The Anchorage Senior Center is sponsoring an ongoing series of free seminars about financial planning beginning at 10 a.m. Feb. 11 at the center, 1300 E. 19 St. Financial consultant Mark Browning will speak about the topic, "Taking IRA Distributions Under the New Laws and Maintaining Them for Life." For more information, contact Eileen Burke at 907-258-7823.

The Anchorage Chamber of Commerce is holding its Make It Monday forum at noon Feb. 11 at the 4th Avenue Theatre. Lee Gorsuch, University of Alaska Anchorage; Milton Byrd, Charter College; and Karen Hunt, Alaska Pacific University, will discuss the topic, "The Business of Higher Education." The cost is $14 for members and $20 for others. For additional information, call 907-272-2401 or visit (www.anchoragechamber.org).

The Anchorage Chamber of Commerce Business Connection Breakfast is planned for 7 a.m. Feb. 12 at Harry's restaurant, 101 W. Benson Blvd. The breakfast theme is "Looks Do Count." Greg Solomon, Eric Moore and Bonnie Moore will discuss the topic, "Logos, Marketing, Promotional Material." The prepaid cost is $12 for members and $14 for others. The cost at the door is $14 for members and $16 for others. For reservations or more information, call 907-272-2401.

The Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce and the University of Alaska Fairbanks Alumni Association are sponsoring the Fairbanks North Star Borough district-wide Career Showcase from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 12 at the UAF Wood Center's Carol Brown Ballroom. The event is geared to help students understand specific requirements of different occupations and to connect student's course selection to work. For more information, call 907-452-1105.

The Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Labor and the Anchorage Small Business Development Center are sponsoring a free seminar on employer payroll taxes from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 12 at the Department of Labor, 3301 Eagle St., Room 101. The seminar emphasizes properly preparing employer tax forms and federal tax deposits. For more information, call 907-274-7232.

The Alaska State Chamber of Commerce is presenting the 2002 Legislative Forum from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Feb. 12 and beginning at 8 a.m. and ending with a legislative dinner at 7 p.m. Feb. 13 in Juneau. The forum's theme is "Let's Make a Difference." Brian Porter, speaker of the House of Representatives, and Rick Halford, president of the Senate, are the scheduled speakers. The event is a business opportunity for Alaska's business community. The cost is $150. For more information, call 907-278-2722.

The Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce is holding its general membership luncheon at noon Feb. 12 at the Westmark Fairbanks. Mark Hamilton, president of the University of Alaska, is the scheduled speaker. The Business Spotlight will focus on UA's ROTC and Maj. John Woyte. 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 Feb. 12 at the Riverside House, 44611 Sterling Highway. For more information, call 907-262-9814.

The Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce is holding its weekly luncheon program at noon Feb. 12 at the Mat-Su Resort, 1850 Bogard Road. An optional lunch is available. Program fees are $3 for members and $5 for others. For more information, call 907-376-1299.

WOMEN$fund, a program of YWCA of Anchorage, is offering a bilingual Starting With Success class from 6-8 p.m. beginning Feb. 12 at the Gateway Learning Center, 801 Karluk St. The 12-week entrepreneurship training is taught in English but geared for people whose first language is Spanish. The cost is $300. For additional details, contact Ana Gutierrez-Scholl at 907-276-7035 or e-mail (anaden1@alaska.com).

The Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce is holding its weekly meeting at noon Feb. 13 at the Palmer Moose Lodge, 1136 S. Cobb St. Joe Perkins, commissioner of the state Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, will discuss transportation issues in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. The cost is $9. For additional information, call 907-745-2880.

The Kenai Chamber of Commerce is holding its weekly meeting at noon Feb. 13 at Paradisos Restaurant in downtown Kenai. The luncheon cost is $10.50. For more information, call 907-283-7989.

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough Small Business Development Center is offering a seminar entitled "The Zen of Small Business" from 2-5 p.m. Feb. 13 at the SBDC office, 201 N. Lucille St., Suite 2-A, Wasilla. The seminar will offer some traditional Eastern wisdom as well as more modern leadership teachings to make the most out of small businesses. The seminar is free, but registration is required. For more information, call 907-373-7232.

The Alaskan Apple Users Group is holding its regular monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Feb. 13 at the Anchorage Museum of History and Art. A representative from Microsoft Corp. will demonstrate Office Operating System-10. For more information, call 907-566-0956 or visit (www.akappleug.org).

The Alaska Support Industry Alliance is presenting its breakfast forum at 7 a.m. Feb. 14 at the Petroleum Club of Anchorage, 3301 C St. Breakfast for members cost $13 and $15 for others. Reservations are required. For more information, call 907-563-2226.

The Anchorage Small Business Development Center is sponsoring a seminar on starting a business from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 14 at the SBDC office, 430 W. Seventh Ave. Topics include information access, legal aspects, business insurance, bookkeeping, marketing and finance options. A seminar on developing a business plan is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 15 at the same location. The basic steps in producing a good business plan are covered including researching business ideas, analyzing profitability, understanding the necessary financial statements and considering loan requirements. Individual seminars cost $30; if taken together, the cost is $45. Registration is required. For more information, call 907-274-7232.

The North Peninsula Chamber of Commerce is holding its weekly meeting at noon Feb. 14 at the North Kenai Baptist Church, Kenai Spur Highway, Mile 25, Kenai. The cost is $10. For more information, call 907-283-4388.

The Kenai Peninsula Small Business Development Center is sponsoring a seminar entitled "Financing/Financial Statement" from 1-4 p.m. Feb. 14 at the Soldotna Red Diamond Center, 43335 Kalifornsky Beach Road. The cost is $15. For more information, call 907-262-7497.

The Billikin Chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals is meeting beginning with dinner at 6 p.m. Feb. 14 at the Millennium Hotel Anchorage. Dianne Carr, Carr & Associates, will discuss the topic, "Are You a Real Team Player?" Recipients of the certified administrative professional and certified professional secretary designations will be honored. Kay Bradley will highlight the advantages of professional certification. For reservations, call at 907-345-5411 or visit (www.alaska.net/~billikin).

The Associated Builders and Contractors of Alaska Inc. is planning a Emerging Contractors Training Program workshop from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Feb. 15 at the ABC of Alaska, 3380 C St., Suite 100, in Anchorage. Mart Wilson of Wilson Financial Group will present "Davis-Bacon Management - Covering All of Your Bases: Part 2." The cost is $20 for members and $25 for others. For more information, call 907-565-5600.

The Alaska World Affairs Council is presenting a program at noon Feb. 15 in the Hilton Anchorage Hotel. Anchorage Mayor George Wuerch will present the topic, "A Report from the Arctic Cities Conference in Japan." Program lunch fees are $17 for members and $20 for others. For more information, call 907-276-8038.