THIS WEEK

- Today: North Augusta Chamber of Commerce Teachers Banquet; 6-9 p.m., North Augusta Community Center; theme Red, White & Blue and Education, Too!; sponsorships available; R.S.V.P. to Judy Whaley at (803) 279-2323.

- Today: SuCCess Columbia County Style; chamber networking event and nine-hole golf tournament; 3:30 p.m., Bartram Trail Golf Course; $40, after April 25, $50; call Karen at (706) 651-0018.

- Today: Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce eighth Annual Golf Classic; 11:30 a.m. registration; 12:30 p.m. shotgun start; Gordon Lakes Golf Course; chamber members $125 per player/$450 team of 4; nonmembers $150 per player/$550 team of 4; register online at www.augustagausa.com or call Terra Carroll at (706) 821-1318.

- Today: Meybohm Realtors Career Night; real estate seminar on how to obtain license and what it takes to be successful in real estate; 7 p.m.; DoubleTree Hotel; free; R.S.V.P. (706) 738-HOME or pchambers@meybohm.com.

- Tuesday: Legislative Wrap-Up; 2 p.m.; Trinity Hospital's Sister Mary Louise Conference Room; consumers invited to listen to local and state representatives talk about their legislative session; free; call (706) 210-2000, ext. 111.

- Tuesday: Department of Transportation Certification Workshop; learn how to become a Certified Disadvantage Business Enterprise; 2 p.m., Augusta Regional Airport; free; call Brenda Brown at (706) 798-3236.

- Wednesday: Workshop for Presidents, CEOs and Business Owners; 8:30 a.m.; Sandler Training, 699 Broad Street, Suite 1001; come to find out about Sandler System and Sandler Training; call (706) 432-0040.

- Thursday: Earthcraft Seminar; How to build an Earthcraft house; 8:30 a.m.; North Augusta Community Center; $150; R.S.V.P. to Brooke Henderson at bhenderson@hammondsferry.com or (803) 613-1641.

- Thursday: Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce, 2008 Post Legislative Breakfast; hear from the senators and representatives who represent our area at the Georgia General Assembly; 7:30 a.m., DoubleTree Hotel; members free, nonmembers $25; (706) 821-1300.

UPCOMING

l May 21: Starting Your Own Business; comprehensive workshop highlighting first steps for entrepreneurs planning to start a small business; 6 p.m., University of Georgia Small Business Development Center; 1054 Claussen Road, Suite 301; $49; call (706) 737-1790.

- May 21: Waddell & Reed Financial Advisors holds a kick-off luncheon to launch the Employee Financial Wellness Program; noon; The Pinnacle Club, Augusta; R.S.V.P. to Rich Virgilio, (706) 860-2490.

- May 22: CSRA Section of the Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering International monthly dinner meeting; keynote speaker Roger Duke will discuss Community Outreach and Volunteering Your Professional Skills; registration and networking, 5:45 p.m., dinner and program following at 6:30 p.m., North Augusta Community Center, 495 Brookside Drive; $15; R.S.V.P. to David Larsen, (803) 208-0815.

- May 22: Columbia County Chamber of Commerce Post-Legislative Breakfast; keynote speaker Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, 7 a.m., Savannah Rapids Pavilion; $10 members, $20 prospective members; call Karen at (706) 651-0018.

- May 23: Planning and Scheduling Professional certification workshop by the Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering International; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Augusta State University; $295; application deadline May 19; (803) 208-0054.

- May 28: QuickBooks; University of Georgia Small Business Development Center hands-on computer lab series on the widely used accounting and bookkeeping systems for small businesses; upon completion of series, an SBDC business consultant will help you implement QuickBooks into your small business; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Augusta Technical College, Building 600, Room 653; College, Room 653; $149; (706) 737-1790.

- May 29: Latino Entrepreneurs of the CSRA; networking organization meeting; free; 6:30 p.m., Augusta Small Business Development Center office, 1054 Claussen Road, Suite 301; (706) 737-1790.

- May 30: North Augusta Arts and Heritage Center presents River Days; silent auction, heavy hors d'oeuvres; 7:30-10 p.m.; North Augusta Community Center; single, $40; couple, $75; R.S.V.P. to C.J. Bigger, (803) 278-1805 or jbigger33@comcast.net.

- June 3: Writing an Effective Business Plan; University of Georgia Small Business Development Center workshop explaining business planning and financing; 6 p.m.; 1054 Claussen Road, Suite 301; $49; (706) 737-1790.

- June 3-23: Entrepreneur Development Certificate Program; 6 p.m.; University of Georgia Small Business Development Center; 1054 Claussen Road, Suite 301; $49 each course/$210 series; (706) 737-1790.

ONGOING

- Free counseling for small-business owners and entrepreneurs; SCORE Associates, a nonprofit volunteer organization; call (706) 793-9998 in Augusta, (803) 641-1111 in Aiken and (803) 279-2323 in North Augusta for an appointment.

- Free and low-cost classes and seminars for entrepreneurs and small business owners; University of Georgia Augusta Small Business Development Center, 1054 Claussen Road, Suite 301; call (706) 737-1790

- Introduction to e-mail; free computer course, Wednesdays, 1-2 p.m.; Goodwill Industries' South Augusta One Stop Career Center; call (706) 790-8500.

