THIS WEEK

- Wednesday: North Augusta Chamber of Commerce A.M. Connection; 8 a.m., North Augusta Chamber office, 406 West Ave.; speaker is Charles Munns, the president and chief executive officer of Savannah River Nuclear Solutions; $10 members, $12 others; registration required; contact Judy Whaley at (803) 279-2323 or judy@northaugustachamber.org.

- Wednesday: 10 Ways Small Business Owners Can Avoid Lawsuits seminar; 6-7:30 p.m., Pinnacle Club, 699 Broad St.; $25; contact Katie Jones at (404) 876-8516 or katie.jones@nfib.org or visit www.nfib.com/object/IO_38158.html.

- Thursday: Columbia County Chamber Professional Development Luncheon; 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Savannah Rapids Pavilion, 3300 Evans to Locks Road; speaker Denise Ryan; topic is Leadership Lessons from the Kings of Chocolate; $20 members, $25 first-time visitors; R.S.V.P. with reservation and credit card information to (706) 651-0018.

- Thursday: CSRA Section of the Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering International monthly dinner meeting; registration and networking 5:45 p.m., dinner and program 6:30 p.m., North Augusta Community Center, 495 Brookside Drive, North Augusta; keynote speaker Joe Berry, the director of public works for Aiken County; $15 dinner; R.S.V.P. to Ronny McIver at (803) 952-6829, ronny.mciver@srs.gov or aaceicsra.org@gmail.com.

UPCOMING

l Nov. 5: Business Expo; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Boat House, 101 Riverfront Drive; free and open to public; register by Friday to the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Department; (706) 821-2406.

- Nov. 5: Columbia County Chamber Speed Networking; 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., Center for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 671 N. Belair Road, Evans; members-only networking event; give a one-minute commercial about your business; free for members; Tammy Shepherd at (706) 651-0018 or tammy@columbiacountychamber.com.

- Nov. 6: Marketing ... What Works, What Doesn't, and Why business seminar; 9 a.m. to noon, Enterprise Mill Event Center, 1450 Greene St.; featuring educator Dennis Creps; designed to help businesses of all sizes improve their marketing and advertising; registration required, space limited; $35; each attendee will receive a $75 gift certificate toward advertising in The Augusta Chronicle ; order forms can be picked up or dropped off at The Chronicle , 725 Broad St.; Sarah Childers at (706) 823-3476.

- Nov. 6: Starting Your Own Business seminar; 6 p.m., Augusta Small Business Development Center, Enterprise Mill, 1450 Greene St., Suite 3500; $49; advance registration preferred; call D. McKenzie at (706) 721-4545.

- Nov. 7: QuickBooks 2008 seminar; 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Augusta Technical College, Building 600, Room 653, 3200 Augusta Tech Drive; seminar includes basic accounting and company setup; upon completion of the series a Small Business Development Center business consultant will help you with implementing QuickBooks into your small business; $149; advance registration preferred; call D. McKenzie at (706) 721-4545.

- Nov. 7: Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce Economic Club Workshop and Luncheon; workshop 9 a.m., luncheon 11:30 a.m., Augusta Marriott Hotel and Suites, 2 10th St.; workshop on customer service and communication skills by Eileen Shenker of Success Seminars; luncheon recognizing 2008 Small Business of the Year; $30 workshop, $45 luncheon, $60 workshop and luncheon; R.S.V.P. required at www.augustagausa.com.

- Nov. 10: SuCCess Columbia County Style; 4-7 p.m., Liberty Park Community Center, 1040 Newmantown Road, Grovetown; business fair and networking event; free members, $10 nonmembers; contact Tammy Shepherd at (706) 651-0018 or tammy@columbiacounty chamber.com.

- Nov. 13: Cost and Price Proposal Development; 9 a.m., GaTech Procurement Assistance Center, 1450 Greene St., Suite 3500; for anyone preparing responses to government contracting opportunities; topics include budgets, fixed and variable costs, overheads, general and administrative costs, and profit, spreadsheets and documenting cost support; free; registration required; R.S.V.P. to www.gtpac.org, Todd Hurd at (706) 721-4529.

- Nov. 13: Writing a Business Plan seminar; 6 p.m., Augusta Small Business Development Center Office, Enterprise Mill, 1450 Greene St., Suite 3500; $49; advance registration preferred; D. McKenzie at (706) 721-4545.

- Nov. 14: Covering Your Assets; 8 a.m., Augusta Tech McDuffie Campus, 388 Tech Drive N.W., Thomson; practical guides to avoid employment litigation and motivate employees; $50; Carolyn Gilbert at (706) 597-1000.

- Nov. 18: Columbia County Chamber Pre-Legislative Breakfast; 7:15-9 a.m., Savannah Rapids Pavilion, 3300 Evans to Locks Road; with keynote speaker state Sen. Eric Johnson; free members, $20 first time visitors; contact Tammy Shepherd at (706) 651-0018 or tammy@ columbiacountychamber.com.

- Nov. 18: National Philanthropy Day Awards Luncheon; registration 11:30 a.m., program at noon; Augusta Country Club, 655 Milledge Road; presented by Greater Augusta chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals; $40, $320 for table of eight; tickets must be purchased in advance; Beverly Peltier at (706) 771-4023.

- Nov. 21: Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce Women in Business Signature Event; 6:30 p.m. registration and cocktails, 7:30 p.m. dinner and program; Augusta Marriott Hotel and Suites, 2 10th St.; topic is The Power of Influence and Advocacy; guest speaker Hala Moddelmog, the CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure; $50 members, $60 nonmembers; corporate tables and sponsorships available; to register, call (706) 821-1300 or visit www.augustagausa.com.

ONGOING

- Third Thursdays networking and social hour; UGA Alumni Association Augusta chapter; 6 p.m., Vallarta's, 2808 Washington Road; free; go to www.alumni.uga.edu/alumni/RegAug.html for information.

- 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.

- 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 might need to call (706) 826-1495.

- Born Learning educational materials are provided free to parents, caregivers and health care agencies to ensure early learning and development of children from newborn to 5 years old; 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; dial 211 or (706) 826-1495

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

- Personal financial pitfalls for seniors; AARP Georgia seminar on protecting your 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.

- 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 Ryan's Steak House on Bobby Jones Expressway; Bob Kendra at rjkendra@ft.newyork life.com or (706) 364-1477.

- 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.

- 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.

- Business Network International Referrals at Work chapter; Wednesdays for lunch, 11:30 a.m. at Baird & Co.; John Raborn, 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, ext. 232.

- 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.