Events for January 2015

Gala Committee Meeting

Register for the Houston FIT Spring 2015 group running program now through January 31 at www.HoustonFIT.com! Over the course of 14 short weeks (January 31 ? April 25), our coaches will help you achieve your personal best in a non-intimidating, fun, and safe environment. Our members are fitter, happier, and mentally stronger than they?ve ever been before. Through this training, people change their lives forever. Choose a Houston FIT training group this season that?s just right for you: - Walking: For those who would like a great walking-only workout - Walk-to-Run 5K: For beginning walkers and runners who would like to start running - Stay Fit 5K/10K: For more experienced runners who would like to improve their pace or form - Marathon/Half Marathon: For runners who have completed a long-distance run and can run 6 miles As a member of Houston FIT, you?ll receive: - Ability-based weekly group runs - Daily training schedules to keep you progressing during the week - Encouragement and expertise from trained coaches - Informational seminars on running-related topics - Camaraderie and social events - A Houston FIT technical T-shirt - A one-time 20% discount card and a continuous 10% discount at Luke?s Locker REFER A FRIEND PROGRAM ? Returning Members: Refer one NEW MEMBER and receive a $20 discount on your membership fee; refer two or more NEW FRIENDS and receive $20 off your membership fee PLUS a $15 gift card from Luke's Locker. When your new friend(s) register, just have them enter YOUR name in the field: ?If you were referred by a Houston Fit member, please give us that member's name." At the close of registration, if your name is listed one or more times, your membership fee will be refunded accordingly. Join us today at www.HoustonFIT.com!

The Ambassadors promote goodwill to Chamber members, provide a direct personal contact for Chamber members and for the community, and support Chamber member retention efforts. Ambassadors are “the face of the Chamber” and as such are asked to support and participate in various Chamber activities. Areas of primary responsibility include: ribbon cutting ceremonies, luncheons, routine member visits and phone calls, and hosting at other Chamber events.
 

Membership Meet & Greets are held every first Wednesday of the month from 5-7 p.m. Join us to meet Chamber members, shake some hands, talk about your business and learn how the Chamber might support your business from those in the community who know first-hand about the benefits - other Chamber members.

Everyone is invited to this no-program event held each month at different locations across our Chamber membership. This is no charge to attend - we are at the courtesy of our host each month.

This will be the kick-off meeting for our 2015 Business Retention and Expansion committee. Ordinarily we will meet on the 1^st Thursday of each month. 
 

January 8, 2015 is our Annual Membership & Awards Luncheon
The topic of “Keeping Up: Harris County & Precinct 4 are Still Growing
What do Government and Business Need to do to Meet the Growing Demands?" will be presented by Precinct 4, Commissioner R. Jack Cagle.

Commissioner R. Jack Cagle has served as county commissioner for Harris County
Precinct 4 since 2011. He is serving his second term, a four year cycle, following reelection on November 4, 2014. As commissioner, representing 1.2 million residents, Cagle manages a staff of 375 employees and a Precinct 4 budget of $275 million.

He has spent 30 years working with and serving the citizens of Harris County Precinct 4 as an attorney, an elected judge, and now serving as county commissioner.

The Small Business Committee will encourage excellence among our small businesses by delivering luncheon education seminars (Small Business Forum) annually and by promoting recognition of outstanding businesses in our area.
 
 

Committee Chair Training

Transfer & Graduate School Preview Day @ Prairie View A & M Northwest Houston Center
January 10, 2015 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Gala Committee Meeting

Education Committee Meeting

Join us to celebrate the grand opening and Ribbon Cutting of the newest Stripes Convenience Store in our Community.

Please join us for Pathways Memory Care Grand Opening Celebration.

Join us in celebrating the Grand Opening for Pathways Memory Care at Villa Toscana!

Please join us at 8 a.m. on Friday, January 16, 2015 for the New Member Appreciation Breakfast hosted by Uncle Wankie's Restaurant. This is an opportunity for you to meet with your Chamber President, Barbara Thomason, and learn how to jump-start your membership. Membership benefits are discussed over breakfast.

Gala Committee Meeting

"3-2-1 Launch! Positioning You and Your Business for Success in 2015"

Don Ball of the SBDC is back with a presentation that every small business owner or manager needs to set themselves up for success in 2015. Start your year off right by joining us for this hand-on workshop that will provide you with some real insight into your business effectiveness.

