Midge Dobbs with North Pacific Management, a long time Bravo Partner, is traveling to India to participate a service project this May.  She is leading a team of 5 along with her husband, Chris.  The main purpose of the trip is to gift and build a multi-purpose sport court for an orphanage.  Midge visited India in January of 2009 and it was truly life changing for her.  The orphanage that they are traveling to is the same organization that she visited in 2009.

 The partner in India is ALMA (Abundant Life Ministerial Associates), which among other things has orphanages in South India. Many of these orphans come from the lower caste in India, which means, apart from some sort of intervention, they would be destined to a life of extreme poverty.  One of the most pressing needs for the orphanage is a safe place for their kids to play. They have few opportunities for play, which is such a vital component of healthy development. As a result, the team is coming in to help construct a multi-use sports court. The work will be incredibly hard, and seeing the kids playing on the finished product will make it all worthwhile.  The team will be completely immersed into the community, staying at the orphanage with the kids, working together to build the court, and also taking part in other volunteer activities such as leadership training and whatever else can be done to serve! The team is going to help support the local Indians,and each of them know this will be a life changing trip for the team-members as well.

 As you can imagine the court is not inexpensive, the total cost of the court is over $8,400.  In addition to the court costs each person on the trip covers their own trip fees, a total of $3,400 per person.  If you are interested in helping with a tax-deductible contribution to allow the court dream for these orphans to be fulfilled, you can send donations directly to Courts for Kids. All donationsare tax-deductible (Courts for Kids’ Tax-ID number is 20-8332371) and 100% of what you give will help make the court a reality!  Thank you!

 Midge Dobbs

North Pacific Management

(360) 635-2629

midge.dobbs@northp.com

Courts for Kids

PO Box 61874

Vancouver, WA 98666

(360) 521-0592

info@courtsforkids.org

www.courtsforkids.org

Join us in helping to raise funds for Wish Upon A Wedding, a nonprofit 501 (c) (3) organization that provides weddings and vow renewals to couples facing terminal illness or other serious life-altering circumstances, regardless of sexual orientation. Often, couples facing such situations do not have the energy, time, money, or resources needed to plan their wedding. This  organization takes care of all the details, offering couples a chance to relax and enjoy a very special day while surrounded by the love of their closest family and friends.

Gracie’s Restaurant at Hotel deLuxe is donating 20% of all food sales to help support Wish Upon A Wedding on Tuesday, March 29th.  Bring your friends and family for a wonderful meal and help support a great cause. Dinner starts at 5pm!

Big Al’s Beaverton

You are invited to attend the Corporate Showcase and Ribbon Cutting Event on March 30th!

 Located at 14950 SW Barrows Rd. in Beaverton

4:30 to 6:30 to enjoy the 70,000 square foot facility!

A few of the things you can look forward to are:

 Door Prizes

• Buffet Samples
• Chain Saw Ribbon Cutting!
• Community Involevment
  • Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue
  • Beaverton PD
  • US Navy Color Guard

Please RSVP to allen.nicoson@Ilovebigals.com or call (971) 269-8035.

 Big Al’s provides full service entertainment venues to meet all of your event planning and party needs, there are many spaces available or you can rent the entire facility.

 Sitting high above Big Al’s Sports Bar & Grill, the Caddyshack and the Skybox have an incredible bird’s eye view of Big Al’s 55’ wide high-definition jumbo-tron. The Skybox is the ultimate banquet room with seating for 45 guests and is decked out with Pac-10 flare.

 Adjacent to the Skybox you’ll find the Caddyshack, which has a private bar, two pool tables, a Wii lounge, and our Full Swing Golf Simulator. Bring your golf clubs and swing away on one of our 67 courses, which include Pebble Beach, The Old Course at St Andrews, and many more. Reserve both rooms for the ultimate entertainment event.

 Try your luck in the enormous 7,000 sq. ft. Arcade. They’ve packed in 180 player positions with all of the latest and greatest video and redemption games that kids and adults will enjoy.

 Built to resemble a stadium, Big Al’s Sports Bar & Grill boasts wrap-around booth seating, exposed trusses, metal decking, concrete floors, a painted sky ceiling, four 50″ HD plasmas, eight 42″ plasmas, AND an 14ft x 55ft jumbo-tron that can be viewed as three massive wide-screens or divided into any combination of smaller viewing screens

 Big Al’s has everything to accomodate any kind of event you are planning.

I recently had the pleasure of touring the Salem Conference Center, located in downtown Salem. The Conference Center features first-class meeting facilities, on-site full-service catering and Audio Visual equipment. Adjoining the Conference Center is the Phoenix Grand Hotel, featuring 193 suites, indoor pool and spa, restaurant and lounge.

Salem Conference Center Features:

• Convenient downtown Salem location
• 14 flexible meeting rooms
• State-of-the-art technology, advanced connectivity, audio/visual services
• Adjoining the Grand Hotel in Salem and Bentley’s Grill and Lounge with Room Service
• Full Catering services
• On-site complimentary covered parking
• Experienced, professional staff
• Pre-function/reception areas on both lower and upper floors
• Large windows provide daytime natural light
• Over 30,000 sq ft of conference space
• Wireless Internet access throughout the center
• Décor for themed events
• 24-Hour Business Center
• Shuttle Service

Contact The Conference Center at 1.877.589.1700 or fill out an RFP at www.salemconferencecenter.org.

