Orangeburg is taking character on the road.

Orangeburg County Community of Character representatives traveled to Walterboro at the request of David Smalls, president of the Colleton County Chamber of Commerce, to give a presentation on starting a character program in Colleton. A group from Orangeburg was welcomed by Willie Davis, an associate of the Colleton County school system.

Don Tribble, executive director of the Orangeburg Community of Character, thanked Colleton for its interest in becoming a Community of Character. He then introduced the group from Orangeburg, whose members outlined the different committees.

Mayor Paul Miller told how the Orangeburg County Community of Character began and explained that for the first five years it was run by volunteers in the community. The program got so big that a full-time employee was brought in to oversee the operations.

Nancy Ayers, who was responsible for leading the program during the growing stages, addressed some of the programs that began during the early years.

Ayers told the group that each one involved in the program has to have a passion for the work if it is to be successful. It was through her passion for the program that she was able to bring in so many people and organizations to help the Community of Character be successful in Orangeburg County. She told the group how a board of directors was formed along with a group of co-chairs, which came from the schools and businesses in Orangeburg County. She also gave reference to the book "Porch Reflections of Orangeburg County," which was published by the Orangeburg County Community of Character.

Barbara Clark told the group about her two publications for 3- 5-year-old students. The first book published was K.I.D.S. (Kids Practicing Character in Daily Stuff). The book has been given to every 3- and 4-year-old in the school systems of Orangeburg County.

Her second book is "Jump Start," which is a colorful book written in English and Spanish. The book has been given to all the schools to be taught to 4- and 5-year-olds.

The Rev. Nate McMillan told the group how the faith community has taken interest and has given help to the program. The Faith Conference has regular programs and encourages pastors to include the character programs in their messages.

David Coleman, president of the Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce, told the group about the support the chamber gives to the Community of Character. The chamber, along with the city of Orangeburg, furnishes an office in the chamber building.

Coleman also includes the character program in all his publications. Tribble said Coleman "has been a great help, along with his staff, in seeing that the character program continues to grow in Orangeburg County."

Marion Lloyd, deputy administrator over property for Orangeburg County, gave the group an overview of programs the county administrators use to promote the character program among employees. Lloyd said he has formed a committee that promotes character for county employees. They select an employee of the month who exemplifies the character trait of each month. This employee is rewarded with a ce.jpgicate at the County Council meeting.

The Character Committee meets every month to discuss other ways to promote the character program. Some of the programs include youth marching in the Christmas parade while wearing Orangeburg County Community of Character T-shirts.

Also, employees set up a character booth at the Orangeburg Rose Festival. The character booth is manned by several employee volunteers.

After the presentations, there were many questions addressed to the group. Everyone from the Colleton County group seemed excited about the program and beginning such an effort there.

The Walterboro trip marks the second time a committee has traveled to another city to give a presentation on Community of Character. Earlier a group went to Spartanburg at the request of the school district.

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