted to show the pictures of the guys who have been completely forgotten,” said Ed Garcia, exhibition curator. The exhibits are reproduced images in large formats from the original antique photographs, and are selections from the Liljenquist Family Collection of Civil War Photographs and the Gladstone Collection of African American Photographs, both of which are housed at the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. African American Military Portraits From the American Civil War provides an unusual glimpse of African Americans in the American Civil War, rarely seen by the public,”

says Tiffini Bowers, History Curator for CAAM. “With a personal legacy of five family members who fought in the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment, it gives me great pride to see this exhibit which fosters the continuous understanding of African Americans and their long history of military service,” Bowers continued. This exhibition tells the stories of African American soldiers and sailors of the Union who fought

against the Confederates for the freedom of those still enslaved. In addition, they are visual reminders of the pride, determination, and sense of destiny that filled these men with a profound resolve as they sought a rightful place in the fabric of this nation for themselves and an entire people. The portraits in this exhibition are supplemented with biographical research, original period documents, artifacts, and historically accurate see Civil War Anniversary on page 73

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Civil War Anniversary

from page 72

reconstructions. During the Civil War, Black soldiers were paid $10 a month for their service, while Whites received $13 a month. Some of African American soldiers’ duties were noncombative which included cooking and caring for White officer’s horses. Nonetheless there were others who served in the infantry and artillery. Admission to CAAM is always free. CAAM is located at 600 State Drive, Exposition Park, Los Angeles, 90037. For more information on CAAM visit www. caamuseum.org and get the latest updates on CAAM social media pages on Twitter @CAAMinLA and www.Facebook.com/CAAMinLA.

OTHER EXHIBITIONS IN THE CAAM GALLERIES:

ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM The California African American Museum (CAAM) researches, collects, preserves and interprets for public enrichment the history, art and culture of African Americans. Chartered by the California State Legislature in 1977, CAAM is a state supported institution and a partner with the 501(c)(3) non-

profit organization Friends, the Foundation of the California African American Museum. In addition to its permanent collection of over 3,000 objects of art, artifacts and historical documents, CAAM also houses a research library containing more than 20,000 volumes, employs and trains high school students through its Young Docents program, and hosts in-house curated exhibitions and traveling exhibitions on a regular basis. The museum also tours CAAM exhibitions throughout California and the nation. 

Community/Public Interest

• Go Tell it on the Mountain October 4, 2012 – April 7, 2013 • Coloring America: Selections from the California African American Museum’s Permanent History Collection - October 25, 2012 – January 27, 2013 • Shared Thread in CAAM’s Courtyard through December 30, 2012 • Legacy of the Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company: More Than a Business through March 3, 2013

www.caamuseum.org

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ROMEO’S

ǡ Fried Turkey!! ǡ Ǧ ǤǤǤ Ǥ Ǩ ǡ ͳͲǡ ʹͲͳʹ Ǥ

̈́ͷͷǤͲͲ ȋͳͲǦͳͶ ȌǤ Ǧ ̈́ʹͲ Ǥ ̈́ʹͲ Ǥ ̈́ͶǤͲͲ Ǥ

Contact Crystal McPherson at 310-733-9997 or romeoiscatering@yahoo.com

Thanksgiving Dessert Menu Pies/Cobblers/Tarts Cobbler - Apple, Peach, Blackberry, Blueberry, Mixed Fruit - ½ Pan $35 Sweet Potato Pie -$10 Pecan Pie -$15 Lemon Custard Tart -$17 Cheese Cake - Pecan Praline, Oreo Cookie, Sweet Potato, Pumpkin-$45

Cakes (8in round $20/10in round $35) Red Velvet Cake - Our signature Red Velvet Cake is a moist, mildly cocoa flavored Pecan Carmel Cake - Moist Butter Cake topped with a rich caramel and toasted pecans

German Chocolate - Moist layers of chocolate cake, with a sweet and gooey caramel frosting Carrot Cake - Moist rich carrot cake is made with a smooth cream cheese icing

