Donehue Agency

Table Talk: All’s OK

elizabethdonehue — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:13:04 +0000

Disoriented at the dinner table? Visualize the letters b and d to locate your bread plate and drinking glass- not your neighbor’s.

With each hand, touch the tip of your index finger to the tip of your thumb while extending your remaining fingers- creating the “OK” hand sign.

Your left hand creates a lowercase b – designating your bread plate.
Your right hand creates a lowercase d – designating your drinking glass.

You’re welcome.

Sushi Etiquette

elizabethdonehue — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:55:36 +0000

So, how many people have you offended by not adhering to proper Sushi Etiquette?

via clusterflock.org

Support Senator Shane Martin

elizabethdonehue — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:39:27 +0000

Money Talks: Why Donors Give

elizabethdonehue — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 16:07:41 +0000

Countless studies have been conducted to determine why people donate money. Consider the following…a few of these drives:

Philosophical affinity. People send money because they support organizations like yours.
Ego. People send money because you recognize them for their gifts.
Blessing/Duty/Patriotic. As Americans, we celebrate the notion of charity. People send money to make a difference, to achieve a worthy aim, to feel good about their gifts.
Junkie. People send money because you give them a chance to associate with a worthy or famous person.
Proximity to decision-makers. People send money because you enable them to offer their opinions. The act of sending a gift constitutes a way to speak directly to those on the front lines of an issue or cause.
In the Loop. People send money because you provide them with access to inside information and perhaps even educate them further.
Tax Benefit. Without question, the charitable tax deduction is a perk. This does not however apply to political donations.

Mainly…

People send money because you ask them to. Research confirms this as the most basic fact of donor motivation, people want to be asked!

Sure To Score With This Tailgate

elizabethdonehue — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 01:36:43 +0000

As football season comes to a close here are my thoughts… a simple checklist of tailgate essentials. It’s never too early to start preparing for next season!

Tent – shield from the sun and rain.
Chairs- be sure to bring extra for guests.
Card table with cloth in school colors.
Arrangment for the table -pom pons of your school colors work nicely.
Paper plates, napkins, cups, and plastic ware in school colors -paper makes for easy cleanup.
Cooler of drinks and a bottle of champagne for the table- looks very chic.
Lots of food- tailgating is all about sharing.
Trash bags and wipes for quick cleanup.

Surprise! Wesley’s 30

elizabethdonehue — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:10:07 +0000

We had a surprise party for Wesley’s birthday on Saturday. Here are the highlights:

Some friends of ours live in a beautiful Charleston neighborhood with an open air oyster pavilion and wood burning fireplace so we did it there.

Invitations are key – they set the tone for your event and allow your guests to know what to expect! Here’s a copy of ours:

On the Menu: lowcountry boil, cole slaw, and sweet potato biscuits.

Spiked sweet tea is a perfect signature drink for any Southern affair.

Coozies for all the guests.

Red velvet cupcakes (Wesley’s favorite) for dessert.

Hello, My Name is: Forgetting A Name

elizabethdonehue — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:06:26 +0000

I am a big fan of nametags (see Tag You’re It: Nametag Etiquette). Sans nametags, you are left to recall names on your own. If you’re forgetful by nature, you’ve surely goofed an introduction before, or perhaps forgotten someone’s name after having met them. You never forget a face… but the name that goes with it may be another story altogether.

Well, you’re in luck because Emily Post has some suggestions for the next time you’re in this predicament.

“Don’t panic. Embarrassing as it may be to stumble over a name, don’t fail to attempt an introduction. If the person is attentive, he may see your hesitation and cover for you by introducing himself. If the person is wearing a nametag, you might take a quick peek. Otherwise, you should apologize quickly and say that you’ve suddenly forgotten the person’s name. Do the same if you aren’t sure of someone’s last name. (“I’m sorry James, but I don’t know your last name.”) The person should fill in the blank for you. There’s no need to continue apologizing for your lapse.”

I like her advice, but have some ideas on alternatives to admitting your memory lapse.

When introducing two people, start with the name of the person you do know. “I want you to meet Sandra Smith, she’s a colleague…” Sandra will then ideally introduce herself, eliciting a response from the person whose name you have forgotten.

If the situation is one-on-one, state your name and hope the person returns the favor. Another option is to leave the name out altogether and use a detail you do remember about them, such as “how are things going with your new job?”

These fixes seem simple enough… but on the spot, you might not be that quick on your feet. So say, how do you save face when you’ve forgotten a name?

