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Northeastern California Small Business Development Center at Butte College is presenting a workshop, Loan Opportunities for Your Businesses 9-11 a.m., Jan. 28 at the Business Connection, 332 Pine St. The cost is $20 per person preregistered and $30 per person at the door. This workshop provides an overview of funding opportunities available for startups and existing busi- nesses. It covers benefits, requirements and application for U.S. Small Business Administration loans, tradi- tional bank loans and lines of credit. Includes strategies for obtaining funding in a tight economy. The trainer is a banker with expertise in the banking industry. Preregistration is required. Call 895-9017 to register and for information. Like many consumer products, the price of youth athletics has increased dramatically. Back in the day, kids honed their athletic skills at the neighborhood park. In today's hyper-competi- tive culture, parks and pick-up games have been abandoned in favor of organized sports teams, camps and clinics. When your child first swings a bat or kicks a soccer ball, it's easy to get carried away by dreams of future glory at the high school level and beyond — and sucked into a vor- tex of increasingly expen- sive sports obligations. On top of team fees, there's often pressure to buy expensive equipment, pay for private lessons and attend pricey camps. Teams that travel will incur costs for chartered buses or plane tickets, hotel rooms and meals on the road. And don't forget the extras that creep in — the embroidered sweat- shirts, team photos, post- game celebrations and more. It all adds up. As a parent and keeper of the checkbook, you have the right and the obligation to say no if the cost of athletic participa- tion is too expensive. Here are some things to consider before you sink all of your disposable income into sports: • Intramural teams that compete within the com- munity can be a more affordable alternative to traveling teams. An intra- mural team will have fewer practices and games and rely on volunteer coaches in exchange for a lower price tag. • As a parent, you can advocate for less rather than more. Do the kids really need new warm-ups every year? Can out-of- town travel be limited to one trip, or none, per sea- son? • Instead of just writing a check to cover the entire cost of participation, get your child's team involved in fundraising activities. Many teams hold car washes and pancake breakfasts to reduce team members' costs. • For every dollar you spend on sports today, invest the same dollar amount in a college sav- ings plan for your son or daughter. • The oppor- tunity to play on varsity teams is reserved for the very best ath- letes, so discuss with your child the possi- bility of earning a varsity spot or an athletic schol- arship to attend college. Costs aside, there are benefits of athletic partic- ipation that you can't put a price tag on. Sports teach kids important lessons, such as teamwork, disci- pline and learning to win and lose with grace. Phys- ical fitness is another important benefit. Partic- ularly for girls, participa- tion in sports is linked to lower levels of drug and alco- hol use and promiscuity. Make an offensive play for your finances and talk to a finan- cial advisor about what you can afford to put toward athletic participation. A knowledgeable professional can help you estab- lish a budget for your children's extracur- ricular activities based on your current income and savings goals. ___ Alan Foley is a financial advisor and business financial advisor for Ameriprise Financial, 2150 Main St., Ste. 8, and can be reached at 528-1328. Wednesday, January 6, 2010 – Daily News – 5A GEO GROWNEY MOTORS 1160 Main St., Red Bluff 527-1034 We buy late model used cars and pick-ups, paid for or not! $ Money $ 2 Lend Cash 4 Notes McKinley Mortgage Co. CA DRE # 01773837 Call 530-241-0977 800-909-1977 345 So. Main Street • Red Bluff 527-4588 AQUARIUM PLANTS BUY 2, GET 1 FREE of equal of lesser value BUY 1 FISH, GET 1 FREE of equal of lesser value, limit $5 value, 1 coupon per customer expires 1/31/10 Commerce business&enterprise You can make a mark on the community In an effort to help stimulate vis- itor-related economic activity and increased tourism this past year, the chamber created a new Special Events Committee and re-activated a California High School Rodeo Finals Committee, which pre- pared a comprehensive and incentives-loaded bid to host the annual California High School Rodeo Finals to Red Bluff in 2010 and 2011. Well, the bid to lure the high school rodeo fell on deaf ears, however the Special Events Com- mittee hit two balls out of the park by taking over the annual 4th of July fireworks show and staging the Ribs, Rods and Rides Hot Air Bal- loon Festival this past October. The fireworks show was expand- ed to twice its previous length and was augmented by a day-long Her- itage Days Celebration complete with entertainment, lawnmower races, strongman competition, com- munity food booths and a drawing for $10,000. The Hot Air Balloon Festival - Ribs, Rods, and Rides attracted 15 majestic balloons and was accom- panied by a classic car show and an invitation-only rib cook-off. The event, hosted and sponsored by Rolling Hills Casino, drew thou- sands of spectators. These two events demonstrated what can be achieved when cham- ber members get invloved in cham- ber activities geared to bring notice and people to our community. Chamber President Kristin Behrens invites all chamber mem- bers to get more involved in these chamber activities and to review the list of other chamber committees and sign-up for