CHAMBER UPDATE – Week of January 26, 2009

Today is the Deadline to Register for Our Upcoming Health Care Issues Workshop!

Member Events & Announcements

you are invited to a special night

at knife & fork!

wednesday, january 27

chef nate will be joined by guest chefs

paul feldman & james woody

in the creation of a special 4-course asian inspired dinner

the cost is $25 per person

please call 828-765-1511

for more details and to make reservations

Mountainside Wine is hosting the Spruce Pine Farmers’ Market on Saturday, January 30th from noon until 4pm. Come for artisan breads, farm-fresh eggs, free-range chicken, jams & jellies, baked goods and more. The Market will be at Mountainside Wine on the last Saturday of the month from now until the Outdoor Market opens in the Spring.

Little Switzerland Centennial is seeking a Director for its Centennial play, “A Story of Place.”

This is a non-profit community event scheduled for two showings in Little Switzerland in June 2010

Please direct inquiries to info@littleswitzerlandcentennial.com.

Upcoming Classes Offered by the Small Business Center at Mayland Community College:

Free Seminar: Self-Produced Video Advertising

Have you ever thought about using video ads for your business? Companies are now using YouTube ™ to advertise their business’ goods and services. Come learn how to do this yourself. The class is at the Spruce Pine Campus of Mayland Community College on Thursday, January 28 from 6:00 - 9:00 PM. Call 828-765-7351 x 249 to preregister or x 227 for more information.

Free Seminar: How to Incorporate Your Business

Incorporation is an essential tool to protect your personal assets. We will show you the steps to incorporate your business in North Carolina. We will discuss the incorporation process, what forms are required, how much does it cost, and what happens after your incorporation becomes official. The class will include “C” and “S” corporations, Limited Liability Companies (LLC’s), and Limited Liability Partnerships (LLP’s). The class is at the Spruce Pine Campus of Mayland Community College on Tuesday, February 2 from 6:00 - 9:00 PM. Call 828-765-7351 x 249 to preregister or x 227 for more information.

Free Seminar: Tax Issues for Corporations

Once you incorporate your business, figuring out what taxes to pay can be frustrating. This class will show you what documents need to be filed, what the schedule is for filing, and how to prepare your paperwork. We will cover the paperwork for “S” corporations, Limited Liability Companies (LLC’s), and Limited Liability Partnerships (LLP’s). The class is at the Spruce Pine Campus of Mayland Community College on Wednesday, February 3 from 6:00 - 9:00 PM. Call 828-765-7351 x 249 to preregister or x 227 for more information.

Member Special Offers

Shoji Spa & Lodge is offering a Valentine's Day Special!

Valentine Date:

· 50 Minute Massage

· Super Hydrating Body Treatment

· One Hour Private Hot Tub

· Hot Cedar Sauna

2 Hour Date

Single 163 Double 272

Valentine reTreat:

· 80 Minute Massage

· Green Tea Body Wrap

· Sake Foot Scrub

· One Hour Private Hot Tub

· Hot Cedar Sauna

· Shower Sugar Scrub

3 Hour reTreat

Single 205 Double 405

For more information, visit www.shojiretreats.com.

Weekly Restaurant Specials

765-5289

Wednesday Casserole

Amish Chicken Cornbread Bake

Slow roasted chicken mixed with sautéed mushrooms and cranberries. Topped with imported cheeses and baked with a sweet potato-cornbread topping. This dish was the 1st place winner of the 2005 National Martha White Cornbread Festival. Submitted by Sandi Klinger of Gulf Shores Alabama.

A dish that serves 9 …..$27.00

A dish that serves 4 to 5…….$21.00

Asheville Nonprofit Experts to Lead Local Workshop

Two highly regarded leaders in the western North Carolina nonprofit community will host a workshop to help nonprofit board, staff, and volunteers do a better job with their organization. The leaders are Kim McGuire and Beth Maczda, and the workshop they will lead is Nonprofit 101 scheduled for Tuesday, February 9, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Sam Center at Mayland Community College in Spruce Pine. The cost is $30 with lunch and materials provided.

Kim McGuire serves as WNC Nonprofit Pathways’ Director. McGuire supervised grantmaking at the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina from 1991-2002 and has over 20 years of experience in both staff and volunteer leadership roles within the nonprofit sector. She has been the Executive Director of WNC Nonprofit Pathways since its inception. The goal of the organization is to link local nonprofit leaders with learning opportunities, resources and support to help them become more effective in serving the community. Their website is www.nonprofitpathways.org.

Beth Maczda is a Program Officer with the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina. She has served as an attorney with Pisgah Legal Services in Asheville, as Executive Director of the Affordable Housing Coalition of Asheville and Buncombe County, and as the Western Branch Director of the Self-Help Credit Union. Beth is frequently in Mitchell and Yancey counties serving as a Community Foundation of Western North Carolina liaison with two affiliates, the Yancey Foundation and the Foundation for Mitchell County.

Six essential nonprofit topics will be covered in the workshop, and ample time will be given for questions and answers. A special feature will be a discussion of the new Common Grant approach, which has begun to be instituted by some grantmakers. Dr. Dan Barron and Susan Larson will join the discussion of what area nonprofit leaders would like to see offered in future MainPRO (Mountain Area Information for Nonprofits) workshops to make their jobs easier.

To learn more about the workshop and to register and pay on-line, go to www.amyregionallibrary.org/MainPRO. Questions may be directed to Susan Larson at susielarson@earthlink.net or 828-765-2652.

Member Spotlight: City Drive In

The City Drive In is a nostalgic drive-in restaurant in downtown Spruce Pine. In operation for over 50 years, City Drive In offers good food—not fast food. Contact them for hand-made hamburgers, foot-long hot dogs, weekly plate specials and so much more. Service in your car or just call it in. One on-line review states: "Best burgers ever; all the way with cheese, chili, slaw, mustard and onions. Yummy!"

The restaurant is currently owned & operated by Mike Long and Allen Ward. Open year round, the hours are 7:00 am to 7:00 pm Tuesday through Saturday. Visit them at 670 Oak Avenue or call ahead—765-4480.