Fall Workshops at the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce

RSVP to any of the following workshops via email  or call the Chamber at 413-584-1900

 

Take Control of Your Energy Costs: Money Saving Strategies for Businesses presented by Hampshire Council of Governments

September 22, 2015.   9:00 AM- 10:00 AM at the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce, 99 Pleasant Street Free but space is limited. RSVP here. Join the Hampshire Council of Governments Electricity Department to learn about easy strategies for reducing the amount you spend on electricity each year.  We will acquaint participants with local, state, and utility resources for financing energy saving projects and teach you how to evaluate offers from electricity suppliers.  We will also introduce you to Community Shared Solar, a quick and simple way to reduce your electricity bill by 15% and support local solar projects, without having to install solar panels on your own roof.  Bring your energy and electricity related questions!

Introduction to Google Drive &  Google Docs presented by Pioneer Training:

October 19, 2015 9:00 AM- 11:00 AM at the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce, 99 Pleasant Street Cost: $25 members/ $35 non-members  RSVP here The class is an introduction to Google Docs and Google Drive, the online storage location for Google Docs.  Since this software is available at no cost, many companies and organizations are using it extensively for collaboration purposes and to supplement or even replace Microsoft Office.  In this two-hour workshop, you’ll learn how to set up a local Google Drive folder, which automatically synchronizes with Google Drive on the Web.  You’ll learn to create new documents in the Google Docs format, as well as how to work with Word documents in Google Docs and how to convert Word documents to the Google Docs format.  The class will focus on basic formatting and editing techniques in Google Docs, but will also cover best practices for using Google Docs.  Since Google Docs is a collaboration tool that lets you share documents in real time with other users, you’ll need to be mindful of issues related to safeguarding confidential data.  You’ll learn the difference between viewing and editing, and how to set permission levels for collaborators.  You’ll also learn simple tips that will help you avoid accidentally overwriting data or accidentally publishing confidential data. Participants are encouraged to bring laptops and follow along with the instructor, but this is not required.  

Microsoft Excel: Tips, Tricks & Shortcuts presented by Pioneer Training

October 28, 2015 9:00 AM- 11:00 AM at Greenfield Savings Bank Community Room, 325A King St. Northampton, Free Parking Cost: $25 members/ $35 non-members  RSVP here. This workshop will present our favorite tips, tricks and shortcuts that we have collected and developed over 15 years of teaching and using Microsoft Excel. Topics will include shortcuts for selecting ranges, using Autofill to create a series of dates or numbers, setting the print area, using page break preview, adding headers and footers, and using page layout view.  You’ll learn how to group spreadsheets in the same workbook in order to type or format more than one sheet at the same time, as well as how to create 3-D formulas that calculate across several spreadsheets in the same workbook.  You’ll practice dividing text from one column into two columns, as well as how to concatenate text from two columns into one.  You’ll learn how to use conditional formatting to format cells according to their values, how to protect all or part of a worksheet, and how to paste an Excel spreadsheet into Word as an Excel object that links to the original spreadsheet and updates automatically.  The workshop will also cover a new set of features in Excel 2013 that includes the new Start screen, Backstage View, Flash Fill, the Quick Analysis Tool, and a new set of options related to creating Excel charts.  A set of handy keyboard shortcuts will also be included in the workshop. Participants are encouraged to bring laptops and follow along with the instructor, but this is not required.

Upgrading an Old Website to WordPress presented by Pioneer Training:

November 6, 2015 9:00 AM- 11:00 AM at the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce, 99 Pleasant Street Cost: $25 members/ $35 non-members  RSVP here The purpose of this workshop is to explain why it’s important to upgrade an older site and to discuss the available budget friendly options.  Since the most popular option for small business websites is the WordPress platform, the workshop will provide an overview of the WordPress dashboard and highlight important features, options, and plugins.  The workshop will also cover the logistics of converting an existing site to a WordPress site.