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:

This week Paul Alexander will continue with the saga of Cousin Bruno and Uncle Vito.

Speaker's Schedule for January 2008

February 27 - Jen Rhoton, Jen Rhoton Designs, LLC

Did You Know:

New Chapel Hill Leads Group Attendees

Nancy Eichin - USANA HEalth Sciences
Nick Giuggio - SNAP Fitness
Teresa A. Hedley - R. C. Abbott Fencing & Welding, Inc.
Shawn Slome - twig
Bob Ungaro - ATCOM Business Telecom Solutions

February Food Drive - Sponsored by the Town Planner

During the entire month of February, Town Planner will be collecting non-perishable food items to benefit the local agencies. Help make this year's food drive bigger than last year's!!!

The following is a suggested list of Food and Non-Food items being accepted by the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina.

Suggested Food Items     (Please, No Glass Containers) Peanut Butter Canned Meals (Stews, Soups, Tuna, Ravioli, etc.). Pop-top cans a plus! Canned Fruits and Vegetables. Rice Cereal

Suggested Non-Food Items     (Please, No Glass Containers) Paper products (Toilet paper, paper towels, etc.) Hygiene Items (Toothpaste, Shaving items, soap, etc.). Diapers and "Attends" Elderly Nutrition Drinks ("Ensure") Infant formula  Please - No loose jars of baby food as they will have to be discarded due to health regulations.

The following local businesses have volunteered to act as Food Drive collection stations.

Chapel Hill
     » Great Earth Vitamins @ Meadowmont, 608 Meadowmont Village Circle
     » Herndon State Farm, 1506 East Franklin Street, Suite 103
     » Market Street Books, 610 Market Street, Southern Village

Durham
     » Cartridge World @ Homestead Market, 105 West NC Highway 54, Suite 281
     » The UPS Store, 3825 South Roxboro Street, Suite 136
     » Cartridge World, 1804 North Pointe Drive

Need incentive?! When you drop off your donation, leave your name and phone number. You could win 4 tickets to your choice of a regular season Durham Bulls game.

About the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina
The Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina is a nonprofit organization that provides food for people in need in 34 counties in central and eastern North Carolina. The Food Bank serves a network of more 880 partners agencies offering soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, and programs for children and adults. In fiscal 2005-2006, the Food Bank distributed more than 31.4 million pounds of food and non-food essentials to these agencies. Sadly, hunger remains a serious problem in central and eastern North Carolina. In these counties, more than 440,000 struggle each day to provide enough food for their families. www.foodbankcenc.org.

Retail Roundtable - 7:00 a.m., Tuesday, February 19, 2008

The purpose of the Retail Roundtable is to bring Chamber members together for an exchange of ideas about a shared interests in a non-competitive environment. Members share stories of challenges, successes and day-to-day best practices to assist in the success of every member. The Retail Roundtable meets the third Tuesday of each month at the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce, 104 South Estes Drive, Chapel Hill, 27514. For additional information regarding the Retail Roundtable, contact Tracy Hager at 967 - 7075 or by email at thager@varolinachamber.org.

Bring Wellness Home - 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, February 20, 2008

BRING WELLNESS HOME
And Beat the February Flu !!

Experience The New Energy/Magnetic Technologies for Health and Prevention that are life changing- clean, living water, pure neg. ion air, whole food nutritionals, magnetic/far infrared sleep system, Nikken cookware demo and exercise products. Taste and test the water, juice and other delights to the palate!!

Keep Healthy Easily with a Wellness Home!

Wednesday, February 20th
5:30-7:30PM
104 Cricket Ground, Durham
Please call Peggy Baker 768-7179

Directions:
Take 15-501 towards Durham,
Turn right on Mt. Moriah Rd.,
Turn right on Old CH Rd,
First left on Pope Rd.,
2nd right on Cricket Ground,
3rd house on right (gray blue).
Park out front or in driveway.

