Residents who move to Carolina Meadows often have substantial investments to manage. Some continue to be involved in family businesses, and everyone has to deal with the federal and state tax collectors come April. To assist these residents and many others with paperwork to manage, Carolina Meadows has established a Resident Business Center where residents, their guests and staff can go to use a well-equipped office.

Resident Jim Butcher with his late wife, Claire, has supervised the Business Center from its inception. Before the center was created, he recalled, a copying machine was located near the mail station in Club Center. It was available for the use of residents, but when a glitch such as a paper jam occurred, the duty person at the reception desk was usually called upon for help. The receptionists were always obliging, but helping with the copier took them away from their desks and the service they were there to provide.

As Butcher recalls, Rob Boening, then CM's top administrator, conceived the idea of developing a separate service center for the use of residents. Boeing became ill and died in 2005, and his successor, CM President Kevin McLeod, continued formulating a plan for the Business Center, to be located in a lightly-used room at Club Center.

Equipment has been added as needs have become apparent. Today the office offers a copying machine of advanced design, a telephone for sending and receiving FAX messages and several computers.

While many residents are familiar with office technology, others need help. Butcher has recruited a team of resident volunteers who stand watches in the Business Center.

The resident volunteers are trained in the operation of the equipment and can often deal with minor glitches such as paper jams, and can help users in copying materials ranging from books and magazines to business and identification cards. Residents making copies for Carolina Meadows activities pay nothing; those making copies for personal use are requested to pay 10 cents a page, or five cents if they provide their own paper. Payments on the honor system are dropped in a cash box; the cash is then used by the management to purchase paper and other supplies.

A large and powerful shredder can dispose of quantities of sensitive documents, especially in the season for tax preparation. Resident Georgia Hosking spoke for many as she said, "I use the shredder quite often as I am one who doesn't want to put my name and address in the trash." She frequently copies articles from newspapers and magazines, and adds, "I work with the Methodist church. We have a worship service once a month. I type out the notices for people and then run them off here."

Three computers are on hand for general use. Two provide access to the Internet, and users can access their own Internet accounts. This is especially useful for visitors, who may want to check on the e-mail arriving at their home computers in a distant town.

A third computer, not connected to the Internet, serves primarily for instruction and training of new users. Several instruction books are on hand to assist those who need help. An outlet for personal laptop computers is also available.

The center provides equipment and supplies found in most offices, but not in all homes, such as a postal scale to help calculate postage for outgoing mail. Supplies such as paper punches, paper clips and staplers also are available.

To assist residents who stop by when no volunteer is on duty, clear instructions in large type are posted near the machines. These are largely the work of Claire Butcher.

The Business Center is not only useful to residents, but is of interest to those considering a move to Carolina Meadows.

Stacy Adkins, CM's marketing director, makes a point of stopping in the Resident Business Center while escorting prospective residents around the campus.

"They are impressed," Adkins said.

Bob Parker is a resident of Carolina Meadows