MONDAY

VALPARAISO | Northwest Indiana Professional Networking meets from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Mondays at the South Bend Chocolate Cafe, 57 Franklin St. NIPN members meet to network and chat with others who are in career transition. There is no fee. For information, call (219) 464-4861 or e-mail nipn@kvworks.org.

TINLEY PARK, Ill. | Laura Malke, president, Strategic Solutions & Services Inc. will speak on “How Small and Medium Size Businesses Can Reach Their Potential in this Economy” at the Chicago Southland Chamber’s Regional Consensus Luncheon 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Select Hotel & Convention Center, 18501 S. Harlem Ave. Cost is $25 per person or $240 per table for Chamber members and $35 per person or $340 per table for nonmembers. RSVP by calling the Southland Chamber office at (708) 957-6950 or at www.chicagosouthland.com.

GARY | The Gary Chamber of Commerce will hold it’s monthly General Membership Luncheon at noon Jan. 12 at the Genesis Convention Center, One Genesis Center Plaza. Mayor Rudy Clay is scheduled to be the guest speaker. The meeting/luncheon is open to the public. Cost is $17 in advance or $20 at the door Call the Chamber office (219) 885-7407 to reserve a seat.

TUESDAY

SCHERERVILLE

The Calumet Chapter of the Indiana Society of Public Accountants will sponsor an eight-hour individual income tax seminar Jan. 13 at Teibel's Restaurant, U.S. 30 and 41. For more information, call (219) 845-5400 or (219) 659-5482.

CROWN POINT | Leanne Hoagland-Smith, M.S., will present “To 2009: Time To Take Action; Jumpstart Your Results”, at the Winfield/LOFS Chamber of Commerce Luncheon Meeting at noon Jan. 13 at the Geisen Funeral Home, 606 East 113th Ave., Crown Point. Cost is $10. The luncheon is open to Chamber members and guests. For reservations or more information, contact the Winfield/LOFS Chamber office at (219) 226-0479 or visit their website at http://www.winfieldchamber.com.

GARY | Learn how students are gaining hands-on experience with voice over Internet protocol and wireless security during a presentation at 1 p..m at the Gary Area Career Center, 1800 E. 35th Ave. Contact Amber Raza at Methodist Hospitals at (219) 886-4474 for more information.

INDIANAPOLIS | The U.S. Small Business Administration will conduct an online business workshop from 10 to 11 a.m. to provide guidance to small business owners that are in need of new construction loan or those that wish to purchase a building. Reservations are not required. Participants may log on to the session from any computer. For the presentation log on to www.readytalk.com and for the audio portion call (866) 740-1260. The access code for both is 3056201#.

For more information contact Ronda Crouch at (317) 226-7272 ext. 212 or ronda.crouch@sba.gov.

VALPARAISO | Small business operators are invited to Duneland Chapter of Business Networking International from 7 to 8:30 a.m. Tuesdays at Strongbow Inn. For information, call Sandy Boland at (219) 926-2505.

GARY | Managers, business owners and sales professionals are invited to the Indiana Business Professionals Chapter of the Networking Club from 7:30 to 8 a.m. Tuesdays at The Baker's House upstairs meeting room, 6004 Miller Ave. For information, call Tammie Galloway at (888) 263-6926, ext 1.

GRIFFITH | The North Lake Chapter of BNI (Business Networking International), which encompasses Hammond, Gary, Griffith and East Chicago, meets from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Tuesdays at Pepe's Restaurant, 222 E. Ridge Road. For more information, call Michael Pelz at (219) 977-2090 or (815) 370-2940.

WEDNESDAY

CROWN POINT | First Financial Bank, 11890 Broadway, will present “Mental Conditioning for a Prosperous 2009” from 8 to 9 a.m. The program is presented by Tim Shurr, president, Shurr Success INC. and Lake Shore Hypnosi. For more information, visit https://www.bankatfirst.com or call (219) 226-2062.

CROWN POINT | The Professional Referral Organization meets Wednesday mornings at 7:30 a.m. at ON -Site Computer, 580 N. Indiana Ave. Enrollment fee is $100. The fee is discounted to $50 if it is paid by Feb. 15. For more information, contact Lisa Gapen, Generate Sales & Marketing at generate@comcast.net or (219) 433-8544 or Marsha Coleman at msmarsha2004@yahoo.com or (219) 374-9613. The web site is http://prosnetwork.ning.com.

