Volume 9 Issue 6 December 2006

he Appalachian RegionalCommission recently re-leased a document enti-tled Energizing Appala-

chia: A Regional Blueprint for Eco-nomic and Energy Development. Thisdocument was developed as a result of aFebruary 2006 meeting among gover-nors of the 13 Appalachian states andthe ARC federal co-chair, which calledon the creation of a strategic frameworkfor the promotion of energy-related jobopportunities in the region.

In developing the Blueprint,ARC took three steps: It commissioneda series of research studies; convenedthree public roundtables where morethan 100 experts, educators, govern-ment officials and entrepreneurs dis-cussed energy opportunities, challengesand strategies; and created the ARC En-ergy Advisory Council to identify en-ergy strategies.

Using the input from thesesteps, ARC identified a goal and threestrategic objectives to help the regiondevelop its energy potential.

Energy Goal – Develop theAppalachian region’s energy potentialto increase the supply of locally pro-duced, clean and affordable energy, andto create and retain jobs.

Strategic Objective 1: Pro-mote energy efficiency in Appalachia toenhance the region’s economic com-petitiveness.

Strategic Objective 2: In-crease the use of renewable energy re-sources, especially biomass, in Appala-chia to produce alternative transporta-tion fuels, electricity, and heat.

Strategic Objective 3: Sup-port the development of conventionalenergy resources, especially advancedclean coal, in Appalachia to produce al-ternative transportation fuels, electric-ity, and heat.

Five action areas were identi-fied as key to helping the region achievethe energy goal and realize the job crea-tion potential of an energy-based eco-nomic development agenda. These in-clude: Public-Sector Investments, Re-search and Analysis, Workforce Devel-opment, Public Awareness and Out-reach, and Supportive Policies.

For more information, or todownload a copy of Energizing Appa-lachia: A Regional Blueprint for Eco-nomic and Energy Development, go toARC’s website at www.arc.gov.

ARC Releases “Energy Blueprint”

he Appalachian regionfared extremely well inthe awards ceremony atthe annual South Carolina

Association of Regional Councils Con-ference held in Myrtle Beach in mid-November. Representative Dan Coo-per, from Piedmont, earned the Legisla-

tor of the Year Award in appreciation ofhis tremendous support for regionalismand councils of governments throughout

(SCAR continued on page 5)

Appalachian RegionSweeps Awards at AnnualSCARC Conference

ACOG Board Member Gloria Butler is pre-sented with the Volunteer of the Year Awardby SCARC President Dora Martin.

ACOG executive director Steve Pelissier andboard members are presented with the Projectof the Year.

Did You Know?

The Stumphouse Tunnel,located in Oconee County, was theresult of an attempt to connectCharleston with the Midwest. Beforethe 1860s, the Blue Ridge Railroadstarted the tunnel as a rail link; how-ever, work came to a halt when thecontractor went bankrupt.

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ill my plan change nextyear? Very likely. Planscan change their monthlypremiums, annual deducti-

bles, copayments and formularies (listof covered drugs) in each new calendaryear. They may switch drugs from oneprice level ("tier") to another andchange their "preferred" pharmacies.Also, your insurer may offer more planchoices for 2007, which may be differ-ent from the plan you have now.

How will I know if my planchanges? Your plan should have in-formed you by Oct. 31 of importantchanges for 2007 in a letter called theAnnual Notice of Change. If you have-n't received one, call your plan and askfor it.

How do I compare plans?The most reliable way is to use theMedicare Prescription Drug Plan Findertool at www.medicare.gov, or to call theMedicare help line and ask a customerrepresentative to compare plans for you.Either way, you'll need to make a list ofyour drugs, their dosages and how oftenyou take them. Feeding this informationinto the plan finder or giving it to ahelp-line representative will tell youhow much you can expect to spend outof pocket next year under each plan. Fora quick way of navigating the planfinder to determine the least expensiveplan that covers all or most of yourdrugs, visit AARP Bulletin’s “QuickRoute Through Medicare Drug PlanFinder.”

Other information that may beimportant to your decision—for exam-ple, convenient pharmacies, 90-day sup-plies by mail order, prior authorizationsor other restrictions for your drugs andwhether the plan is available nation-ally—is also available through the planfinder or the help line.

Can I avoid the "doughnuthole" next year? More plans will offercoverage in the coverage gap—thedoughnut hole—in 2007. Most coveronly generic drugs in the gap, but atleast one plan in every state covers bothgenerics and some brand names. (The

Humana Complete plan, the largest pro-vider of full gap coverage in 2006, willcover only generics in the gap in 2007.)

Premiums for plans offeringcoverage in the gap are generally higherthan average, ranging nationwide from$25 to $88 a month for generics onlyand from $38 to $110 a month for thosethat include brand names. But if youtake many drugs, or very costly ones,such a plan may still prove less expen-sive overall. You can test this option bycomparing plans as described above.

