May 17, 2012
From Idea to Income ~ A Free Non-Credit Course
6:00 - 9:00pm
North Quabbin Entrepreneurship Center
80 Freedom Street,
Athol, MA 01331
Have you ever thought of starting a small business of your own? If so, come to learn about entrepreneurship, how to test your idea, and next steps. If you have wondered, "Do I have the 'right stuff?'" and, "What's it really like to be my own boss," come to get your questions answered by small business experts.
Courses fill quickly. Please register so you won't miss out. Contact Teresita Encarnacion, MWCC Workforce Development, 978-630-9575 ~ t_encarnacion@mwcc.mass.edu or register at 978-630-9525
(WD618 ~ CRN11067)
May 17, 2012
Delightful Daylilies
Free for Members/Guests $5
7:00 pm
Millers River Environmental Center, 100 Main St., Athol
Presented by Denise Pavlovich, owner of Covered Bridge Perennials in Pepperell, and a member of the board of directors of the New England Daylily Society. Offered by the North Quabbin Garden Club.
May 17- 20, 2012
Harvey - An Athol Community Theater Production
Athol Town Hall
May 17-19: 7:00 pm
May 20: 2:00 pm
Tickets available at the door, or can be purchased by calling 978-249-9090 or by emailing atholcommunitytheater@gmail.com
May 18, 2012
Volunteer Leaders Wanted! Training Day
9am to 1pm
Franklin County Home Care
330 Montague City Road, Suite 1, Turners Falls, MA
For more information or to register, call Suzanne Sweeney at 413-498-2186 Ext. 14 or 413-498-2901. Read more at www.fchcc.org.
May 18, 2012
May Coalition Forum
9:00-10:30am
Summer Youth Opportunities Fair
Athol-Orange Elks Club
92 New Athol Road (Rt. 2A), Orange, MA
978-249-3703
May 18, 2012
Friday Mornings with Earle
Free
8:45am
Join naturalist Earle Baldwin in exploring the Newton Reservoir spillway to Buckman Brook. Meet at the Millers River Environmental Center. Rain cancels.Info: Earle Baldwin, earlebaldwin@gmail.com or 978-249-9436.
May 19, 2012
Healthy Smiles Family Fun Day
Free
10:00am - 2:00pm
Athol Orange Elks Lodge,
92 New Athol Road, Orange MA
978-249-3703 ~ info@nqcc.org
Free dental screenings, tricycle rodeo with free helmets, programs for families, arts and crafts, face painting, book swap, information about summer activities, and summer reading program.
May 19, 2012
Joan & Larry & the Birds of Athol Excersion
Free
7:00am
This excursion around Newton Reservoir will be led by expert birders Joan and Larry Duprey. Meet at the Millers River Environmental Center. Heavy rain cancels. Info: Larry Duprey, 978-235-6581 or Larry_Duprey@hotmail.com
15pm: Lunch and Raffle DrawingFor info or to register, call 978-544-7794
May 19, 2012
7th Annual Plant Sale
8:00 am - 1:00 pm
Millers River Environmental Center, 100 Main Street, Athol
Delightful plants from the gardens of the North Quabbin Garden Club.
May 20, 2012
Jeff and the Birds of Athol Excersion
Free
7:00am
Join Jeff as he explores Athol for spring migrant birds. Come for as long as your schedule allows. Meet at the Millers River Environmental Center. Severe weather cancels. Info: Jeff Johnstone, 978-249-9052.
May 21, 2012
NQ System of Care Meeting
10:00am
West River Health Center
May 21, 2012
What is a Business Plan? ~ A Free Non-Credit Course
6:00 - 9:00pm
North Quabbin Entrepreneurship Center
80 Freedom Street,
Athol, MA 01331
If your business is small, very small, or just being hatched, a business plan provides the guiding instrument for your direction, growth and expansion. Learn about the benefits of business planning, how to turn your ideas into an effective plan, and why bankers and attorneys recommend business planning.
