THIS WEEK

- Monday: Joint Business Counseling Sessions; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Enterprise Mill, Suite 3500, 1450 Greene St.; offered by the Small Business Development Center and the Georgia Department of Economic Development's Small Business and Innovation; services targeted to startups or existing companies that support or are in the industries of advanced communications, manufacturing, agribusiness, aerospace, biosciences, business and financial services, energy and logistics; free; appointment required; call Small Business Development Center at (706) 721-4545.

- Tuesday: Augusta Metro Chamber Women in Business Luncheon; 11:30 a.m., Augusta Marriott Hotel & Suites, 2 10th St.; speaker Esther Hodge, the director of human resources at Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, discussing unconscious mistakes women make that sabotage their careers; $20 chamber members, $25 others; (706) 821-1300.

- Tuesday and Thursday: Eliminate Your Mortgage and Consumer Debt workshop; 7:30 p.m., Hawthorn Suites, 4049 Jimmie Dyess Parkway; open to homeowners and public; free; call for seating; RSVP to (706) 564-5885.

- Wednesday: North Augusta Chamber A.M. Connection; 7:15 a.m., North Augusta Community Center, 495 Brookside Drive; speaker Tanya Strickland, Brick Pond; $10 members, $12 at door, $15 nonmembers; Judy Whaley (803) 279-2323

- Thursday: CSRA Medical Managers' Association Meeting; 11:30 a.m., Washington Hall, 2860 Washington Road, Ted McLyman speaking on Your Mind and Your Money: Why Smart People Do Dumb Things; limited seating; free to members, $15 others; Mindy Pritchard (706) 774-8080.

- Saturday: Seeing the Light: Truth and Facts about the Greater Augusta Real Estate Market; 10 a.m. to noon, Jabez Sanford Hardin Performing Arts Theatre, Columbia County Library, 7022 Evans Town Center Blvd., Evans; panel of experts will discuss real estate market trends in area, provide information on understanding the $8,000 economic stimulus first-time-buyer credit, and discuss reformed lending practices affecting today's buyers; RSVP to Pauline at (706) 738-4663 or timetobuy@meybohm.com.

UPCOMING

-May 14: Post-Legislative Breakfast; 7 a.m. continental breakfast, 7:30 a.m. program, Savannah Rapids Pavilion, 3300 Evans to Locks Road; local delegation will speak on legislative session; speaker Ben Harbin; free to members, $20 first-time visitors; call Tammy Shepherd at (706) 651-0018.

- May 14: North Augusta Chamber of Commerce Teachers Appreciation Banquet for Area 2 Schools; 6-9 p.m., North Augusta Community Center, 495 Brookside Drive; free to teachers; sponsor a teacher for $15, sponsorship levels are available; RSVP to Judy Whaley at judy@northaugustachamber.org.

- May 18: Augusta Metro Chamber First Bank Golf Classic; noon, Gordon Lakes Golf Course, 537 Range Road, Fort Gordon; sponsorship opportunities available; (706) 821-1300.

- May 18: SuCCess Columbia County Style; 4:30-6:30 p.m., Gerald Jones Volks-wagen, 4020 Washington Road; a members-only networking event; free to members; Tammy Shepherd (706) 651-0018.

- May 19: Augusta Metro Chamber Women in Business Luncheon; 11:30 a.m., Augusta Marriott Hotel & Suites, 2 10th St.; speaker Kelly Taylor, of Zentage, discussing how to focus on strengths and determine a good job for yourself; $20 members, $25 others; (706) 821-1300.

- May 28: Government Partners Workshop; 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., University of South Carolina Aiken, Business and Education Building, Room 140, 471 University Parkway, Aiken; learn about government services and products that can help a business increase cash flow and productivity; $50; registration required; (803) 641-3646 or SBDC@usca.edu.

ONGOING

- The Kiwanis Club of Uptown Augusta; 1 p.m. Tuesdays, The Partridge Inn, 2110 Walton Way; club seeks members interested in fellowship and community involvement; Bill Bates, (706) 306-6328 or billbates@dhbailieagency.com.

- President's Club & Foundations Classes; ongoing reinforcement of Sandler Training for business owners, managers and sales representatives; 8:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays: Sandler Sales Institute, 936 Broad St., Suite 2003; (706) 432-0040.

- Networking on the MIC; 5:30-7:30 p.m. second Thursdays; Club Night Life, 2849 Deans Bridge Road; hostess, Helen Blocker-Adams; for tickets call (706) 267-0579.

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

- 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 Corp. 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.

- The NoonTime Networkers chapter of Business Network International meets every Thursday at 11:30 a.m., DoubleTree Hotel, 2651 Perimeter Parkway; contact Amy Kilpatrick at (706) 364-9872.

- The Leads at Lunch chapter of Business Network International meets Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m. at Ryan's Steak House, 208 Bobby Jones Expressway; contact Amy Kilpatrick at (706) 364-9872.

- Business Network International AikeNetWorks! chapter; Thursdays at 11:30 a.m. at Woodside Plantation Clubhouse, 1000 Woodside Plantation Drive, Aiken; contact Amy Kilpatrick at (706) 364-9872.

- Business Network International Referrals & More chapter; Wednesdays at 7 a.m., T-Bonz Steakhouse, 2856 Washington Road; Amy Kilpatrick at (706) 364-9872.

- Business Network International M'Aiken Connections chapter; meets Wednesdays at 8 a.m., Papa Russ's BBQ, 231 The Alley, Aiken; Amy Kilpatrick at (706) 364-9872.

- Business Network International Augusta Lunch Leaders chapter; meets Thursdays at 11:30 a.m., Sixth at Watkins Restaurant, 559 Watkins St.; Amy Kilpatrick at (706) 364-9872.

- Business Network International Business and Breakfast chapter; meets Wednesdays at 7 a.m. at Hawthorne Suites, 4049 Jimmie Dyess Parkway; call John Raborn at (706) 394-2605.

- 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.

- Real Estate Career Information: Blanchard and Calhoun Real Estate, contact Tom Horner (706) 312-5800 or thorner@blanchardandcalhoun.com.

- 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 insurance industry fits you. Complete 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 at (803) 645-7883.

- 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; day and evening classes available 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; augustasoftwaretraining.com.

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

- Trading Connections seeks 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.

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

- Foreign 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; pcmgt group@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; space is limited; call Dr. Constance J. Pritchard at (706) 627-3540 or e-mail cdf training@pritchardgroup.com.

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

- Introduction to e-mail; free 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 money management and protection against ID theft for public/private schools, community/civic groups, employers, organizations, etc. Consumer Credit Counseling Services CSRA, a nonprofit organization; (706) 736-2090, ext. 204