AUBURN - The Women's Philanthropy Board, in Auburn University's College of Human Sciences, will host "Caregiving 101," a seminar and luncheon on Friday, Nov. 13, from 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. at The Renaissance Montgomery Hotel and Spa at the Convention Center. Topics will include the legal, financial and managed care aspects of caregiving.

Irene Collins, the commissioner of the Alabama Department of Senior Services, will serve as keynote speaker. Other featured speakers will include Leah Dubberly of the Dubberly Group/Merrill Lynch; Cheri Rudgers, a licensed certified social worker; and Debby Spain of J.D. Capell and Howard.

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AUBURN - A giant banner displayed on The Hotel at Auburn University is piquing the city's interest by asking one basic question: What is Piccolo?

Located inside The Hotel's restaurant, Ariccia Trattoria and Bar, Piccolo is Auburn's newest gathering place. Hans Van Der Reijden, managing director of The Hotel at Auburn University, said the typical hotel lounge of earlier days has been transformed into an intimate jazz spot.

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AUBURN - Auburn University has identified programs that $25.9 million in stimulus funds from the federal government will support once released by Gov. Bob Riley.

The majority of the funds will support student learning, safety and other enhancements, as well as teaching. The intent is to enhance the experience of the entire student body, which for fiscal year 2010 has reached 24,602.

"It would have taken a 26 percent tuition increase to cover the gap created by the dramatic decrease in state appropriations for fiscal year 2010," said Don Large, Auburn University executive vice president. "The promise of stimulus funding allowed us to mitigate that by using the majority of funds to improve student services."

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AUBURN - Auburn University has launched MATRIX for the Future: Premier Agriscience Education Academy in response to a growing shortage of secondary and postsecondary agricultural educators and declining enrollment numbers in agriculture at Auburn and at land-grant colleges nationwide.

The two-year project, funded by a $100,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture grant, was developed by Don Mulvaney, an Auburn University College of Agriculture professor, animal scientist and leadership coordinator for the College of Agriculture; and Brian Parr, an assistant professor in the College of Education and agriscience education specialist. Out of a shared concern for the future of agriculture in the United States, Mulvaney and Parr launched the program to prepare outstanding high school students enrolled in agricultural classes and involved in agricultural organizations to be the next generation of leaders in agricultural production, education, science and agribusiness.

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AUBURN - "The House Detectives” will discuss their ongoing quest for photographs of Auburn's past as the Discover Auburn series continues Thursday, Oct. 29, at 3 p.m. in the Special Collections and Archives Department of the Ralph Brown Draughon Library. A reception will follow.

The trio that has dubbed themselves "The House Detectives” includes Ralph Draughon Jr., Delos Hughes and Ann Pearson. They are Auburn natives collecting photographs of houses, schools and other structures in town and on campus that no longer exist.

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AUBURN - Auburn University's Executive MBA program in the College of Business is ranked 84th in the 2009 Financial Times global ranking of the world's best Executive MBA programs.

Auburn is ranked 40th among programs in the United States and is one of only two Southeastern Conference schools ranked this year. In the nine years Financial Times has ranked Executive MBA programs, this is the first year Auburn has been eligible for ranking. The University of Tennessee's program is ranked 93rd overall and 46th among programs in the United States.

The ranking is based on surveys completed by Executive MBA alumni and from information provided by the business school. The surveys evaluated 16 criteria in three areas including alumni career progression, diversity and international reach and research productivity of the faculty.

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AUBURN - Auburn University will host the Alabama Gubernatorial Forum 2010 on Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 7 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom.

All gubernatorial candidates who declared candidacy prior to Sept. 25 were invited to participate in the forum. Participating candidates are Robert Bentley, Bradley Byrne, Artur Davis, Kay Ivey, Tim James, Bill Johnson and Ron Sparks. The moderator for the event is Jeremy Campbell of ABC 33/40 in Birmingham.

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AUBURN - Auburn University's Center for Governmental Services has unveiled its analysis of newly released U.S. Census Bureau data showing that during the current recession Alabama's tax revenues have declined slightly less than the 14.2 percent average falloff for the nine Southeastern states.

The most recent data show that Alabama's total tax revenues in the second quarter of 2009, collected from all sources, declined by 13 percent versus the same quarter in 2008. Alabama's falloff was greater than that of Arkansas at minus 5 percent; Mississippi at minus 9 percent; Tennessee at minus 11 percent; and Florida at minus 12 percent. Alabama's decline in tax revenue was exceeded by those of Georgia at minus 17 percent; Louisiana at minus 18 percent; South Carolina at minus 21 percent; and North Carolina at minus 22 percent.

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AUBURN - The Chinese Ambassador to the United States, Wenzhong Zhou, will visit Auburn University Oct. 20-21 at the invitation of Auburn President Jay Gogue to promote international education partnerships.

Ambassador Zhou will give a public presentation, "China's Development and China-U.S. Relations," at 2:30 p.m. Oct. 21 in the Auburn University Student Center. His visit also will include campus tours as well as gatherings hosted by President and Mrs. Gogue, the Chinese Professional Association and the Chinese Student Organization.

Governor Bob Riley will host the ambassador at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 21 in Montgomery.

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The Committee of 19, Auburn University's leadership team for the War on Hunger, has designated Oct. 12-16 as Hunger Awareness Week at Auburn University. This annual event highlights the plight of the one billion chronically hungry people throughout the developing world and draws attention to the needs of individuals and families in the local community.

Events begin on Monday, Oct. 12, at 5 p.m. with the Student Government Association's 16th annual Beat Bama Food Drive. For more information, go to http://www.beatbamafooddrive.com.

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