New workshop series offers a chance to learn new skills

 SANDPOINT — The Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce’s Business Development Committee is launching a new workshop series, the 2009 TGIF Lunch n’ Learn presented by the Bonner Business Center.

To kick off this new series, the first workshop is “Stress in Sandpoint versus on the Beach in Cabo” — a perfect start for New Year’s resolutions. Instructor Linda Spagon, executive director of Life Skills Northwest, will teach tools to living a healthy and energetic lifestyle. This workshop is from noon-1:30 p.m. on Friday.

The TGIF Lunch n’ Learn series will continue throughout the year.

Upcoming workshop topics include marketing to Canadians, why it pays to have fun in the workplace, how to make the most of the career fair, retirement and college planning, beyond customer service, health benefit options for small businesses on a shoestring budget, budgeting bonanza, netweaving, how to make the most of the business expo, what’s in your message, and leveraging the Internet to grow your business.  

Committee members said they were pleased to provide the new workshops.

“We are always looking for ways to improve the overall health of our community businesses,” said Michael Aerni, chairman of the committee. “Through our Project Success program and now the Lunch n’ Learn Series, we are making a difference.”

Each workshop will be held at Pend Oreille Services, located on Highway 95 North in Ponderay, from noon to 12:30 p.m. on the third Friday of each month, with some additional workshops prior to two of the committee’s major events, the 2009 Career Fair on April 29 and the 2009 Business Expo on Oct. 8. The cost for each workshop is $12 for chamber members and $15 for non-members and includes a lunch, and three of the workshops will be complimentary.

The series is sponsored by MetLife Home Loans and Pend Oreille Services.

Information: online, www.sandpointchamber.com; or phone, (208) 263-0887