Cupcakes ($1.50 mini, $3.25 Large) Sweet & Salty- Chocolate layer cake with salted caramel and milk chocolate buttercream icing. Black and White Raspberry -Chocolate cake layered with raspberry jam and dark chocolate buttercream, covered with white chocolate buttercream Vanilla with Vanilla Buttercream -Fluffy vanilla cake topped with light, creamy buttercream icing Contact Crystal McPherson at 310-733-9997 or romeoiscatering@yahoo.com

Community/Public Interest

ome to leafy greens, herbs and berries, the White House Kitchen Garden provides fresh foods for the First Family to enjoy each day. On March 20, 2009 with students from Washington’s Bancroft Elementary School and First Lady Michelle Obama broke ground on the first vegetable garden at the White House since Eleanor Roosevelt’s victory garden during World War II. Today, the garden is planted, tended and harvested by Mrs. Obama, White House staff, the National Park Service and visitors. Tours of the White House Kitchen Garden are open to elementary, middle and high school students. How does the White House Kitchen Garden grow? Just like any other garden -- with plenty of sunshine and nurturing, just the right amount of water and proper soiling techniques. Inspired by the First Lady’s passion for healthy living and healthy eating, people across the country have revisited the American tradition of starting a vegetable garden at home. Growing your own fruits and vegetables is a great way to learn where food comes from, spend time with others and incorporate healthy

foods into your favorite meals. Even if you don’t consider yourself a Master Gardener, you can harvest your own produce at school, in your backyard or around the community.

Community Garden The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) People’s Garden initiative has grown into a collaborative effort of over 700 local and national organizations all working together to establish community and school gardens. People from states across the country share their successes, trials-and-errors and great photos with a network of supporters. Because they benefit the community, are collaborative efforts and incorporate sustainable practices, community gardens are assets that benefit entire neighborhoods, cities and towns. There are thousands of community gardens across the country -- are you ready to start yours? Begin by bringing people and different organizations together to learn which issues are important to your community.

Community Garden Checklist If you’re looking for an activity that people of all ages can enjoy,

start a community garden. Rallying support from your neighbors, friends or community-led organizations is a great way to start a garden in your back yard -- so to speak. Urban communities often find patches of land to host community gardens, and invite participants to help plant, harvest and enjoy the produce -- and in turn incorporate the necessary fruits, vegetables, vitamins and nutrients they need to stay healthy into their diets. The USDA’s People’s Garden (www. usda.gov/peoplesgarden) initiative offers lots of useful resources and a supportive network for both first-time planters and seasoned harvesters. Before you start a garden of your own, read the step-by-step guide below, which offers important information about how to safely grow your own fruits and vegetables with others in your community:

Engage Your Community see Let’s Move on page 77

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Let’s Move from page 76

Begin by bringing people and different organizations together to learn which issues are important to your community. Discuss how a community garden – whether a communal space or individual plots – could serve the needs of the community. If a community garden will benefit the community, build on this momentum by holding regular meetings to collaborate on ideas and goals. Develop a plan of action. Get people energized and organized.

Identify Resources

letsmove.gov/files/pdfs/Let%27s%20

Choose a Site Across the country, community gardens are becoming an anchor for neighborhood revitalization. Community gardens range in purpose from increasing access to fresh, healthy food in rural towns to providing safe green spaces where youth can play in urban cities. What type of community garden will your neighborhood be planting? Knowing this information will narrow your search for a site. If growing food, find a location that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight per day with easy access to water. Check if the land you would be growing on has proper drainage. Once you identify an ideal site, find out who owns the land. Contact the landowner and discuss next steps which may include obtaining permission through written agreement or lease and getting liability insurance.

Garden Healthy Before you start planting, it is important to research the history and past uses of your chosen site. Once the past uses have been determined, take samples of the soil and have them analyzed to find out soil type and quality. EPA has stepby-step guidelines (www.epa.gov/ brownfields/urbanag/pdf/bf_urban_ ag.pdf) on how to do this. Consult

with your state environmental agency, local health department, or county’s Cooperative Extension office to learn how to take a soil sample and to determine what kinds of samples you should take. The quality of the soil can have an effect on the design of your garden.

