UPCOMING

- Jan. 12: Columbia County Chamber Annual Banquet, VIP Reception and Business Showcase; 4:30-6:30 p.m. cocktail reception, 6:30 p.m. dinner meeting and awards; Doubletree Hotel, 2651 Perimeter Parkway; $50 members, $65 nonmembers; showcase booths available; R.S.V.P. to Tammy Shepherd at (706) 651-0018 or tammy@columbiacountychamber.com.

- Jan. 28: North Augusta Chamber A.M. Connection; 7:15 a.m., North Augusta Community Center, 495 Brookside Ave., North Augusta; speaker Brian Tucker, president and CEO of Greater North Augusta Chamber of Commerce; $10 members, $12 at door, $15 nonmembers; reservations required; Judy Whaley at (803) 279-2323 or judy@northaugustachamber.org.

- Feb. 11: Women in Business luncheon; 11:30 a.m., North Augusta Community Center, 495 Brookside Ave., North Augusta; speaker Dr. Ron Eaker; $20 members, $25 nonmembers; sponsorships available; R.S.V.P. to Judy Whaley at (803) 279-2323 or judy@northaugustachamber.org.

- Feb. 17: North Augusta Chamber of Commerce annual meeting; 6 p.m. social, 6:30 p.m. dinner, North Augusta Community Center, 495 Brookside Ave., North Augusta; $40 individual, $375 corporate table of eight; R.S.V.P. to Judy Whaley at (803) 279-2323 or judy@northaugustachamber.org.

ONGOING

- The Kiwanis Club of Uptown Augusta meets Tuesdays at 1 p.m. at The Partridge Inn, 2110 Walton Way. The club is actively seeking members interested in fellowship and community involvement. Contact Bill Bates at (706) 306-6328 or billbates@dhbailieagency.com for more information.

- 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.

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

- 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.

- 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.

- 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 Riverwalk; 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.

- Business Network International Referrals & More chapter; Wednesdays at 11:30 a.m., T-Bonz Steakhouse on Washington Road; Bob Kendra at rjkendra@ft.newyorklife.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.

- Determine whether a career in the insurance industry fits you. Complete the Harrison Assessment; contact Sarah D. Johnston at sarah. d.johnston@nmfn.com.

- 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.

- Georgia Real Estate Investors Association; education on real estate investing; 7 p.m., second Thursday each month; Columbia County Library Performing Arts Center; $5 members; $10 nonmembers; call Debbie at (706) 364-6612.

- Hands-On Computer Training: programs on Microsoft Office, Word, Excel and more; morning, afternoon and evening classes; Marketable Skills Training Center, 2321 Peach Orchard Road, Suite E; $120 per six weeks, per class; call Gwen Watts at (706) 729-0941.

- Software training for Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office and other applications; daytime and evening classes offered Monday through Saturday; Computer Link, 596 Bobby Jones Expressway; call (706) 860-8313.

- Prometric Testing Center: MCSA, MCSE, MCP, and Comp-TIA exams, Microsoft Office Specialist exams; at Savannah River College; contact Amy Barnett at (706) 738-5046.

- Microsoft Small Business Server; install-it-yourself workshop for small-business owners by Network Consultants; $99; augustasoftware training.com for details.

- Work From Home; one-hour seminar on being your own boss; The Guest House Inn; Tuesdays; call (877) 821-5542.

- Foreign Accent and Southern Accent Reduction; classes for improving business and professional skills; Snyder Speech Therapy Services; to register, call (706) 860-9385.

- Construction management; learn the risks before hiring a contractor for commercial construction project; PCM Construction Consultants; pcmgtgroup@comcast.net or (706) 373-0585.

- Global Career Development Facilitator Training class leading to National Career Development Association certification; The Pritchard Group Inc.; classes will be held in Augusta; advance registration required because space is limited; call Dr. Constance J. Pritchard at (706) 627-3540 or e-mail cdftraining@ pritchardgroup.com.

- Keller Williams Realty; personalized sessions for anyone considering a real estate career; The Atrium, 3633 Wheeler Road; call (706) 868-3772.

- How to Get Started in Real Estate; Sherman and Hemstreet GMAC; call Tom Horner at (706) 738-6641.

- Marketable Skills Training Center; hands-on software training for Microsoft Office and other applications; 2321 Peach Orchard Road, Suite E; weekday daytime and evening classes available; Gwen Watts, watts32@comcast.net or (706) 729-0941 or 790-4253.

- Business Opportunity: free seminar for people who have considered being their own boss; call Gail Amstutz at (706) 790-8771 for times and individual appointments.

- Help Others and Work from Home; free one-hour information and question session; Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m., call Arlene at (706) 364-2373.

- Homeownership Accelerator Workshop; learn how to pay off your home much faster without any changes in payments; Thursdays 6:30 p.m., Clarion Suites, 3038 Washington Road; free; call to reserve seats, (706) 564-5885.

- Trading Connections is seeking members interested in learning how to profit from short-term trading on stocks or options; contact Jay Brooks at (706) 830-2752 or jsb4079@knology.net.

- Free and low-cost classes and seminars for entrepreneurs and small-business owners; University of Georgia Augusta Small Business Development Center, 1450 Greene St., Suite 3500; call (706) 721-4545.

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

- Free educational programs on personal money management and ID theft to public/private schools, community, civic groups, employers, organizations, churches, etc. Consumer Credit Counseling Services CSRA, a nonprofit organization; contact (706) 736 2090, ext. 204, or ctesch@cccsaugusta.org.