Join us for Judge Ed Emmett's "State of the County" update at the Government Affairs-Transportation committee meeting.

You are cordially invited to attend the Klein Forest High School Business and Community Open House on January 21, 2015. During the evening guest will receive a tour of the campus, participate in a question answer segment and enjoy light refreshments.

Want to get fit for the New Year? Want to cross that 5K, 10K, half marathon or marathon off your bucket list this year? Just want to improve your time? Then join Houston FIT at our Spring 2015 Orientation and Registration events taking place at Luke?s Locker on Wednesday, January 21, 2015, or Tuesday, January 27, 2015, from 7 ? 9 pm. You can also learn more and register online by January 31 at www.HoustonFIT.com. The Houston FIT Spring 2015 group walking or running programs will begin January 31 at Memorial Park. Over the course of 14 short weeks (January 31 ? April 25), our coaches will help you achieve your personal best in a non-intimidating, fun and safe environment. Our members are fitter, happier and mentally stronger than they?ve ever been before. Through this training, people change their lives forever. Choose a Houston FIT training group this season that?s just right for you: ? Walking: For those who would like a great walking-only workout ? Walk-to-Run 5K: For beginning walkers and runners who would like to start running ? Stay Fit 5K/10K: For more experienced runners who would like to improve their pace or form ? Marathon/Half Marathon: For runners who have completed a long-distance run and can run 6 miles As a member of Houston FIT, you?ll receive: ? Ability-based weekly group runs ? Daily training schedules to keep you progressing during the week ? Encouragement and expertise from trained coaches ? Informational seminars on running-related topics ? Camaraderie and social events ? A Houston FIT technical T-shirt ? A one-time 20% discount card and a continuous 10% discount at Luke?s Locker REFER A FRIEND PROGRAM ? Returning Members: Refer one NEW MEMBER and receive a $20 discount on your membership fee; refer two or more NEW FRIENDS and receive $20 off your membership fee PLUS a $15 gift card from Luke's Locker. When your new friend(s) register, just have them enter YOUR name in the field: ?If you were referred by a Houston Fit member, please give us that member's name." At the close of registration, if your name is listed one or more times, your membership fee will be refunded accordingly.

The Houston Northwest Chamber Foundation Board meeting meets on the fourth Thursday of the month and only meets on designated months.

Benjamin O Davis 9th Grade Center Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) Start Up Community Meeting, to benefit the Parents, Teachers, and Students at Benjamin O Davis 9th Grade. This organization will be a new local PTA, an addition to the Aldine Council of PTA's, Texas PTA, and National PTA. Once formed it will support the overall purpose of PTA "to make every child?s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children."

Gala Committee Meeting

When most people think of long-term care for the elderly, they think of nursing homes. But it can involve much more than that. Join us on January 26th at 5:30pm at Village on the Park - Houston for an informative seminar and open discussion on long term care options. Representatives from Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, Rehabilitation Hospitals, Home Health Care, Hospice Care and Private Pay Home Assistance will be available to answer your questions!

America's Got Talent Season 10 auditions are coming to San Antonio on January 29! We want to see Houston talent! Any age, any talent, any dream! Pre-register today! Go to www.agtauditions.com

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!!
 
Where is NW Houston's best casual and modern location for real estate professionals?
 
Allô French Rotisserie's OPEN HOUSE!!
 
Join us for a 
Complimentary Wine and Menu Tasting 
designed to wine and dine our area 
real estate professionals.  
 
When: Thursday, January 29, 2015
Time: 5PM-7PM
Where: 126-b Vintage Park Blvd, Houston, TX 77070
(facing Louetta and Starbucks)
 
Learn more about what Allô has to offer your clients, your office and our growing community:  

• Private dining rooms with full audio-visual capabilities
• Event planning, rentals, and staffing
• Custom menu design
• Fine table decoration

  
Email info@EatAtAllo.com
 for more details and to RSVP. 

