Thursday, November 16, 2007 6 – 8 p.m. Black Business Professional Network 3rd Thursday Networking Event at the Herald-Tribune Building

The Black Business Professional Network 3rd Thursday networking event will be held at the Herald-Tribune building lobby and meeting room first floor. This event will feature an “Empowered Moment” presentation on Successful Networking Strategies (her own story) by Sarasota’s own Carolyn Robinson, Vice President, Senior Branch Manager, SunTrust Bank. Carolyn is a native of Sarasota and an accomplished business women, active community citizen and Vice President, Senior Manager of the bank’s largest branch office in the area. Carolyn will be followed by a facilitated panel discussion on the subject of networking. The Herald-Tribune Building is located at 1741 Main St., Sarasota, FL 34236. The 3rd Thursday networking event is Thursday, November 16 from 6:00 – 8:00pm. Cost: $10.00 - Food and Drink provided. For more information and to RSVP www.BlackBusinessPro.com  or call (941) 366.8403 by Nov.13.

Vickie Oldham, Project Director – LOOKING FOR ANGOLA - at the Sarasota Reading Festival

Vickie Oldham, yet another successful Sarasota Black woman, who has an extensive background in broadcast journalism including working as a news reporter, TV host/producer and recent recipient of a John Ringling Artists’ Fellowship presented a discussion on “Looking for Angola,” at the Sarasota Reading Festival, November 4. The “Looking for Angola” Project is a multi-disciplinary project developed by Vickie in 2004 that chronicles the Angola Settlement, a 1800’s colony of free Blacks, enslaved Africans, and Seminole men, women and children that is believed to have been located from Tampa Bay to areas near the Manatee River and along the west coast of Florida including Sarasota. The Angola Settlement counts as one of the most important sites in African American History and heritage. Look for more exciting things to come from Vickie Oldham and the project. For the first time ever, archaeological testing underway to find artifacts. For more information or to purchase the documentary “Looking for Angola” (DVD/VHS) call: 941.355.2447 or track the search at www.lookingforangola.com

Tuesday, November 7, 2006 ELECTION DAY – GET OUT AND VOTE

Your vote is important! BBPN encourages the Black Community to make a statement this election day by showing our numbers at the polls. Review the ballot, know the issues, and let your voice be known. Please make every effort to get out and vote today. View sample ballot, find your polling place and additional voter Information at the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections web site www.srqelections.com. Remember your vote does make a difference.

Tuesday, November 7, 2006 – Community Entrepreneur Opportunity (CEO) Graduation

Twelve entrepreneurs will be honored at a ceremony and reception to celebrate completion of the intensive Community Entrepreneur Opportunity (CEO) program. The CEO business-training program “Preparing for Success”, is a 12-week course, which is an introduction to business basics using the business plan as the framework for entrepreneurs to determine the viability of their business becoming a success. Karen Magee, Karen Magee & Associates, Inc., business trainer and coach, instructs the CEO course. Anyone interested in supporting the new entrepreneurs or learning more about the program is welcome to attend. Reservations are preferred, but not required. The program will begin at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 7, at the Newtown Selby Goodwill Center, 1781 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way. For information about the CEO program or the reception contact the Newtown Redevelopment Office, City of Sarasota at (941) 373.7780

Wednesday, November 8, 2006 – The Sarasota Jewish Theater and Westcoast Black Theater Troupe Presents “Soul Sisters” (Honoring Carolyn D. Robinson and Eva Slane for their efforts to bring our communities together.)

Come out for an evening of cultural exploration when the Sarasota Jewish Theater and Westcoast Black Theater Troupe present “SOUL SISTERS,” Wednesday, November 8, 7:30p.m., at Flanzer Jewish Community center. “Soul Sisters” is a phenomenal musical production embracing the cultural differences and commonalities in our communities. It offers a breath-taking view of what makes us different, yet, the same. Immediately following the performance, the theater will host an informal opening night reception. Tickets are an affordable $22.00 each. For reservations, call 941.348.5568 x227 or go online at www.flanzerjcc.org (then click on Center Stage). Read more about it (.pdf)

Friday, November 10, 2006, 9 p.m. – Sal Ditroia at Metro Coffee and Wine

performed on all of Dionne Warwick’s hits including “Alfie” and “Do You Know the Way to San Jose,” on Billy Joel’s first album, Simon & Garfunkel’s hits “The Boxer” and “Scarborough Fair.” He’s simply one of the greatest guitarists most musicians will ever have the opportunity to play with. Check him out at his web site www.salditroia.com then come on down to the Metro and hear him in person. Friday, November 10, 9 p.m. at Metro Coffee and Wine, 711 S. Osprey Ave. Sarasota, Florida 34236. For more information call 941.365.1800

Saturday, November 11, 2006 – Highlights of the Black Professional Network’s “Premiere Event” on MelEcho’s Center Stage

If you were not there you missed a treat- fear not, here is your opportunity to see it live. "Don’t miss exciting highlights of the BBPN “Premiere Event,” September 19, 2006 featured on this weeks’ MelEcho's Center Stage, Saturday November 11th 9:30pm on Comcast channel 21." Catch the excitement of the area’s premiere Black business and professional network organization in action. Here what networkers had to say about the event and experience the atmosphere captured on film by the MelEcho team during the event. www.melechoproductions.com

3rd THURSDAY Networking Event
Thursday, November 16, 2006
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm    (Cost: $10.00)
The Herald Tribune Building, 1741 Main Street, Sarasota
(Call office for reservations - 941-366-8403 by Nov. 13)

We encourage you to send us news items that may be of interest to our network. If deemed timely and newsworthy, we may elect to publish them in our e-newsletter “Empowered Minds.”

empowered quote: I can accept failure. Everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying. — Michael Jordon

BLACK BUSINESS PROFESSIONAL NETWORK
15 Paradise Plaza, Box 335    Sarasota, Florida 34239
941.366.8403      info@blackbusinesspro.com
www.blackbusinesspro.com

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