I could have signed up thisyear, but didn't. Can I still get Medi-care drug coverage in 2007? Yes, aslong as you sign up with a Part D planfrom Nov. 15 through Dec. 31. Yourcoverage will begin Jan. 1.

I turn 65 in January. Can Iget drug coverage for 2007? You cansign up for Part D when you sign up forPart B (which covers doctor visits andoutpatient services). Your special en-rollment period lasts seven months(three months before the month youturn 65 and three months after it). Cov-erage will begin on the first day of themonth after you enroll.

My employer's "creditable"drug coverage will terminate March31. When should I sign up for PartD? You should sign up during March,because your Medicare coverage willbegin April 1. If you go more than 63days without coverage after your em-ployer plan ends, you will pay a latepenalty.

I have good retiree drug cov-erage, but it costs too much. Can I en-roll in Part D? Yes, as long as you'reeligible for Medicare. But, since leaving

this plan would be your own decision,you can sign up for Part D only duringannual enrollment, from Nov. 15 toDec. 31. Check carefully with yourbenefits administrator to find outwhether joining Part D would affectyour pension and medical coverage foryou and/or your spouse under your re-tiree plan.

For additional assistance, con-tact the Appalachia AAA at (864) 242-9733.

Reprinted from AARP Bulle-tin, November 2006.

Common Questions RE: Medicare Part D Open Enrollment

Chap Hurst to ServeAs Pickens CountyAdministrator

Pickens County Council re-cently appointed J. Chappell “Chap”Hurst, Jr. as the new Pickens CountyAdministrator. Mr. Hurst comes toPickens with extensive experience ingovernment and small business. Heserved 13 years as the Administratorfor Lancaster County and another 13years in Chesterfield County.

Mr. Hurst is an alumnus ofClemson University and has notableexperience and background in eco-nomic development and planning, two“hot-button” issues in the Upstate.Mr. Hurst is scheduled to speak atACOG’s December 8th monthly boardmeeting.

Page 3 VIEWPOINT

isiting your loved one inthe nursing home may bethe best gift of all.It's the holiday season

again, and time to start thinking aboutplanning holiday activities and gifts forour family and friends. If you have afamily member or friend in a nursinghome, you may be wondering what youcan do to make sure they feel the holi-day spirit, too.

Staff members at nursinghomes and eldercare services suggestplanning regular visits throughout theseason that include activities centeredon the holidays.

Help your loved one decoratehis or her room with holiday decora-tions. Small, artificial Christmas treesdecorated with holiday ornaments lookgreat on dressers and can really make aroom look and feel festive. You mayalso want to consider flannel holidaybedding such as sheets, pillow cases,and comforters. Not only will this keepyour family member warm, but it is an-other way to add holiday decorations.Be creative! The more festive the bet-ter; and, don't forget their favorite holi-day music!

It may be difficult for yourloved one to send holiday cards to fam-ily and friends. You can help write per-sonal notes in the cards, address enve-lopes, and make sure the cards get to thepost office. You can also help a familymember read and display the holidaycards they receive.

Consider inviting your lovedone on a holiday shopping trip. Theycan experience all the fun of holidayshopping with your extra help. Con-sider planning your shopping trip duringa time when there will be fewer crowdsso it will be easier to move through thestores.

Holiday robes, slippers, sweat-ers, jewelry and socks are already out inthe stores. Consider bringing yourloved one holiday apparel and accesso-ries that he or she can wear throughoutthe season.

You may also be wondering

what would be an appropriate gift forsomeone in a nursing home. Just as youwould with others on your list, considergifts that match his or her hobbies, in-terests and needs. Remember the nurs-ing home is their home, so you willwant to consider activities or items thathelp them feel comfortable and secure.

Some suggestions for holidaygifts for a loved one in a nursing homeinclude: framed pictures, prayers orquotes, books, pretty quilts, blankets orpillows that make a room more homelike and comfortable. Nonpoisonousplants also make good gifts. Theybrighten up a room and give your lovedone something to care for. Also, a cal-endar with special dates and upcomingevents, such as grandchildren's birth-days, children's anniversaries andgraduations, along with a selection ofcards and stamps will help your lovedone celebrate special occasions.

Even seemingly simple gifts,such as talcum powder, lotion, atoothbrush or toothpaste, can signifi-cantly contribute to a resident's comfortand well being. Because the texture ofskin changes with age, you will want tocheck with nursing home staff to makesure such gifts are appropriate. Giftcertificates to the nursing home's beautysalon for a haircut or manicure are espe-cially appreciated. To make it morespecial, you can give yourself a gift andjoin your loved one at the salon.

