Action eUpdate for Week of April 19

Chamber Member/ Community
Events & Workshops

Starting Friday, April 2: Burrito Wraps Mexican Grill, located at 688 Crescent Street, Brockton is serving Margaritas with their food.

Wednesday, April 21: Attend a FREE SBA workshop designed to highlight the various SBA programs and services that are available to prospective or current entrepreneurs who need assistance in starting or expanding their business. General information will be provided on the following: Small Business Counseling (SCORE), Small Business / Development Centers · Business Information Center SBA 7(a) · Loan Guaranty Program · 8(a) Business Development HUB/Zones · Small Disadvantaged Business Assistance · Government Contracting Opportunities The workshop will be held at CareerWorks, 34 School Street, Brockton from 2 - 4 pm on the third Wednesday of each month. Contact CareerWorks at 508.513.3400 for further workshop information.

Wednesday, April 21: Money Management for Small Business, Weymouth Public Library, 46 Broad Street, Weymouth You provide great products and services for your customers, but feel you're not capitalizing on the full financial potential of your business. This workshop can put on the path to better financial results. Get practical advice you can use right away to improve cash flow, increase profits and get your business on a more secure financial footing. Workshop topics include improving profit; managing cash flow including inventory management, vendor management, and receivables management; analyzing financial results; and managing when cash is tight. This workshop is free for Chamber Members and is $25 for non-members. Register by calling Lisa Keene at 508.586.0500 x 225 or email lkeene@metrosouthchamber.com

Thursday, April 22: CoWorx Staffing Servicesaccepting resumes and conducting on-site interviews to fill vacancies for full and part-time warehouse worker, machine operator and customer service positions throughout Southeastern Massachusetts. 9:30 am -11:30 am at Self Help Inc., 142 Crescent Street, Brockton. For more information, contact Mary Beth Santon at CoWorx at 781-930-3120 x 170.

Thursday, April 22: Hollywood Quiz Show at 2pm at the Westgate Mall. Test your knowledge in a fun game show setting during April Break! This event is for kids in grades 2 thru 6, ages 7 thru 12. We hope to see you in the Children's Play Area in front of Sears at 2pm. Meet and greet K.O. from the Brockton ROX at 3:30 pm.

Saturday, April 24: Visit The Children's Museum in Easton as they Celebrate Spring Fling! from 12-4pm. Celebrate the great outdoors while learning about creating your own family garden and how important community gardens are to us. Activities include "Going Green in Your Backyard" where kids will learn (and meet!) about the animals that live in their own backyard and explore how they survive. Other activities include planting a starter herb garden with Miss Candy, learning about organic gardening and exploring various farming equipment that will be there throughout the day, and much more. Call 508-230-3789 for more information.

Saturday, April 24: Keep Brockton Beautiful Day. For the past 5 years, the City of Brockton and its residents have come together to make sure that our City puts its best foot forward in the Spring. The City and the CDC want you to help take back our neighborhoods. Lets all help "Keep the Scene Clean"! This event has proven to be a great way to meet new people and at the same time, show off your "Brockton Pride"! Stick around for food and fun. Contact Fredson Gomes for more information or to sign up as a volunteer, 508-588-4049 x 118.

Saturday, April 24: Come visit The Children's Museum in Eastonduring the "Spring Fling"from Noon-4:00 p.m. for a day of fun and seasonal activities to celebrate nature and the great outdoors. There will be a special presentation of "Going Green in Your Backyard" by Animal World Experience of Stoughton at 1 p.m., where kids will learn about and meet some of the animals that live in their own backyard and explore how they survive. They will also be able to plant a starter herb garden with Miss Candy, learn about organic gardening, and explore various farming equipment. There will also be crafts, music, and snacks throughout the day. Call 508-230-3789 for more information.

Sunday, April 25: More than 1,500 friends of old Colony Hospice will set out on either a 2-mile or a 4-mile loop at the Irish Cultural Centre campus in Canton to honor the memory of a loved one of a friend at the 12th Memorial Stepping Out for Old Colony Hospice Walk. We walk rain or shine. Whether you walk as an individual or as part of a team, you will embark on a journey to help raise funds that will make a difference in the life of a hospice patient today. Check in as at 11:30 am and the walk begins at 12:30 pm. For more information or to register, visit www.oldcolonyhospice.com.

