Coming Events

Advertiser Staff

BEST BETS

• Representatives of companies as varied as AT&T and Verizon, General Mills and General Motors, and United and Northwest airlines, as well as the FBI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security and the Environmental Protection Agency will be at a free job fair. The fair is scheduled as part of the 30th anniversary national convention of the Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) scheduled Thursday through Sunday. The job fair, scheduled 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel, is open to the public, including recent college graduates and those looking for a career change. Represented will be major corporations, government agencies, local businesses, community organizations, as well as non-profit organizations. No registration necessary; recommended: a copy of one's resume. Information: (202) 223-5500 or www.ocanatl.org.

TUESDAY

• Small-business start-up classes sponsored by the HONOLULU COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM (HCAP) are free to low-income individuals. The series of "Micro Enterprise Training" classes will be held 9 a.m. to noon tomorrow to Thursday at the Windward District Office, 47-232 Waihe'e Road; or Aug. 12 to 14, and Aug. 26 to 28, at the HCAP main office, 1109 Maunakea St., second floor. Topics will include loans, taxes and marketing. Information: 521-4531.

• The MINORITY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER OF HONOLULU will offer free weekly orientation sessions to minority business owners and prospective entrepreneurs. The sessions, scheduled 9 to 10:30 a.m. every Tuesday in the center's offices in Suite 2506 of the Executive Center, 1088 Bishop St., will offer advice on business startup, marketing plans, loans, employee handbooks and access to capital. Free. Reservations: 521-6221.

• A free COMPUTER BOOT CAMP is offered 3 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays to all small business owners interested in using computer technology to improve and expand business operations and management. The program is sponsored by the Small Business Resource Center, in partnership with the Small Business Administration, the city Office of Economic Development, Hawai'i Small Business Development Center Network, Hawai'i Women's Business Center, and SCORE. The program is open to all clients of the center who have attended a center orientation, offered 9 a.m. Tuesdays or 2 p.m. Thursdays at 1041 Nu'uanu Ave., (#A). Attendees will have access to training videos and resource materials. Workshops and free counseling are also offered. Appointments: 522-8130.

WEDNESDAY

• The unpleasant aspects of running a business — such as employee termination — will be among subjects discussed at a workshop, EMPLOYMENT STRATEGIES: Staring your Business in Hawai'i, sponsored by the Hawai'i Women's Business Center. Participating will be representatives of the Better Business Bureau and ALTRES Employment Agency. The workshop is planned 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Small Business Resource Center, 1041 Nu'uanu Ave., Suite A. Small fee. Registration: Oliv'e, 522-8136.

•"EXPANDING YOUR MARKETS BEYOND HAWAI'I'S BORDERS," an "international business workshop," sponsored by the Hawai'i Small Business Development Center Network, will be held 8:15 a.m. (7:30 a.m. registration) to 4 p.m., Wednesday, at the Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki. Topics include the changing rules of the global marketplace, international business success tips, and how to set up a multinational business in Hawai'i. Fee. Information: 522-8131.

THURSDAY

• AMERICAN BUSINESS WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION, Punahele Chapter, dinner meeting, 5:30, Thursday, The Wisteria restaurant. Speakers: Pieper Toyama, Pacific Buddhist Academy, head of school, and Helen Tomiyasu. Reservations required: Tina Kaneshiro, 668-2502.

• ALA MOANA TOASTMASTERS no-host luncheon meetings, with opportunities to improve public and impromptu speaking abilities, noon to 1 p.m., Thursdays, The Wisteria restaurant. Guests welcome. Information: 368-2757.

• The HONOLULU BUSINESS NETWORK, a networking opportunity for small-business owners and professionals, meets 12:01 to 1:15 p.m. Thursdays at Sansei Seafood Restaurant, Restaurant Row. Call: Tracy Nakashima, 525-6028.

FRIDAY

• Registration deadline for a presentation on the latest marketing efforts of the Hawai'i Visitors and Convention Bureau, and Destination Lana'i. The event, "LAna'i island Event — Marketing Advantages," is planned 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. (registration from 5 p.m.) Aug. 12 at the Lana'i Senior Center, on Lana'i. Free. Reservations: 924-0233.

• Early registration deadline for the pau hana social, planned by the Hawai'i Society of Corporate Planners, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Aug. 14, at the Gordon Biersch restaurant at Aloha Tower Marketplace. Fee; non-members welcomed. Information: Roberta Cullen, 537-2356; registration form at www.hscp.org.

UPCOMING

• The spokesperson for the state Department of Transportation, and a former information officer for the fire department will outline the intricacies of being "on call" for the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week at the upcoming luncheon meeting of the INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BUSINESS COMMUNICATORS. Speaking to the group's local chapter will be DOT spokesman Scott ishikawa, and Richard Soo, formerly the fire department's public information officer, now a safety consultant with the Department of Education. The buffet luncheon meeting is scheduled from an 11 a.m. registration, Aug. 13 at The Plaza Club, atop Pioneer Plaza. Fee; non-members welcome. Reservations by noon, Aug. 12. Information: Steve Golden, 535-5913 or www.iabchawaii.com.

• The Ward Avenue office of Edward Jones investment company has scheduled a number of upcoming workshops, each at 320 Ward Ave., Suite 206. Reservations: 596-0076: Retirement planning, 5 p.m., today; entity selection, designed for tax and legal advisers, 8 to 11 a.m., Wednesday, and retirement plans for the small business owner, 2 p.m., Wednesday. A basic investing seminar will also be held 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday in their offices at 1360 S. Beretania St., Suite 304. Information: 543-6034.

Business meetings of general interest are listed in the "Coming Events" column each Monday. Submit notices at least two weeks in advance. By fax: 525-6763. By mail: Coming Events, Business Section, The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802. By e-mail: business@honoluluadvertiser.com.