Only two nights remain to visit The USS Orleck's  Bludd Vessel. Ship hatches will open at 7pm. For information, call 337-214-7447, email info@orleck.org , or find them on Facebook.

Business Health Partners is hosting a Blood Drive on Thursday, November 1, from 11am to 4pm. The donor coach will be in their parking lot at 299B Cities Service Hwy, Sulphur.  Anyone is welcome to donate.  McDonald's will be providing a FREE surprise to all who donate that day.  Come save a life!  For more information, contact Erin Davison at 337-626-1011 or edavison@businesshealthpartners.com.

The Healthy Woman program at Women & Children's Hospital will host their next free seminar on Thursday, November 1.  The topic is "Survive the Holidays" featuring Dennis Miller, M.D. and Hilma Lisa Green, M.D. with Lake Area Physician Services. The event will be held at the Lake Charles Country Club and will include light refreshments and door prizes.  Doors open at 5:30pm and the program begins at 5:45pm.  Register by October 26 by visiting www.women-childrens.com/healthywoman or call Nadia Nazeer at 337-475-4064.

McNeese State University's Leisure Learning is offering the following classes: Zydeco; Roll Your Own Sushi; PowerPoint I, II, III; Concealed Handgun; Excel 3: Working with Frequently Used Functions; Beginning Computer I, II; Couponing - How to Save Big this Holiday Season; Word 4: Working with Tables and Mail Merge, and Lace Tatting. For more information, go to their website www.mcneese.edu/leisure for course descriptions, or call 337-475-5616 to register or for more information.

The Institute for Industry-Education Collaboration at McNeese State University is offering the following class: DOT Hazardous Materials Transportation (HM-181) (November 3, 8 am - 5 pm, $300). For more information or to register, call 337-562-4139 or e-mail iiec@mcneese.edu

A free seminar on diabetes management sponsored by West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital will be held at 11am on Wednesday, November 7, at Dynamic Dimensions in Sulphur. Featured speakers include Abdel Abu Shamat, MD, nephrologist, with the Kidney Clinic, LLC, and Lacey Cavanaugh, MD, family medicine physician, with Gamborg and Cavanaugh Family Medicine. Tips on disease management as well diabetes and kidney complications will be discussed. Lunch will be served. The seminar is free; however, seating is limited. To reserve a seat, call (337) 527-5459.

LSU's Stephenson Disaster Management Institute is hosting their Ready to Resume Free Workshop Event on November 8, from 8am to 12:30pm at the Central Library (301 W. Claude Street, Lake Charles). This free workshop series has been developed for small business owners, nonprofits and those who prepare and respond to natural and man-made hazards. Lunch and all takeaway materials are provided at no charge for this free small business training event. Registration: centerforbusinessprep.org/news

The Wishing Well Gift Shop at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital will hold its Holiday Open House on Thursday, November 8 from 7:30am until 7pm.

The SWLA Alliance is hosting an ITA workshop on November 9, on Understanding Self & Others. To be most effective in the work environment, employees must understand themselves and others better.  Participants complete behavioral instruments that identify personality strengths and weaknesses.  This course explores techniques for adapting a behavioral style to deal with superiors, peers, subordinates and clients. The location of the course is still to be determined, but the time of the course will be 10am to 12pm.

Also on November 9, the Alliance is hosting Managing Change, from 1pm to 3pm. Today's competitive environment demands change - but most people are not comfortable with it.  Participants will learn a methodology for managing change on an individual, departmental, and organizational level and learn why managing change is no longer an option - it is a survival skill.  In this session, participants recognize the factors that make change difficult in organizations.  In addition, participants learn how resistance to change can be overcome using effective managerial skills. To register for either or both of these classes, RSVP to Gaye Courville at gcourville@allianceswla.org or Brittany Hebert at brhebert@allianceswla.org, or by calling 337-433-3632, ext. 220. 

The City of Lake Charles Mayor's Armed Forces Commission will host the City's annual Veterans Day observance activities beginning with the Veteran's Day ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park, Lakeshore Drive, on Saturday, November 10, at 10am.

American country music singer-song writer, Ronnie Dunn, formerly of country super-duo Brooks & Dunn, will perform at the L'Auberge Lake Charles Event Center. Floor seating is priced at $70; stadium seating is priced at $55. Discounts apply for mychoice® members. The performance begins at 8:30pm on Saturday, November 10; doors open onehour before the show. Show tickets can be purchased in person at the L'Auberge Business Center, Legends or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets can also be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 488-5252.Guests must be 21 years of age and present a valid photo ID.  For more information, visit www.mylauberge.com.

The Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau is hosting Game On! a free Hospitality Ambassador Training Program on November 13, at either 9am or 1pm. Participating organizations will gain a more informed and motivated team, prepared to provide excellent guest service. RSVP to mhartman@visitlakecharles.org or call 436-9588. For more information, go to visitlakecharles.org/gameon.

Women & Children's Hospital will host two free bariatric seminars in the ICU Classroom located near the rear entrance of the hospital, located at 4200 Nelson Rd. Board-certified general surgeon, Keith Chung, M.D. will speak on Wednesday, November 14 and board-certified general surgeon Richard Shimer, M.D. will speak on Monday, November 19. Both of these seminars will be at 6pm. The doctors will discuss the three surgical weight loss procedures offered at WCH, a designated Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence and will help you find out if weight loss surgery is right for you.   Call 475-4716 to reserve your place for either of these seminars.  Feel free to bring a support person with you.