Avante Laser & MediSpa is helping clients start off the year right by hosting their NewBody by Avante events on Jan. 29 at 6 p.m. at their location in The Woodlands and on Feb. 5 at 6 p.m. at Avante in Houston. ?It?s the beginning of the year and people are thinking about getting their bodies back in shape,? says founder and co-owner Stacey Upchurch, CLT, CLS, LSO, CLHRP. ?Our results with NewBody by Avante, featuring the Venus Legacy, are simply the best we?ve ever seen.? Avante staff will give details on the popular Venus Legacy that is being touted as ?Hollywood?s hottest new treatment to the stars? for body contouring, cellulite reduction and skin tightening. Two leading stars, Sofia Vergara and Salma Hayek, have recently deemed the Venus Legacy their ?go to? treatment. Avante will host prize drawings including Resolution Cellulite Kits, laser hair removal, Botox treatments and more during the events, which will be both informational and social. Avante will be serving wine and cheese, while client and local artisan Kimmie Churchwell will have jewelry and scarves on display. Certified specialists will be on hand to demonstrate and explain the Venus Legacy and its benefits. Seating is limited for the upcoming events; RSVP today by calling Avante Laser & MediSpa in The Woodlands at 281-419-0080 or at the Houston location at 713-953-1139. Avante Laser & MediSpa is located at 9191 Pinecroft, Suite 100, The Woodlands and at 3651 Weslayan Street, Suite 200, Houston.

Klein Forest Drama presents, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, an entertaining "Solve-It-Yourself" murder mystery musical with a dynamic cast that?ll be sure to keep you at the edge of your seat.

[GOT AN IDEA? Take the first and often overlooked step to making your idea a reality BEFORE you develop your product or build your startup. Register today for Houston?s first Lean Invention Workshop presented by Fruition Technology Labs, Houston Technology Center and Invent-It-2day?. Learn a revolutionary way to bring your idea to fruition through the Lean Invention Method. The workshop includes, but is not limited to: ? Learning the steps of Lean Inventing? ? Collaborating and taking your idea to the next level ? Learning about provisional patent applications, trademarks and social media IP ? Product development and branding ? Preparing for a crowdfunding campaign We will be taking a lunch break where you can further discuss your projects and eat with fellow attendees or collaborators. Save $25 with early bird registration now through Jan. 25 after which prices will increase to $124 until Jan. 31. Space is limited, so be sure to register today at http://bit.ly/LeanInvention. Agenda 8:00 Registration 8:30 Introduction: Lean Invention Methodology 9:45 The Ins and Outs of Law and Technology for Inventors 11:00 Break 11:15 Guest Speaker ? Experience of an inventor and/or crowdfunding 12:00 Working Lunch ? Collaboration/Group Project/Group Project Pitches 1:00 Collaboration Methods: Online Tools, Apps, and Revenue Sharing 1:45 Product Identity: Branding 2:30 Product Development: Prototypes, Manufacturing Feasibility, and Idea Validation 3:30 Break 3:45 Crowdfunding Overview 4:15 School of Invention Platform Demo 4:30 Inventor Pitches 5:15 Connect with Collaborators/Happy Hour About Fruition Technology Labs Founded in 2012 in the heart of Houston?s booming startup scene, Fruition Technology Labs facilitates and nurtures the growth and advancement of Humanity-Focused Innovations ? a special group of startups that aim to meet major needs in the community through the development of new technologies. Their team of mentors and collaborators work closely with inventors at any stage of their businesses through their 5 Simple Steps to the Fruition Process?. About Invent-It-2day? Invent-It-2day is a series of seminars that aim to show inventors how to take their idea and launch it into the marketplace, all within the span of one weekend. At Invent-It-2day, inventors and collaborators with varied background and expertise will learn the Lean Invention method to help reduce the overall costs, time, and risk of bringing an idea to fruition. About Houston Technology Center Houston Technology Center is the hub of Houston?s early stage technology startups that is driving high tech job growth and diversifying the Houston Economy by helping startups compete successfully in their markets. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, HTC assists Houston-based entrepreneurs within several key sectors: energy, information technology, life sciences, nanotechnology and NASA/aerospace. We have already helped create thousands of jobs and over $600 million a year of annual economic activity and are on the cusp of major growth for ourselves and for the community we serve.

Join us for an "Evening In Paris" at our 2015 Diamonds & Ice Gala, the Houston Northwest Chamber's primary fundraising event of the year!