MUNSTER | The Munster BNI (Business Networking International) business development group will meets from 7 to 8:30 a.m. Wednesdays at Centennial Park, 1005 S. Centennial Drive. Contact Michael Pelz at (219) 977-2090 for more information.

SCHERERVILLE | The Highland-Griffith chapter of Leads Club meets at 8:15 a.m. Wednesdays at St. John Township Community Center, 1515 U.S. 30. Call Luba Petryna Balacky at (219) 201-6874 or visit www.leadsclub.com.

CROWN POINT | Lakeshore Networking Professionals meet from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Wednesdays at Schoops Restaurant, 1124 N. Main St. For information, call Debbie Higgins at (219) 662-4064 or visit http://www.LakeshoreNetworkingProfessionals.org.

THURSDAY

GARY | The Gary Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee presents “The Business of Healthcare Discussion Series” at 8 a.m. Jan. 15 at the Gary Chamber Headquarters, 839 Broadway, Suite S103. Dr. Danita Johnson Hughes, CEO of Edgewater Systems for Balanced Living, will be speaking about the state of mental health of Northwest Indiana, substance abuse treatment services provided by Edgewater and special programs offered to Northwest Indiana residents by Edgewater. For more information, call (219) 885-7407.

GLENWOOD | The Calumet Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants will have its annual income tax update during its next business meeting Jan. 20 at Glenwood Oaks Restaurant, 106 N. Main St. The board meeting will begin at 5:15 p.m. Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. and the tax update will begin at 7:40 p.m. Cost is $30 for IMA members and guests and $10 for college students. Reservations are requested by Jan. 15. To make reservations, e-mail imacalumet@yahoo.com or call Mark at (219) 864-8685 or (630) 530-6707 or call Dick at (708) 799-6234.

MERRILLVILLE | The Merrillville Noon Kiwanis Club meets from noon to 1 p.m. Thursdays at the Old Country Buffet off U.S. 30 (1634 E 80th Avenue). For more information call Aaron Yakovetz at (219) 707-5023, e-mail aaron@goiim.com, or visit www.kiwanis.org .

SCHERERVILLE | A BNI (Business Networking International) business development group meets at 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Thursdays at the Holiday Inn Express, 1773 Fountain Park Drive in the Fortis A Room. Call Michael Pelz at (219) 977-2090 or (815) 370-2940 for more information.

VALPARAISO | The Porter County Business League meets at 7 a.m. Thursdays at the Round-the-Clock restaurant, 217 E. Lincolnway. Contact Kim Michalski at (219) 510-3674 for more information.

FRIDAY

MERRILLVILLE | Northwest Indiana Networking Professionals meet at 7:15 a.m. Fridays at Towne Center Retirement Community, 7250 Arthur Blvd. (73rd Avenue, east of Taft). Contact Beverley Steinman at catchbev@sbcglobal.net or (219) 730-1262. More info at www.nwinetworking.org.

JAN. 21

ORLAND PARK, Ill. | The Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce’s quarterly Networking Luncheon will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 21 at Georgios Banquets Comfort Inn & Conference Centre, 8800 West 159th St. Cost is $25 for Chamber members and $35 for nonmembers. Bring business cards and promotional material to distribute to potential new clients. Call the Southland Chamber office to make reservations at (708) 957-6950 or go to www.chicagosouthland.com.

FEB. 7

MUNSTER | Area businesses, home businesses, start-up companies, regional & national organizations, and others are sought for the Munster Parks and Recreation Business/Consumer Fair from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 10 at Munster High School, 8808 Columbia Ave. The fee is $75 per 8-foot-by-8-foot booth space. Applications may be submitted to the Munster Parks and Recreation Office, 1005 Ridge Road. For more information, call (219) 836-PARK.

MARCH 19 and 20

MERRILLVILLE | The Indiana High Speed Rail Association hosts the 10th annual Golden Spike Seminar a the Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza, 800 E. 81st Ave. For more Information, contact W. Dennis Hodges at wdh.2016@att.net or (219) 887-1351, or e-mail indianahsrassn@yahoo.com.

To read more calendar, visit www.nwitimes.com/business. To include an item in the local business calendar, send event information, time, date, cost and location to: business@nwitimes.com or fax to (219) 933-3249.