Save The Date: VIVA! Women of Color Symposium in Los Angeles on November 7, 2011. Learn more and register.
In this week’s Must Know:
- More Friends for Micro
- Member Training: Press Releases from A to Z, October 25, 2011
- The Goodies: information on important opportunities like trainings, funding, scholarship programs.
More Friends for Micro
Last week Claudia and I went to Sacramento to make some new friends.
We brainstormed ideas with Government Services, including: a project-oriented approach to build capacity for veteran-owned companies to apply for government contracts.
A big breakthrough: The Department of Corrections expressed interest in incorporating entrepreneurship training into their rehabilitation programs for inmates and asked CAMEO to provide them with relevant curriculum. They also wish to partner with CAMEO members on seeking grants to provide entrepreneur workshops in an institution prior to inmate release. This interest stems from all the activity at the local level around “realignment” of prisoners from the state to county institutions. If you are interested in reaching re-entering prisoners, please let us know.
Then we squeezed in lunch with Michele Gault of the California SBDC network before we went to the Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economic Development and the Economy (JEDE). Michele is interested in combining efforts to strengthen the voice of very small and small businesses on the many common issues that we face. We look forward to future partnerships with her and the SBDC network.
Also from Sacramento, Governor Brown signed AB 361 (Huffman) Benefit Corporation Legislation – another bill that CAMEO actively supported. The legislation creates a new class of corporation called B or Benefit Corporations that are legally required to pursue the creation of a material positive impact on society and the environment, while meeting higher standards of accountability and transparency. Learn more about how this legislation will change our communities, environment, and economy.
Member Training: Press Releases from A to Z
You have a new program, a new milestone, a report to issue, or perhaps breaking news that you want to announce to the community. You think to yourself “it would be great if Joe Reporter covered our news and be great if we hit a couple of blogs.” Press releases are a tool of the trade for any organization with information to share.
Join me for a webinar that will go through the nuts and bolts and best practices for writing press releases – when to issue a press release, how to create news, how to write a headline, other elements to include, who to send to, follow up, and more. We will also engage in interactive exercises to practice what we’ve learned.
When: Tuesday, October, 25, 2011, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Where: The comfort of your computer
Members can register for free. If you are not a member, become one! Email Shufina English for more information.
The Goodies
New opportunities for trainings, conference information, funding, scholarships, and other information that have crossed our desks since the last Must Know. A running tab of current Goodies is on the CAMEO website.
Speak Up: What criteria would you require a small business supporter to have regarding technical business assistance? CAMEO is hosting a brainstorming call today Thursday, October 27 at 1:00 p.m. All are welcome. Dial in number: (916) 558-7514; Passcode: 414051. See notes from past call. Feel free to weigh in online as well. Note that other topics, such as access to capital, are covered on other calls.
White House Business Council Briefing Call: On Friday, October 28, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. PT // 1:00 p.m. ET the White House hosts a call that will cover government procurement and contracting opportunities. Dial In Number: (877) 260-8900; Confirmation Code: 217493.
Inland Empire Economy: Come hear some of the state’s most reputable forecasters – Christopher Thornberg, Founding Partner of Beacon Economics and Brad Kemp, the firm’s Director of Regional Research – deliver a new outlook for the U.S., California, and Inland Southern California economies. Then join a lively debate over the direction of jobs and employment in the Inland region. It all takes place on Thursday, November 3, 2011 at the Riverside Convention Center; Registration and Breakfast 7:00 a.m., Program 8:00-11:00 a.m. Register today for the CAMEO discount.
For your clients: CARAT is providing technology training programs for free to small businesses in California. Check out the schedules for October and November.