OK, maybe they won't be huddling or concocting. But some of the biggest projects on the local tourism industry's wish list lie in the hands of the newly elected - or re-elected - politicians, and the chamber's Legislative Policy Council will meet potentially hours after they are confirmed winners.

"That was not planned that way," council Chairman Franklin Daniels said with a chuckle. "But, hey, no time like the present. We gotta get moving on it. Figure out who's in the office and how we can work with them."

One faction staunchly advocates more domestic oil and gas drilling, augmented with new nuclear power plants, as the nation's energy salvation. Just as staunchly, the opposition depicts more drilling as the pointless feeding of an unsustainable addiction; it urges a greater policy emphasis on such sustainable energy sources as solar power, wind power and biofuels. Each faction advances seemingly strong arguments for its position, grounded in dueling projections and statistics.

Someone needs to sort all this out for local folks. Into that confusion breach has stepped the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce with its first ever Alternative Energy Forum. The event, which will include energy-related exhibits, happens Oct. 8 at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, between 8:30 a.m. and noon.

The putt-putt challenge comes after ABC commentator Cokie Roberts criticized Obama this past weekend for vacationing in "foreign, exotic" Hawaii instead of someplace like Myrtle Beach.

After hearing that, the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce reached out publicly to Obama and invited him back to the Grand Strand. Then, it upped the ante by inviting both presumptive nominees to take part in the annual mini-golf championship held at the conveniently named Hawaiian Rumble in North Myrtle Beach.

A thorough review of the NRDC beach report may lead critics to conclude this report is unreliable and decidedly unfavorable. We can rightly object to numerous inaccuracies, omissions and mischaracterizations therein. NRDC underreports the frequency of testing throughout our state; miscategorizes a number of South Carolina beaches; and, in some instances, miscalculates the number of testing stations within various sites. These mistakes are by no means trivial; they directly affect the accuracy of the NRDC's analysis. The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control documented numerous inaccuracies, but to no avail. By knowingly publishing misinformation, this environmental watchdog only weakens its credibility, no matter how well-meaning its purpose may be.

Defenders of water quality can choose to refute the report's findings and cite this NRDC assessment: "Improved test results combined with fewer closings and advisories translated into a better beach season last year for swimmers and coastal communities." Specifically, we can note that our state had zero beach closings and achieved an 84 percent reduction in the number of advisories issued (2007 vs. 2006). Purists demanding zero-tolerance of ocean water pollution may even take comfort in this fact: Two-thirds of our beach advisories were precautionary in nature, mostly based upon the amount of rainfall, not poor test results or problematic conditions. Though we can identify these accomplishments as successes, the NRDC seemingly ignores the possibility that stormwater improvements and stringent testing might be helping.

There will be celebrities - "Hannah Montana" star Cody Linley, American Idol winner Ruben Studdard, and more - a performance from Third Eye Blind, a national personal watercraft championship and a kids play area the size of a football field.

"This will be a banner year for Sun Fun," said Holly McMillan, who organizes the festival for the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. "It's just going to be awesome."

The chamber is using Project Lifesaver, a program that keeps track of people via wristbands that emit radio signals. It will provide five wristbands free to visitors.

A Project Lifesaver team can search for a missing person using a mobile tracking system. Last year, Horry County Public Safety became the first in the state to be certified through the program. Thirty people use bracelets in the county.

Online surveys of people who ordered the Stay & Play vacation planners produced by the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce show that people who ordered the guides are more likely than last year to be new to the area - good news for businesses trying to lure customers.

Myrtle Beach relies on a core of repeat vacationers, but it has been throwing millions of dollars into advertising and promotion to attract new visitors.