Join us Friday, March 5 at the Clay Center as Generation Charleston celebrates First Friday with the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra! The WVSO will be performing “Virtuosity Unleashed!,” a Symphonic concert featuring world renowned guest violinist, Ilya Kaler (visit www.wvsymphony.org for concert details).

The concert begins at 8 p.m., and a free reception (complimentary drinks & desserts) will immediately follow in the Founders’ Lounge at the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences. Also, guest violinist Ilya Kaler will be attending the reception to mingle with Generation Charleston members, so don’t miss this special opportunity to meet Mr. Kaler, an award winning violinist.

The concert and reception are free to GC members but you must RSVP. Call or email Laura Barry for concert tickets at 304-561-3504 or lbarry@theclaycenter.org. Limit two tickets per GC member. Complimentary concert tickets and reception made possible by Verizon.

Also, GC will be taking monetary and supply donations for Haiti Relief. In addition to monetary donations, we can accept:

• Baby Formula (dry/powder)
• Baby wipes
• Toiletries (shampoo, soap, toothpaste, tooth brushes)
• Hand sanitizer
• Vitamins
• Over the counter medicines (Tylenol, Advil, aspirin, Tums, etc.)
• Non-perishable foods that are not in cans (seal-paks of tuna or sardines, for example)
• Beans (not in cans)
• Planting seeds for farmers

Think flat, lightweight, and easily packable. You will be able to drop off your donation before the concert at a collection table in the lobby.

For more information visit www.flmhaiti.org.

Join us Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. at Power Alley Grill for the first Business After Hours of 2010!
Proud Eagle Distributing is co-sponsoring the event.

Click here to register.

Tom Watt – “The Buffett Man” – will be performing. Watt began his Jimmy Buffett Tribute show in Pittsburgh and has been touring the East Coast since. He received the International Guild of Celebrity Impersonators Award for “Best Male Musical Star” and has been Buffett’s photo double for various movies and videos. Learn more at www.tomwatt.com.

The Power will be giving away several door prizes, including a trip for four to Pittsburgh and PNC to watch the Pirates take on Albert Pujols and the St. Louis Cardinals!

Business After Hours also is an excellent networking opportunity.
Park

Registration for is $10 for Alliance members and $20 for future members. 

Prices increase to $15 and $25 at the door.To expedite your registration, you may pay online or contact Deb Coffman for more information.

We are unable to invoice for groups under 10 or issue refunds for cancellations received less than 48 hours prior to the event. Thank you.

Is your business prepared for new leadership?  What will happen to your business when upper management retires?  Who will your new leaders be and how can you ensure you are preparing these new leaders for their future roles and responsibilities? If you’re unsure of the answers to these questions, it may be time to implement a succession plan.

Someday, every business owner will exit his or her business. The question is not “whether”, but “when” and “how”. Regardless of whether you plan to transition your company tomorrow or thirty years from now, you need to have a succession plan in place. Succession planning is having a systematic process where managers identify, assess and develop their staff to make sure they are ready to assume key roles within the company.

For practical advice on how to get started, please join us for a “Food for Thought” roundtable discussion on succession planning February 24^th from Noon to1 p.m. at the Charleston Area Alliance. Pre-registration is required.

Bob Simpson of Dixon Hughes and Jack Suttle, formerly of Suttle & Stalnaker, will share the four keys of succession planning and why it’s never too early to get started.

In this fast-paced roundtable you will learn:

• The elements of a quality succession plan (hint: it doesn’t have to be lengthy, just well thought out and well communicated.)
• How to evaluate leadership potential in successors
• How to plan for the future of your employees, customers, suppliers and more.

If you’re a business owner, don’t miss this opportunity to learn from the experts on how to develop a plan to ensure the safety and vitality of the organization you’ve worked so hard to build. (more…)

Is winter getting you down? Then come in from the cold with Generation Charleston from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. this evening at Capitol Roasters and warm your heart with food, friends, drink specials, a chocolate tasting and music.

A “Heart Wall” will be displayed with information about local children in need of foster parents.

Stop by and learn more about each child’s story. “The Heart Gallery of West Virginia — Portraits of Hope” is a traveling photography exhibit that features portraits of West Virginia’s foster children eligible for adoption.

The goals of the Heart Gallery are to spotlight children available for adoption, recruit families for children featured in the gallery, and recruit additional foster and adoptive families for West Virginia’s children.

Delegate Meshea Poore will be hosting a community meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb 9 at the Charleston Woman’s Club on Charleston’s East End.  

East End Main Street Director Ric Cavender will moderate a Q&A session with Delegate Poore and members of the community. 

All are welcome to come share their concerns and suggestions with the new 31st District Delegate.

Generation Charleston is hosting a “Heartwarming Party” from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12 at Capitol Roasters, 160 Summers St.

Come in from the cold and warm your heart with food, friends, drink specials, a chocolate tasting and music. A “Heart Wall” will be displayed with information about local children in need of foster parents.

Stop by and learn more about each child’s story. “The Heart Gallery of West Virginia — Portraits of Hope” is a traveling photography exhibit that features portraits of West Virginia’s foster children eligible for adoption.

The goals of the Heart Gallery are to spotlight children available for adoption, recruit families for children featured in the gallery, and recruit additional foster and adoptive families for West Virginia’s children.

“Women, Power and Policy” is the focus of the next Elevations luncheon program starting at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 2 at the Charleston Woman’s Club, 1600 Virginia St. East.

Top women lobbyists will share their perspectives on shaping policy and making change during a discussion moderated by Sally Smith, Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love.

Speakers include: Jill Bentz, WV Insurance Federation: Ruth Lemmon, WV Automobile and Truck Dealers Association; Karen Price, WV Manufacturers Association; and Jan Vineyard, WV Business and Industry Council.

The mission of Elevations, presented by DOW, is to enrich, empower and elevate women to achieve success. Through events featuring prominent speakers and other innovative programs and activities, Elevations provides an essential and affirmative network that connects women with the resources, contacts and information that enhance their lives.

The program will begin with an optional informal networking reception at 11:30 a.m., followed by lunch at noon and the panel discussion.   Tickets are $25 Alliance members/$35 future members through Jan. 29.  Prices increase to $35 Alliance members/$45 future members after that date. 

Click here to register.

We are unable to invoice for groups with fewer than 10 or issue refunds for cancellations received less than 48 hours prior to the event. Thank you.