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:

Open networking meeting ...

Speaker's Schedule for April / May 2010

5 May - Peter & Susan Henry - Xocai Healthy Chocolate
12 May - Dan Carleton - New York Life
19 May - Earl Haddon - Bios Life
26 May - Joe Jacob - Haw River Canoe

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, April 27, 2010

At the April Roundtable, Karen Donalson will present "Getting the Appointment the Right Way Every Day!"

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.

Women's Executive Series, The Carolina Club - 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Katie Loovis, Director of Business and Society Relations at the Business Civic Leadership Center (BCLC), will deliver the keynote address. Loovis oversees BCLC’s strategic communications and runs the Business & Society Program (B&S). Loovis helps businesses earn trust and strengthen stakeholder relationships, and she will present "From Chapel Hill to Capitol Hill: A Journey to Do Well by Doing Good." She will address the trajectory of her career, national and local business trends, and how businesses can succeed and thrive while also doing good in their community. Loovis holds an MPA and BA from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

A full breakfast will be provided at the event, which is sponsored by The Carolina Club, State Farm Insurance - Pam Herndon, Flyleaf Books, A Better Image Printing, Optima Asset Management, AICPA, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, Duke Medicine, UNC Health Care, Duke Energy, Performance AutoMall, 140 West Franklin, Polaris IT Solutions, Think Leadership Ideas, East West Partners, The Siena Hotel, AT&T, The Carolina Inn, Chapel Hill Restaurant Group, Governors Club, SunTrust, Wachovia, Chapel Hill Tire and Car Care Center, 1360 WCHL and the PTA Thrift Shop. The Carolina Club is located at the intersection of Ridge Road and Stadium Drive in Chapel Hill, and parking is available for $1.50 an hour in the Ram’s Head parking deck off Ridge Road. To register online, visit www.carolinachamber.org/events, or contact Laura Morrison at 357.9989 or lmorrison@carolinachamber.org.

Young Professionals Network - 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Join us at The Crunkleton, located at 320 W. Franklin Street, for our second Young Professionals Network event of the year. Enjoy canapes and a full cash bar provided by The Crunkleton, and mingle with fellow young professionals.

Parking is available in municipal lot P3 (off Franklin Street) and in municipal lot P5 (off Church Street). Both municipal lots are pay-by-space lots, and each space costs 50 cents per 30 minutes. Parking is also available in metered spots along West Franklin Street. Metered spots cost 25 cents per 15 minutes and are enforced 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

To register, visit http://www.carolinachamber.org/events/ or contact Laura Morrison at 357.9989 or lmorrison@carolinachamber.org.

Small Business Roundtable - 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Retirement Planning for Small Businesses - Diane McIntee, CFP® of Optima Asset Management

What you will learn: In her presentation, McIntee will give an overview of various retirement plans for small businesses, and she will discuss the benefits of having a retirement plan and how to identify the best plan for your company.

About the Presenter - McIntee owns Optima Asset Management, LLC, an independent financial advisory firm. She works with both individuals and small businesses to create strategies and manage assets, helping them identify and pursue financial goals.

Attendance is limited to 30 registrants. If you or any of your employees have an interest in this timely and essential session, RSVP to Laura Morrison and reserve your seat today.

The Small Business Roundtable meets the first Wednesday of each month in the Greater Chapel Hill Association of REALTORS Conference Room at the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce, 104 South Estes Drive, Chapel Hill, 27514. Small Business Roundtable membership is open to active Chapel Hill Chamber of Commerce members. Contact Robert Altier of DeWitt Law at 919.338.8200 or  Laura Morrison Member Relations Coordinator of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce at 919.357.9989 for information regarding the Small Business Roundtable.

State of the Community Breakfast Briefing - 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., Friday, May 7, 2010

Interested in how Chapel Hill and Carrboro are performing as a community? Want to learn about how we stack up in retail spending, adult health, and air quality compared to the Triangle and state? Please join us at the May Breakfast Briefing where the Chamber’s Foundation will present the 2010 State of the Community Report. The report is the only one of its kind in the community; it tracks the well-being of Chapel Hill-Carrboro along social, economic, and environmental indicators. Attendees can expect to gain a comprehensive overview of the health of our community, including areas where we are thriving and areas to be improved. Foundation Executive Director Aaron Nelson will present the report and take questions from attendees. The Briefing will be a great opportunity to learn more about our community and includes a full breakfast. The Briefing is hosted and sponsored by the Sheraton Chapel Hill Hotel, located at One Europa Drive in Chapel Hill. The event is also sponsored by Piedmont Health Services, PTA Thrift Shop, Bland Landscaping, Wachovia, BB&T, 1360 WCHL, Progress Energy and A Better Image Printing. Registration required, $10.00 for Chamber Members. To register, visit http://www.carolinachamber.org/events/or contact Laura Morrison at 357.9989 or lmorrison@carolinachamber.org.

Networking In Your Neighborhood

Alamance Leads Group

The Alamance Leads Group (www.alamanceleads.com) meets every Monday at Best Western Inn off Exit 141 of I-40/I-85 in Burlington, 27215. Dick O'Donnell (dick@cablelesssolutions.com) 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.