Courses fill quickly. Please register so you won't miss out. Contact Teresita Encarnacion, MWCC Workforce Development, 978-630-9575 ~ t_encarnacion@mwcc.mass.edu or register at 978-630-9525
(WD604 - CRN 11066)
May 21, 2012
Providing Positive Behavorial Supports
6:00 - 8:00pm
North Quabbin Family Support Center
361 Main Street, Athol, MA
May 23, 2012
Athol Area United Way 29th Annual Campaign Finale, Awards Presentations and Golf Ball Drop
5:30 pm
Ellinwood Country Club, 1948 Pleasant Street, Athol
Tickets for Ball Drop available at the Athol YMCA and Country Line Lumber, 199 Petersham Road, Athol
Respond by May 20 at 978-249-2353 or uway1@verizon.net
May 25, 2012
Friday Mornings with Earle
Free
8:45am
Join naturalist Earle Baldwin in exploring a forgotten road from a fisherman’s kiosk to Raven Trestle and the Burned River Plain. Meet at the Millers River Environmental Center. Rain cancels.Info: Earle Baldwin, earlebaldwin@gmail.com or 978-249-9436.
May 30, 2012
Economic Development Task Force Meeting
5:00 pm
NQCC Offices, 427 Main Street, Athol
May 31, 2012
25th Annual Chamber Golf Tournament
Shotgun Start 12:30pm
Ellinwood Country Club
1928 Pleasant Street, Athol, MA
Individual Player - $75.00 (includes dinner)
Foursome - $300.00 (includes dinner)
Call Maria Bull at
978-249-3849
June 1, 2012
Resilency: Its Important in Transitional Age Youth
10:00 am - 12:00 Noon
797 Worthington Street, Springfield at
CHD's Community Adolescent Tx program
Given by Dr. Glen Lowery, Clinical Director of Gandara's DYS Group Home in Springfield, MA. Following his presentation we will have a panel of young adults who will talk about what they found to help motivate them to make neccessary changes in their lives AND what keeps them going today. We hope to have several young adults who've been involved with DCF, DYS, DMH and the Adult corrections system. Space is limited. Contact Tom Verdi, LICSW, at 413-783-0781 x4923 or tverdi@chd.org.
June 4, 2012
From Idea to Income
Free
6:00 - 9:00 pm
North Quabbin Entrepreneurship Center (NQEC)
80 Freedom Street, Athol, MA
If you have thought of starting a small business of your own, come to learn about entrepreneurship, how to test your idea, and next steps. If you have wondered, “Do I have the right stuff,” and “What’s it really like to be my own boss,” come to get your questions answered by small business experts.
Click here for brochure.
June 5, 2012
Substance Abuse Prevention Task Force Meeting
10:00am
NQCC Offices, 427 Main Street, Athol
June 5 & 19, 2012
Basic Financial Accounting Concepts for Managers
6:00 - 9:00 pm
Tuesday & Thursday
North Quabbin Entrepreneurship Center (NQEC)
80 Freedom Street, Athol, MA
Today’s managers, whether supervisors or senior executives, are expected to understand and use financial and operational measures, prepare and utilize budgets, respond to inquiries about the financial consequences of actions taken by them or by their department or team, and understand and use financial and accounting terminology, the common language of business measurement. This course treats finance and accounting from the perspective of users of financial information, enhances your ability to communicate effectively with subordinates, other managers, senior executives, and accounting and finance professionals. It’ll offer managers the ability to use and analyze financial information to improve the performance of their operations and to identify and avoid potential problems. Prepare budgets, read, understand, and use financial and operational measures, manage short-term assets, and relate department performance to the big picture. $199 - Click here for brochure.
June 6, 2012
A Chance to Parent Conference
Serving Parents with Cognitive Limitations
8:30am-4:00pm
Greenfield Community College Conference Center
One College Drive, Greenfield, MA
Featuring a Parent Panel and workshop on Training Service Providers to Work with Parents with Cognitive Limitations. Schedule and registration available at www.unitedarc.org. For additional information, contact Sue Jones at 413-863-2082 or suejones@unitedarc.org.
June 9, 2012
From Idea to Income
Free
6:00 - 9:00 pm
North Quabbin Entrepreneurship Center (NQEC)
80 Freedom Street, Athol, MA
If you have thought of starting a small business of your own, come to learn about entrepreneurship, how to test your idea, and next steps. If you have wondered, “Do I have the right stuff,” and “What’s it really like to be my own boss,” come to get your questions answered by small business experts.
