The Alliance is looking for business consultants and firms to assist with business development programs funded by a Community Development Block Grant through the Louisiana Office of Community Development Disaster Recovery Unit, Innovation Loan and Technical Assistance Program.  

All programs will strive to provide participants with tools and skills needed to expand business capacity. The Alliance is accepting qualification packages, which are due no later than 5pm., Friday, November 9, 2012.  To download an RFP package, visit www.allianceswla.org, click the Economic Development Tab on our home page, click the ILTA Program Tab, select and download the application package, or email brhebert@allianceswla.org  to request an application package.

HERE ARE SOME EVENTS TAKING PLACE OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS... 

McNeese State University's Leisure Learning is offering the following classes: Concealed Handgun (5:30pm to 9:30 pm, Nov. 6, 8); Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 - I I: Refining the Presentation (6pm to 8pm, Nov 6, 8); Microsoft Excel 2007, Level 6: Working with Styles and Templates (8:30am to 12:30pm, Nov 8); Getting Started with iPad (9 - 11:30am, Nov. 17); Couponing - How to Save Big this Holiday Season (6pm to 7:30 pm, Nov 13); The Mystery of Thai Cooking (6pm to 8pm, Nov. 13); 300+ Online courses start Nov 14; Einstein Art Camp (Ages 6 - 12) (10 am to 2pm, Nov 19, 20); and Ballroom Dance (Waltz & Foxtrot) (6:30pm to 7:45 pm, Nov. 19, 26, Dec. 3, 10, 17). 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.

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.

West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital's Employee Group, also known as WCCH Partners, will host its
Annual Holiday Market Thursday, November 8, at the hospital. The event is open to the public and will be held from 8am to 4pm in the main corridor of the hospital. Vendors and guests are asked to enter the hospital through the Stelly Lane entrance.

PaperSmith is holding its Holiday Open House on November 8 from 11am to 8pm. Check out its unexpected gifts and get your first look at their Holiday 2012 decorations, ornaments, gifts, sweets, and more. On the 8th, there will also be special treats from vendors, sounds of the season, and tastes and treats to sample. (Like them on Facebook to see more!) PaperSmith is located at 2925 Ernest Street in Lake Charles across from Prien Lake Mall.

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. This workshop will be held at the Family and Youth Counseling Agency located at 220 Louie Street in Lake Charles from 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 one hour 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, November 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 November20, 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.