Weekly News 

22 March 2010

From the keyboard of Lee Schearer,

The Self-employed entrepreneur

In this months Self Employed subscription from the NASE, National Association of Self-Employed, there is an article regarding some interesting statistics. "Roughly 80 percent of U.S. businesses are family owned, and 2.7 million are operated equally by male-female teams according to the latest data available from the U.S. Census Bureau"

That being said, you are in good company as a member of the Chapel Hill Leads Group. You are also in a good position to have available to you access to the resources, experience and talents from a variety of like-minded folks who can help you grow your business and save you money, especially during these difficult economic times. I encourage you to attend and become acquainted with our members so that you can have the benefit of aligning yourself with successful entrepreneur's. Working together we will not only overcome the difficulties of this current economic struggle, we will have the opportunity to learn and become wiser and more efficient in how to succeed in our respective business interests.

I invite you to join us this Wednesday morning and encourage you to invite your fellow business owner to the premier business referral leads group in the region. Remember, all you need is a smile on your face a song of joy in your heart and a sense of gratitude for the opportunities available in this great and wonderful country, America.

Respectfully,

Lee Schearer

Calendar:
Weekly Meeting:
Our regularly scheduled weekly meeting will be held Wednesday morning at Extraordinary Ventures, Inc., 200 South Elliott Road, Chapel Hill 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 will be an open forum for networking.
Speaker's Schedule for March/April 2010
31 March - Artie Sprinczeles, Coffee News
7 April - David Stoner, EnviroFix
14 April - Dan Prendergast, The Entrepreneur's Source
21 April - Margaret Heath, Christos Arts
28 April - Open

Keep It Simple - Attend the Leads Group meeting at least 50% of the time for 3 consecutive months. Ask Lou Umscheid to place you on the speakers schedule. Continue to attend at least 50% of the Leads Group meetings until your presentation. Continue to attend the Leads Group meeting to strengthen your new referral network.
Did You Know:
Women's Roundtable - 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Laura Poole of Archer Coaching, will present “Professionally Speaking: 6 Keys to Better Presentations."

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. Women's Roundtable membership is open to active Chapel Hill Chamber of Commerce members. For additional information regarding the Women's Roundtable, contact Marcia Corprew of Town Planner at 919.491.9904, Barbara Jesse-Black of PTA Thrift Shop at 919.942.6565, Wendy Tanson of Re/Max Winning Edge at 919.971.7180, or Laura Morrison Member Relations Coordinator of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce at 919.357.9989 for information regarding the Women's Roundtable.
Green Plus Webinar – 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Thursday, March 25, 2010
Green Plus is a program that helps small businesses strengthen their triple bottom line. We help businesses assess their business policies, environmental stewardship, employee policies, and community engagement. It gives employers affordable, practical support in succeeding financially while being good to their environment, employees and community. Participate in this informational webinar to learn more about the program and how it can effect your business.

The webinar will take approximately 45 minutes and you will learn:
  • How focusing on the triple bottom line can help your businesses.
  • How the Green Plus program can help you strengthen your business financially, environmentally, and socially
  • How to acquire Green Plus certification
Register online at: http://informationalbusinesswebinarmar11.eventbrite.com/

Registration required. Questions? Contact Kirsten Hausman | khausman@gogreenplus.org
Vote for the Institute's Sustainability Changemakers Program - March 15-31, 2010
The Institute for Sustainable Development recently submitted an application to Pepsi Co. to receive one of its Pepsi Refresh Grants. Pepsi uses social marketing to identify deserving organizations and individuals that should receive one of ten $50k grants per month.

Visit the Institute profile site and vote for the Institute's Sustainability Changemakers program. Here's the link: http://www.refresheverything.com/greenpluschangemakers?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=good_luck.

