Viji Sashikant

The Cricket Match to benefit the Family Shelter was held on Saturday, May 16^th at the Earlewood Park in Columbia. The Family Shelter is an emergency shelter for homeless families with children.

This was a unique event as most Americans have not seen cricket being played.

Cricket lovers and those curious about the game watched from the bleachers, from quad chairs and blankets spread on the grass. "I feel like I am on the village green of an English village," said one lady wearing a hat and sipping soda. Another family (the mother is British), had brought home-made scones with clotted cream and jam in keeping with the event.

It was a gorgeous day - warm but cloudy.

The weather gods appeared to be avid cricket fans and kept rain away.

It was a friendly match of 20 overs between Richland and Lexington Teams. Lexington won the toss and went in to bat making 94 runs, unbeaten by Richland, and was declared the winner of the match. Stan Kenia, representing UPS, gave away trophies to the best team, best batsman and best bowler.

Lunch, cooked by various ladies, had a distinct Indian and Pakistani flavor. Earlewood Park is Columbia's best-kept secret! Younger children played Frisbee on the Frisbee trail, soccer and cricket.

A BIG thank you to UPS for sponsoring the match, to other generous donors like Northwestern Mutual, Burkett, Burkett & Burkett CPA and AgFirst Farm Credit Bank, and to WIS TV, Magic 98.5 and Free Times for promoting the event.

Toastmasters International District 58 Spring Conference will be held on Friday April 24 through Sunday, April 26 at the Radisson Hotel, Bush River Road, Columbia, SC.

Toastmasters from all over the State will converge in Columbia at the Radisson Hotel for contests, key note speeches, educational sessions, fun and networking! Sessions include election of new office bearers for 2009-2010, a speech by Jim Key, the 2003 International Speech Winner, Table Topics Contest, and of course crowning of a new District 58 International Speech Winner!

Toastmasters International is a world leader in helping people become more competent and comfortable in front of an audience. The nonprofit organization now has nearly 235,000 members in 11,700 clubs in 92 countries, offering a proven - and enjoyable! - way to practice and hone communication and leadership skills.

Members learn by speaking and working with others in a supportive environment. Each meeting gives everyone an opportunity to practice:
• Conducting meetings.
• Giving impromptu speeches.
• Presenting prepared speeches.
• Offering constructive evaluation.

There are several Toastmasters clubs in the Columbia area.

Our Toastmasters club #6426 meets on the 1^st and 3^rd Tuesday at 8 Medical Park, Palmetto Health Richland Campus, Catawba Meeting Room. 8 Medical Park is on Medical Park Drive between Harden Street Extension and Sunset Drive, near Palmetto Richland Hospital.

For more information, contact Viji Sashikant, VP-PR @ 803-348-9922 or viji.sashikant@era.com.

Where: Carolina Coliseum, Columbia, SC

Congressman James E Clyburn is encouraging troubled homeowners to pre-register for the Save the Dream Tour.

Congressman Clyburn is partnering with NACA (Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America) to help struggling homeowners restructure their loans.

NACA will have hundreds of counselors to provide the best solutions possible.

Congressman Clyburn said: "we know there is a tremendous need for mortgage restructuring in South Carolina. We want to help as many homeowners as possible stay in their homes and their early registration will help provide adequate counselors to meet the demand."

NACA has the most effective long-term mortgage solution for at-risk homeowners because it permanently reduces the interest rate to as low as 3%, and if necessary, reduces the outstanding principal based on what the homeowner can afford.

This event is open to homeowners in financial difficulty who own only one property and occupy that home. They will need to bring their mortgage statements and their most recent pay stubs.

To register, call 1-888-302-NACA (6222).

Dance lovers! Don't miss this chance to learn Bollywood Dancing.

At COLUMBIA BALLET SCHOOL, 132 Gills Creek Parkway, Columbia SC 29209

4 week class - starting on Thursday 12 March 2009
From 6pm to 7pm

Call 803-783-5258 Or Gita Shah at 803-736-9470
www.columbiaballetschool.com

I picked up my home phone when it rang and a recorded announcement said that they had made several attempts to contact me regarding an important matter concerning my vehicle and that this would be my last chance before they closed the file. It went on to say: Press 1 to talk to an associate and Press 2 to have the file closed.

So of course, I pressed 1, and an associate straightaway asked for my vehicle model and make. When I asked her which company she was from, she hung up!

And I cannot trace the call.