Design Your Garden Every community garden is different based on its specific size, location, and mission. Design your garden to fit the needs of the community it serves. Consider factors such as age-appropriate design, accessibility, protection from animals or vandalism, storage of tools, and space to gather. Incorporate sustainable gardening techniques such as: using native plants, composting, mulching, applying an integrated pest management approach, creating a habitat for wildlife, using water wisely or installing a rain barrel. Use the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map to determine which plants will thrive in your part of the country.

Get Growing Start gardening and implementing your community garden program. Once the project is up and running, let everyone know! Gain greater community support by welcoming visitors and sharing updates on how the neighborhood is benefiting from the garden’s existence. Over time, revisit the plan and make any needed changes based on lessons learned or feedback from partners and neighbors. Remember to plan ahead so that the garden will continue to grow for seasons to come.  www.letsmove.gov

Community/Public Interest

Forming local partnerships is an excellent way to leverage resources and gain access to needed materials, tools, funding, volunteers, and technical assistance. USDA’s People’s Garden website has howto videos and databases filled with garden-based learning curricula, free seed and funding sources, and healthy gardening practices. You can call on an Extension Master Gardener volunteer in your area to help with gardening challenges. The long-term success of your community garden will depend a great deal on relationships with partners. And be sure to check out the Community Garden Resource Guide (www.letsmove.gov/sites/

Move%20Community%20Garden%20 Guide.pdf).

Startup Fever Heats Up in Africa

By Jonathan Ortmans

International

am reporting from Africa which is enjoying its greatest economic success in decades and where there has never been a better time to be an entrepreneur. With economic growth rates this year around 6% in one-third of the 49 subSaharan African countries, the IMF forecasts that Africa will have the fastest-growing economy of any continent over the next five years. The World Bank in turn has reported earlier this month that more than 20 sub-Saharan African countries, encompassing more than 400 million people, have gained middle-income status, while the number of people living in poverty is down by roughly 10 percentage points over the past decade. Young people are a large part of this swelling consumer base and talent pool. Those below age 30 represent the majority of Africa’s population, according to the 2011 Africa Youth Report compiled by the Economic Commission for Africa. This young population is tech savvy and connected unlike ever before and they are driving a surge in startup creation among African men and women. Today, I am in Kenya where, for example, 23-year-old Ory Okolloh helped found Ushahidi (http://ushahidi. com), a Web 2.0 crowdsourcing software initiative that tracks emergency events in real-time via

cyberspace. Originally geared to spot political violence after Kenya’s bloody presidential election in 2008, the technology has soon evolved to broader uses and is now a tool Google uses. Recently, I join a gathering of leaders behind LIONS@FRICA (the Liberalizing Innovation Opportunity Nations Partnership which is investing in connecting young African businesses to the global innovation grid in order to increase their scalability and sustainability. Our hope with Lions is to enhance and deepen the startup and innovation ecosystems of targeted fast-growing African economies. This initiative includes DEMO, which is known around the world for launching the most innovative companies in disruptive technologies, and Global Entrepreneurship Week, the grassroots movement leading the largest celebration of entrepreneurship around the world. See the full list of partners, on the LIONS@FRICA site (http:// meetthelions.org).

Despite only recently being launched, the LIONS@FRICA partners meeting is showing evidence of early progress. For example, I will participate in DEMO Africa (http://idg.com/www/pr.nsf/ ByID/MBEN-8URP3Q) this week in Nairobi October 24-26, which is offering the most innovative emerging and established companies from African countries the opportunity to launch their products on stage and to gain exposure on a global level as they present their startups to global press, prolific bloggers, investors and potential strategic partners. At the same time, the event is acting as a platform for companies outside the region looking to launch in the African market. I am excited to be able to take a first-hand look at the freshest innovative ideas coming out of the region. This event and many other programs and activities planned by partners like Microsoft and Nokia and Startup Weekend (who will cover over 30 African cities), will not see Startup Fever on page 79

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Startup Fever from page 78

only highlight the entrepreneurial talent and spirit that exists on the continent, but will also motivate future African innovators and help develop a network of mentors working across borders to continue to drive the continent’s economic development.