The State: Barrett Leads Money Race

elizabethdonehue — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:23:50 +0000

Fundraising totals for the financial quarter are in, and U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett still holds the fundraising lead over other Republican and Democratic contenders running for governor.

Excluding the money candidates have transferred from other accounts, as well as loans and gifts they have given to their campaigns, Barrett, a Westminster businessman, has raised $1.3 million to date.

While Attorney General Henry McMaster has about $1 million on hand, about 73 percent of it was transferred from his attorney general re-election account.

“Congressman Barrett’s conservative vision for job creation in South Carolina has struck a chord with voters and donors throughout the state,” said B.J. Boling, Barrett’s spokesman.

Once carryover money, loans and gifts are discounted, Democratic front-runner Sen. Vincent Sheheen of Kershaw County comes in second place. He has raised more than $730,000 -about half of Barrett’s total.

And surprisingly, state Rep. Nikki Haley, who posted low fundraising for the financial quarter that just ended, comes in third place with about $359,000 raised since she announced her candidacy.

STRATEGIES THAT WORK

The way to the governor’s office is paved with money.

And the candidates are using various strategies to fill their war chests to pay for campaign events, travel, staff and, in 2010, take their message to the air waves.

- Candidates, including Haley and state Superintendent of Education Jim Rex, are using a straight-up strategy of asking supporters to write checks in lieu of loaning or giving their campaigns personal money. Haley, a Republican, brought in about $359,000 in the quarter that just ended while Rex, a Democrat, raised nearly $82,000.

- Some, like Attorney General Henry McMaster, are transferring money from other re-election accounts into their gubernatorial accounts. Nearly 73 percent, or about $800,000 of McMaster’s $1.1 million, has come from his attorney general account. When the transfers are excluded, McMaster’s team has raised nearly $303,000. Barrett transferred $328,0000 of his nearly $1.7 million total from his congressional account.

“We are extremely proud so many of Attorney General McMaster’s past contributors have given us permission to transfer their donations to his campaign for governor,” said Rob Godfrey, McMaster’s spokesman, noting that each donor has given written permission to transfer his or her donation from McMaster’s 2006 re-election campaign to his gubernatorial campaign account.

- Others, like state Sen. Larry Grooms of Berkeley County and Charleston attorney Mullins McLeod, are relying on large personal loans and gifts. Grooms, a Republican, took out a $260,000 loan to fund his campaign and raised about $74,000. McLeod, a Democrat, gave his campaign $100,000 and raised $280,000.

It doesn’t matter how candidates get the money, said Bruce Haynes, a Virginia-based political consultant who has worked on South Carolina campaigns.

It only matters that they have it to spend, he said.

“The strategy that works best is the one that gets you the most money in the bank the soonest,” Haynes said. “Most voters don’t look deep to understand the process of why you’re leading in fundraising. They just understand you have more money than anyone else and that superficially indicates that you have more support than anyone else.”

But political fundraiser Elizabeth Donahue disagrees. She said the amount a candidate raises, excluding loans and transfers, is the real test of his or her campaign’s strength and an indicator of how the candidate will fare in a race.

“It actually shows the level of support they’re getting from voters,” said Donahue, owner of the Columbia-based Donahue Agency. “The person who is really raising money, not taking out loans and doing transfers, is the front-runner.”

Gina Smith

(803) 771-8658

4th Annual Irmo Community Prayer Breakfast

elizabethdonehue — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 12:22:04 +0000

Representative Chip Huggins and Representative Nathan Ballentine

Invite you to join your friends and neighbors at the fourth annual

Irmo Community Prayer Breakfast

Thursday, September 24, 2009 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.

St. Mary’s Episcopal Church

170 St. Andrews Road

Columbia, SC 29210

Eddie Walker

Principal, Irmo High School

Rev. J. Blaney Pridgen, III, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church

Dr. Bill Barton, Bill Barton Ministries

Rev. Dr. James S. Cooper, Pine Grove A.M.E. Church

Rev. Dr. Franklin Fant, Seven Oaks Presbyterian Church

Jim Osteen, First Baptist Irmo

Music by:

Henry Flowers IV and Cherie Murray

Presentation of Colors by:

Irmo High School, JRAFROTC

FREE to the public. A light breakfast is available beginning at 7:30 a.m.

Program starts at 8:00 a.m.

Please RSVP by September 21, 2009 to Elizabeth Donehue (843) 864-9414 or elizabeth@donehueagency.com.

Community Cookout

elizabethdonehue — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 01:36:50 +0000