May Networking Events/Seminars

The Berkshire Business and Professional Women will meet on Monday, May 3, hosting adventurer and art historian Dudley Levenson, who will present the photo lecture "Images of Women from Classic, Tribal and Emerging Cultures." 

Networking begins at 5:30 p.m., with dinner and the presentation to follow at 6 p.m. The cost is $28; reservations are required. This month's meeting will be held at Jae's Spice on North Street, Pittsfield. For more information and reservations,contact mphillips@greylock.org.

The Tanglewood Business Partners Committee will hold a cocktail reception to pitch the rewards of creating a business partnership with it, on Monday, May 3 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Blantyre, 16 Blantyre Road, Lenox.

On Wednesday, May 5, Hancock Shaker Village, Pittsfield, will host "Solar Energy for your Community or Business: A Closer Look at Medium and Large Scale Solar," from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Speakers include Sen. Benjamin Downing; Chris Vreeland, professional engineer and renewable energy consultant; and James Barry, Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources.

Suggested attendees include muncipal leaders, department of public works directors, business owners, large landowners, architects and builders, facilities directors, nonprofit directors, farmers and business managers; admission is $20. Registration is required; register at www.regonline.com/cetsolar. For more information, contact Wendy Penner at wendyp@cetonline.org or Amanda Dubrowski at 413-445-4556 ext. 10.

The Small Business Administration is putting on a Small Business Recovery Expo on Thursday, May 6, from 7:30 a.m. to noon, in Murdock Hall, 2nd floor, on the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts campus, North Adams.

A panel of speakers from federal, state and local organizations will dscuss how they are able to assist your business. The panel will be followed by an expo where attendees may visit with these organizations; two free workshops on business financing and SBA programs will follow the expo.

Speakers include Bob Nelson, SBA Massachusetts director; Mayor Richard J. Alcombright; Michael Supranowicz, president, Berkshire Chamber of Commerce; and Andre Porter, executive director, Mass Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Representatives from MCLA, MSBDC, SCORE and financial institutions will be present.

Register for the event here.

On Friday, May 7 the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce is hosting an "Eggs and Issues" breakfast featuring Scott Soares, Commissioner with Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), who has been recognized as a strong advocate for agricultural interests in Massachusetts. The event takes place at Crissey Farm, 426 Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington, from 8 to 9:30 a.m.

Admission is $10 for Berkshire Chamber members, $15 for nonmembers; register here.

The Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce will hold an informational meeting about written information security programs (WISPs) on Friday, May 7 at 9 a.m. Featured speakers Kathleen McCormick of McCormick, Murtagh and Marcus, and Ryan Belanger of Ascentek will address legal and technological issues. The event is free to Southern Berkshire Chamber members, but an RSVP is required to sbcc@rnetworx.com. The event will be held at Berkshire Community College South County Campus Room S1; contact the chamber at 413-528-4284 for more information.

On Thursday, May 13, the Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce will have a Business After Hours event at the Nutrition Center, 94 West Ave., Great Barrington. RSVP to visitor@southernberkshirechamber.com.

On Wednesday, May 19,  the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce will hold a Chamber Nite at The American Legion, 41 Wendell Ave., Pittsfield, from 5 to 7 p.m. The event is free for Berkshire Chamber members and their employees. Complimentary hors d'oevres will be served. Register here (for members only).

Berkshire Creative is putting on the BeCreative BarCamp, an event designed for members of the Berkshire creative economy to share their ideas, projects, resources and innovations, on Wednesday, May 19, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Shakespeare and Company, Lenox. The event is free. To learn more, sign up to present, or to RSVP (by Monday, May 17) visit becreativeconference.com or call 413-822-8324.

The Berkshire Visitors Bureau is hosting a free talk on arts and culture on Wednesday, May 19, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at The Mount, 2 Plunkett St., Lenox. Businesses are invited to share ideas and hear what others are doing to encourage collaborations and facilitate packaging. For more information, contact the bureau at 413-743-4500.

Berkshire Art Kitchen, 400 Main St., Great Barrington, will hold a series of quick, hands-on seminars on social media for artists, writers, musicians and entrepreneurs. BAK is offering the seminars on a sliding scale ($20 to $50 per person; pay what you can). The schedule is as follows; all classes are from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
MySpace Monday: May 17
Twitter Tuesdays: May 18
Wordpress Wednesdays: May 19
YouTube Thursdays: May 20
Facebook Fridays: May 21

One-on-one tutorials or special group sessions are available. Contact berkshireartkitchen@gmail.com or 413-717-0031 for more information.

On Wednesday, May 26, Custom Business Solutions will host the Williamstown Chamber of Commerce's Networking Night from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at 148 Main St., Williamstown. The event is free and open to  chamber members and their employees. Hors d'oeuvres and cocktails will be offered.

For more information, contact the chamber office at 413-458-9077 or info@williamstownchamber.com.