PLANNER - April 2006

APRIL

3 PORTSMOUTH. FIFTH ANNUAL TOURISM SUMMIT. "Positioning Your Business in a Growth Climate" and "Getting to Success" are just two of the topics planned for this year's 5th annual Tourism Summit set for 1 to 5:30 p.m., The Music Hall in Portsmouth. The event is underwritten by Public Service of NH. The "Tourism Town Hall" will feature a host of local tourism-related business celebrities who'll be sharing their expertise as members of two panel discussions, and American Bus Association President PETER PANTUSO who will be talking about opportunities within the group tour market. Some of the local notables expected at this year's event include Jay McSharry, owner of several popular local restaurants including RADICI and JUMPIN JAYS; and Water Country's RICHARD SAMUELS. Other speakers include ALICE DESOUSA, director of the New Hampshire Department of Travel and Tourism; SEAN O'KANE, former commissioner of the NH Department of Resources and Economic Development; and KAREN IDA PETERSON, one of the country's top tourism marketing experts. The event will also feature a sampling of music, courtesy of the newly formed SEACOAST MUSIC COLLABORATIVE, which will also be unveiling a new marketing brochure aimed at making the Seacoast's many music venues a destination in themselves. The day will conclude with a reception from 4:15 to 5:30 p.m. Registration is $25 for members if prepaid before the close of business March 24 and $30 after that date. Nonmember registration is $35 if prepaid before COB March 24 and $40 after that date. To register, sign up online at www.portsmouthchamber.org/tourismsummit2006.cfm or contact MAUREEN ARSENALT at 610-5513 or info@portsmouthchamber.org.

5 PORTSMOUTH. WOMENBIZ ROUNDTABLE, "Rolling with the Punches: Managing Transition." JIM KIMBERLY of Sapphire Consulting will teach you the three stages of transition. You will leave the session prepared to take action steps that you can apply to your day-to-day world. The Roundtable is held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Bank of America, 848 Islington Street.

6 PEASE. MEDICAL DEVICE REGULATIONS AND APPROVALS SEMINAR, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the New Hampshire Community Technical College, Pease International Tradeport. Topics involve FDA knowledge that applies to local business. Cost: $1,550 per person. Contact: 443-543-5530.

6 PORTSMOUTH. The GREATER PORTSMOUTH CHAMBER invites the local high-tech community to its monthly EBREW set for 5-7 p.m., at The Press Room at 77 Daniel St. The event is open to the employees and guests of all local high-tech businesses and the local business community. The event features the opportunity to network with colleagues, pub food and refreshments. To find out more, please contact GINNY GRIFFITH, the chamber's business development manager, at 610-5514 or ggriffith@portsmouthchamber.org. For more on the monthly eBrew and Roundtable activities, surf over to the official web site at www.ecoast.org.

7-9 MANCHESTER. 2006 MADE IN NH EXPO, NH National Guard Armory 1059 Canal St., Manchester. Hours: FRI April 7, 1 p.m.-8 p.m. SAT April 8, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. SUN April 9, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tickets: $8 for adults ($7 for seniors with ID) $3 for children 12 and under Tickets are available at the door.

11 WBC NEXT STEPS BUSINESS SERIES: The Nuts and Bolts. Every two weeks from April - June, GAIL ZONA, president of Next Step Business Strategies, will meet with business owners to will have learned how to plan for and monitor business growth, who their target market is and how to reach them, how to increase sales, how to streamline operations and how to fund business growth. Contact Shannon at 430.2892 x 2 for more information or to register.

20 HAMPTON BEACH. Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce TOAST TO THE COAST. 6:30 - 9 p.m., Ashworth by the Sea on Hampton Beach. Come and celebrate a variety of fine wines and noble beers. Savor hors d'oeuvres from some of the Seacoast's most exceptional restaurants.