into reality. Inspired by GEW’s ‘Meet the Dragons’ competition in Europe, a select group of African entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to present their startups or business plans to prominent mentors, investors and business executives from the continent in an effort to secure support, mentorship and up to US$100,000 in funding. It is also good news for Africa that governments in the region seem to be valuing entrepreneurship in their efforts to set in motion a longterm economic growth strategy. According to the 2012 Doing Business (http://doingbusiness. org/reports/global-reports/doingbusiness-2012) report by the World Bank, 36 of the region’s 46 economies implemented regulatory reforms making it easier to do business between June 2010 and May 2011. Several African countries are among the top reformers, namely Cape Verde, Sierra Leone and Burundi. And these are ongoing efforts. During the past six years, Rwanda (45th) has made

more progress than all but one country in the world, pushing it to the third spot in the region, behind Mauritius and South Africa. By other measures, the same performers stand out, leading the way for its regional neighbours. In the Index of Economic Freedom, for instance, Mauritius is ranked among the top 10 worldwide. Government interest in innovative entrepreneurship is also clear in the rise of infrastructure investments like Konza Tech City (www.konzacity. co.ke) here in Kenya and Tanzania’s Rhapta’s city, as well as in the participation of several Ministers of Education, Science and Technology and other representatives from across the continent at the Innovation Africa Summit ( h t t p : / / a f r i n n o v a t o r. c o m / b l o g / Press%20Releases/innovationafrica-summit-in-cape-town-tobring-together-world-leaders-inict-education-and-technology) in Cape Town earlier this month. This summit and others provide useful platforms for much needed conversations in face of a catalyzed role of African governments in entrepreneurship promotion. For instance, it has been argued by regional entrepreneurship guru Mbwana Alliy (http://afrinnovator. com/blog/2011/11/01/the-techparks-arms-race) and others that African leaders need to be aware that single efforts, no matter how expensive, cannot alone do the trick for startup creation. For example, while infrastructure is important for entrepreneurship, regulatory and policy reforms across many areas are crucial. Without any doubt, the best actors in Africa´s entrepreneurship ecosystem are the risk-taking entrepreneurs themselves. Fortunately, with clear evidence that mobile banking and new access to existing technologies see Startup Fever on page 80

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International

They will also motivate the rise of a stronger local investor pool. Currently, most funding for African startups comes from outside the continent. But, as you may have heard already, there’s an upcoming fund called the “Savannah Fund,” (http://www.savannah.vc) that may just be the one to consolidate African early-stage investment. The emergence of a strong network of continental entrepreneurship resources will

perhaps be most clear to the world during Global Entrepreneurship Week (www.unleashingideas. org), which will take place from November 12-18, 2012, in 128 countries around the world, including more than 25 African countries. In partnership with infoDev, the ‘Meet the Lions’ competition will be a featured event during GEW, helping African startups turn their ideas

Startup Fever from page 79

(www.gallup.com/poll/150290/ Sub-Saharan-Africa-Income-KeySuper-Connected.aspx) has helped the region leapfrog inadequacies in education, health, and other areas, many more are now confident that the marketplace is an effective vehicle to affect positive change. Take investor Chris Schroeder´s account of this phenomenon: “With hundreds of thousands of cell towers providing reception to the most rural corners of the world, mobile providers have been compelled to build their own power generators. As a result, they’ve spawned entire ecosystems of entrepreneurs

who are using the excess electricity to power local towns and build community charging stations. And thanks to ‘social entrepreneurs,’ people with little voice are using mobile technology to report crime and corruption to authorities while holding the ‘powers that be’ accountable — which was impossible even a few years ago.” The potential of powerful ideas, smart thinking and hard work—combined with a passionate desire to make a difference in our world—opens new doors to addressing old and new challenges arising from poverty, disease and unemployment. As African entrepreneurship thought leader Will Mutua has put it,

Africa´s young people “do not have immediate memory of colonial times, and so are not living with that burden on their minds, they see a world open to them to explore, where they can compete with contemporaries from across the globe, and share and learn from them.” My bet is the next chapter in Africa´s history will be largely written by its new generation rather than by foreign aid organizations. More importantly, I expect Africa to lead in fresh thinking about problems and in producing worldclass innovations that will benefit us all.  www.entrepreneurship.org/en/ Blogs/Policy-Forum-Blog/2012/ October/Startup-Fever-Heats-Upin-Africa.aspx