  Pre-Function Lobby

 Willamette River Room

Since 1987, Class Act, Event Coordinators, Inc. has been serving clients throughout the Northwest.  Class Act’s team of coordinators has designed some of the most creative and memorable corporate and private events in the area.  These events include Weddings, Conferences, Business Meetings, Seminars, Ground Breakings, Auctions and Galas, Company Picnics, Legislative Events, Open Houses, Retirements, Appreciations, Holiday Events, and Private Dinner Events. 

I recently had the opportunity to visit the new location for Class Act in the Sunnyslope Shopping Center at 4555 Liberty Rd. S., Suite 120, Salem, Oregon. This location features unique gift and baby items, cards, home décor, home entertaining, candles, stationery, and seasonal gifts and home décor and much, much more!

Class Act offers a wide selection of specialty event rentals, from iridescent crush linen to silver candelabras to reflection bowls to garden aisle stakes… Step into one of their event showrooms for design inspiration!

You can contact Class Act at 503-371-8904 or stop by their boutique!

The Foundry has just finished a series of Grand Opening Events beginning with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and ending with The Wedding Event. The Foundry is a wonderful space open for weddings and events with beautiful views of the Willamette River. Many people came to view the space and sample the food from Gourmet Productions, Crave Catering, and Premiere Catering. Check out their website at www.TheFoundryLakeOswego.com for more information on how to rent this great facility. Make sure you take some time to check out the space!

Spring Open House at Catering At Its Best

Meet the staff and tour the kitchen! Enjoy their delicious food!

Thursday, April 7, 2011, 4pm-7pm

611 SE Grant, Portland, Oregon 97214

503.238.8889

RSVP by March 30 to Kevin@caibpdx.com

BEST Business Center awards “Portland Climate Champion” honors to Catering At Its Best

To achieve Portland Climate Champion status, Catering At Its Best improved the energy efficiency of its business operations, provided alternative transportation options for employees, and implemented a robust waste reduction and recycling program

World Forestry Center offers Weekday Discount

The World Forestry Center’s beautiful campus and versatile banquet rooms are the ideal location for any business meeting or social occasion, large or small. Our experienced staff will set the room to your specifications and our extensive preferred caterer’s list allows you the flexibility to choose a personalized menu.  The World Forestry Center is offering a special rate for your Monday-Thursday event.  
 
Event space must be booked by 6/1/11.  Offer valid for events occurring now through 12/31/11 and based on availability.  Offer not valid for previously booked events.

 
 
Book Cheatham Hall for $800 usually $1,200.
 
http://worldforestry.org/facility-rental/events-spaces/cheatham-hall.html

Photo: Steve Hambuchen
  
 

 
Book Miller Hall for $1,500 usually $1,700.
 
http://worldforestry.org/facility-rental/events-spaces/miller-hall.html

 
Photo: Steve Hambuchen
  

 For more information visit www.worldforestry.org <http://www.worldforestry.org> .  To reserve space contact Amber Morrison at 503.488.2101 or amorrison@worldforestry.org.

Located on the Willamette River just steps from downtown Lake Oswego, The Foundry at Oswego Pointe provides an elegant and unique venue for weddings, corporate and social events. Complimentary food, beverages, live music and more as they unveil the Great Hall with its timeless architecture, dramatic vaulted ceilings and unobstructed views of the Willamette Valley.

Tuesday, March 8th: 11am Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, 11:30am-2pm Lunch with Anne Jaeger from Studio 6  emceeing  interactive cooking demonstrations by Gourmet Productions at noon and 1pm !

Thursday, March 10th: 4pm-8pm, Cocktail Reception

Saturday, March 12th:11am-4pm, The Wedding Event

For more information about these great events, visit www.TheFoundryLakeOswego.com.

How To Create a Facebook Page for Your Business

Attendees are encouraged to bring your laptop and make sure you already have signed up for a Facebook account. Learn how to create a Facebook page for your business mini-workshop is being presented at the Association of Catering and Event Professionals meeting at Wild Bills in Portland, Oregon. The presentation will be part of the monthly meeting of ACEP which will also include dinner, networking and the mini-workshop.   Seating is limited so register early.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011
5:30 – 8:00 PM

Wild Bills
Oasis Room
13315 NE Airport Way, Suite 700
Portland, OR 97230

For more information and registration visit the Association of Catering and Event Professionals website.
For specific questions about the class contact Digital Popcorn.

Monday, March 28th: “Are you Ready for Mobile?”

• A playful look at mobile phones, mobile search, mobile advertising, mobile websites.
• Do you know anyone who has an iPhone, Blackberry or other smart phone?
• Do any of your customers have a smart phone?
• Is your website ready for mobile?
• What you can do to get started.

Monday, April 25th: “Business Cycles & Search Trends”

• Find out the best weeks for promoting various goods and services.
• Discover niche’ markets related to your what you already offer.
• Uncover geographic areas that might be good for expansion.

For more information check out Digital Popcorn’s website!