Click here for brochure.
June 9, 2012
Solidarity Saturday Tour
Free
10:00 - 11:30am
978-544-9023
solidarity@seedsofsolidarity.org ~ www.seedsofsolidarity.org
June 9, 2012
No-Till Gardening for Life
Free
1:00 - 3:00pm
978-544-9023
solidarity@seedsofsolidarity.org ~ www.seedsofsolidarity.org
June 10, 2012
Bearsden Revisited
Free
10:00am
Join Allen Young, author of North of Quabbin Revisited, for a hike in Bearsden Woods along the Observation Hill and Thousand Acre Brook trails, a moderate loop of about 3-4 miles. Meet at the Millers River Environmental Center for car-pooling to the trail head. Bring sturdy shoes, water, and a picnic lunch. Info: Allen Young, ay114@columbia.edu or
978-249-7612.
June 11, 2012
The Hidden Curriculum
6:00 - 8:00pm
North Quabbin Family Support Center
361 Main Street, Athol, MA
June 12, 2012
Accessible Birding with Joe
Free
8:00-10:00am
Millers River Environmental Center, 100 Main Street, Athol
Call ahead for wheelchair van access, 978-248-9491.
www.millersriver.net
June 12, 2012
4th Annual Moth Ball
Free
9:00pm
Join ABNC president Dave Small and naturalist Lula Field at Dave and Shelley’s house, 1542 Pleasant Street, Athol, to search for lunas, underwings, silkmoths and other night flying insects. Participants are invited to bring their tents, snacks to share and favorite moth baits. (Don’t know what those are? You’ll find out!) Info: Dave Small, 978-413-1772 or Dave@dhsmall.net
June 14, 2012
MRC/NQCC Advisory Board Meeting
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
North Quabbin Community Coalition Offices
427 Main Street, Athol
This is a group of HR and Business Professionals who will gather and network to assist consumers from the Masssachusertts Rehabilitation Commission. It will provide a forum where our consumers will get face-to-face assistance with tweaking their resumes and elevator speeches (interviews) to maximize their success when actually on an employment interview. Refreshments will be served.
Contact Linda Rosen, M.Ed., C.R.C., L.R.C., Job Placement Specialist, at 413-774-2326, ext. 122, or linda.rosen@mrc.state.ma.us
June 15, 2012
Social Media Training
The Benefits of Social Media for Business
12:00 – 1:00 pm
MWCC Gardner Campus
444 Green Street, Gardner, MA in the North Café
Are you taking advantage of major social media networking venues like Facebook and Twitter? This session is an introduction to the maze of communities, platforms, and social media tools with the goal of building effective Internet-based marketing campaigns. Social media was designed to provide users with a means to connect and interact on a much more personalized and dynamic level than through traditional marketing. This overview is helpful as a standalone session or as the first session of five, designed to help you uncover which venues may be beneficial to your company. Learn the role social media may play and which networking tools would be helpful in building a stronger business presence for your business. Cost per person/per session: $10.00* with pre-registration (preferred). Walk-In: $13.00*.
*Includes complimentary picnic lunch.
June 21 - July 5, 2012
Intermediate Financial Accounting Concepts for Managers (Beyond the Basics)
6:00 - 9:00 pm
Tuesday & Thursday
North Quabbin Entrepreneurship Center (NQEC)
80 Freedom Street, Athol, MA
You’ll ease into each topic with a review of the basic terms and concepts, gradually build on the knowledge you already have, and never get bogged down in technical terminology that only an accountant or financial analyst would understand. Participants will learn how to use cost accounting methods to help optimize profit planning and strategic planning, apply financial knowledge to gain support for new plans, products, projects, or purchases, see the real importance of budgets and how they relate to goals of their department and organization, prepare on-target sales, production, and cash budgets, make informed management decisions by analyzing them from a financial point of view, and examine the performance of their department or product line so realistic bottom-line goals can be established. $199 - Click here for brochure.
