The Linton-Stockton Chamber of Commerce's May meeting will be at the Linton Elks Lodge on May 20.

We will actually have two programs for the day.

The first will be a presentation by Linton-Stockton business students who showcased their talents by attending the Business Professionals of America (BPA) 2008 National Leadership Conference in Reno, Nev. They will present their award-winning video on illegal dumping at the Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife area.

Our second program will be an update on the progress of the HTC process by HTC coordinator Kerry Conway.

The meeting begins at noon.

* Don't forget to purchase your tickets for the upcoming Roy Clark and Friends concert scheduled for Saturday, May 31 at 7 p.m. The event will again be at the air-conditioned Linton-Stockton High School Gym.

Tickets are available at Francis Jewel Box or by calling (812) 847-9950.

* Freedom Festival is fast approaching. For those of you interested in building your own float (or having a professional float built), Dave Evans from Evans Decorators in Brazil will be at the Chamber office on Tuesday, June 3.

If you would like to set an appointment to meet with Dave, please contact the Chamber office at 847-4846. You may also log onto their Web site at www.paradefloatstuff.com and check out their inventory of materials.

* The U.S. Small Business Administration, USDA -- Farm Service Agency, USDA -- Rural Development, and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation are partnering to provide lender training in the mornings and public information seminars in the afternoon.

The lender training will be held from 9 a.m. to noon and the public meeting will be from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. The date and location nearest Greene County is: Thursday, May 15, Purdue Extension Service, Knox County, 4367 North Purdue Road, Vincennes, Ind., Basement meeting room.

As we attempt to keep our businesses informed on new and existing programs, we'd like to make everyone aware of FREE on-line courses offered through the Small Businesses Development Center.

SmallBizU is for those individuals seeking thought-leadership. Designed specially for entrepreneurs and small businesses, this online university seeks to instill a formal business intelligence -- the capacity to solve problems, meet challenges, and create valued products. SmallBizU teaches the 3Ms: Money, Marketing, and Management. This is through a no-frills, utilitarian curriculum that provides small businesses with real world tools and information.

From new ventures, to business managers, to entrepreneurs, to master level classes, SmallBizU has a range of courses across all functional areas of small business. Large corporations have their own training departments -- now you have your own just-in-time desktop university with SmallBizU. You can access SmallBizU by logging onto www.smallbizu.org.

Some of the classes offered are Tax Seminars and Workshops, Hiring and Managing Employees and Advertising and Promotions. Go on line and check out these programs to help you grow your business.

* Don't forget that May 17 is the Lady Civitan's annual sample fair. This is at the Greene County 4-H fairgrounds.

Doors open at 10 a.m. and the event closes at 2 p.m. Vendors will be giving away sample items and materials on their businesses.

If you are interested in having a booth at this event, contact Liz Thompson at 847-9236. Costs for a booth are $10 and $20.

* The Old Bank and Company Restaurant is now offering a daily Quick Lunch.

Included in the Quick Lunch is a soup, salad and pasta bar. It also is offering delivery in not only the downtown area but west on State Road 54 to Bender Lumber and east on S.R. 54 to MainSource Bank.

If you can't get out for lunch, call the Old Bank at 847-3960. They are also open Sundays from 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Cheryl is the executive director of the Linton-Stockton Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached by telephone at 847-4846.