Tuesday, April 27 & Wednesday, April 28: Good Samaritan Medical Center "One-Stop Shopping" for cholesterol, blood sugar (glucose), body mass and blood pressure screenings at the Trinity Baptist Church, 1367 Main St, Brockton. Tuesday: from 2-5pm. Wednesday: from 5-7pm.

Tuesday, April 27: Brockton Area Workforce Investment Board Open House, 8am- 9:30 am. There will be a door prize and refreshments will be served. Please respond by April 13 to 508-584-3235 or email admin@bawib.org. BAWIB, located on the 2nd floor at 34 School Street provides current members of the workforce and those seeking employment with the training they need.

Tuesday, April 27: The Community Bank's Women's Business Exchange is hosting a seminar entitled, "Build Your Own Business Braintrust" on Tuesday, April 27th beginning at 9:00am at Thorny Lea Golf Club, Brockton, MA. Kathy Robbins, founder of Three C's Coaching and Therapy, will discuss how to select the right people to be in a business brain trust, develop an advisory team to make life more manageable and create an accessible support network. The event will feature a light breakfast and an opportunity for networking. Registration will be online only. Kindly visit www.communitybank.com to register by 4/20. Please register early, seating is limited to 50 guests.

Wednesday, April 28: 13th Annual Career Day at The Shaw's Center in Brockton from 8:15-11:45. This initiative is designed as an opportunity to build stronger connections between schools and the community. By connecting schools with area businesses and organizations, students can see the meaning and relevance of what they are learning in school, invigorating the school culture and the classroom, while they begin to consider their potential careers. Businesses, organizations, and High Schools wishing information on participation can contact Cheryl Showstack, Educational Outreach Manager at 508-427-4010.

Wednesday, April 28: Good Samaritan Medical Center continues to offer "one-stop shopping" for cholesterol, blood sugar (glucose), body mass and blood pressure screenings during two days next week. The next screenings will be held on Tuesday, April 27 from 2-5 p.m. and Wednesday, April 28 from 5-7 p.m. at the Trinity Baptist Church, 1367 Main Street. The goal is to make these screenings accessible to people in the community with potential health issues and are open to people of all ages. No insurance is necessary to undergo the screening. Call 1-800-488-5959 to register.

Wednesday, April 28:Brockton residents will be able to voice their concerns at a public forum discussing Mayor's Task Force Reports and Findings. All of the task force chairpersons and Mayor Balzotti will be in attendance. 7pm at the Plouffe Academy Cafetorium. To read the task force reports, visit www.brockton.ma.us.

Wednesday, April 28: The Joseph W. Martin Institute for Law and Society will be screening "The Skin Quilt Project",a film that addresses the issue of colorism within the African-American community through stories of African-American quilters. The event will take place in the Martin Institute Auditorium at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 28. The Martin Institute is on the campus of Stonehill College, 320 Washington Street, North Easton, MA. There is plenty of free parking in Lot 11 behind the Sports Complex with a short walk to Martin Institute. http://www.stonehill.edu/x10444.xml

Thursday, April 29: The second session of Sandler Training Sales Seminar at the Metro South Chamber of Commerce: "Upset about long sales cycles? Tired of giving unpaid consulting? Strategies on how to move your opportunities forward!" Sandler Training's clients include Fortune 500 companies, as well as Massachusetts based businesses involved in financial, professional services, technology, manufacturing, construction, staffing, human resources, business consulting, and more. To register, contact Lisa Keene at 508.586.0500 x 225 or email lkeene@metrosouthchamber.com.

Sunday, May 2nd: 3:00 P.M. Brockton Symphony Spring concert at West Middle School. Admission $20, and $15 for seniors and students. Works by Stravinsky-Firebird Suite, Rimsky- Korsakov-Capriccio Espagnol, Lalo-The cello concerto, featuring 12 year-old Leland Ko, and other works. Visit www.brocktonsymphony.com for further information.

Sunday, May 2: Please join Signature Healthcare in their fight against cancer. We hope all in the community will participate in whatever capacity they can, be it volunteering, fundraising or donating. For many of you this is an annual event; but for some it will be your first time walking with us from Signature-Healthcare and The Chrystine M. Sullivan Memorial Foundation. Please take a moment to visit our website at www.signature-healthcare.organd click on the purple box to print off your pledge sheet, to get more information, to donate directly online, or to create your own personalized donation page. If you have any questions or need more assistance please feel free to call us at 508-941-7078. The Walk will take palce from 8am-10am and will also feature a gala celebration, cook out, fun and entertainment.

