June 2008 Online at www.thesmartcenter.biz

Summertime, Summertime... A Small Business Owner's Guide to Taking a Vacation (about.com) Too busy for a vacation? Hah! A 7-step plan for taking time off (bankrate.com) Gas Prices Getting You Down? Learn how to boost your car's mileage in this article from usatoday.com: As gas prices rise, driving for business changes Could telecommuting be the answer? What about other options? Here's some info to help you make that decision: To Telecommute or Not? (www.calchamber.com/hrc) Embrace Greener Commuting (smsmallbiz.com) Beat the Heat... and take the sizzle out of summer with this info: Working Outdoors in Warm Climates (OSHA Fact Sheet) Relax Your Office Dress Code? (about.com) Energy-Saving Tips for Businesses consumerenergycenter.org

Amongst the "crazy, lazy days of summer" are these holidays & observances in June posted on brownielocks.com: Effective Communications Month Entrepreneurs "Do It Yourself" Marketing Month National Safety Month Professional Wellness Month National Business Etiquette Week Leave the Office Early Day Ball Point Pen Day Blame Someone Else Day Take Your Dog to Work Day Let It Go Day Hand Shake Day Please Take My Children to Work Day Hiring for HR Positions How do you determine if your candidate has what it takes? Avoid Hiring an HR Dud: Behavioral Interview Questions for Finding Stars The Skills to Pay the Bills: Hiring HR Pros Who Will Fight Source: www.workforce.com Employment Practices "When an employer is sued for violation of employment practices today, the suit likely doesn’t allege discrimination or sexual harassment, but rather violations of state and federal wage and hour laws." Read this article on workforce.com.

Website Design Workshops Due to the success of our first evening workshop (it was a full house), we are offering both a morning and an evening Website Design Workshop in June. June 11th & 13th 9:00-11:00am June 17th & 19th 5:30-7:30pm Recent updates to the software program we use give you even more options to make the website you create for your business exciting and special. Sign up online now. Click here to sign up or for more information. These workshops are held at the Smart Center in Redding. Calling All Entrepreneurs Venture Island is coming to Redding Join us at the NextLevel! NextLevel Network Meeting Tuesday, June 10th Lunch Meeting: 12-1:30 Angelo's Pizza (Board Room) 1774 California St., Redding The next meeting of the NextLevel Network will include an update on Venture Island. Questions? Call 245-1509. What is Venture Island? A field of innovative, high-growth potential start-up and existing companies compete to build their businesses, receive Big Kahuna designation, and land a cash infusion! Venture Island contestants face a series of challenges that serve as a celebration of entrepreneurship and a "can't miss" networking event for entrepreneurs. During their 3-month stay on Venture Island, company founders benefit from executive mentoring and advising, peer networking, and high visibility for their businesses in the community and beyond. Venture Island is a major area event that supports our entrepreneurs – they are the next wave of market leading companies in the North State. Be part of the community effort that makes it happen! Interested in Sponsoring Venture Island? Know a potential Venture Island contestant? Call 245-1509 or E-mail banna@thesmartcenter.biz