Confabs

The Anchorage Chamber of Commerce is holding its Make It Monday Forum on the Anchorage School District budget from noon to 1 p.m. Jan. 28 at the 4th Avenue Theatre. Carol Comeau, district superintendent, will present an overview of the budget. The cost is $14 for members and $20 for others. For additional information, call 907-272-2401 or visit (www.anchoragechamber.org).

The University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute is sponsoring a lecture series beginning at 7:15 p.m. Jan. 28 at the University of Alaska Anchorage Wendy Williamson Auditorium. Institute director and physics professor Roger Smith will discuss "Watching the Aurora from Earth and Space." For more information, call 907-474-7558 or visit (www.gi.alaska.edu/InfoOffice/Science_for_Alaska.html).

The U.S. Forest Service, the state Division of Community and Business Development and the Alaska Wilderness Recreation Tourism Association are sponsoring a tourism symposium Jan. 29-31 in Juneau. The symposium, "Working Together - Tourism in Southeast," will feature presentations, panel discussions and small group discussions. The sessions aim to provide a forum for communities, land managers, tour operators and other organizations to share ideas and expertise. Topics include current and emerging trends, visitor demographics, new ideas and initiatives, viewpoints and solutions. The cost is $75. For more information, visit (www.fs.fed.us/r10/workingtogether/index.shtml) or contact Marti Marshall at 907-586-8872.

The Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce is holding its general membership luncheon at noon Jan. 29 at the Westmark Fairbanks. Greg Wolf, director of the state Division of International Trade and Market Development, and Curtis Smith, state business development specialist, are the scheduled speakers. The Business Spotlight focuses on Jennifer Nielson and The Boys & Girls Club. The luncheon cost is $11.25. For more information, call 907-452-1105.

The Greater Soldotna Chamber of Commerce is holding its weekly meeting at noon Jan. 29 at the Riverside House, 44611 Sterling Highway. Paul Gray, Exploring Alaska Show, will feature "Bear Viewing Across the Inlet." For more information, call 907-262-9814.

The Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce is holding its weekly luncheon program at noon Jan. 29 at the Mat-Su Resort, 1850 Bogard Road. Maj. Gen. Phillip Oates, adjutant general of Alaska, will discuss the topic, "Homeland Safety Procedures." An optional lunch is available. Program fees are $3 for members and $5 for others. For more information, call 907-376-1299. The Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce and the Matanuska-Susitna School District are sponsoring a U.S. Air Force Band of the Pacific concert from 7-9 p.m. Jan. 29 at Wasilla High School.

The Anchorage Small Business Development Center is holding its Women's Networking Breakfast from 7:30-9 a.m. Jan. 30 at the University of Alaska Anchorage Commons Building, 3700 Sharon Gagnon Lane. The event is an opportunity for women in the business community to meet, share ideas and foster continued growth of small business in Alaska. A featured speaker is also planned. The cost is $12. Registration is required. For more information, call 907-274-7232.

The Mat-Su Borough Small Business Development Center is offering a free seminar entitled, "Small Business Owner's Tax Return," from 9 a.m. to noon Jan. 30 at the SBDC office, 201 N. Lucille St., Suite 2-A, Wasilla. For more information and registration, call 907-373-7232.

The Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce is holding its weekly meeting at noon Jan. 30 at the Palmer Moose Lodge, 1136 S. Cobb St. Pat Gamble, president and chief executive of the Alaska Railroad Corp., will discuss railroad programs in the Matanuska-Susitna area. The cost is $9. For additional information, call 907-745-2880.

The Kenai Chamber of Commerce is holding its weekly meeting at noon Jan. 30 at Paradisos Restaurant in downtown Kenai. The luncheon cost is $10.50. For more information, call 907-283-7989.

The Alaska Support Industry Alliance is presenting its breakfast forum at 7 a.m. Jan. 31 at the Petroleum Club of Anchorage, 3301 C St. Jim Delaney, president of Nabors Alaska Drilling Inc. and vice chairman of the International Association of Drilling Contractors, is the scheduled speaker. Breakfast for members costs $13 and $15 for others. Reservations are required. For more information, call 907-563-2226.

Junior Achievement of Alaska Inc. will induct four businesspeople to its Alaska Business Hall of Fame during a ceremony Jan. 31 at the Sheraton Anchorage Hotel. The event begins with a reception at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 7 p.m. Honorees include Jacob Adams of Barrow and Anchorage residents Ernie Hall, Suzanne Linford and Loren H. Lounsbury. For more information, call 907-344-0101.

The Southwest Alaska Municipal Conference is conducting its semi-annual conference Jan. 31-Feb. 2 at the Anchorage Marriott Downtown. The theme for the meeting is "Developing Innovative Alliances." Forums will focus on tourism, transportation, fisheries and economic development. At the general membership meeting Feb. 2 members will vote on board seats up for election, take action on proposed resolutions and discuss legislative priorities and policies concerning issues affecting SWAMC regions. For more information, call 907-562-7380 or visit (www.swamc.org).

The Anchorage Small Business Development Center is sponsoring a free seminar on financing a small business from 8:30 a.m. to noon Jan. 31 at the SBDC office, 430 W. Seventh Ave. The seminar covers potential sources and alternatives for financing a small business in Alaska. For registration or additional information, call 907-274-7232.

The North Peninsula Chamber of Commerce is holding its weekly meeting at noon Jan. 31 at North Kenai Baptist Church, Kenai Spur Highway, Mile 25, Kenai. The cost is $10. For more information, call 907-283-4388.

The Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce and the Cottonwood Creek Mall are holding a technology fair from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Feb. 1 and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 2 at the mall. Traffic-building seminars and events are scheduled. Information about the latest technology in computers, wireless and networking systems will be available. The Matanuska-Susitna Job Center will feature an online employment booth. For more information, call 907-376-1299.

The Alaska World Affairs Council is presenting a program at noon Feb. 1 in the Hilton Anchorage Hotel. Program lunch fees are $17 for members and $20 for others. For more information, call 907-276-8038.

The Associated Builders and Contractors of Alaska Inc. is planning an Emerging Contractors Training Program workshop entitled "Davis-Bacon Management - Covering All Your Bases: Part 1" from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Feb. 1 at ABC of Alaska, 3380 C St., Suite 100, in Anchorage. Warren Petrasek from the state Department of Labor is the workshop trainer. The cost is $20 for members and $25 for others. For more information, call 907-565-5600.

The Alaska Technology Transfer Center is conducting a free workshop from 10 a.m. to noon Feb. 1 at the Small Business Development Center, 430 W. Seventh Ave., Anchorage. The session will discuss the Small Business Innovation Research Program, a federal grant program. To register, call 907-274-7232.

The 18th annual Wholesale Alaskan Gift Show is open to qualified buyers for gift shops, hotels and department stores Feb. 2-3 at the Egan Civic & Convention Center in Anchorage. Admission is free for the event which runs from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 2 and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 3. For more information, call 907-452-7469.