Yum and fun.

I have had the pleasure of working with some of these great people who are innovative, hard-working, love what they do and just plain good fun folks. Now you have the chance to meet some of them too.

They will be supplying the food while Clay and Michelle Hinds of the Colebrook Country Club prepare the buffet style dinner.

Chef Steve Learned, Culinary Arts Instructor at White Mountain Community College and former Executive Chef at the Balsams Grand Resort, will compete with local chefs in a zucchini sculpture contest. Yes, you read it correctly, during the dinner chefs will be carving into those cucurbits to create...well...you'll have to go to see for yourself.

The important details:

Date: Saturday, August 28, 2010

Time: Starts at 6:00 p.m. EST

Where: Colebrook Country Club 15 Abenaki Lane Colebrook, NH 603-237-8685

Donation: $30.00 per person (includes dinner and entertainment)

Tickets: Tickets are availabe from the North Country Farm Fresh Cooperative farmers, Colebrook Farmers Market on Colby Street, Moose Alley Square Dance Club members, LaPerle's IGA, Colebrook Country Club., Hicks Hardware, or at the Moose Festival

Meet me in Plymouth.

I am excited about heading to the Plymouth New Hampshire in a few weeks to share "Turn Challenging Times Around" for your business. This workshop is part of the MicroCredit-NH 2010 Entrepreneurial Exchange North Conference on Monday, August 16, 2010.

I am honored to be presenting along two well-respected and successful business owners. Keynote Speaker Alex Ray owner and founder of The Common Man Family of Restaurants will be sharing his experiences and advice. Also, credit and debt collection expert Michelle Dunn will be sharing ways to streamline and maximize credit management policies.

Here are the 2010 Entrepreneurial Exchange North details:

When: August 16, 2010 starting at 8:30 a.m. (EST)

Where: The Common Man Inn and Spa - Plymouth, New Hampshire

Cost: Early-bird pricing before August 1st

Pre-Registration Required: Find out more.

Here is what participants of the workshop I'm giving have said about it:

"Great food for thought and guidance. Thank you for an excellent presentation."

"What a great overview of strategies and tactics I can use."

"I've never thought of measuring some of the efforts you pointed out to help determine the impact of my efforts. Such an easy things to track my ROI."

Hope to see you there!

Let me know in the comments below (and/or on Twitter) if you're able to attend.

Meet me in Kittery Maine.

I'll be heading to Kittery Maine next week so if you want to learn how to turn these challenging times around for your business, meet me there. This talk is part of the Women's Business Center's Breakfast Table series.

Here are the Effective Business Marketing details:

WHEN: June 18, 2010 at 8:00 a.m.

Where: Kittery Estates - 220 State Road, Kittery, Maine.

Cost: $15.00 for Women's Business Center Members & $20.00 for non-members (includes breakfast and free parking).

Description: Presentation Description LINK

RSVP: CLICK HERE to register or call 603.430.2892

Here's what a few participants have said about other presentations I've given:

"The information that Charlene presented was focused on one element (Marketing) which allowed me to hone in on my needs and develop a workable plan for my business."

"Useful marketing initiatives. Outstanding information which can be used immediately to ramp up my business."

Hope to see you there!

Let me know in the comments below (and/or on Twitter) if you're able to attend.

Meet me in the Northeast Kingdom.

I'll be heading to the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont in a few weeks so if you want to learn to make Facebook work for your business meet me there. This "how-to" workshop I'm giving is part of the Symposium Workshops going on during the Vermont WoodNet Woodworkers Symposium and Trade Show on May 21-22, 2010.

Here are the Using Facebook as a Marketing Tool workshop details:

WHEN: May 22, 2010 at 10:00 a.m.

Where: St. Johnsbury Academy - St Johnsbury, Vermont

Cost: $10.00 per person (includes admission to receptions, keynote speakers, panel discussion and complimentary box lunch at Trade Show on Saturday).

Description: Workshop Description LINK

RSVP: CLICK HERE to register, before May 8, 2010.

Here's what participants of the workshop have said:

"I didn't think I would benefit from a Facebook page, but (after this workshop) I changed my mind and took the plunge."

"I am geared up and motivated now to making a facebook page for my business."

"Seeing how ads work and how to target them was extremely useful. I had been afraid to start the process since I couldn't find cost information. I will now try ads for my business."

Hope to see you there!

Let me know in the comments below (and/or on Twitter) if you're able to attend.

The Vermont Community Loan Fund is currently offering grant funding to "emerging and established small and micro for-profit businesses or cooperatives."

The funding will support the use of independent consultants to assist in a project that may involve a marketing or product problem or developing a new technology.

Businesses must meet some basic eligibility requirements and the grant award will not exceed $5,000 USD.

If you are a Vermont business you can find out more information at vclf.org

It's been up for a short time now and still lots to add to it, but I'm announcing here Kamigo Marketing is on Facebook.

Become a Fan

Don't worry, you won't be flooded with a "case studies, statistics or why you should" Webinar that you may have sat through before and just walked away frustrated that you learned little. These two sessions go beyond that, giving you the "How-To" of Facebook and will get you up and running after each session.

To find out more and to register, click here.

Image by Melissa Hemken

I am happy to announce that I am again offering the marketing mentoring service for farmers in the U.S. Northeast region during the winter months.

As the focus to buy local continues to trend upward and the economy remains in the minds and wallets of consumers it requires the need to be creative, wise and prepared. As you know, I am a strong supporter of family farms and buying local so I am offering this service to help you "Get Ready for the 2010 Season."

How It Works:

During the months of January, Feburary, March and April we meet at a scheduled time via the phone to discuss goals, progress, answer questions on new efforts and marketing advice. We will also communicate via email between the calls. Each farm is different, but below is a typical focus for the 4 months:

January - Review 2009 business and establish 2010 goals.

February - Establish existing and new marketing efforts.

March - Review marketing materials, course of actions and calendar.

April - Implementation and monitoring of actions, review goals and materials.

During this time you and I will work on ways to keep your farm in the mind of the customer, increase the awareness of your farm business and have a course of action for the season. This will have you prepared and ready to go so you can focus on growing and selling and reduce overwhelm during the season.

If you want to have a successful 2010 season contact me soon because I am limiting this offer to the first 10 qualified people who join at a special farm rate. Here is what one of my clients said about my mentoring service:

"I am very impressed with the work you are doing. You have been so efficient and your feedback is great! Thank you for your encouragement. It is a tremendous help."

If you have any questions or want to sign up contact me today.

In the United States tomorrow we celebrate Thanksgiving.

For me Thanksgiving is an opportunity to give Thanks to:

1. My customers and readers for their trust and support.

2. My loved one, family and friends who give and receive love.

3. My health in mind, body and spirit.

4. This beautiful and precious planet and my connection to the land sea, and sky fufilling my soul everyday.

5. To the Wampanoags and all Native people I have been blessed to learn from.

I would like to share with you a Teton Sioux Vision Quest Prayer for you to share with others in the next few days:

Let me do the right things for my people. Not for the sake of merit, but because of the sacrifice of my people in this land which belongs to them."

Have a safe and peaceful Thanksgiving.