This year’s fundraising event was held last weekend, August 24^th and 25^th. The Sponsors of the event included Fireside Natural Gas, Prince, T2Tennis, La Parrilla Mexican Restaurant, Chandon Winery, Benchmark Physical Therapy, Soho Office and the community of Governors Towne Club. Donations raised from a baked goods auction fondly titled, Diva Desserts, a Bra Decorating Contest and a Silent Auction comprised of donations from over 100 local businesses, medical practices, sports professionals, and artists generated over $25,000 in proceeds, exceeding last year’s effort by more than $2500.

In addition to the tennis tournament, this year’s event included a Ladies Luncheon attended by 65+ women who were treated to a moving speech by Deannie Eaton, a Pink Ribbon Story Foundation Ambassador and breast cancer survivor. Eaton shared glimpses of her personal journey along with her advise about the importance of vigilant self-monitoring.

The Chairperson for the 2012 event was Gwen Buller, a homeowner in Governors Towne Club who lost her own mom to breast cancer in 2011.  Gwen was recognized earlier this year as Citizen of the Year for West Cobb by the Chamber of Commerce in honor of her tireless work and ongoing commitment to find a cure for breast cancer, which strikes one in eight women in America every year.

Donations are still being accepted for this year’s campaign on GTCgivesback.com or by calling Pat Curry, Director of Tennis and Aquatics at 678-402-5356 or via email to GTCtennis@governorstowneclub.com

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Joan Barnes, Marketing Specifics, Inc.

Telephone: 800-717-8999

Direct Line: 678-960-0211

Email: joanb@marketingspecifics.com

Welcome in “The Outdoor Room” to your product mix and in most markets, your community or building company will suddenly break out of the pack!

Need a little inspiration? Check out the interesting outdoor rooms and spaces on Southern Living’s website. There are lots of ideas to extract, emulate and/or combine to make it your own.

Click this link to the entire section on their site dedicated to Outdoor Spaces.

Click this link to see some of my very favorites.

After all of the postings were read at the end of the contest, 4RentOnFripp.com’s co-owner David Patzke knew one story stood out as the contest’s clear winner.  Michelle Armstrong of Lowell, North Carolina, posted a touching story of the loss of her daughter the previous year from a terrible automobile accident and what she had accomplished to help others in toughing the law against habitual offenders.

Michelle has turned her grief into advocacy to help prevent other families from the tragedy she has endured. Michelle’s daughter, Laura, was only 17 when she was killed as the vehicle she was riding in was struck head on by a drunk driver who had three previous convictions of DWI on his record. On June 23, 2011, the North Carolina Legislation passed a new law referred to as “Laura’s Law.”  Created to add a greater degree of punishment than was previously available, this law seeks to increase jail time and fines, as well as post-release requirements for those with certain, severe factors weighing against them.

“It was a true honor to recognize Michelle’s tremendous efforts and accomplishment in the passing of Laura’s Law,” said David Patzke, of 4RentOnFripp.com.  “I am so grateful for people like Michelle who in her moments of sorrow was able to make such a positive change for others. She is a true winner.” Michelle, her husband and some close friends recently returned from their Fripp Island vacation where they enjoyed the fun and festivity of the island.

More information about the contest winner’s accomplishments to harden the law against drunk drivers, can be seen by clicking on this video link:

http://images.news14.com:80/media/2011/7/25/video/FORTENBERRY_ANNIV._PKG.mp4

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT:

Marketing Specifics, Inc.
Kennesaw, GA 30144
Toll Free: 800-717-8999
www.marketingspecifics.com

MEDIA CONTACT:
Joan Barnes
Direct: 678-920-0211
E: joanb@marketingspecifics.com

About 4RentOnFripp.com: Founded in 2001 by co-owner David Patzke of Acworth, Georgia, 4RentOnFripp.com is a luxury vacation home rental business offering high-end rentals for the discriminating vacationer on Fripp Island in South Carolina.

Ask any Texan if the above image is true and if they’ve lived in Texas for more than a decade, they will agree. It’s not an ego thing, the state really is giant and has had one of the best business climates for many years. Atlas Van Lines’ annual study of corporate relocations in 2010 logged more than 7,200 relocations inbound to Texas, the sixth highest, claiming 58 percent of all inbound relocations in the entire nation. With Texas Governor Rick Perry vying for the Republican nomination for President, most have heard that 40 percent of all jobs created since 2009 were created in Texas.

What makes Texas the state to beat next year? According to survey respondents:

* “a pro-business, entrepreneurial, right-to-work state”

* “no state income tax, ease of pulling permits, available work force”

* “the government makes it easy to do business”

* “Texas is progressive, fewer regulations”

* “willingness to work with business”

* “the tax climate, regulatory environment, incentive programs and work-force development efforts”

* “the state fights OSHA, EPA and other negative, useless regulations; no state income tax”

* “work-force availability, existing facilities and good economics for labor and facilities”

* “cooperation and flexibility of state and local officials; proactive in growing the economy.”

It’s Not All About Texas

Although Texas took the overall top spot, other states actually ranked higher in other categories. North Carolina took the top spot for adding new plants in the 2011 calendar year and Louisiana brought the most jobs per capita as well as took the top spot for competitiveness. Texas has a big target on its back for repeatedly garnering top spots in various lists, but Louisiana is in a rebuilding phase and we suspect it may climb to a higher spot in 2012.

Methodology of Site Selection’s study:

Each of these categories is weighted 50 percent; the data side is comprised of five sub-categories: the state’s ranking in the Governor’s Cup tally of total new and expanded facilities the previous calendar year according to Site Selection’s New Plant Database, published each March; total projects per million population; the state’s placement in our annual Competitiveness Ranking, published each May; qualified New Plant projects year to date; and a new criterion this year — the states’ 2011 business tax climate as measured by the Tax Foundation.