Learn more about Pepsi Refresh Grants at http://www.refresheverything.com/.
Networking In Your Neighborhood
Alamance Leads Group
The Alamance Leads Group (www.alamanceleads.com) meets every Monday at Mimi's Cafe, Alamance Crossing off I-40/I-85 at Exit 140, Burlington, 27215. Dick O'Donnell (dickodonnell@clearwire.net) with Cableless Solutions (919-760-5476) is the facilitator. The Alamance Leads Group meet from 8:15 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Apex Leads Group
The Apex Leads Group (www.apexleadsgroup.com) meets every Tuesday at Carrabba's Italian Grill, 1201 Haddon Hall Drive, Apex 27502. Barry & Ellen Sherrill (aimgrouptwo@yahoo.com) with AIM Group Two Promotional Products (919-387-7588) are the facilitators. The Apex Leads Group meet from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Breakfast Club
Just a reminder that the breakfast club is still meeting at 7:00am at the Weathervane Restaurant. Everyone is invited to share good conversation and a quick breakfast before our regular Leads Group meeting at our new location. This is one way that we can continue to support the management & staff that supported the Leads Group for such a long time.
Cary Leads Group
The Cary Leads Group (www.caryleadsgroup.com) meets Thursdays at the BNC, 649 Walnut Street, Cary 27511. Andy Siouville (919-363-7010) is the facilitator. The Cary Leads Group meet from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Chapel Hill Leads Group
The Chapel Hill Leads Group (www.chapelhillleads.com) meets every Wednesday at Extraordinary Ventures (www.extraordinaryventures.org), 200 South Elliott Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27514. Lee Schearer (919-490-1922) with American Real Estate and Appraisal Company and Don Bonin (919-542-2446) with Town & Country Trader are the facilitators. The Chapel Hill Leads Group meet from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Chatham County Leads Group
The Chatham County Leads Group meets every Tuesday at Virlies Grill, 58 Hillsboro Street, Pittsboro, NC 27312. Don Bonin (chathamcountylg@gmail.com) (919-542-0376) with Town & Country Trader  is the facilitator. The Chatham County Leads Group meet from 8:00 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.
Durham Leads Group
The Durham Leads Group meets every Tuesday at Piper's Deli (www.pipersdeli.com), 3219 Old Chapel Hill Road, Durham, NC 27707. Randy Bernstein (Randy@etchNstitch.com) (919-732-3473) with Etch N Stitch and Jane Clark (Jane.A.Clark@EdwardJones.com) (919-419-1761) with Edward Jones Investments are the facilitators. The Durham Leads Group meet from 8:15 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Hillsborough Leads Group
The Hillsborough Leads Group (www.hillsboroughleads.net) meets every Thursday morning of each month at The Village Diner, 600 West King Street, Hillsborough, NC. Ned Parsons of Parson’s Business Solutions (919-493-0985) and Caryn Byrd of Comfort Assurance Group (919-259-6401) are the facilitators. The Hillsborough Leads Group meet from 8:15 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.
Holly Springs Leads Group
Holly Springs Leads Group (hollyspringsleadsgroup.com) meets every Wednesday at Java Divine (www.javadivine.com) in the Bass Lake Shopping Center, 128 Bass Lake Road, Holly Springs, NC. Wendy Harrington with Sidekick Communications (919-208-7484) and Barb Louis with PartyLite Gifts (919-772-9560) are the facilitators. The Holly Springs Leads Group 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 Stone Wolf Coffee, 8300 Health Park, Raleigh, NC. David Stoner with EnviroFix (919-847-5355) and Charlie Edinger with Second Chance Solutions (919-219-5264) are the facilitators. The North Raleigh Leads Group meet from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Northern Wake Leads Group
The Northern Wake Leads Group (www.northernwakeleads.com) meets every Tuesday morning at the Bottle & Bean, 929 Heritage Lake Road, Suite 600, Wake Forest, NC, 27587. Sue Robinson with 4-Minute Fitness/ Genetic Nutrition (919-570-0913) and Lisa Angell with Mary Kay Cosmetics (919-676-0451) are the facilitators. The Northern Wake Leads Group meet from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Western Wake Leads Group
Western Wake Leads Group (westernwakeleads.com) meets every Thursday morning at the BNC, 649 Walnut Street, Cary NC 27511. Bill Carraway with Pre-Paid Legal (919-605-4895) is the facilitator.  The cost will be $5 and includes breakfast. The Western Wake Leads Group meet from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. For further information click here: http://smallbiz.meetup.com/483/calendar/7054450/ or call the BNC at 919-342-5251.