22 HAMPTON FALLS. New Generation Shelter is gearing up for its 14TH ANNUAL AUCTION to raise money for its programs for homeless pregnant women and mothers of young children. The event will be held at Faro Gardens on Route 1, Hampton Falls. Auctioneer PAUL MCINNIS will take bids for a list of great gifts donated by area businesses and individuals. The shelter's development team is aiming to beat last year's auction of $28,000. Businesses and individuals interested in contributing are asked to contact New Generation at 603-436-4989.

22 PORTSMOUTH. SATURDAY AT WOMENBIZ. WBC Business Counselor, GINA SAVINELLI, will be holding open and free counseling in the conference room of Ocean National Bank, 1555 Lafayette Road, Portsmouth, from 9 a.m.-11:45 a.m. No appointment necessary.

24 PORTSMOUTH. The 100 Club, Portsmouth. Join fellow alumni at the WHITTEMORE MBA CLUB MEETING, 6 p.m. Contact Phil Suter at wmbac@-comcast.net for information.

MAY

1 GREENLAND. The Women's Business Center will be holding its SECOND ANNUAL WOMENBIZ AUCTION at the Portsmouth Country Club in Greenland. There will be a live and silent auction. While this year's auction items are still being determined, last year's auction included a lunch sail aboard the ODYSSEY, a 30-foot classic wooden sloop, and a fully produced 30-second commercial with an advertising schedule on WMUR. Advanced tickets $40 for 2 before March 31, and individual advanced sales are $25 (Members) and $30 (non-Members). Pre-registration is greatly appreciated. Tickets at the door will be $30 (Members) and $35 (non-members). If you wish to pre-register without using PayPal, please call the WBC office at 603.430.2892.

3 PORTSMOUTH. WOMENBIZ ROUNDTABLE, "Human Resource Assessments that Maximize Your Human Capital." Have you ever hired someone who has not lived up to your expectations? Would you like to learn how to prevent that from happening? DAWN SIME, Ph.D. talks about team and leadership building, productivity and performance coaching, and personnel development. The Roundtable is held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Bank of America, 848 Islington Street.

4 - June 4 - PEASE. United Way of the Greater Seacoast: CERTIFICATE IN VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT, Thursdays, May 4 to June 15, 8:30 a.m. to noon. NH Community Technical College, Pease, 7-week course endorsed nationally by the Points of Light Foundation/Volunteer Center National Network, and in NH by the NH Association of Volunteer Administrators. TARGET AUDIENCE: Executive Directors, Volunteer Coordinators, and any staff who work with volunteers. The full course is geared to individuals with one to three years of volunteer management experience and/or those new to the profesprofession. More experienced coordinators could find value in each of the sessions, but may want to view the curriculum prior to registering. For more information, contact course instructor Robin Albert at ralbert@uwgs.org or (603)436-5554 x36.

12 MANCHESTER. CORPORATE CULTURE COUNTS WORKSHOP. Vested for Growth in partnership with the BIA presents the daylong Corporate Culture Counts Workshop at St. Anselm College in Manchester. CEOs, managers and frontline workers from a variety of businesses will participate together in small teams to look at how a positive work environment boosts a company's growth and profitability. This will include morning and afternoon sessions that allow participants to share personal experiences and influences on productivity, and identify ways to build positive culture. Lunch is provided and a reception for networking is scheduled at the end of the day. The workshop is sponsored by CIRTRONICS and SCHLEUNIGER. To find out more, contact John Hamilton by email at jhamilton@vestedforgrowth.com or by phone at (603) 856-0729. Or check it on the web at vestedforgrowth.com/tools/index.html.

24 EXETER. THE RINKS AT EXETER will be hosting this month's EXETER AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS AFTER HOURS from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The Rinks at Exeter is located at 40 Industrial Drive in Exeter. The chamber encourages members and their guests to attend. Admission is free. Participants will have an opportunity to network and make some new contacts. Everyone is urged to bring a supply of business cards to exchange. For further information on Business After Hours or the Exeter Area Chamber of Commerce, please call 772-2411.