MONDAY

MERRILLVILLE | The Referral Organization of Indiana (ROI) Business Networking Group meets Mondays at A.J. Specialties, 1308 E 85th Ave. Networking starts at 7:15 a.m.; meetings start at 7:30 a.m. For more information, contact Tony Schifino at (219) 736-0367.

VALPARAISO | The Northwest Indiana Professional Network meets from 8 to 10 a.m. Mondays in the Alumni Room of the Harre Student Union, 1509 Chapel Drive, Valparaiso. For more information, contact Sandra Alvarez at the Center of Workforce Innovations at (219) 462-2940 or salvarez@innovativeworkforce.com.

TUESDAY

GARY | The Indiana Business Professionals Chapter of the Networking Club meets 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.

HAMMOND | 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 Cabela’s, 7700 Cabela Drive, in the upstairs conference center. For more information, call Michael Pelz at (219) 977-2090 or (815) 370-2940.

SCHERERVILLE | NWI PRO’s of Tri-Town meets Tuesdays at Tylers Tender, 350 E. U.S. 30. Networking starts at 7:15 a.m.; meetings start at 7:30 a.m. For more information, contact Twila Kaye at twila@twilakaye.com or (219) 227-8875.

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.

MERRILLVILLE | Toastmasters of Southlake Club meets from 7 to 8 p.m.. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month in Room 102 at the University of Phoenix, 8401 Ohio Street. For more information, call Shugunna S. Alexander at (219) 794-1500.

WEDNESDAY

CROWN POINT | The Referral Organization of Indiana (ROI) Business Networking Group meets Wednesdays at First Financial Bank, U.S 231 and Broadway. Networking starts at 7:15 a.m.; meetings start at 7:30 am. For more information, contact Lisa Gapen at (219) 433-8544 or Marsha Coleman at (219) 374-9613.

CROWN POINT | Toastmasters meets from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays of the month at Conservative Cafe, 201 N. Main St. For more information, call Dale Brooks at (219) 775-7788.

MUNSTER | The Munster BNI (Business Networking International) business development group 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.

THURSDAY

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.

VALPARAISO | The Referral Organization of Indiana (ROI) Business Networking Group meets Thursday mornings at 8 a.m. at Regional Federal Credit Union, 2801 Boilermaker Court (behind Menards). For more information contact Cindy Zromkoski at (219) 741-7963.

FRIDAY

GARY | The Mayors Lakeshore Classic Corporate Luncheon will feature Gene Keady, retired Purdue University basketball coach as its keynote speaker. The luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m. and takes place at the Genesis Convention Center. Cost is $35 per person or $300 for a table of 10.

Tickets are available by calling the Gary Chamber of Commerce at (219) 885-7407. For more information visit www.lakeshoreclassic.com.

HAMMOND | Free business counseling services are available through the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) from 9 and 10 a.m. Fridays at the Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce, 5246 Hohman Ave. If you are starting a business, or having problems in business, call (219) 931-1000 for an appointment.

MUNSTER | NWI PRO’s of Westlake (Highland, Hammond, Griffith and Munster) meets Fridays at The Times, 601 W. 45th Ave. Networking starts at 7:15 a.m.; meetings start at 7:30 am. For more information, contact Jackie Kennedy at (219) 322-4887.

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.

DEC. 2

VALPARAISO | The Northwest Indiana Society of Human Resource Managers Diversity Committee is hosting a free Lunch and Learn on from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the Valparaiso University Harre Hall Union. The event will focus on human resources topics in the 21st century with an emphasis on diversity. Bring your lunch. Refreshments and dessert provided. RSVP to Cyndi@mealsonwheelsnwindiana.org.

DEC. 3

CHESTERTON | The Chesterton/Duneland Chamber of Commerce presents Plan for Better Business in 2010 from 8:30am to noon at 101 Beverly Drive. Cost is $30 for members and $40 for nonmembers. Come and see experts discuss topics ranging from branding to personal credit. For more information or to attend, contact Tiffany Bley at tbley@chestertonchamber.org or (219) 926-5513. For Chamber event and program updates, visit www.chestertonchamber.org or become a fan on Facebook.

DEC. 9

TINLEY PARK | The Professional Women's Network will present Was it Something I Said? Using Self-Evaluation for Positive Change from 8 to 9:30 am at the Bananas Restaurant inside the Tinley Park Holiday Inn, I-80 and Harlem Avenue. Participants will learn a model of giving feedback when information is lacking and practice asking self-evaluation questions for self-discovery. Cost is $5. Register at www.pwncentral.com or call 708-937-5525 for more information.

DEC. 12

MERRILLVILLE | The NWI Entrepreneurs Roundtable presents Employee to Entrepreneur Breakfast from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at th eRadisson Hotel at Star Plaza (Armstrong Room), 800 E. 81st Ave.. This event will cover goal setting, the tax benefits of business ownership, leveraging resources and diversification. Cost is $20 or $25 after Nov. 30, which includes breakfast. Call (800) 385-6077 ext. 1234 or visit www.e2eseminar.eventbrite.com.

MARCH 11 and 12

VALPARAISO | The 11th Annual International Golden Spike Seminar will take place at the Harre Union at Valparaiso University. The seminar is the longest continuous discussion on 21st century transportation in the United States. For information, contact Dennis Hodges at (219) 887-1351 or wdh.2016@att.net.

To read more calendar, visit http://www.nwi.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.