Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Join US Figure Skating Sunday, January 24th for the Destination Vancouver Send-off Dinner. The entire 2010 US Olympic Figure skating team will be presented to the world for the first time, right here in Spokane. In addition, 12 former US Figure Skating Olympic Gold medal champions will be here; scheduled to attend include Dick Button (1948, 52), Tenley Albright (1956), Hayes Jenkins (1956), Carol Heiss (1960), David Jenkins (1960), Peggy Fleming (1968), Dorothy Hamill (1976), Scott Hamilton (1984), Brian Boitano (1988), Kristi Yamaguchi (1992), Tara Lipinski (1998) and Sarah Hughes (2002). VIP reception, Cocktail Hour, and Dinner included. For more information, go to usfigureskating.org or call Stacey Marsh at 719-321-0931.

Gibby Media Group, Inc. based in Spokane, Washington, completed a Green Thin Disc that was shown, demonstrated, and distributed to attending nations at the recent UN Copenhagen Cop15 conference on global warming. The disc is greener than other media discs because it contains half the amount of plastic, contains no bonder resins and requires very little protective packaging. It bends and squeezes without breaking and it has many different types of media content resident on the disc. The United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development Partnerships in New Technologies for Small Developing States, headed up by Thomas J. Goreau, PhD, a member of the Jamaican delegation, worked with Gibby Media Group, Inc. to organize and distribute scientific media content on the GibbyThin technology. The Green Thin Disc contains timely material relating to climate issues affecting small island states such as Jamaica and the Marshall Islands. Using a patent pending software called GibbyDisc, the UN disc contains an entire digital book on climate change, 20 Power Point presentations from presenting organizations, videos, and website links, all residing on one single GibbyThin disc. The disc is multi-format, playable in PCs of all ages, Apple computers and on home DVD players off the same disc. For more information go to gibbymedia.com.

Here’s some fun exercise to help you get into your new years resolution to work out more. Dancing! On the first and third Fridays of the month, you can dance to the sounds of dance band Variety Pack, at the Sons of Norway, 6710 N Country Homes Blvd...the place with the Viking ship out front. The admission is $10 per person to dance, and they also serve dinner, for an additional $10 per person. Dinner is at 6, dancing at 7. You’ve watched Dancing with the Stars, now go be one, and get a good work out at the same time. For more information, call Gene Bronson at 509-747-3744.

Communities in Schools is looking for some leaders. Each year in Spokane County over 1,500 students drop out of school. This is a tragic number, but you can be part of the solution. In the past year, over 100 community business leaders and partners have spoken to students about careers, staying in school and the importance of perseverance. Communities in Schools is again looking for leaders like you! Contact Ben Stuckart at ben@cisspokane.org for a schedule of openings so you can make a difference! This would be a one time, one hour commitment. Please consider volunteering your time.

Celebrate National Pie Day, Saturday; go out and buy an award-winning, local favorite, Cyrus O’Leary’s Pie and give it away; and get one for yourself! In last year’s 2009 National Pie championships they won gold medals for 10 of their pies. For more information go to www.cyruspies.com.

Brad Leggett’s Achieveus, a local employee training company, presents their Customer Service "Creative" Workshop, tomorrow, 9:00am to 12:00 Noon, or 4:00pm to 7:00pm at Centerplace Event Center, 2426 North Discovery Place in Spokane Valley. This workshop, based on Farrell’s "Give ‘em the Pickle" concept, is business category exclusive; you may bring up to 10 from your organization at a cost of $300 per table! Reserve your spot today by calling 509-723-6599, 509-723-6599 or go online to www.achieveus.com.

Boston’s Pizza at 14004 East Indiana Avenue, is selling paper hearts from January 11-February 14 for $1 to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and diabetes research. Additionally, $1 from every Heart Shaped Pizza and dessert sale will go to JDRF from February 12-14.

Bangkok Thai Restaurants has expanded its hospitality services to include a limousine company, as well as a bar catering service to help local non-profits and other local organizations. The restaurant has been playing host to more fundraisers and celebrations, at its Riverwalk location and has been offering its banquet room that suits 200 people to large groups, along with a full bar service- both at no charge to the organization booking the room. The restaurant has also been making donations to those same groups based on proceeds from the bar during their events. Bangkok Thai’s catering license gives them the opportunity to make the same kinds of donations to the organizations booking them off site. Bankok Thai serves gourmet Thai cuisine at two locations in Spokane; on the corner of 14th and Grand Blvd (509-325-8320), as well as at Riverwalk location, a part of the University District near Trent & Hamilton, at 1003 East Trent (509-838-8424). They also have delivery service. The website is spokanebangkokthai.com.

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Ellen Travolta and Jack Bannon will present three performances of "Love Letters" by A. J. Gurney as a benefit to Interplayers Theater, January 29 and 30. Show times are 7:30 pm Friday, January 29, and 2 pm and 7:30 pm on Saturday, January 30. Call 509-455-PLAY for tickets and information.

