Weekly News 
 
5 July 2010

From the keyboard of Lee Schearer,

Happy 4th of July

We, as Americans celebrate the 4th of July as the date of the birth of the United States of America. As American citizens our rights and privileges were granted by what has been described as one of the greatest documents ever written, that being The Constitution Of The United States Of America. Unfortunately, I am led to believe that many of our fellow citizens have never read this "sacred" document and that our public school system spends too little time educating our children as to its foundation and its merits. The reason that this document is important to you is that it is the most important thing in the lives of every person living in the United States. Your business life is influenced by its words. Your government is based upon it and your personal rights and privileges, as American citizens, are protected by it.

As voiced by Floyd G. Cullop "In order to truly enjoy, appreciate, and protect what you have as citizens of the United States, you must be aware of what is found in your Constitution. To be ignorant of the Constitution is to be ignorant of all the things your country is...and of the truths its people have believed to be above all others in the relationship between human beings and government".

I hope to see you this Wednesday morning at the Chapel Hill Leads Group, where the spirit of American business is thriving.

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

Our speakers this week are Gene & Rose Wolf, owners of Great Earth Vitamins at White Cross. Their mission statement; "To promote and improve overall health in our families, friends, customers, and community." Come learn the steps needed to achieve Great Health and Long Life. The title of their holiday discussion is: Our Gift For You - - -

Speaker's Schedule for July / August 2010

14 July - Open Meeting
21 July - Dave Snider, Cartridge World
28 July - Lee Schearer, American Real Estate and Appraisal Company
4 August - Tommy Sikes, TS Financial
11 August - Bill Crittendon, Senior Care Management Associates, LLC

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:

Small Business Roundtable - 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Patrick Haggerty, an IRS Enrolled Agent, will cover the current 1099-MISC reporting requirements, methods to avoid compliance problems in 2010 and 2011, and how to prepare for the changes coming in 2012 at the July Small Business Roundtable. Form 1099-MISC is generally used to report payments for services of $600 or more (over the course of the year) to unincorporated independent contractors and businesses. Penalties for failing to comply with the reporting requirements can exceed 30% of the amount paid to the contractor. Recent legislation will extend this reporting requirement to include payments to all vendors (including corporations) and to include payments for property as well as services starting in 2012. To RSVP for the July Small Business Roundtable, click here.

Business Before Hours Breakfast Briefing: Saving Money with the Chamber - 7:30-9:30 a.m., Friday, July 9 - Homewood Suites

July’s Breakfast Briefing will provide attendees with an overview of ways to save money through Chamber membership. A representative from Piedmont Health Services will be present to discuss health care savings through the Small Business Health Service, and attendees will also learn more about Chamber partnerships that save members money on essential products and services, such as the partnership with Triangle Office Equipment . The Briefing will be a great opportunity to network with fellow Chamber members and to learn how to use Chamber membership to save money. The Briefing is hosted by Homewood Suites, located at 3600 Mt. Moriah Road in Durham. No registration required. For additional information contact Laura Morrison | 357.9989 | lmorrison@carolinachamber.org. Don't forget your business cards!

Young Professionals Network - 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 13

Zach Ward, owner and executive producer of DSI Comedy, will host an interactive discussion on the fundamentals of improvisational comedy - positivity, active listening and trust - and how the application of those skills to everyday life can enhance personal and professional growth and success. The event is sponsored by DSI Comedy, located at 200 N. Greensboro Street, Suite B-11, in Carrboro, just behind Fleet Feet in Carr Mill Mall. The event is co-sponsored and catered by Jersey Mike’s. Join us at DSI for an evening of laughter, networking and great food. To register online, visit www.carolinachamber.org/, or contact Laura Morrison at 357.9989 or lmorrison@carolinachamber.org. Don't forget your business cards!

Economic Development and Public Policy Committee - 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, July 14

This committee identifies issues and devises strategies that will create and sustain a thriving business community. Monitors and makes 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 its resources to the benefit of members. Committee Chair: Anita Badrock, Smither and Associates; Meetings: every other month. (Jan., March, May, July, Sept., Nov.)

New Member Orientation - 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Thursday, July 15

New Chamber members and new managers and employees of Chamber member organizations are invited. Meet with Aaron Nelson, Chamber president and CEO; learn about the benefits of your membership; meet Chamber staff, Ambassadors and fellow new members; and network on behalf of your organization. Performance AutoMall, located at 1801 N. Fordham Blvd. in Chapel Hill, will host July's Orientation. Business After Hours immediately follows the Orientation. To register, contact Laura Morrison at 357.9989 or lmorrison@carolinachamber.org. Don't forget your business cards!

Business After Hours - 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, July 15

Performance AutoMall, located at 1801 N. Fordham Blvd., will host and sponsor July's monthly evening networking event. The Non-Profit Spotlight is The Arc of Orange County. Parking will be available along the service road that runs parallel between Performance and Fordham Blvd. No registration required. Don't forget your business cards!

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 (LinkedIn: Hillsborough Leads Group) meets every Thursday morning at The Village Diner, 600 West King Street, Hillsborough, NC. Tommy Sikes of TS Financial (919-280-1560) and Cindy Mihok with the Hillsborough Chamber / Avon (919-732-8156) are the facilitators. The Hillsborough Leads Group meets 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.