Marti Trewe. (11.5.2011). News – Real Estate, Business, Technology & Media for Entrepreneurs. In AGBeat. Retrieved 11.10.2011, from http://agbeat.com/.

As we reported in August, one in three American adults claim that they give advice about purchases on social networks, and the number of people whose purchasing decisions are influenced by social networks is on the rise.

NM Incite used Nielsen data to break down this information even further by categorizing digital media into three formats – social, local and mobile, all three of which intertwine and are equally important. The infographics below show how digital consumers are engaging each of the three formats and developing preferences as they go and which hotspots have emerged in each category:

SOCIAL: 64% of parents use social media to learn about brands. They’re also 23% more likely than non-parents to use social media as a creative outlet.

MOBILE: 13-17 year olds are the most likely to upgrade from the free to the paid version of an app.

LOCAL: The San Francisco DMA has the highest concentration of smartphone owners in the US

Marti Trewe. (11.8.2011). Tech & Social Media. In Social Media. Retrieved 11.8.2011, from agbeat.com.

For the third quarter, there is a mixture of good news and bad news. The level of single family homeowners underwater in the third quarter is up to 28.6 percent from 26.8 percent in the past quarter while home values continue to “tread water” as real estate media company Zillow phrased it, dropping only 0.2 percent in the quarter.

Quarterly declines were reported in 67 percent of metro areas tracked by zillow, with 26 of 157 markets posting an increase in values.

Over the last year, housing values have dropped 4.4 percent with 86 percent of markets showing value drops and only 11 markets improving in value. Zillow Chief Economist Dr. Stan Humphries says home prices will hit the bottom in 2012, pointing to unemployment and negative equity as the main plagues to housing.

25 Largest Metro Areas

“The peak summer home buying season is over for the year, with fewer home sales to show for it than one would expect based solely on the underlying fundamentals of price and financing costs. Home affordability is at historic lows courtesy of a large reset in home prices and continued low mortgage rates,” said Zillow Chief Economist Dr. Stan Humphries. “We’re clearly dealing with a crisis of confidence that is keeping potential buyers on the sidelines, fueled largely by high unemployment and more general economic uncertainty.” “That said, given the steady drumbeat of recent negative economic news, home values held up better than would be expected. We have been forecasting a housing bottom in 2012, at the earliest, and third quarter data further confirms this forecast.”

Tara Steele. (11.8.2011). Real Estate. In Industry News. Retrieved 11.8.2011, from agbeat.com.

The Breeden Co. of Virginia Beach is breaking ground on Cambria at Cornerstone, an apartment community within the Cornerstone master-planned community near the Virginia Beach Town Center.

According to a company press release, the 276 luxury apartments will have top-of-the-line features, and there will be a pool, outdoor grills, a fitness center and a clubhouse. The first units are scheduled to be delivered by May 2012.

Breeden Construction is handling construction and development, Breeden Management, leasing and property management. The architect is Housing Studio of Charlotte, N.C., and the civil engineers are the Timmons Group of Richmond. Marketing Specifics of Kennesaw, Ga., is handling interior design and marketing.

2011 GTC Gives Back^® Play for Pink Tennis Tournament
Friday and Saturday, August 12 – 13, 2011

ACWORTH, GEORGIA – July 28, 2011 – The Governors Towne Club Tennis Center will be the setting on Friday and Saturday, August 12^th – 13^th for the community’s 3rd Annual Breast Cancer Fundraiser – 2011 GTC Gives Back^® Play for Pink Tennis Tournament – to benefit Susan G. Komen for The Cure^® – Greater Atlanta and GTC Gives Back^® Community Outreach.

This year’s fundraiser is a tennis event that will take place over two days and will encompass both mixed & regular doubles, Junior play, contests for the Fastest Serve and Most Games Won sponsored by T2Tennis, Prince, Fireside Natural Gas, Mellow Mushroom, La Parrilla Mexican Restaurants, and Governors Towne Club. Lunch and dinner will be provided both days along with prizes and a take-home Goodie Bag. Over 120 athletes of all ages are expected to play and compete in various contests to raise funds to fight breast cancer in the Greater Atlanta area.

Friday’s fun will include a Pool-side Fashion Show by Matilda Jane Clothing, little flirt clothing, Trends by Stiles, and Serious Tennis while players enjoy a fabulous luncheon sponsored by T2Tennis and Kroger. A Silent Auction will be held both days, featuring spectacular items such as a trip to US Open for Two, a signed tennis ball by World Ranked Rafael Nadal, a memento from USA Davis Cup team member, Sam Querrey and many more exciting donations. All day Saturday, area merchants and designers will be showcasing their wares in booths at the event for courtside shopping between games.

The event is open to the public. Players can participate in the 2011 GTC Gives Back^® Play for Pink Tennis Tournament for a donation of $40 for one day or play both days

for only $60. Juniors may participate for $20 per day.  Spectators can watch and enjoy the food & festivities for only $20 per day. Tickets may be purchased online at http://www.GTCgivesback.com or call the Governors Towne Club Tennis Center at 678-402-5356. The Registration deadline is August 5^th.

GTC Gives Back^® has raised over $80,000 in donations to help fight breast cancer in its previous two events. To learn more about the Acworth new home golf community of Governors Towne Club, visit the website at http://www.governorstowneclub.com.

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Joan Barnes
Marketing Specifics, Inc.
Telephone: 800-717-8999     Direct Line: 678-960-0211
Email: joanb@marketingspecifics.com

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Schedule of Events