- Job Searching on the Web; free computer course, Wednesdays and Thursdays: Goodwill Industries' South Augusta One Stop Career Center; call (706) 790-8500.

- Keyboarding; free computer course; Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 8-9 a.m.; Goodwill Industries' South Augusta One Stop Career Center; call (706) 790-8500.

- Home Buyer Workshops; Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America; Saturdays, free; sign up at www.naca.com or call (706) 855-7464 or (888) 302-NACA.

- How to Find Grant Funding for Your Nonprofit; Learn how to research and identify grants using the Georgia Center for Nonprofits' Foundation Online Directory tool; Tuesdays 10-11 a.m., 630 Ellis St., free, register by calling Delores Hughes at (706) 826-1493 or online at www.gcn.org.

- United Way Helpline; dial 211 to speak with a specialist who can help you with information and referrals to day care providers, free back-to-school supplies, senior citizen programs, rent and utility assistance programs, food pantries, housing, prescription assistance and more; 24 hours a day, seven days a week; out of area residents can call toll free (877) 292-5211; some mobile phone callers may need to call (706) 826-1495.

- Born Learning educational materials are provided free to parents, caregivers & health care agencies to ensure early learning and development of children ages birth to 5 years; 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; dial 2-1-1 or (706) 826-1495

- Instructor-led online courses; Augusta State University Education to Go program; call (706) 736-1636 for schedule or go to www.ced.aug.edu and click on "courses."

- Personal financial pitfalls for seniors; AARP Georgia seminar demonstrating how consumers can protect their assets from financial fraud and marketplace abuses; call the CSRA Area Agency on Aging at (706) 210-2000 or (888) 922-4464.

- Networking forum; Today's Working Network; Wednesdays, 2:30-4:30 p.m.; 209 Musical Lounge on the River Walk; visit www.todays-working-network.com for more information.

- Third Thursdays networking and social hour; UGA Alumni Association Augusta Chapter; 6 p.m., Vallarta's, Washington Road, Augusta; free; got to www.alumni.uga.edu/alumni/RegAug.html for more information.

- The NoonTime Networkers, area chapter of Business Network International; meets every Thursday at 11:30 a.m., T-Bonz Banquet Hall, 2858 Washington Road; contact Angela Brock at angi@csrabni.com or (706) 288-2800.

- The Leads at Lunch chapter of Business Network International meets every Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. at Golden Corral, Bobby Jones Expressway; contact John Raborn at john@csrabni.com or (706) 394-2605.

- Business Network International AikeNet Works! chapter; lunch on Thursdays; contact Dena Thomas at dena@csrabni.com or (803) 867-9190.

- The Referrals at Breakfast meeting of Business Network International, Thursdays at 7 a.m. at Athens Restaurant on Bobby Jones Expressway; call Chuck Ellison at (706) 294-5502.

- Business Network International Referrals & More chapter; Wednesdays at 11:30 a.m. at Just Fresh on Furys Ferry Road; contact Sean Kelly at sean@csrabni.com or (706) 556-1933.

- Business Network International Pro-Active Professionals chapter; meets Wednesdays at 11:30 a.m. at Cleveland & Anderson CPAs on Davis Road; call Angela Brock at (706) 868-5916 for details.

- Business Network International First Things First chapter; meets for breakfast Tuesdays at 7 a.m. at Athens Restaurant on Bobby Jones Expressway; contact John Raborn at john@csrabni.com or (706) 394-2605.

- Business Network International BNI2 chapter; lunch Thursday at The Clubhouse; contact Dennis Lam at dennis@csrabni.com or (706) 726-1446.

- North Augusta Networkers; Business Network International group; Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m., North Augusta Community Center; contact Karen Claeys at karen@csrabni.com or (706) 731-8415.

- Business Network International Referrals at Work chapter; meets Wednesdays for lunch at 11:30 a.m. at Baird & Co.; contact John Raborn at john@csrabni.com or (706) 394-2605.

- Business Network International Business & Breakfast chapter; Wednesdays at 7 a.m. at Athens Restaurant on Bobby Jones Expressway; contact Dennis Lam at dennis@csrabni.com or (706) 722-0000, extension 232.

- President's Club; reinforcement of sales training systems for business owners, sales representatives and managers; Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:30 a.m., 699 Broad St., Suite 1001; call (706) 432-0040.

- Word of Mouth Network, group seeks 200 entrepreneurs and businesspeople for a referral network; call Richard Banks at (706) 736-5020 for an e-mail providing a concise overview.

- Georgia-Carolina Investment Club is looking for members. If you are interested in real estate investing, call Bert Ellis for details at (803) 645-7883.

- President's Club & Foundations Classes; ongoing reinforcement of Sandler Training for business owners, managers, and serious sales representatives; 8:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays: Sandler Sales Institute, Wachovia Building, 699 Broad St.; (706) 432-0040

- Income Opportunities in real estate, mortgages and investment services; Thursdays, 7 p.m., Clarion Suites 3038 Washington Road; free; call to reserve seats, (706) 564-5885.