Tuesday, May 4: Southeastern Technical Institute Open House. Spring into a new career! Day programs: office technology, dental assisting, practical nursing, medical assisting. Evening programs: A+ certification/pc specialist, health claims specialist, HVAC, massage therapy, phlebotomy. 20 week program, hands on training, externships and financial aid available. Tour classrooms and labs, speak with teachers and students, win raffels and prizes, and get your application fee waived. 2:30pm-5:00 pm, 250 Foundry Street, S. Easton. For more information, call 508-238-1860 or visit www.sti-tech.info.

Thursday, May 6: Massasoit Community College Division of Workplace Development and Community Education presents Business Interruption & Disaster Planning Conference from 8am-12:30 pm at the Massasoit Conference Center. "It's not a matter of if a disaster strikes, but when.." Speaking will be Diana McCLure, Institute for Business and Home Safety, FM Generator, ColoSpace, US Office Solutions and Time Savers. The cost to attend is $79. For more information, call 508-588-9100 x 1322 or email jmiller@massasoit.mass.edu.

Thursday, May 6: 2010 High School Event at Lincoln Tech,Brockton, 4-6pm. Financial Aid and admissions representatives will be on hand, chair and hand massages, scholarship presentation, pizza and refreshments, campus tours, parents are encouraged to come. Bring a 2010 grad who is a friend or family member and get a prize. Call 508-941-0730 x 43504 for more information.

Thursday, May 6:Skin cancer is one of the most common of all cancers. Good Samaritan Medical Center and South Shore Dermatology Physicians will team up to offer the public a free skin cancer screening, 6-8:30 p.m. in the Moakley Outpatient Department at Good Samaritan Medical Center, 235 North Pearl Street. Those attending the screening will also learn skin self- examination and receive tips on protecting their skin from the sun. Any one wishing to attend is asked to pre-register by calling DoctorFinder at 1-800-488-5959 extension 275.

May 8 & May 9: YARD & BAKE SALE: The Animal Protection Center of Southeastern Massachusettswill be having it's annual spring yard sale on Sat & Sun May 8th & 9th, 9am-4pm, at it's adoption center (1300 West Elm St Ext, Brockton). There will be something for everyone including housewares, pet supplies, books, toys, holiday decorations & much more! Plus delicious fresh baked treats will be available. All Proceeds benefit the shelter. Have items you would like to donate? Bring them to the adoption center until May 2nd (sorry no computers, paint or hazardous materials). The APCSM is an open admission animal care & adoption facility committed to providing homeless animals with humane & compassionate care in their time of need, while finding families that want to provide them their forever homes.
508-586-2053. www.apcsm.org

Thursday, May 13: Winfree Business Growth Advisorswill conduct a free workshop for business owners and Independent Agents. Do you need to get in front of better prospects, hire a top performer, or eliminate "think it overs"? Get the answers here. The session will be held from 8:30 am to 10:30 am at 25 Braintree Hill Office Park, Suite 200, Braintree, MA. For reservations call Ken Cheo at 781-930-3220 or email kcheo@winfree.org.

Sunday, May 16: Charity Guild Race Against Hunger at 11:am at DW Field. Park This a family oriented day with food and drink and a magician, etc
All are welcomed to participate since it is a 5.5 k race for the running enthusiasts and a 3 k walk for families. All details are on our website at thecharityguild.org. Or if anyone needs information, they may call us at 508-583-5280.

Wednesday, May 19: Attend a FREE SBA workshop designed to highlight the various SBA programs and services that are available to prospective or current entrepreneurs who need assistance in starting or expanding their business. General information will be provided on the following: Small Business Counseling (SCORE), Small Business / Development Centers · Business Information Center SBA 7(a) · Loan Guaranty Program · 8(a) Business Development HUB/Zones · Small Disadvantaged Business Assistance · Government Contracting Opportunities The workshop will be held at CareerWorks, 34 School Street, Brockton from 2 - 4 pm on the third Wednesday of each month. Contact CareerWorks at 508.513.3400 for further workshop information.

