Briefcase

Palmer pharmacist honored

for outstanding community service

The Alaska Pharmacists honored Romie Deschamps Feb. 19 as the recipient of the 2011 Bowl of Hygeia Award for outstanding community service.

Sponsored by the American Pharmacists Association Foundation and the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations, the award is considered one of the profession’s most prestigious honors. One pharmacist in each state receives the award annually.

Deschamps has practiced pharmacy in Alaska for 34 years and has sponsored exchange students through his involvement with Rotary Club. He is an artist and a past member of the Smokejumpers.

Let the Web work for you

Learn how your business can benefit from joining the buyalaska.com website, an extensive online database of Alaska businesses. Whether your business has never been online or you have a successful website, BuyAlaska.com can fuel your Internet traffic and boost sales.

The event is scheduled for 10 to 11:30 a.m., April 7, at 201 N. Lucille St. Suite 2A. It is free, but pre-registration is required. To register or for more information, call 373-7232.

GCI waives charges for calls to Japan

General Communication Inc. residential customers with land lines or cell phones can call Japan for free in order to contact loved ones who may have been affected by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

GCI customers may call Japan for free through April 10. GCI customers who called Japan between March 11 and March 14 will receive a credit for the call.

Free long distance to Japan is available to residential customers and post-paid wireless customer calling from the GCI network. Customers with questions can contact GCI customer representatives at (907) 265-5400 or (800) 800-4800.

For more information, visit GCI.com.

Wells Fargo to donate to aid Japan

Wells Fargo & Co. and its team members will contribute as much as $1.5 million to victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The company will immediately contribute $500,000 to the American Red Cross to support the Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Fund. In addition, Wells Fargo will match contributions from its team members dollar-for-dollar, up to $500,000, for a potential total of $1.5 million.

Wells Fargo customers can donate to the Red Cross at 105 Wells Fargo ATMs in 25 communities in Alaska and at more than 9,000 Wells Fargo ATMs across the country. Customers will not be charged any fees for using the service and 100 percent of the donation is sent to the American Red Cross. Donations may also be made via the American Red Cross website at redcross.org.

Also, Visa has announced it will waive interchange fees on Visa cards through the end of April when they are used to make donations to qualifying nonprofit organizations that are engaged in relief efforts in Japan.

And Wells Fargo also is waiving its ATM and foreign currency fees on transactions conducted by its debit and consumer credit cardholders in Japan through June 15.

United Way board seeks new blood

United Way of Mat-Su is seeking board directors. The organization has two seats open and is looking for people interested in helping their community. Board meetings are held at 5:30 p.m., the third Tuesday of the month. If you or someone you know is interested in being considered, please send a bio and interest statement to Stephanie at sallen@unitedwaymatsu.org.

Shred it up at Wells Fargo

The Better Business Bureau’s free document shredding is coming to the Mat-Su. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., April 16 at Wells Fargo Bank, 1701 E. Parks Highway, people can drive up and drop off up to three bags or boxes of unwanted documents per person. Items will be securely shredded free on-the-spot by Shred Alaska. No cardboard or three-ring binders. For more information, visit alaska.bbb.org/secure-your-id.

Business plan writing workshop offered

Small Business Development Center will offer a free workshop on the basics of writing a business plan from 9 to 11 a.m., March 30 at 201 N Lucille St, 2A (2nd Floor/KeyBank) in Wasilla. Cost is $35 and pre-payment and registration is required. Register by calling 373-7232 or online at aksbdc.ecenterdirect.com/. For more information, contact Lisa Shield at ljshield@uaa.alaska.edu or visit aksbdc.org.

Free business startup workshop offered

Small Business Development Center will offer a free workshop on how to start a business from 2 to 4 p.m., March 31 at 201 N Lucille St, 2A (2nd Floor/KeyBank) in Wasilla. To attend, pre-register by calling 373-7232 on register online at aksbdc.ecenterdirect.com/. For more information, contact Lisa Shield at ljshield@uaa.alaska.edu or visit aksbdc.org.

Class offered on financial recordkeeping

Small Business Development Center will offer a workshop on practical ways to keep sound financial records from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., April 5 at 201 N Lucille St, 2A (2nd Floor/KeyBank) in Wasilla. The workshop is presented by Rose Spinelli and costs $50. Pre-payment and registration is required. To register, visit aksbdc.ecenterdirect.com or call 373-7232. For more information, contact Lisa Shield at ljshield@uaa.alaska.edu or visit aksbdc.org.

Free web marketing class

Sandi Sturm of Alaskarama Web Marketing will teach the class at the Small Business Development Center on marketing in today’s electronic world from 9 to 11 a.m., April 6 at 201 N Lucille St, 2A (2nd Floor/KeyBank) in Wasilla. Pre-registration is required. To register, visit aksbdc.ecenterdirect.com, or call 373-7232. For more information, contact Lisa Shield at ljshield@uaa.alaska.edu or visit aksbdc.org.