Business After Hours - 5:30 p.m. to 7:30pm, Thursday, February 21, 2008

The Chamber’s premiere monthly networking event, Business After Hours, will be held at the The Arts Center from 5:30 to 7:30pm on Thursday, February 21st. Business After Hours is sponsored by The Arts Center located at 300 East Main Street in Carrboro. Business After Hours is a monthly networking opportunity. Light refreshments are provided by the hosting organization and the event is open to all Chamber members. Don’t forget your business cards.

Women's Roundtable - 8:00 a.m., Tuesday, February 26, 2008

The women's roundtable is a chance for employees of chamber members to discuss common challenges. The meeting agenda includes introductions, success stories, member presentations, book reports and hot topics. The Women's Roundtable meets the fourth Tuesday of each month at the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce, 104 South Estes Drive, Chapel Hill, 27514. For additional information regarding the Retail Roundtable, contact Jan Bolick by email at jan@businessclassins.com.

Young Professionals Network - 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Thursday, February 28th, 2008

Join fellow young professionals for a workshop on financial planning and first-time home buyers. Diane McIntee, of Optima Asset Management, LLC, and Wendy Tanson, of RE/MAX Winning Edge, will lead the session. YPN is presented by Smith Breeden Associates and Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC.

Any young professional, under the age of 39, who works at a Chamber member organization is welcome to attend the event free of charge. The Young Professionals Network is a great way to build your peer network, sharpen your business IQ through skill-building workshops, learn about the local business community and make lifelong connections for professional success.

Please RSVP to Meg Branson at mbranson@carolinachamber.org or 967-7075 ext. 31.

Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina - Coming in April 2008

The Chapel Hill Leads Group will sponsor a Spring Food Drive, benefiting the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina sometime in April. Prepare today by accumulating your donations of  Food and Non-Food items. Try to set aside one hour to staff the collection table. If you cannot donate the time, a food / non-food item will gladly be accepted. Spread the word to your clients during this week. Let them know about the food drive. Perhaps you might collect items at your business and bring them to University Mall.

A big Thank You goes out to David Stoner of EnviroFix (www.killodors.com or (919) 847-5355) for initiating and overseeing this event. This is a great opportunity for the Leads Group in help those less fortunate. The Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce " Business Matters" will carry this announcement to all of the Chamber's members. The following is a suggested list of Food and Non-Food items being accepted by the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina.

Suggested Food Items     (Please, No Glass Containers) Peanut Butter Canned Meals (Stews, Soups, Tuna, Ravioli, etc.). Pop-top cans a plus! Canned Fruits and Vegetables. Rice Cereal

Suggested Non-Food Items     (Please, No Glass Containers) Paper products (Toilet paper, paper towels, etc.) Hygiene Items (Toothpaste, Shaving items, soap, etc.). Diapers and "Attends" Elderly Nutrition Drinks ("Ensure") Infant formula  Please - No loose jars of baby food as they will have to be discarded due to health regulations.

About the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina
The Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina is a nonprofit organization that provides food for people in need in 34 counties in central and eastern North Carolina. The Food Bank serves a network of more 880 partners agencies offering soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, and programs for children and adults. In fiscal 2005-2006, the Food Bank distributed more than 31.4 million pounds of food and non-food essentials to these agencies. Sadly, hunger remains a serious problem in central and eastern North Carolina. In these counties, more than 440,000 struggle each day to provide enough food for their families. www.foodbankcenc.org.

Networking In Your Neighborhood

Apex Leads Group (New Location)

The Apex Leads Group (www.networkinginapex.com) meets every Tuesday at Carrabba's Italian Grill, 1201 Haddon Hall Drive, 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 Wednesday 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.

Western Wake Leads Group

Western Wake Leads Group meets Thursdays at the BNC in Cary beginning at 8:00AM. The BNC is located at 649 Walnut St. The cost will be $2 and will cover coffee and tea. For further information click here: http://smallbiz.meetup.com/483/calendar/7054450/ or call the BNC at 342-5251.