LaunchPad Inland Northwest is partnering with ConoverBond Development to unveil its new shared community coworking space on the 5th floor of the Holley Mason Building, (157 S. Howard), on Thursday, January 28th from 4 p.m. to 5:00 pm. LaunchPad INW staff will be on hand offering a tour of the space prior to the first Entrepreneur & Small Business Community Networking Event at 5:30 pm. Coworking started in San Francisco in 2005, the concept evolved from the need of independent workers starving for a place to work and develop the corporate world "office camaraderie" while still being able to do their own thing. Since then, dozens of coworking spaces have started up across the nation and around the world. Coworking spaces allow people to work side-by-side, sharing ideas and resources in a community office environment. It’s a new concept for Spokane. Coworking tenants will choose between two monthly membership levels ranging from $75 to $150. A basic membership will allow for normal Monday thru Friday business hours access, use of shared desks and tables, access to wifi, printer, coffee, copier, package acceptance, mail address and conference room use. A premium membership includes all the basic membership perks along with 24/7 keycard access, a designated permanent locking desk, and free admission to all LaunchPad INW networking events. Other benefits of calling the LaunchPad INW Coworking Space home, are the daytime LaunchPad Lounge area with over 1,500 square feet of bistro tables and couches for folks to mingle and meet amongst paintings by abstract expressionist artist, Edward W. Gilmore. Future plans look to an evening wine bar style spot for smaller meeting, speakers and networking events. For more information or to arrange a private tour of the LaunchPad INW Coworking Space contact: 509-953-3305 or 509-230-6321 or email coworking@launchpadinw.com.

Valley Hospital and Medical Center present "New Year-Better You!", Thursday, January 21, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the Education Center, 12606 E. Mission Avenue. They are offering complimentary services including: hair styling, flat ironing and consultation; make-up, skin consultation by Rebekah Boone of Beyond Beautiful Elegance; chair massage by Christopher Kalinowski; mini manicures; jeans and bra fitting by The Master’s Touch Salon; permanent make-up consultation by Beatta Dire, The Master’s Touch; a lecture on wellness by a Valley Hospital physician; hors d’oeuvres by Pinocchio’s Italian Express; drawings, giveaways, and more. This event is free, but registration is requested. Call 509-473-5755 or email jackows@empirehealth.org to register. Simply provide your full name.

The Inland Northwest Chapter of National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO-NW) will present an Entrepreneurial Program Series with featured speaker Heather Pieczonka, "How Social Media Marketing Can Win Customers," February 11, at the Doubletree Hotel. The presentation will offer practical, experience-based information, including the strengths and potential of social media, the range of social media tools, how to decide which ones are most effective in reaching your customers. Featured speaker, Heather Pieczonka, is president and chief strategist of Creative Spark Media, Inc, the world’s most prolific printable game developer dedicated to holidays and party themes. Pieczonka has nearly 10 years of e-commerce marketing and sales experience and is an entrepreneur at heart. Armed with a Bachelors in Computer Science from Arizona State University, she carved a niche in the online world by designing, creating and selling printable games for parties and occasions. Using traditional online strategies like Search Engine Optimization and Google AdWords, Pieczonka leveraged the power of the internet to sell over 10 million games in 103 different countries. Now her focus is on using the power of social media to expand her company's reach to millions more. NAWBO-NW meeting is open to all women business owners. THe event is February 11, 2010 at the Doubletree Hotel in Spokane. Networking begins at 5:30 pm, dinner and presentation to follow at 6:00 pm. Cost is $35 with RSVP prior to noon February 9; $40 after noon February 9. Walk-ins welcome. For more information or to register, visit www.NawboNW.org or call Karin Kasinger at 509-481-3357.

The 22 Annual Inland Northwest RV Show and Sale is this Thursday through Sunday, January 21-14, 2010 at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center. This year’s show will have over 150,000 sq ft of RV's and accessories – 13 million dollars in RV's. From tent trailers to luxurious models that become second homes, there are RV’s that will fit any traveler or outdoor enthusiasts needs and budget. Special 'One-Time' Show discounts will be offered and Factory Reps from around the U.S. will be there to answer questions. More than 50 brands will be represented. Adding to the excitement is the Northern Quest Casino Cash Machine. 30 seconds to grab all the cash you can! With a huge selection of RV’s including campers, 5th wheels, motor homes, mini motor homes, tent and travel trailers, customers will have hours of indoor shopping and entertainment. Regular admission is $7.00 (good all weekend), 12 and under free when with an adult. Thursday, Jan 22 is Senior Day! Show Hours are Thurs Jan 22 – noon to 8p, Friday and Saturday Jan. 23 & 24 - 10a to 8p, Sunday Jan. 25 - 10a to 4p. For additional information, visit www.spokanervshow.com.

The Downtown Doubletree Hotel has just completed a beautiful redesign of their hotel lobby. Designed by Tracey Simpson from IDEA Designs, finishes are porcelain tile from Italy, Axmister Wool carpet from Crossly in South Africa and new furniture made in Bend Oregon using fabric made of 100% post consumer recycled polyester material. Accessories are by Global Views from Chicago, Artwork by Graphic Works in Seattle and lighting by Unilight from Montreal Quebec. The contractor was Linoleum & Carpet City, owner Pete Caruso.

Chocolate Myracles’ is celebrating its 5th year in business and for the 5th consecutive year, are proud to provide truffles to the Northern Quest Resort and Casino for Valentine’s Day. In celebration, a special Valentine’s Day truffle has been developed. The red heart shaped truffle is filled with a delicious bittersweet ganache. So for your Valentine, Chocolate Myracles are the perfect gift. Visit their website at www.chocolatemyracles.com.

The business thought of the week is from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: "The ultimate measure of a person is not where they stand in moments of comfort and convenience, but where they stand at times of challenge and controversy."

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