June 22, 2012
Coalition Annual Luncheon
11:30am - 2:00pm, Athol Orange Elks Lodge, 92 New Athol Road, Orange MA
978-249-3703 ~ info@nqcc.org
June 22, 2012
Social Media Training
Using Google Analytics to Maximize Your Website Traffic
12:00 – 1:00 pm
MWCC Gardner Campus
444 Green Street, Gardner, MA in the North Café
Are you examining your company’s website traffic? In this session you will gain insight into assessing visitor traffic and what that means for your business. Learn more about how this free service offered by Google generates detailed statistics about website visitors. If you are interested in an important overview of search engine optimization, as it pertains to your business, as well as how to install Google Analytics, then register for this session. Cost per person/per session: $10.00* with pre-registration (preferred). Walk-In: $13.00*.
*Includes complimentary picnic lunch.
June 23, 2012
Joan & Larry & the Birds of Athol
Free
7:00am
This excursion into Cass Meadow with expert birders Joan and Larry Duprey will meet at the Alan E. Rich Environmental Park, near 50 Main Street in Athol. Heavy rain cancels. Info: Larry Duprey, 978-235-6581 or Larry_Duprey@hotmail.com
June 23, 2012
Bugs at Night
Free
9:00pm
Join ABNC president Dave Small and naturalist Lula Field as we travel to the home of biologist Julie Lisk and photographer and naturalist Tom Murray at 63 Spencer Road in Groton, MA, for an evening of observing moths, beetles, caddisflies and other insects attracted to lights. Bring your point and shoot digital (or other) camera and flashlight. RSVP: Julie Lisk at julielisk@gmail.com or 978/272-1151.
July 10 - 24, 2012
Budgeting for Your Company
6:00 - 9:00 pm
Tuesday & Thursday
North Quabbin Entrepreneurship Center (NQEC)
80 Freedom Street, Athol, MA
You’ll learn how to develop, implement, and maintain departmental budgets that support and contribute to the goals of the company as a whole. Covering both the planning and controlling sides of the budget system, you’ll learn how to document the company's goals and performance objectives in financial terms and how to interpret the comparison of actual results with budgeted results. The learning objective is to develop and maintain an effective budgeting system.
$199 - Click here for brochure.
July 13, 2012
Social Media Training
Making Money with Facebook
12:00 – 1:00 pm
MWCC Gardner Campus
444 Green Street, Gardner, MA in the North Café
Are you utilizing Facebook to promote your business? Capitalize on Facebook features to bring your business message to prospective customers. There is an art to developing page content to increase attention. If you are curious about how to bring your message to a wider audience via the Web and move beyond traditional advertising, then join us to learn how Facebook could be an effective marketing tool for your business. Cost per person/per session: $10.00* with pre-registration (preferred). Walk-In: $13.00*.
*Includes complimentary picnic lunch.
July 23 - August 13, 2012
Starting Your Own Business
6:00 - 9:00 pm
Monday
North Quabbin Entrepreneurship Center (NQEC)
80 Freedom Street, Athol, MA
One of the most important reasons for small business failure is the lack of knowledge about basic procedures necessary to get to a good start. This course will include coverage of effective marketing strategies, organizational structure, management control, accounting basics, and sources of financing for the small business owner.
$119 - Click here for brochure.
July 26 - August 9, 2012
Interpretation of Financial Statements
6:00 - 9:00 pm
Tuesday & Thursday
North Quabbin Entrepreneurship Center (NQEC)
80 Freedom Street, Athol, MA
This course offers a basic introduction to financial statements. It explains in detail what information is contained in different financial reports, what analyses you can use to bring it out, and how to relate it to the overall health of the business. Participants will learn how to view financial statements in the context of the external economic conditions, read and interpret balance sheets, income statements, and statements of cash flows from a management perspective, and apply the right type of analysis (ratio, vertical, horizontal) to the right statement to uncover the information you need.
$199 - Click here for brochure.