African Stock Exchanges • Bolsa de Valores of Cape Verde - www.bvc.cv (in Portuguese) • Bond Exchange of South Africa - www.bondexchange. co.za • Botswana Stock Exchange www.bse.co.bw • Bourse Regionale des Valeurs Mobilieres - UEMOA (Abidjan, Ivory Coast) - www.brvm.org • Casablanca Stock Exchange (Morocco) - www.casablancabourse.com/bourseweb/index. aspx • Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange (Tanzania) - www. dse.co.tz • Douala Stock Exchange (Cameroon) - www.douala-stockexchange.com/index_us.php • The Egyptian Exchange - www. egx.com.eg/English/homepage. aspx • Ethiopia Commodity Exchange - www.ecx.com.et

• Ghana Stock Exchange - www.gse.com.gh • Johannesburg Stock Exchange (South Africa) - www.jse.co.za/Home. aspx • Khartoum Stock Exchange (Sudan, in Arabic) - www.kse.com. sd • Libyan Stock Market - www. lsm.ly/_layouts/membership/ login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fEnglis h%2fPages%2fdefault.aspx • Lusaka Stock Exchange (Zambia) - www.luse.co.zm • Nairobi Stock Exchange (Kenya) - www.luse.co.zm • Malawi Stock Exchange - www. mse.co.mw • Mozambique Stock Exchange (in Portuguese) - www. bolsadevalores.co.mz • Namibian Stock Exchange www.nsx.com.na • Nigerian Stock Exchange -

•

• • •

www.nse.com.ng/Pages/default. aspx Stock Exchange of Mauritius www.stockexchangeofmauritius. com Swaziland Stock Exchange www.ssx.org.sz Tunisia Stock Exchange - www. bvmt.com.tn Uganda Securities Exchange www.use.or.ug

Read the last issue of The Exchange Magazine www.nse.co.ke/media-center/ecommunique/exchange-magazine/ category/50-free-version.html)

80  November 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

African Plans for GEW Taking Shape By Mark Marich (GEW global)

lobal Entrepreneurship Week beckons…and Africa is very much on the radar. GEW president Jonathan Ortmans will visit Nairobi, Kenya, for DEMO Africa, partner meetings for LIONS@FRICA and other engagements. In the meantime, GEW hosts on the continent have been working around the clock planning activities and forming useful partnerships. Undoubtedly, these activities will go a long way to mobilize the youth of Africa in effectively unleashing their ideas for entrepreneurship. Here are highlights of a few of the innovative and educational activities planned from select GEW countries in Eastern, Southern, and Western Africa:

• GEW Angola plans to celebrate the week with a maiden National Convention of Entrepreneurs, Photo Contest on National Entrepreneurship, and a Launch of A National Business Plan Competition. The National Convention of Entrepreneurs, in particular, will bring together more than 300 entrepreneurs to discuss the most effective ways for better performance of nascent entrepreneurship in Angola. • GEW Togo is unrelenting in its efforts at making its presence

felt strongly this year. Our host there, in partnership with a number of state institutions-focused on entrepreneurship and youth development--have planned a series of events. Starting with the official opening of the campaign on November 9 2012 at the IAEC University. A handful of these partners include: Ministère de l’Artisanat (Ministry of Crafts), Chambre des Métiers (Chamber of Trade), Chambre du Commerce et d’Industrie du Togo (Office of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry), Melt National of Training, Formation and Improvement of Professionals (FNAFPP), Cooperative Savings and Credit Artisans (CECA), and the University of Lomé. Significant among the line up of events are the Awareness Campaign on Entrepreneurship (15 Oct – 15 Nov)—to be held in select schools and universities across the length and breadth of Togo--and Artisans Training on Entrepreneurship and Creativity (Nov 6-7). The aforementioned events are expected to feature GEW Togo contact person, Edoh Agbove, as one of the many speakers. As plans for GEW 2012 are being finalized in all participating countries in Africa, keep your eyes peeled for updates. Our hardworking hosts are sure not to disappoint! www.unleashingideas.org/blog/ african-plans-gew-taking-shape

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• Partnering with Coca Cola, Citibank, Safaricom Foundation and HSBC, GEW Kenya would start off with a National Students’ Entrepreneurship Competition as early as October 10, 2012. This event is an effort to pursue Kenya’s Vision 2030 through innovative enterprise. It

is scheduled to take place at the high end Intercontinental Hotel in Nairobi. Other significant events scheduled include: A Careers Talk (17 Oct) at the offices of Citibank, Slum Fest (10 – 11 Nov), and a Universities Innovation Boot Camp (13 -15 Nov) at the Twiga Campsite and Lodge in Mombassa. The Boot Camp is in partnership with the Kenya Wildlife Services, Acumen Fund, and iHUB.