Thursday, May 20: The Boys and Girls Club will celebrate its twentieth birthday by honoring one of its board members and devoted supporters-Barry Koretz-at the organization's third annual signature event, "Black Tie and Tennis Shoes". The Club hopes to raise $200,000 to fund vital services for Brockton's youth. Thursday, May 20th, from 6:00 to 9:30 p.m. at The Shaw's Center. Tickets are $150.00 each and are available only in advance by calling 508-584-5209 ext. 106. Tables of ten may also be reserved, and include an ad in the program book. Sneakers are the required footwear. Black Tie is optional. The event will feature a "Best Decorated Tennis Shoes" contest, and entertainment by Vincent Macrina's United Brass Quintet.

Thursday, May 20: SEED free workshop, 80 Dean Street, Taunton. Learn the Fundamentals in Planning, Preparing for and FInancing your Business. 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm. Registration at 5pm. Call Tamarah at 508-822-1020 to register.

Friday, May 21: The Brockton Area Arc is giving you a chance to win $10,000! Only 300 tickets will be sold! Once there're gone, there're gone. For $100, you could win $10,000 and you and a guest will enjoy music and entertainment by Boston legend, Jim Plunkett; dancing, yummy hors d'oeuvres, cash bar and a night out. There will be other raffle tickets for sale & a Silent Auction. The event will be held at The Shaw's Center in Brockton. Contact the Brockton Area Arc for details and tickets at 508-583-8030 or check out our website at www.brocktonareaarc.org where you can download a form and mail it in.

Monday, May 24: Massasoit Community College Foundation Golf Classic at Thorny Lea Golf Club,11:30 a.m. registration/box lunch and 1:00 p.m. shotgun start, scramble start. $200 per player, includes lunch, golf, and dinner. Contact Marilyn Burke @ 508-588-9100, x2602 or mburke@massasoit.mass.eduor visit our website at www.massasoit.mass.edu for further golfing information. Sponsorship Opportunities available as well. Please call Sheryl Savage @ 508-588-9100 X2603 or ssavage@massasoit.mass.edufor details.

Thursday, May 27: SEED free workshop, 80 Dean Street, Taunton. Understanding the Purpose of Financial Statements and How they Can Help Determine the Health of Your Business. 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm. Registration at 5pm. Call Tamarah at 508-822-1020 to register.

Friday, May 28: The Brockton Rox will kick off the baseball season with a three game home set against the Worcester Tornadoes. For a full schedule, visit www.brocktonrox.com.

Friday, June 4: Deadline for the Brockton Blooms Garden Contest. Open to all Brockton resident, business or organization gardens. Amateur gardeners work only. Photograph (only 1-4x6 color) or image submitted to the "Brockton Blooms" committee become property of committee, which may be used for press or marketing purposes. The committee has the right to choose the appropriate garden category for entrants if one has not been chosen or if committee believes the garden should be placed in a different category. For more information please call Janice at (508) 580-7811.

Wednesday, June 9: United Way of Greater Plymouth County 88th Annual Meeting & Awards Luncheon.11:30 am at the Conference Center at Massasoit, 770 Crescent Street, Brockton. Spnoosred by Baynes and National Grid. For more information, contact 508-583-6306.

Sunday, June 13: A blend of classical, jazz, and pop music concert in support of the St. Mark's Accessibility fundat 3:00 pm at St. Mark's Church, 91 Center Street, North Easton. Performing romantic and classical pieces will be the Shilakowsky String Quartet led by Chamber member Harris Shilakowsky. Also performing will be Dove Award winner and Grammy nominee jazz singer Donna McElroy and her band from Berklee College of Music faculty. Donations of $15 adults or $50 for a family of 4 (2 adults, 2 children) will be accepts. This concert is a non-profit charitable project. Please make checks payable to 'St. Mark's Episcopal Church."

Monday, June 14: St. Joseph Manor Health Care in Brockton, Massachusetts, will hold its 19th Annual Golf Tournament at the Easton Country Club in South Easton, Massachusetts. All proceeds directly benefit our 118 residents and 60 adult day health clients. Tournament costs $135.00 and includes cart, giveaways, player prizes, continental breakfast and luncheon. Don't golf? Participate by becoming a sponsor or advertising in our program booklet. To register as a golfer, sponsor or for additional information please contact Marni Dunton, Marketing Coordinator at 508-583-5834 ext. 3058 or via email at mdunton@SJMbrockton.org

Monday, June 21: 8th Annual Teen Challenge Golf Classicat the Brookside Club, Bourne, MA, to benefit the Teen Challenge Brockton Men's Campus. $130 per person or $500 team of four. Scramble format. Registration at 8am, tee-off at 9am, awards dinner following play. For tournament information or sponsorship and donations, call Jonathan Mello at 508-326-1085. Teen Challenge New England is a 15 - 21 month long term in-patient facility that focuses on the life threatening circumstances teens and young adults battle with each and every day. We are a very unique program, which does not turn away a struggling person due to lack of insurance or their financial position. Our lives are committed to stopping this drug epidemic and we can't do it all on our own.

