Today

”How to Start a Business”: Noon to 2 p.m. at Central Oregon Community College’s Redmond campus, in the MATC building. The session will cover the basic steps to open one’s own business. The session also will be held in Bend at the COCC Boyle Education Center on Tuesday, March 14. Cost is $15. Preregistration is required. To register, contact: 383-7290 or www.cocc.edu.

Saturday

March 4

”Turn Your Crazy Ideas Into Moneymaking Machines”: 10 a.m. to noon, presented by Central Oregon Inventors, at McMenamins Old St. Francis School, 700 NW Bond St., Theater Building, Father Luke’s Room. Mary Russell Sarao and Barbara Russell Pitts, successful inventors and co-authors of ”The Everything Inventions and Patents Book,” will present the seminar. Cost is $20 for tickets in advance and $25 at the door. For reservations, contact: 877-216-0144.

Wednesday

March 8

Work Zone Traffic Control and Flagging class: 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Deschutes County Road Department, 61150 SE 27th St., Bend. This class covers the fundamental principals of traffic control and meets the requirements of ODOT’s construction specifications. Successful completion results in four-state certification, valid for three years. Cost is $59 and preregistration with Central Oregon Community College is required. To register, contact: 382-7270.

Power Morning: Helping Small Businesses Afford Health Insurance: 7 to 8:30 a.m. at Bend-La Pine Public Schools Administration Building, 520 NW Wall St., 3rd floor, Room 314. Presented by the Bend Chamber Business Education Council, speaker Don Myron, state of Oregon Insurance Pool Governing Board, will present two state programs designed to help small-business owners and their employees afford health insurance. Free. Register on the Bend Chamber of Commerce Web site or contact: Kristina at kristina@bendcham ber.org or 382-3221, by noon on March 7.

Thursday

March 9

”Step-by-Step Marketing”: 6 to 9 p.m. at the Sisters Middle School, 15200 McKenzie Highway. The workshop, held by Central Oregon Community College’s Business Development Center, is designed to help business owners boost customer awareness. Cost is $39 and preregistration is required. To register, contact: 383-7290 or www.cocc.edu.

”Owning a Franchise”: 6 to 9 p.m. at Central Oregon Community College’s Bend campus. Instructor Terry Rost will cover how to choose a franchise and how to arrange financing, as well as ensuring ownership is right for the participant. Cost is $19. To register, contact: 383-7290 or www.cocc.edu.

Saturday

March 11

”QuickBooks for Contractors” workshop: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Central Oregon Community Colleges’s Bend campus. Offered through COCC’s community learning department, the workshop will assist local contractors with setting up QuickBooks to serve their business. Cost is $59 and preregistration is required. To register, contact: 383-7270 or www.cocc.edu.

Monday

March 13

Central Oregon Visitors Association Marketing and Research Forum: 9 to 11 a.m. at Seventh Mountain Resort, 18575 SW Century Drive, Bend. Jon Last, director of market research for the Conde Nast group and the Golf Digest Cos., will present the latest data on national golf travel trends and visitor habits. COVA will present the findings of the 2005 Central Oregon Visitor Profile research study conducted in partnership with Travel Oregon. Cost is $15. Advanced registration is required. To register, contact: Alana@visitcen traloregon.com or 389-8799.

Tuesday

March 14

The New Supervisor: 7:30 to noon at The Riverhouse, Little Deschutes Room, 3075 N. Highway 97, Bend. The Central Oregon Council is offering this interactive seminar, designed especially for the newly promoted supervisor, manager or those wishing to hone their leadership skills. The speaker will be Nancy Obymako, a human resources generalist with Jan Baker Facilitates LLC. Cost is $50. Register by March 9. To register, contact: Denise Pollock, WorkSource Oregon Employment Department at Denise.A.Pollack@state.or.us or 388-6024.

Wednesday

March 15

”Hire Right: Finding and Keeping Extraordinary Employees”: 7 to 9 a.m. at the Central Oregon Association of Realtors, 2112 NE Fourth St., Bend. The workshop, hosted by Opportunity Knocks, highlights updated sourcing, screening and interviewing techniques, among other hiring topics and will be presented by Connie Worrell-Druliner, owner of Express Personnel Services and Professional Staffing; and Stephanie Miller, general manager of Bend and Redmond Express Personnel offices. Cost is $20 for OK members, $30 for nonmembers. To register, send check to: Opportunity Knocks, 86 SW Century Drive, PMB 249, Bend, OR 97702 or register online at www.opp-knocks.org. For more information, contact: 318-4650 or Susie@opp- knocks.org.