Weekly News 

28 January 2008

From the keyboard of Lee Schearer,

"Nothing is more powerful than a person who has made a decision to achieve something."

So it is with each one of you who has made the decision to become an entrepreneur and to start your own business, to chart your own course, to choose not to fail but to endure, to succeed.

We, as members of the Leads Group have the privilege of witnessing such actions and the opportunity to get to know such individuals that have made the decision to achieve. Each week we have an opportunity to experience that can-do spirit that has made this group the most powerful business referral group in the triangle area.

I invite you to share the experience of success with a friend or business colleague. I hope to see you this Wednesday morning wit a smile on your face, a song on your mind and an attitude of success.

Respectfully,

Lee Schearer

 Calendar:
Weekly Meeting:
Our regularly scheduled weekly meeting will be held Wednesday morning at the Weathervane Restaurant in University Mall from 8:00 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. Meeting Dues are $5.00 per week.  Place your business card and $1.00 in the Optional Drawing. One card will be selected and that person will receive the week's kitty. For Express Check-In, please arrive with a $5.00, a $1.00, and a business card and we will check you in. We greatly appreciate your bringing correct change. We cannot change large denomination bills ($10, $20, $50, etc.) and cannot accept checks.
This Week's Speaker:
Ben Quinn of ActionCOACH is a public speaker and certified business coach who helps business owners improve time, team and money in their businesses. As a business coach Ben blends small business strategies with strong accountability in order to fast track business growth.  Ben will share why business coaches are quickly becoming less of a luxury and more of a necessity for all entrepreneurs.
Speaker's Schedule for January 2008
February 6 - Lou Umscheid, Colon Health Center
February 13 - Todd Washburn, Todd Washburn Solutions, LLC
February 20 - Paul Alexander, Home Improvement Consultants, Inc.
February 27 - Jen Rhoton, Jen Rhoton Designs, LLC
Did You Know:
2008 Annual Meeting - 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, January 29, 2008
The Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce 2008 Annual Meeting will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 29 at the Carolina Club. The Annual Meeting includes, lunch, networking, a community celebration and announcement of the 2007 Business of the Year Awards. Register today at www.carolinachamber.org/annualmeeting. Tickets are available for $45/ticket (or $550 to reserve a table for ten) through Wednesday, Jan. 16. After Jan. 16, ticket prices increase to $50/ticket (or $600 to reserve a table for ten).

Business of the Year Awards will be given to the outstanding Chamber member organizations in each of following categories: small, mid-size and large businesses of the year; and business newcomer of the year. The Duke Energy Citizenship and Service Award will also be given. Finalists for the Business of the Year Awards are listed below.

Small Business of the Year Finalists:
A Better Image Printing
Market Street Books and Maps
Great Earth Vitamins at Meadowmont

Mid-Size Business of the Year Finalists:
S.H. Basnight and Sons
The Home Team
Weaver Street Realty and Auction Company

Large Business of the Year Finalists:
The Siena Hotel
Harrington Bank
Chapel Hill Tire Car Care Center

Newcomer Business of the Year Finalists:
The Franklin Hotel
Kidzu Children's Museum
Town Planner

Regional Business After Hours - 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Join Chamber members, Staff and Board at the fifth annual Regional Business After Hours at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, January 30. The event, presented by the RBC Center and the Carolina Hurricanes, will be held at the RBC Center in Raleigh and gives you the opportunity to network with 1,000 members of Triangle area chambers of commerce. Regional Business After Hours includes hors d'oeuvres and beverages and is free for Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce members. RSVP to Meg Branson at mbranson@carolinachamber.org.
Market Street Books First Friday Business Before Hours - 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., Friday, February 1, 2008
Market Street Books at Arts & Letters Community Center will host the Chamber's February Business Before Hours morning networking event. . Market Street Books at Arts & Letters Community Center is located at 610 Market Street in Southern Village in Chapel Hill. Public parking is available in the parking lot located in the center of Southern Village. Don't forget to bring your business cards. First Friday Business Before Hours draws 50–80 members, is a monthly, morning networking opportunity sponsored/hosted by different Chamber members. and held on the first Friday of each month. For additional information contact Tracy Hager at 919.967.7075 ext. 22.
Small Business Roundtable - 11:45 a.m. to 1:00pm, Wednesday, February 6, 2008
In Part 1 – The Art of Marketing (my apologies to Sun-Tzu and his pivotal work The Art of War), we evaluated the capability of the Small Business, mapped Market terrain and analyzed competitive pressures present in that market. Part 2 – Sensual Marketing, explored market strategies and created programs to maximize their appeal to the potential target customer base. Part 3 – Where Marketing Meets the Road, looks at the distinct advantages different marketing activities provide in reaching the diverse groups within the potential customer base. These marketing activities include:
●  Promotional Products
●  Broadcast Advertising
●  Print Advertising
●  Web Presence
●  Trade Exhibits and Media Events

Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce
104 South Estes Drive
Chapel Hill 27514
from
11:45 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

Bring your lunch, dine with your colleagues, and learn about Small Business Management and Growth.

Government Relations Committee - 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., Thursday, February 7, 2008
The mission of the Government Relations Committee is to monitor and make recommendations to local government on issues affecting Chamber members and their interests. The Chamber is also active with regional, state, and national organizations and efforts, and helps leverage their resources to the benefit of our members. The Chamber's Government Relations Committee meets on the first Thursday of each month at the Chamber offices. All Chamber members are welcome to attend. Contact Adam Klein at 919.967.7075 ext. 24 for information regarding the Government Relations Committee.
Business In Education Committee - 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., Friday, February 8, 2008
The Business in Education Committee look to bring local business leaders into the classroom. Contact Rita Stanton for information regarding the Business in Education Committee.
Second Friday ArtWalk - 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Friday, February 8, 2008
The next 2nd Friday Artwalk will be taking place in Carrboro and Chapel Hill on Friday evening, from 6:00 - 9:00 pm. Many of the galleries will have live music and other art related entertainment. Admission is free. Various art galleries of Chapel Hill and Carrboro participate in the Second Friday ArtWalk, offering different attractions at each location. http://www.2ndfridayartwalk.com . You can print the 2nd Friday Artwalk map and brochure for ease in locating participating galleries. Transportation to the various venues is up to those attending. Brochures are available at any participating gallery.
Networking In Your Neighborhood
Apex Leads Group
The Apex Leads Group (www.networkinginapex.com) meets every Tuesday at Pheasant Creek Coffee in the Peakway Market Square Shopping Center, 800 West Williams Street, Suite 140, Apex 27502. Christine Rhyne Johnson of Mary Kay (919-386-0567) is the facilitator. They meet from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Cary Leads Group
The Cary Leads Group meets every Thursday at JavaBlu Espresso (www.javablu.com) in the Hemlock Plaza Shopping Center, 2974 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary, NC 27511. John Majernik of MannaTech (919-612-4170) is the facilitator. They meet from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Clayton Leads Group
The Clayton Leads Group meets every Thursday at The Coffee Mill, 105 South Lombard Street, Clayton, NC. Bobby Whitley (bwhitley@jhnetwork,com) (919-719-3804) is the facilitator. They meet from 10:30 a.m.
Hillsborough Leads Group
The Hillsborough Leads Group meets the second and fourth Thursday morning of each month. Ned Parson of American Speedy Printing (493-0985) is the facilitator. They meet at the Occoneechee Steak House from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Holly Springs Leads Group
Holly Springs Leads Group meets every Wednesday at Java Divine (www.javadivine.com) in the Bass Lake Shopping Center, 128 Bass Lake Road, Holly Springs, NC. Barb Petty of Melaleuca (919-662-5418) and Debbie Walter (919-303-1829) are the facilitators. They meet from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
North Raleigh Leads Group
The North Raleigh Leads Group (www.northraleighleads.com) meets every Monday morning at the Percolator Coffee, 5039 Falls of the Neuse Road, Raleigh 27609. David Stoner of EnviroFix (919-847-5355) and Charlie Edinger of Second Chance Solutions (919-219-5264) are the facilitators. They meet from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Pittsboro Business Women's Group [PBWG]
The Pittsboro Business Women's Group meets the first and third Tuesday morning of each month at the Chatham Mortgage, 76 Hillsboro Street, Pittsboro, NC 27312. Janet Wyatt (542-4222 or pittsborobwg@hotmail.com) is the facilitator. They meet from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.