Tuesday July 27, 2010 Noon to 1:30 PM @ O’Charley’s on Tunnel Road
$12

RSVP to sarah@creative-original.com for confirmation. Limited space available.

Meet other local professionals dedicated to buying local and promoting Asheville based businesses. Learn some skills for effective referral and word of mouth marketing. Expand your network. All in just 90 minutes at the BNI Visitor’s Day and Business Networking Event. Do you want to grow your business? Then get started today, join the Beaucatcher BNI Chapter for a fun, focused and productive networking lunch.

Who are the members of AAF Asheville? They’re advertising, marketing, and interactive agencies, writers, printers, photographers, graphic designers, web designers, paper companies, web developers, corporate marketing and communications pros, advertising media companies and reps, PR specialists, marketing consultants, and others in the business of communication. We hail from Asheville, Hendersonville, Brevard, Black Mountain and other WNC areas.

AAF Asheville offers club members and the community at large access to monthly CONNECT networking events hosted by local restaurants with no cover charge or RSVP required. AAFA also sponsors a variety of local educational programs on topics relevant to today’s business climate.

American Advertising Federation Asheville (AAF Asheville) is also part of the national American Advertising Federation, the oldest advertising trade association in the US. There are some 200 clubs across the country, and about 225 student chapters. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the association acts as the unifying voice for advertising, promoting, and protecting the trade.

To find out more about programs and business networking events visit the AAFA website.

The Public Relations Association of Western North Carolina, or PRAWNC, is the region’s premier professional organization for public relations, marketing, advertising and communications professionals since 1983.

PRAWNC is an organization dedicated to the professional development of Public Relations and Communications professionals. PRAWNC members meet monthly at luncheons or after-hours events in the Asheville and surrounding areas for informative presentations on current topics in the public relations profession.

For more information about PRAWNC or to learn how to become a member visit the PRAWNC website.

Meet the Geeks is an Asheville based all-volunteer organization focused on providing a common contact point for the IT industry in North Carolina. Projects range from casual socializing at bi-monthly get-togethers to the development of the Meet the Geeks website which includes the IT Directory and Forums. Our goal is to build a network of professionals across all the IT sectors – from development to recruiting, programming to capital – that promotes relationships and the cross-pollination of ideas that will foster growth in Western North Carolina.

Find out more about Meet the Geeks classes, networking events, organization initiatives and tech meetups on the Meet the Geeks website.

BNI or Business Networking International is an international organization of professionals that form chapters, build strong relationships and pass qualified referrals each week. The system is based on the principle of Givers Gain and was started by Dr. Ivan Misner. Each chapter accepts one company or individual per business category. Membership is based on annual dues.

Asheville is currently home to 2 BNI chapters. The Beaucatcher Chapter meets each Tuesday for lunch from noon to 1:30 at O’Charley’s on Tunnel Road. The Referral Source Chapter meets Wednesday mornings from 8 until 9:30 am at the UNCA Botanical Gardens. Asheville is also in the process of strating a 3rd area BNI chapter and is taking applications from companies that can not currently be placed in an existing chapter. For more information about Asheville BNI chapters visit www.bniconnection.com.

Who: Any Women Business Owner/Operator who’s interested in having a roundtable discussion on a regular basis with other women to define ideas, discuss opportunities and brainstorm solutions to everyday business issues.

What: This month’s topic “If you don’t budget for a profit, you won’t have one”

Where: Roux (Hilton Hotel) at Biltmore Park Town Square

http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/AVLBPHF-Hilton-Asheville-Biltmore-Park-North-Carolina/dining.do

When: Thursday, May 20th 7:30-9:00am
Breakfast may be purchased at the restaurant

Why: To develop business relationships that offer sound advice and ideas!

Please RSVP to Ashevilleroundtables@gmail.com to reserve your spot. Space is limited to the first 15 to register. Hope to see you there!

Whether you have your own business or are looking to find a new career, the elevator speech is an essential part of introducing ourselves to others. Have you ever asked yourself, “Is that all there is?”

Introducing… a different networking event

Peggy Collins, professional speaker, trainer and author of Help is Not a Four Letter Word, will give a presentation on “The Science of Networking and the Art of Connection.” Peggy’s website is www.helpisnotafourletterword.com. We will then connect with each other using the tools and techniques Peggy just shared with us.

This event is being offered by Jane Falter, local career club leader with WaggleForce.com, a recent initiative started by Tory Johnson, ABC’s Good Morning America Workplace Contributor. Jane has clubs for individuals who are beginning their own business and for those seeking “traditional employment.”