Saturday, June 26: 50th Birthday Party for BHS '78 Classmates.Celebrate with a picnic/cookout at a Brockton Rox baseball game at Campanelli Stadium! It'll be a great opportunity to see one another and to catch up with high school friends we haven't seen for years! It is a night game. The cookout starts at 5PM and is an all you can eat picnic with burgers, hot dogs, salad, lemonade, iced tea, and BIRTHDAY CAKE! For more information, and pay the $25 per person fee, visit http://brockton.projectalumni.org/brockton/

Monday, July 19: 17th Abnual OE+ Charity Golf Tournament to benefit the Brockton Area Arc at the Fall River Country Club, 4235 North Main Street, Fall River. Registration and contests will take place from 12-1pm with the shotgun start at 1:15pm, cocktails and 6pm, and dinner and awards at 6:45pm. Cost per player is $175 which includes golf, cart, dinner, goodie bag and entry into the "skins" contest. A Players Package is available for $25 and includes entry into the chipping, putting, and 50/50 contests along with $50 of raffle tickets. $10,000 cash for a whole in one. The Brockton Area Arc works to provide information and direct services for individuals with disabilities and their families.

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Brockton Mayors Task Force Findings
Mayor Linda M. Balzotti announced today that the five citizen-led task
forces she established have reported out their findings. The task forces addressed the issues of Public Safety, Street Violence, Education, Economic Growth and Housing and Neighborhood Stabilization. Beginning Friday, April 16, 2010, the report of each task force will be made available to the public on the city's website, www.brockton.ma.us. Using the website, residents will
be able to read the reports and submit their comments (in addition, reports will be available in PDF-form for downloading).

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Crescent Credit Union Children's Book Drive
From Thursday, April 1 through Friday, April 30, please drop off new or used children's books at your nearest Crescent Credit Union location in Brockton, Taunton, or Norwell.

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Lincoln Tech Massage Clinic: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3-7pm.
Lincoln Tech at 365 Westgate Drive, Brockton is offering student massage clinics. The clinic provides students and alumni the support they need to become professional massage therapists. Come in for a one hour massage for only $20. Call 508-941-0730 x 43527 to schedule an appointment.

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The Irish Cultural Centre of New England in Canton is offering Tin Whistle, Bodhran, Fiddle, Gaelic Language, Set Dancing, Step Dancing, Rambling House and Irish Banking classes for beginners to advance levels. For dates, times and prices, please visit www.irishculture.org or call 781-821-8291.

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Fuller Craft Museum

455 Oak Street, Brockton, MA 02301
www.fullercraft.org

Members Free, Adults $8, Seniors and Students $5
Children under 12 Free, Wednesday 5:00-9:00pm Free.
Open Tuesday- Sunday, 10am-5pm. Closed Mondays.

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Free Tax Preparation

If you are a low to moderate income family, live in the Greater Brockton area and at least one member of your household worked, even part time in 2009, you may be eligible for this free service. Don't go to tax preparers who charge you to do your taxes and charge you again to get a loan for an early refund. Most people can get their state refund in 3 to 5 days and their federal approximately 7days later and save hundreds of additional dollars in preparer and loan fees. Claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a federal and state tax benefit for people who work. With both the federal and state tax credits, workers may get up to $5,657 in refunds. Workers can claim both the federal and state EITC, even if they do not owe income tax, simply by filing federal and state income tax returns. You will receive a state credit equal to 15% of the federal amount.

Where and When:
Mondays from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. starting February 1, 2010:
MultiCultural Banking Center, HarborOne, 68 Legion Parkway, Brockton
Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. starting January 30 and Wednesday evenings from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. starting February 3, 2010: Self Help Healthy Housing and Community Resource Center, 142 Crescent St., Brockton