Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuit order, was the world's first economic developer. He developed some powerful techniques for decision making that have become part of what is taught at leading business schools. He wanted his techniques shared as widely as possible, not just with Catholics and not just with Christians. For more see The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything (click here) by Fr. James Martin which just came out in paperback and is available in most libraries and book stores.

As a test we are going to be encouraging participation in a 4-week study group focused on this book which is called The Jesuit Guide Discussion Group (click here).  Please consider participating if you're looking for the way to proceed now in your work life and you're open to a spiritual approach. One session starts this Saturday, June 30, but we expect other sessions will be offered in August and September in various locations in metro-Denver, RSVP "No" to this June 30th session if you can't attend now but would like to be notified about future sessions.

Can't get a 25-cent raise, and know you are worth more? Want to start a new business? Get help now. Read this website, check out our Facebook Page then if your serious about starting in a new direction join us next Friday, June 29 for our free Denver IDEA Cafe Startup Workshop (click here.) 

Your Small Business Chamber of Commerce will be co-hosting the 2^nd Annual Colorado Capital Congress.  This public forum will address issues on the subject of access to capital by Colorado businesses.ion

Capital is the lifeblood of business, so this is a critically important topic for all startups and small businesses.

This year, the forum will be held on three dates: June 20th, July 30^th, and August 7^th, 2012.  The main event will be held at Regis University; 3333 Regis Boulevard; Denver, CO 80221 (Mountain View Room, Claver Hall).  Arrangements have been made for a live broadcast to different locations in the State of Colorado.  Check the Sullivan Chair website for the latest information: http://www.SullivanChair.org

Each event will feature an educational presentation.  On June 20^th, the JOBS Act and Federal Crowdfunding will be the topic.  On July 30^th, Community Impact Investing and Colorado Limited Registrations will be the topic.  On August 7^th, capital agents/finders and Colorado Issuer Agents will be the topic.

Issues are being solicited for consideration at this year’s Colorado Capital Congress.  Interested participants will form Task Forces on individual initiatives to improve the quality of business offerings and to reduce time and expense of regulatory compliance.

Last year, seven Initiatives were selected: Colorado Capital Agents, Community Impact Investments, Improving Specialty Funds, International Investment in Colorado Businesses, Investor and Investment Scoring, Low Profit Limited Liability Companies (L3C’s) and Government Incentives to Business.

New issues may include a state bank, alternative banking, and the development of an econometric model regarding new laws and regulations.

The Colorado Capital Congress is hosted by the Sullivan Chair for Free Enterprise at Regis University.  Co-hosts for this year’s Congress include several business, government and civic organizations and federal and state representatives.

To register for the 2^nd Annual Colorado Capital Congress, go to: http://www.ColoradoCapitalCongress.com

Your Small Business Chamber of Commerce's free Denver IDEA Cafe Startup Workshop now meets from 2 to 4 p.m. each Friday in Charlie Brown's at the Colburn Hotel, 980 Grant in Denver. Free and Free Parking. Startup speakers and brainstorming. No RSVP is required, walkins are welcome. But an RSVP guarantees you a seat at the table. For more information and to RSVP see http://meetup.com/Denver-IDEA-Cafe

 

Speakers at upcoming meetings:

 

Today, June 8: John Wren, http://www.SmallBizChamber.org, "My experience starting the IDEA Cafe and our new Small Business Chamber of Commerce." 

 

June 15: Daniel McCoy, Co-founder & CEO, Association of Veteran Entrepreneurs http://trepvets.com/ on "How our group started."

 

June 22: Dick Ling, founder of Mile Hi Conversations; and Paul Kottke, Pastor, University Park Methodist Church http://UniversityParkUMC.org on "How I started my career."

Our 2nd business meeting went well. I'll be the speaker tomorrow at our Denver IDEA Cafe Startup Workshop to share about the start of our new Small Business Chamber of Commerce, where we have been, where we are now, my best guess of what will happen in the next few months.

Hope you can join us, and please forward this along to any of your friends who you think might like to attend. Your friend will thank you, and so will I if you'll let me know what you've done.

I've posted a few very interesting articles on our Facebook Page over the last few days. You can RSVP via the link to our June 8 IDEA Cafe there and at the same time check out the articles. See http://Facebook.com/Small.Business.Chamber