Sometimes nursing home resi-dents are not able to attend special fam-ily events such as graduation, anniver-sary or birthday parties. Videotape theevent so your family member can seethe festivities and feel as though he orshe is an important part of the family.Watch it together so you can relive thefestivities, too. Books and music arealso popular. If your loved one has vi-sion problems, make a date to visitweekly and read to him or her.

Gifts that help your loved onefeel warm and cozy during the wintermonths can be especially welcome. Car-digan sweaters, sweat suits, hand knit-ted booties or slippers and lap blankets

are just a few gift ideas. And, don't for-get to pick up cheerful sweaters, sweat-shirts and socks depicting fun holidayscenes.

Above all, remember thatsometimes the simplest gifts are themost appreciated. If your loved one ismobile, take him or her for an outing toa favorite restaurant, plan a visit to achurch or synagogue for services, or in-vite their friends to the nursing homefor a special lunch; and, of course, visit-ing a family member in a nursing homeis often the best gift.

Information gathered from Savan-nah Morning News © 2005.

From your local Ombudsmen:Nancy Hawkins, Jamie Guay, Jessica Ar-none, Rhonda Monroe and Sandy Dunagan;phone 864-242-9733.

Ombudsman Corner

Home for theHolidays?

One of the hardest things todeal with on a day-to-day basis is theloneliness and isolation related tobeing the care-giver of a lovedone. Whethercaring for asenior or achild, the re-strictions andisolation canbecome over-whelming attimes. When the caregiver realizeshe or she is wearing down emotion-ally or physically, it is time to call forhelp.

Respite is what the profes-sionals call it. You may call it “justwatching,” or “sitting with” or what-ever you think appropriate, but it isrelief of some kind in the day-to-dayduties of caregiving. One of the mainpurposes of the Family CaregiverSupport Program is to assist in pro-viding short-term or bridge assistancein the area of respite care. In this

(Caregiving continued on page 4)

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Mike Forrester, a retiringmember of the Economic DevelopmentInformation System (EDIS) Partnership,has beenselected asthe newDirector ofEconomicDevelop-ment forSpartan-burg Com-munityCollege.He willserve as aliaison between existing and potentialindustries and the college. “Forrester’spast work in economic development,particularly over the last five years, iswell suited for his new position”, saidCarter Smith, CEO of the SpartanburgCounty Economic Development Corpo-ration.

Mike retired from PiedmontNatural Gas this year, after serving 27years in various capacities, from corro-sion specialist to vice-president ofSouth Carolina operations. He hasserved as a steadfast member of theEDIS Partnership, a public-private part-nership that is supported in part by in-vestments from Piedmont Natural Gasand other utility companies across theregion.

This unprecedented alliancebetween county government, busi-nesses, utilities, and the Council ofGovernments addresses the ongoingtechnical, financial, and political chal-lenges of providing a standardized setof research tools to all the economic de-velopers in the region. As a result ofguidance from Mike and the other lead-ers in the Partnership, these standard-ized research tools are now fully inte-grated into the economic developmentand planning activities of the regionthrough the InfoMentum suite of ser-vices.

COG staff looks forward to

working with Mike in his new capacityto bridge the gap between economic de-velopment interests in the academicrealm and economic development ac-tivities across the region.

The newly legislated Educa-tion and Economic Development Actcalls for Career Development Facilita-tors in all middle and high schools inSouth Carolina during the 2005-2006school year. This has caused an in-crease in the popularity of the trainingcourse, and thus a reduction in the num-ber of openings. WorkLink hosted thetraining course locally and, because ofthe need, will continue to sponsor thistraining on a regular basis.

All contractor staff are encour-aged to complete this course for theirCDF designation. Out of nineteen indi-viduals who started the course in Au-gust, twelve graduated on October 20.Prior to this class, four case managerscompleted the course through Tri-County Tech’s Partnership for Aca-demic and Career Excellence program.Another class is scheduled to beginFebruary 2, 2007. Anyone interested inthis course should contact Julia Hoyle at864-646-1827.

Spartanburg Community College HiresDirector of Economic Development

consumer-directed program, manyoptions are available from which tochoose. You may see someone com-ing into your home as the best option,where another caregiver might think itmore suitable to have their loved onein a professional facility of some sort.Options from in-home care and insti-tutional care, to adult day centers canprovide much needed breaks at a veryhectic time of the year such as wehave during this upcoming holidayseason. Even the luxury of havingtime to attend civic or religious activi-ties may not be taken for granted, ifyou are a caregiver for either a child ora senior adult.

If you are the caregiver, orknow of a caregiver in need of somerespite care, please contact us at theFamily Caregiver Support Programlocated at the Appalachian Council ofGovernments, Greenville, South Caro-lina. Our phone numbers are (864)242-9733 and toll free (800) 925-4077. Family Caregiver AdvocatesDebra Brown and Sam Wiley will behappy to speak with you and discusswhat possibilities exist.