Feeling Pressure, Africa’s Largest Social Network Looks to Expand By Dave Mayers

International

or a mobile social network, MXit (pronounced “mix it”) is relatively large. Even with over 55 million registered users, most people outside of South Africa have never heard of it. With increasing competition from abroad, Africa’s largest social network is trying to diversify and innovate to stay relevant on the continent, with hopes of expanding into emerging markets around the globe. South African-based MXit was founded in 2003 by Herman Heunis, originally just as a series of mobile chat rooms. People sent messages to each other for fractions of a cent, usually bypassing traditional text messages. Despite the simple concept behind MXit, it’s caught fire in South Africa, especially in poorer communities. Ten million South Africans regularly use the service, almost double the number of Facebook users here. There are between 40,000-50,000 new registrations daily.

MXit users in South Africa

A growing number of these new users are now located outside of South Africa–one in five are from abroad. In all, MXit users from 126 countries around the globe send between 500 million to 800 million messages a day. MXit has found a huge following in emerging markets. Its largest advantage over other social networks in the developing world is that users can log on with almost any mobile device. For the most part, Facebook and Twitter require the use of a smartphone or a computer to do even mundane tasks, leaving both services out of the reach of many. Last year former MXit CEO Alan Knot-Craig Jr. explained to the Mail & Guardian the advantage MXit has in many of these markets: “Eighty percent of phones sold in the world are not smartphones,” [Former MXit CEO Alan] KnottCraig said. “These are the ones we are aiming at. This is where the volumes a r e . We are essentially targeting seven out of the eight billion people in the world, many of whom do not have c r e d i t c a r d s or bank accounts,

only cellphones.” The service is already popular throughout Southern Africa and Indonesia, with plans to expand into India and South America. Still, MXit is feeling pressure from overseas competition and a negative perception of its users from advertisers. Its biggest strength is also one of its main weaknesses. Many companies don’t see MXit as home to a sought after audience. Only one out of five large South African brands uses the service to market their products. Nearly nine out of 10 local brands use Facebook to advertise to the South African market. Earlier in the month, MXit acquired R100 million ($11.5 million) from shareholders to expand its business and aim for users outside of its core group. This comes on the heels of the company striking up new partnerships to find different ways to use the application. In August, MXit and local giant Standard Bank announced that they would be working together on a mobile money service similar to Kenya’s popular M-Pesa. Another South African company, RLabs, partnered with MXit to connect local job seekers with headhunters. The service has already drawn 100,000 users.  www.smartplanet.com/blog/ global-observer/feeling-pressureafricas-largest-social-networklooks-to-expand/7817?tag=nl. e660&s_cid=e660

82  November 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

USDFA to Host the “2nd” African First Ladies Health Summit

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The “2nd” and highly anticipated summit is expected to bring over 35 African First Ladies and their country’s Health & Finance Ministers. All interested parties and stake holders on the continent of Africa and in the United States of America are encouraged to contact us for further details and

International

n a strategic partnership US Doctors for Africa with AfricanSynergy, a membership of 35 African First Ladies. is preparing to host the “2nd” African First Ladies Health Summit and... Business Round Table. April 2013 is the selected month for the summit. The first-ever, African First Ladies Health Summit was held in 2009 in Los Angeles, California where 26 African Nations were in Attendance, including 18 First Ladies of the continent. (http://www.usdfa.org/

possible partnership opportunity. Please send your inquiry via info@ africanfirstladiessummit.org. 

83  November 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

RESOURCES FOR GOING GLOBAL Dear International Executive,

f you have any questions about these initiatives, please contact your local U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist. To find the trade specialist nearest you please visit http://www.buyusa.gov/home/ us.html. Happy Exporting!