The SWLA Alliance is hosting an ITA workshop on November 15th on Employee & Volunteer Engagement: Increasing Results by Increasing Engagement. Could your staff and volunteers be more engaged in the mission of your organization? Increased engagement will increase morale, decrease turn-over, and increase your bottom line. This event is perfect for non-profit executive directors, board chairs, and team leaders. It will be held at the McNeese Alumni Center from 8:30am to 10:30am. RSVP to Gaye Courville at gcourville@allianceswla.org.

The Moss Bluff Harvest Festival has been planned for November 15, 16 and 17, at the Moss Bluff Recreation Complex. With many great events, games, food, pageants and more, there is something for everyone at this family-friendly festival. Admission for the festival is only $2, and the schedule of events is packed full of activities to keep you busy each day! Events for the 2012 Harvest Festival include Pageants, Gumbo Cookoff, Crafts, Music, Carnival Rides Car Show, Magician and much, much more! November 15 and 16, festival hours are 5-9 p.m., and on Saturday, November 17, the hours are 10 a.m.- 9 p.m.   This event is sponsored in part by Cameron Communications.

Bolton Ford presents "Go Further with Ford Night" on Thursday, Nov. 15 - a free fundraising event that will benefit Big Brothers/Big Sisters engaging consumers in the final "Random Acts of Fusion" adventure and offering them a chance to see the all-new 2013 Ford Fusion in person. For each person who attends Go Further with Ford Night on Nov. 15, Bolton Ford will donate $10 - up to a total of $500 - to Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Lake Charles. While at the dealership, consumers will have a unique opportunity to compete to win a special VIP experience with American Idol®. A computer with a webcam will be set up in the dealership to allow consumers to view a special message from Seacrest and test their judging skills on camera, in true American Idol style. American Idol premieres in January 2013 on FOX.

Call to reserve your place on the Lady of the Lake for the 1st 121 Wine Cruise. The cruise will take place on November 18, from 3pm to 7pm. Get on board of the Lady of the Lake at the Lake Charles Civic Center Marina at 3pm for an afternoon of heavy hors d'oeurves paired nicely with wine.   Tickets are $100 per guest and the cruise is limited to 150 guests. For reservations, call 310-7499.

The SWLA Alliance is hosting an ITA workshop on November 20, on Valuing Diversity. Today's managers face an increasingly diverse workforce with more women, minorities and immigrants.  While diversity can be a rich source of new perspectives and novel approaches to old problems, it also presents challenges to employees.  Participants will address issues related to understanding and capitalizing on diversity. The location of the course is still to be determined, but the time of the course will be 10am to 12pm.

Also on November 20, the Alliance is hosting Basic Supervision, from 1pm to 3pm. Proper training for new, front-line supervisors is essential.  Without the basic skills of supervision, this new role often results in chaos for supervisors, employees, and the organization.  This course will help new supervisors, and active supervisors looking for a refresher, develop skills to direct individuals and organizational work. To register for either or both of these classes, RSVP to Gaye Courville at gcourville@allianceswla.org or Brittany Hebert at brhebert@allianceswla.org, or by calling 337-433-3632, ext. 220. 

Performance Employee Assistance & Business Services is providing the following workshop as part of their 2012 Employee Relations Workshop Series: Crisis Intervention - Five Factors That Matter Most. Sooner or later, a crisis occurs. Depending on several factors, what happens next can be relatively manageable or even more frightening than the crisis itself! Learn what to pay attention to and how to move forward after the unexpected happens. This workshop will be on November 28, from 8:30am to 10:30am in the Family & Youth Conference Room. Register at www.fyca.org/erworkshops.html or contact Sue at 337-436-9533 or sue@fyca.org. 

The SWLA Alliance is hosting an ITA workshop on December 3, on Problem Solving and Decision Making. Repetitive problems consume large amounts of financial and human resources.

How an organization addresses problems can mean the difference between finding permanent solutions and suffering future headaches.  The course presents a systemic approach to problem solving building upon consensus decision-making techniques.  Participants will work to solve problems in the session. The location of the course is still to be determined, but the time of the course will be 10am to 12pm.

Also on December 3, the Alliance is hosting Positive and Progressive Discipline, from 1pm to 3pm. An important part of a manager's authority involves disciplining employees.  Effective managers must be able to discipline others in an appropriate and positive manner.  Participants will discuss the barriers to discipline and learn techniques to improve their disciplinary efforts. To register for either or both of these classes, RSVP to Gaye Courville at gcourville@allianceswla.org or Brittany Hebert at brhebert@allianceswla.org, or by calling 337-433-3632, ext. 220. 

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network's PurpleStride Lake Area 2012 event takes place on Saturday, December 8, at Prien Lake Park at 7am. This year marks the eighth year of the walk and serves as an opportunity to raise awareness and money for pancreatic cancer research. The event also features a raffle, silent auction, children's activities, a sweets shop and food and refreshments. For more information or to register for the event, visit the event website at www.purplestride.org/lakearea.

Be an Exhibitor at the 2013 Southwest Louisiana Home Show! Booth sales have begun for the January 12th and 13th event at the Lake Charles Civic Center. Booth prices range from $350 to $500. Reserve your booth by contacting Vicki Broussard at 337-478-7893 or vickihba3@bellsouth.net.