July 27, 2012
Social Media Training
Profitable E-mail Marketing Strategies
12:00 – 1:00 pm
MWCC Gardner Campus
444 Green Street, Gardner, MA in the North Café
Are you leveraging e-mail marketing campaigns to promote your business? In this session you will learn to take advantage of e-mail marketing campaigns to build business. Gain insightful techniques into the strategies of an effective campaign and how to measure or analyze those e-mail program and campaign results. If you’ve ruled out e-mail marketing simply because it was introduced a decade prior to social networking, reconsider the importance of it for your business. Cost per person/per session: $10.00* with pre-registration (preferred). Walk-In: $13.00*.
*Includes complimentary picnic lunch.
August 10, 2012
Social Media Training
Trailblazing with Twitter
12:00 – 1:00 pm
MWCC Gardner Campus
444 Green Street, Gardner, MA in the North Café
Are you looking to gain a competitive advantage? Twitter is one of the fast growing online platforms that is being used for communication and conversation. If you are a small business and actually using Twitter, you are likely about ten steps ahead of every other small business. This could be one of a few initiatives that may work well for your company if your objective is to gain increased exposure while exploring the array of social media applications available to your business. Discover why and how Twitter may become a marketing tool for your organization. Cost per person/per session: $10.00* with pre-registration (preferred). Walk-In: $13.00*.
*Includes complimentary picnic lunch.
August 14 - 28, 2012
Project Management Risks and Cost Analysis
6:00 - 9:00 pm
Tuesday & Thursday
North Quabbin Entrepreneurship Center (NQEC)
80 Freedom Street, Athol, MA
This course will focus on risk in the context of project management, primarily in the area of risk’s effects on project costs, with emphasis on the many modern tools that help you and your organization quantify and manage project risk. We will follow the basic project risk management approach as laid out in A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide), 4th Edition, popularly known as the PMBOK® Guide. The participants will perform a formal risk and cost analysis, apply the Earned Value Method to risk management, and adjust schedule and budget reserves appropriately for your project conditions.
$199 - Click here for brochure.
August 15, 2012
Grow Food at Schools
$25.00
1:00 - 4:00pm
Geared toward educators, PDPs available.
978-544-9023
solidarity@seedsofsolidarity.org ~ www.seedsofsolidarity.org
August 18, 2012
Living Your Green Dream: A Workshop for Couples
$125 per couple
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
978-544-9023
solidarity@seedsofsolidarity.org ~ www.seedsofsolidarity.org
August 22, 2012
Starting Your Own Direct Sales Company Today
6:00 - 9:00 pm
North Quabbin Entrepreneurship Center (NQEC)
80 Freedom Street, Athol, MA
There are several different ways to start your own direct sales company. You can either sell for an existing company or create your own direct sales business from scratch. A direct sales business allows you to connect with customers one-on-one, in groups, home parties, through online sales, catalog sales or by phone. People in the direct selling industry are often known as independent consultants, distributors or representatives. Join us! Learn more about exciting business opportunities in your local community from examples; Mary Kay, Pampered Chef®, Scentsy Candles and Tupperware consultants. They'll share their own personal experiences and tips, make starting your own direct sales company so much easier. Let these Consultants be your guide! $20 - Click here for brochure.
August 24, 2012
Workforce Training Fund Grant Information Session
12:30 – 1:30 pm
MWCC Gardner Campus
444 Green Street, Gardner, MA in the North Café
Mike Corcoran, Supervisor of Operations at the Workforce Training Fund, will present information to businesses about recent changes to the Workforce Training Fund as well as the process of accessing training dollars for companies in the North Central Massachusetts region. The Workforce Training Fund is a state fund financed entirely by Massachusetts employers. Its purpose is to provide resources to Massachusetts businesses and workers to train current and newly hired employees. This is a great opportunity for companies that are invested in training to learn more about how to apply and receive grant funding for their business. Cost per person/per session: $10.00* with pre-registration (preferred). Walk-In: $13.00*.
*Includes complimentary picnic lunch.
September 29 & 30, 2012
14th Annual North Quabbin Garlic and Arts Festival
Free
10:00 - 11:30 am
Foster's Farm, Orange
October 20, 2012
Solidarity Saturday Tour and Open Market
Free
Tour - 10:00 - 11:00 am
Market - 12:00 - 3:00pm
978-544-9023
solidarity@seedsofsolidarity.org ~ www.seedsofsolidarity.org