the committees of their choice in order to help the chamber with its activities designed to improve the economic climate of our area. Behrens says involve- ment in the chamber is not limited to owners or man- agers of businesses, but is wel- comed by all employees of chamber business members. "The chamber is involved in a wide variety of activities and pro- jects and should satisfy the needs of everyone who wants to get involved in building a better community," Behrens says. Chamber committees and their missions include: Special Events Committee — to explore and develop ideas for spe- cial events for the area in an effort to attract visitors and tourists. Local Government Services Committee — to assist local gov- ernment agencies with proposed projects and ordinances affecting business; and to ensure a business presence in local government deci- sion making. Round-Up Week Promotion Committee — to plan and carry out Round-Up Week with activities designed to help promote the Annu- al Red Bluff Round-Up Rodeo. 4th of July Heritage Days Cele- bration Committee — to plan and carry out 4th of July Fireworks Show and attendant activities. Hot Air Balloon Festival Com- mittee — to assist with planning and co-ordinating activities of the Hot Air Balloon Festival. Red Bluff-Tehama County Con- vention and Vistiors Bureau (Tourism Committee) — to plan and carry out various programs designed to attract visitors and tourists to our area. Round-Up Parade Committee — to plan and stage the annual Red Bluff Round-Up Parade during Red Bluff Round-Up Week. Membership Recruitment Com- mittee — to carry out an on-going program of membership solicita- tion, recruitment, and retention. Community Leadership Devel- opment — to implement an educa- tional and motivational program with the purpose of identifying and developing community leader- ship. To participate, Chamber mem- bers are urged to contact the cham- ber office at 527-6220. Your name will be added to your preferred committee roster and you will be invited to its next meeting. As sim- ple as that. If you have any ques- tions regarding any of the commit- tees, feel free to call Executive Vice President John Yingling at this same number. ——— The We Mean Business column is prepared and submitted by the Red Bluff-Tehama County Chamber of Commerce. Pool service in spotlight • Business Spotlight – Our business spotlight of the week is Fairchild Pools, 321-7044. Eric Fairchild is the owner of the pool service and has two employees that work with him as a team. He has been in the pool business for three years and has been a member of the Corning Chamber of Commerce since December 2008. Fairchild Pools provides full service for residential and commercial pools on a weekly basis. They work year-round and as Eric says, "We love helping people take care of their pool and we pride ourselves in doing excellent work." He is hoping to build his base of customers in the Corning and Chico areas, and continue to provide great service for his customers. Eric is married with four children; three boys ages 5, 3 1/2, 20 months and a baby girl born Dec. 28. When asked what he likes to do when he is not working Eric said, "I just love spending time with my family." • Corning in the Evening – Thursday, Jan. 14, our first monthly event for 2010 will be held at the chamber office hosted by Angela Polanco to tell you about her business. Bring your business card for a chance to win a door prize. Refreshments will be served. • Installation Dinner – Mark your calendar for Saturday, Jan. 23 for the Chamber's Annual Instal- lation Dinner at the Veteran's Memorial Hall. Chamber members will be receiving a invitation in the mail soon. If you are not a member and would like to attend, call the chamber at 824-5550 and we will send you one, or you may stop by and pick one up at 1110 Solano St. The new officers of the Chamber Board of Directors will be installed and there will be awards given out for some worthy recipients. Everyone is invited. • Sexual Harassment Prevention – Jan. 28 from 10 a.m. to noon at 724 Main St. in Red Bluff, Busi- ness One stop, a division of the Job Training Cen- ter, will conduct training for managers and supervi- sors. AB 1825 requires California employers with 50 or more employees to provide two hours of training and education to all supervisory employees every two years. If you have any questions or would like to register, please call 529-7000. The cost is $49 per person. Space is limited. • SCORE Workshop – Saturday, Jan. 16 there will be a free workshop Starting and Running Your Own Business, held at the Chico Chamber of Com- merce Third and Salem in Chico. You must register in advance. Topics covered: Personal factors/Man- agement, Business Opportunities, Marketing, Orga- nization, Insurance, Regulations, Requirements and Sources of Capital, Cash Flow Management, and Business Plans. The presenter is B.T. Chapman, who has been a SCORE counselor for eight years. His background is manufacturing and his skills include Bookkeeping and Records, Business Plan- ning and Start Ups, Employee Relations, Financing a Business and Personal Management. Upcoming workshops include Quick Start How to Prepare Your Own Business Plan, Quick Start Intro To Marketing and Using the Internet and Quick Start Basic Financial Reporting and Plan- ning. ——— This column is prepared and submitted by the Corning Chamber of Commerce. Business news? Business news may be submitted to clerk@redbluffdailynews.com. Include name and phone. Digital pictures should be attached as .jpg files. Info is available at 527-2151. Are you going broke from kids' sports? Alan Foley Loan opportunities for your small business