Our career clubs appreciate a generous donation by Carrie Wagner, photographer and author of Village Wisdom. Come and meet Carrie who will give an overview of the village experiences that inspired her amazing book. Check it out at www.villagewisdombook.com

Light refreshments will be available. This introductory event is FR*EE—feel free to invite interested friends and colleagues.

Space is limited. To RSVP and for additional information and venue directions, please send email to jane@janefalter.com

A Message from Diannah:

It’s official, Studio Thiry Three has been selected as candidate for $50k grant through the Pepsi Refresh Everything Project. You all know how Studio Thirty Three has been supporting community, using its resources and enriching plan to fund many non-profits. Now we need support!
 
Studio Thirty Three update:
In the running for a 50k grant being provided by Pepsi Corp! 
1350 candidate projects, top 10 get funded.
Like American Idol …top 10 is determined by votes.
I need all the votes I can get!  VOTE once a day through May 31st. 
The project is currently ranked 223 on my way to the top 10. 
Every day of voting makes a huge difference.
You can vote here:  http://www.refresheverything.com/creativefundingthroughart
 
I know you would love to help the non-profits and Studio 33 by Voting.  It  only takes a couple of minutes and is easy. If you would like me to remind you daily for voting, please reply by email to diannah.studio33@gmail.com with “yes remind” in the subject line.
 
You can learn more and also vote here: http://www.studio33jewelry.com/home.html

I hope you will actively participate in voting daily.  It will make a huge contribution! Thanks for your support

Pace Chiropractic & Wellness Center hosts Open House! Rescheduled again due to the snow, please make note of the date change!

When: Friday March 19th, 2010 5 – 7 PM

Where: Pace Chiropractic & Wellness Center -  438 Montford Avenue, Downtown Asheville, Take Exit 4C from Hwy 240

Don’t miss Pace Chiropractic’s Annual Open House on Friday, January 29, 2010 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Learn how chiropractic can help you live a healthier life, enjoy healthy appetizers and beverages, along with free mini-massages and wonderful door prizes. Bring a friend! For more information visit the Pace Chiropractic website. Pace Chiropractic & Wellness Center is owned by chiropractor, cyclist and all around amazing woman Dr. Robin Pace.

Social media has become one of the hottest topics these days. Learning how to best use this kind of communication for your business is key. In Asheville in the month of March there are a wide variety of opportunities for small business owners, professionals, and entrepreneurs to learn about social media and what it means for your business.

Roadmap to Online Success – 3 Day Workshop

The most complete social marketing workshop in Asheville.

Dates: Tuesday March 9th, Thursday March 11 and Tuesday March 16th from 7 – 9 pm
Location: WriteMind Institute in Downtown Asheville on Lexington Ave.

This workshop’s primary objective is to train local artists and entrepreneurs on how use online social networks to make their passion economically sustainable. Participants will experience hands-on demonstrations, learn repeatable strategies, and create or grow an online presence. This isn’t a “how to get rich” or “secrets of the internet” class. It’s about the here and now.

This class is appropriate for all skill levels, but is designed for individuals in the early stages of promoting a product or service on the internet or at a point where additional skills in the areas of online marketing, social media, and search engine optimization are necessary for online success.

For information on the curriculum visit the instructor’s website HERE.

Mountain Xpress’ Social Media Jam INTERMEDIATE workshop on Twitter and Facebook.

March 9, 2010
LOCATION TBA
6:30-8 p.m.
$15 per person; bring a laptop or web-enabled device
Facebook: search Social Media Jams
Twitter: http://twitter.com/SocialMediaJams

The March 9 Social Media Jam is second in an ongoing series full of down-to-earth intermediate training on using Facebook and Twitter. This workshop builds on the intro workshop, teaching users about third-party tools like Twitpic and TweetDeck. They’ll also talk more about hashtags, keyword searches and advanced Twitter techniques, like how to find people on Twitter you don’t yet follow, but who are trying to interact with you. You are invited to bring a laptop or web-enabled device to the workshop. Bring a notebook and take notes if you like.

Payment isn’t due until the day of the workshop. Please bring cash or make your check for $15 payable to Mountain Xpress.

FREE ASHEVILLE SOCIAL MEDIA SCHOOL Class #2

March 23, 2010 from 5:00pm-7:30pm at the Garage At Biltmore
101 Fairview Rd Asheville NC 28803
Learn Social Networking using Twitter and Facebook.

The location is not set yet, but it will be within 10 minutes of downtown Asheville. Besides G Social Media, there will be guest speakers including Trey Pennington from Greenville South Carolina and Social Village from Asheville discussing some very important social media information. They will also show you how to set up a Twitter and Facebook account and some great tips for you and your business. Drinks will be available during the meeting and a music and social time will follow the class at 7pm. RSVP on Facebook or by Email (Email is on the G Social Media website)