Find out how to protect your ideas and hear about what happens when a business defends them in court when you join Intellectual property lawyer Trevor Choy and the Owner of Melbourne Manufacturer LED Technologies Tony Ottobre for lunch.

Trevor is a Lawyer who speaks pain english and has distilled the complexities of copyright law down to 10 basic concepts. Tony successfully defended his Intellectual Property in a two year landmark court case that bans the sale of imported copies of his products.  

B.L.E.N.D

Butler Chartered Accountants

Doveton Street

Friday May 22 5.30pm – 7.30pm

Members Free

Non Members $15

Come and try the Wii Challenge!!

Are you 39 or under and looking for an opportunity to share ideas and impressions of today’s business world.

Drinks and Savouries provided

rsvp@commerceballarat.com.au    

Members News

Regional Industry Link Website

Regional Industry Link or "RIL" is an import replacement website listing local goods and services providers free of charge on a virtual marketplace. Buyers and sellers are matched online from the directory at the right time – when they actually need your product or service.

It has unique features such as a tender notification service that automatically alerts local business about potentially lucrative tenders state-wide. People seeking suppliers also have the ability to specifically target a specific geographic location ensuring only locally registered businesses are notified of the opportunity.

Are you registered? If not - why not?

POWERCOR carries out infrastructure inspections in townships near Ballarat.

Residents may be forgiven for thinking ‘Big Brother’ is roaming the streets in townships near Ballarat in the coming weeks as Powercor’s inspectors use cameras on telescopic sticks to check the condition of pole tops.

Small powerful cameras are mounted on telescopic rods and raised above the cross arms that support overhead power lines to relay images back to the ground. 

These images help identify potentially faulty electrical equipment, reducing the likelihood of pole fires and power outages.

The infrastructure being inspected this month services around 4000 customers.

By gaining a bird’s eye view of what is occurring at the top of the pole, any areas of deterioration can be easily identified,” Ross Irving said.

2009 The Courier Home, Life & Leisure Expo

Co-ordinated by UnitingCare Ballarat

Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th May at the Ballarat Badminton Centre

Increase your sales and build your business profile - demonstrate to regional customers why they should shop locally.

For more information or to book a site call 5337 2725 www.unitingcareballarat.com.au and click on the Expo link.

Eco Voice March 2009

www.ecovoice.com.au

Regional Leaders Scholarship

The long standing partnership between the Workplace Training Advisory of Australia (WTAA) and Melbourne Business School, founded on a shared commitment to develop world-class Australian leaders, is the driving force behind the recently launched Regional Leaders Scholarship Program. This program aims to encourage higher levels of participation by senior regional business leaders in one of the world’s most prestigious management programs – Melbourne Business School’s Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA).

The Regional Leaders Scholarship Program, which includes a fee subsidy up to $12,000, offers successful regional applicants a unique opportunity to enrol in this internationally acclaimed program and benefit from exposure to the highest levels of business excellence.

Whereas a conventional MBA program requires protracted coursework - often including weekend and night study - the EMBA is uniquely structured to suit the work and family demands of today’s manager. Comprising four intensive residential modules, the structure is particularly sympathetic to regionally-based candidates. During the intensive program, students also participate in an International Study trip that travels to the USA, Germany and China. In doing so, they develop powerful peer networks and business contacts across the world.

In addition to the scholarship, EMBA candidates can also apply for The Australian Government's
FEE-HELP Scheme. This scheme entitles eligible applicants to borrow up to $78,500 to cover the tuition component of the fees, further reducing the fee for regional participants to $5,500 upfront cost. More information on Fee-Help is available on the Australian Government's website: http://www.goingtouni.gov.au

Upon launching the scholarship program, Di Pierce, WTAA’s Director of Leadership Development, commented "It is a great pleasure to be associated with such an important initiative. Indeed, every effort should be made to ensure that regional Australian Leaders are supported to overcome logistical challenges to access world class development opportunities".

To learn more about the Regional Scholarship Program, please visit http://www.mbs.edu/regional
Or call Lee Taylor, Regional Leaders Scholarship Liaison Officer at MBS on (03) 9349 8191
Or email: l.taylor@mbs.edu

Media

Publication: The Courier www.thecourier.com.au

Date:  Saturday 21 March

A University of Ballarat pipe band was successful at an international competition in Christchurch recently.  The band was placed second at the New Zealand Championships and the Drum Corps of the band finished in first place.

Date: Monday 23 March

In the 1980s, Mick Roberts had an idea for an award to commend Ballarat businesses for good customer service.  That idea has evolved into the Ballarat business sector’s most prestigious event, the CGU Commerce Ballarat Business Excellence Awards, which is celebrating its 21^st anniversary this year.  The awards have developed and grown since that first event, with more sections and changes to the nomination process.  The event now also caters for more people, about 600, at its annual night of nights in August.  While the event has evolved, its achievements remain the same: rewarding excellence and improving opportunities for Ballarat businesses.  This years awards, which will be launched on April 3 with the gala presentation to be held on August 27.

Date: Tuesday 24 March

A kind donation has given the newly-built McCallum Disability Services supported accommodation units a kickstart.  Action Cash Loans Ballarat donated a kitchen pack of eight microwaves, toasters and kettles after hearing that people were moving into the Leopold St units in Alfredton.  McCallum Disability Services chief executive officer Shane Molloy was grateful for the donation. 

Date: Thursday 26 March

Footy fans have a chance to share in the $2000 prize pool in The Courier McDonalds Online Footy Tipping Competition. To register log onto www.thecourier.com.au

Date:  Friday 27 March

The Courier’s general manager Bruce Morgan, has been appointed regional manager for Fairfax Media’s Victorian operations.  Mr Morgan remains general manager of the Ballarat group of newspapers.

Who’s in it today? Small Dog Design 10^th birthday celebrations, Designer Commercial Furniture Trevor Ryan,

Dates of Interest:

Economic Development Australia Conference

2 & 3 April

This year, every business will be working to remain profitable and vibrant in the face of troubling global financial conditions.  Economic development practitioners can assist their business community in these challenging times.  This conference will help to provide participants with creative solutions.

Contact France Grigoriou 5945 0402 f.grigoriou@cardinia.vic.gov.au

Bisnet

Guest speakers:  David Gregory from VECCI, Martin Shirley from Small Business Mentoring Service and Damien Butler from Butler Chartered Accountants.

Tuesday 7 April 2009  
Time:  7am

Place: Alexandria on Lydiard

RSVP: Friday 3^rd April 4pm.
Email: rebecca.schenk@rdv.vic.gov.au or Fax: 5320 5998

Note: You are receiving this email as part of your membership with Commerce Ballarat of Commerce.  If you do not wish to receive this information, please email info@commerceballarat.com.au with the words ‘unsubscribe Weekly Bulletin’ in the heading.