International

************************* Webinar: The Logistics of Doing Business in Canada Location: Your Computer Date/Time: November 14; 1:00pm – 2:30pm (Central) Learn More/Register: http://build. export.gov/build/groups/public/@ eg_us_mn/documents/webcontent/ eg_us_mn_053146.pdf Purpose: These webinars have been designed to help businesses strengthen the skills necessary to effectively do business in Canada. November 14th: Canada Trade Regulations & Standards The above programs will feature industry experts from government, associations, and private industry. Webinar: Export Working Capital Financing Alternatives with Ex-Im Bank Support Location: Your Computer Date/Time: November 13, 2012/1:303:00 PM ET Cost: $15.00 Register: https://emenuapps.ita.doc. gov/ePublic/newWebinarRegistration. jsp?SmartCode=3Q1K Purpose: The U.S. Commercial Service in collaboration with the Ex-Im Bank is offering a unique webinar for U.S. businesses. The Export-Import Bank of the United States assists small business exporters limited by working capital shortfalls - and their lenders - to line up the financing necessary to purchase finished products, pay

for raw materials, supplies, labor and overhead, and to issue standby letters of credit at times required as performance, advance payment, and bid bonds. This webinar, for businesses and lenders, will introduce the Ex-Im Bank programs that address export working capital needs: Working Capital Guarantee Program, Short Term Export Credit Insurance with Assignment of Proceed and Global Credit Express Program. For more information, please contact Anthony.Sargis@trade.gov. Event: 3C Trade Mission to India and Sri Lanka Location: Chennai, Cochin (India) and Colombo (Sri Lanka) Date/Time: February 3-8, 2013 Learn More/Register: http://export. gov/india/tradeevents/eg_in_052159. asp South India and Sri Lanka offer booming opportunities for U.S. companies in the architecture, infrastructure, hospitality, healthcare, environment and IT sectors. Join the Multi-Sector “3C” Trade Mission to Chennai, Cochin and Colombo to conduct one-on-one meetings with prescreened potential business partners, participate in networking events and briefings and gain first-hand knowledge from site visits. Learn how to succeed in markets that are growing at 6.5% (India) and 7.2% (Sri Lanka) and make contacts to land business deals. For more information or to apply for this trade mission, the first-ever U.S. Department of Commerce joint mission to India and Sri Lanka, please contact aileen.nandi@trade.gov. Event: 7th Annual Hot Market Watch Conference: Selling to India, Indonesia, Russia & South Korea Location: Cincinnati, OH Date/Time: April 4, 2013 (Networking Reception April 3) Learn More/Register: http://www. HotMarketWatch.com

Cost: Early Bird Rate $70 until December 14 (after: $90) RFPs: Accepting presenter proposals until November 30, 2012 The “Hot Market Watch” Conference is an annual event organized by the U.S. Commercial Service in Cincinnati. This year’s conference will focus on the “hot markets” of India, Indonesia, Russia & South Korea, and will provide market updates, tools, & resources for U.S. companies interested in selling to or expanding further into these countries & regions. There will also be an evening networking reception the night before (April 3) and is included with conference registration. Presenters will include our U.S. Department of Commerce Senior Commercial Officers from the U.S Commercial Service: David Gossack (Indonesia); Judy Reinke (India); John McCaslin (Russia); and Jim Sullivan (South Korea). In addition to plenary sessions, there will be several break-out sessions to choose from! Selected topics for each country/region include: market overviews; corporate perspectives; economic outlooks; customs, tariffs & logistics; financial considerations; legal considerations; taxation/accounting; and more. Now accepting “Requests for Proposals (RFPs)” for our selected topics – Fillable form on event website. For more information, please contact: M a r c i a . B r a n d s t a d t @ t r a d e . g o v, telephone: 513-684-2944. Join the USA Product Showcase for Just $499 Commercial News USA, the official export promotion magazine of the U.S. Department of Commerce, offers exporters an affordable way to promote their products and services in 178 countries worldwide. Now, you can advertise in the USA Product Showcase section of the magazine for just $499. Commercial News USA reaches more see Going Global on page 85