(Caregiving continued from page 3)

A Career Development Facili-tator (CDF) is an occupational title thatdesignates individuals working in avariety of career development settings.The counseling profession has madegreat progress in defining professionalcounseling and the career counselingspecialty through such efforts as careercounseling competencies and code ofethics and state licensing and registryrequirements. However, several profes-sional groups recognized that manyindividuals who are currently providingcareer assistance are not professionalcounselors. The CDF credential wasdeveloped to provide standards, train-ing specifications, and credentialing forthese career providers. There are 12areas of competency taught in the CDFcurriculum. The competencies andcertification process are endorsed bythe National Career Development Asso-ciation, National Employment Counsel-ing Association, and the National Asso-ciation of Workforce Development Pro-fessionals.

Career DevelopmentFacilitator Training

Pictured: seated-Laura Bickley, Julia Hoyle,Beverly Smith; standing-Rhonda Wengerd,Windy Graham, Jennifer Bagwell, Dwain Loyd,Renee Gahan, Andrea Anderson, and ButchMerritt.

Page 5 VIEWPOINT

he South Carolina De-partment of Transporta-tion (SCDOT), in partner-ship with Councils of

Governments (COGs), recently held akickoff meeting at the AppalachianCouncil of Governments (ACOG) to an-nounce the development of a RegionalTransit Coordination Plan for the NonMetropolitan Planning Organization ar-eas of the region. The aim of the plan is

to enhance coordination with multiplefederal, state and local programs thatfund human services transportation ac-tivities. It is also part of new federal re-quirements identified in the recent Safe,Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Trans-portation Equity Act: A Legacy for Us-ers (SAFETEA-LU), that makes devel-opment of the plan a pre-requisite forreceiving federal funding. At a mini-mum, projects funded under the FederalTransit Administration (FTA) formulaprograms for Sections 5310, 5316 and5317 must be derived from a coordi-nated plan. The coordinated plans willincorporate activities offered underother programs sponsored by federal,state and local agencies.

SCDOT will be working withCOGs across South Carolina to developthese regional coordination plans overthe next year and will involve interestedstakeholders throughout the process.The kickoff meeting was a forum for lo-cal agencies and stakeholders to discusstheir relevant needs as service provid-ers. Development and content of coor-dinated plans will be specific to theneeds and issues of the region. The co-ordinated plans will be developed to ad-

dress intra- and inter-regional needs andissues. Future meetings will be sched-uled for stakeholder input at differentstages of plan development. For moreinformation, contact Phillip Lemmon atthe Council of Governments at 864-241-4645.

be submitted under the E-grants elec-tronic application system. Please visitFEMA’s website for more informationon the program and how to register forE-grants atwww.fema.gov/government/grant/pdm/fy2007.shtm. If you have any questionsor need assistance, contact AmandaLoach or Thomas Queen with SCEMDat 803-737-8500 oraloach@emd.state.sc.us ortqueen@emd.state.sc.us.

New Transit Coordination Planning Underway

Pre-DisasterMitigation FundAvailable

As the need for federal disas-ter assistance has continued to in-crease, the Federal Emergency Man-agement Agency (FEMA) and theState of South Carolina have placedrenewed emphasis on reducing disas-ter losses through the implementationof hazard mitigation programs. A pri-mary funding source for mitigationactivities is the Pre-Disaster Mitiga-tion Program (PDM). Limited federalfunding is now available through thePDM program to aid eligible appli-cants with implementation of mitiga-tion measures to reduce the impacts ofnatural hazards on the local commu-nity. The funding is distributed on anationally competitive basis and issubject to a 75% Federal/25% Non-Federal cost share. The 25% Non-Federal share must be paid by the ap-plicant.

Eligible applicants for thePDM program are state and local gov-ernments, including county and mu-nicipal governments, school districts,and special purpose districts. Eligibleactivities under the PDM for FY 2007include mitigation projects and plan-ning. All mitigation projects must passa benefit-cost analysis (BCA) to beeligible for funding.

Deadline for submission ofapplications to the State of SouthCarolina Emergency ManagementDivision is January 10, 2007,11:59 p.m. EST. The application must

the year. Long time ACOG BoardMember Gloria Butler was presentedwith the Volunteer of the Year Awardfor her committed service to the re-gion. In addition, the AppalachianCouncil of Governments took homethe Project of the Year Award for itsInfoMap – Online Mapping for Re-gional Economic Development initia-tive. A hearty congratulations andthanks are offered to RepresentativeCooper and Ms. Butler, as well as tothe EDIS Board and ACOG Informa-tion Services staff for their hard workon the InfoMap program.

(SCARC continued from page 1)

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGEPAIDGREENVILLE, SCPERMIT NO. 1604

VIEWPOINT

Appalachian Council of GovernmentsP. O. Box 6668Greenville, South Carolina 29606

Address Service Requested