84  November 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Going Global from page 84

than a quarter-million buyers worldwide in print and 23,000 per month online. Reserve your space in the next issue today. For more information, call 1-800-581-8533 x 822, go online to http://www.thinkglobal.us, or send e-mail to export@thinkglobal.us. Follow Commercial News USA on LinkedIn and Twitter @comnewsusa

Fashion, Food and Aerospace To Be Focus of Three Live Virtual Events in the California Export Expo California companies have a unique opportunity to promote their products and services in the California Export Expo, a state-of-the-art online trade show and conference center. The California Export Expo, developed in partnership with the California Center for International Trade Development at El Camino College and SBA’s State Trade and Export Promotion program, offers California exporters the opportunity to promote their products

index.asp.

Read the Digital Edition of Commercial News USA The Sept-Oct edition of Commercial News USA, the official export promotion magazine of the U.S. Department of Commerce is now available online. Commercial News USA offers exporters an affordable way to promote their products and services in 178 countries worldwide. This issue features special sections including exporters from the states of Alabama, California and Louisiana. To read the digital edition, to http://cnusa. thinkglobal.us/title/11434

Interested in a Career in International Affairs, Foreign Relations, Trade Promotion and Commercial Diplomacy? The U.S. Commercial Service is looking for dedicated professionals to add to its complement of nearly 250 Foreign Service Officers serving in Embassies and Consulates around the globe. The U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce is pleased to announce that it will take applications for Foreign Service Officers starting August 2012 and will hold the Foreign Service Officer Assessment in Winter 2012/2013. The competitive assessment process selects the next generation of commercial diplomats to serve in the US Embassies and Consulates abroad. We are looking to recruit a diverse and well-qualified pool of candidates able to represent the U.S. Government and our country’s international trade and investment interests. To read a detailed description of the position and application process, express your interest and sign up to receive alerts, please visit http:// simplesend.com/simple/t.asp?S=221& ID=55171&NL=5996&N=69348&SI=2 676111&URL=http://www.trade.gov/cs/ employment.asp or e-mail CSCareers@ trade.gov.

The U.S. Commercial Service - Your Global Business Partner. With offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration uses its global Network and international resources to connect U.S companies with international buyers worldwide. If you have any questions about these initiatives, please contact your local U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist. To find the trade specialist nearest you please visit http://export.gov/usoffices/

Your privacy is important to us. Please note that we do not share our lists with parties outside of the U.S. Department of Commerce. You may review our privacy policy at http://www. commerce.gov/Privacy/index.htm ****************************

www.zambiausachamber.org

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Commercial News USA Offers Free Chinese Translation Commercial News USA, the official export promotion magazine of the U.S. Department of Commerce, offers exporters an affordable way to promote their products and services in 178 countries worldwide. Commercial News USA, the official export promotion magazine of the U.S. Department of Commerce, offers exporters an inexpensive way to promote their products and services in 178 countries worldwide. In addition to free Chinese translation, you can take advantage of a special offer: Buy two ads and get the third ad for free (Based on one-time rates. Does not include Showcase section). Commercial News USA reaches more than a quarter million buyers worldwide. Reserve your space in the next issue today. For more information, call 1-800581-8533 x 822, go online to http:// www.thinkglobal.us, or send e-mail to export@thinkglobal.us. Follow Commercial News USA on LinkedIn and Twitter @comnewsusa.

online for an entire year. Presenters will include industry experts from the U.S. Commercial Service. Participating companies will receive a booth and 10 minutes for a live streaming presentation to international buyers. For more information, visit http:// www.CalExportExpo.com

Returning to Africa? African Repatriation is an invaluable online resource for any African national who is thinking about returning to Africa. Our industry articles and specialist editorials provide the latest sector information. Why not find out for yourself and become a part of our growing community today? www.africanrepatriation. com

Career Opportunities in Africa Search and apply online for the latest vacancies in Africa with African Talent. We provide candidates and employers with the tools and resources needed in today’s competitive job market. For employers, we offer numerous options to feature your jobs in Africa and for candidates, reviewing the most recent job vacancies in Africa is a fast, easy process. Uploading your CV is simple and takes just a few moments. www.africantalent.com

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