Calendar of Events

Rise and shine and make your morning the catalyst to AMP UP your business! Jumpstart your morning with a burst of productivity as you mingle with prospective customers. This monthly event is your gateway to discovering strong referral sources, finding new vendors, meeting the perfect client, or establishing connections that can open doors for future interactions! Whether you’re an early bird, or can’t make it to our after-hours, AM Power Hour is your go-to for a dynamic and energizing start to the day! March is hosted by Fireside Golf Range! 2024 AM Power Hours are Presented by We Sell WNC!

ASAP’s CSA Fair is a chance to meet local farmers and learn about CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture) in our area. By joining a CSA, you get a weekly box of fresh, locally grown produce, meats, flowers, or other local products—and provide a farmer with valuable financial support before the season starts. Talk to farmers about how their CSA works, what products they offer, their farm’s growing practices, payment options, and more. Attendees can sign up for a CSA during the fair or follow up with farmers later. This fair will also have local food tastings and activities for kids, as well as produce and food products available for purchase.

Visit asapconnections.org/find-local-food/csa for more details.

Saturdays from 10:30 AM – 12 PM

Spring Awakening & Renewal Forest Bathing Retreat | ONSITE | Saturday, March 9, 2 – 5 p.m. Or Saturday, March 23, 2 – 5 p.m.

Guide: Christa Hebal

$55 Non-member Adult**

 (**Arboretum Members receive a 10% discount on all classes.)

Limit: 15

The changing seasons are rich with wisdom and guidance. Winter is a time for rest and dreaming, followed by spring, ripe with opportunities for renewal and growth. Cultivate those winter dreams and invite them to birth into reality during this enlivening afternoon retreat. Let your most authentic Self emerge from within and flourish amidst the beauty of the early spring! New Graph: Your guide, Christa Hebal, will lead you on a gentle journey through the awakening forest, weaving mindfulness, breathwork, forest bathing (Shinrin Yoku) and nature therapy together for a restorative afternoon on some of the trails less traveled at the North Carolina Arboretum. We’ll celebrate the experience in community, enjoying a wild-foraged tea ceremony and snacks. Bring an open mind and an open heart. All are welcome. Presented through Adult & Continuing Education Programs in collaboration with Asheville Wellness Tours.

Christa Hebal is a certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy. Born and raised in the mountains of NE Tennessee, she has lived in Asheville for 23 years. Christa has an adventurous heart, and loves to help others encounter wholeness through embodiment and nature connection practices. She has had a professional bodywork practice for 17 years as a nationally certified Massage Therapist, and is also a practitioner of Ortho-Bionomy®, Usui Reiki Master, Certified Pediatric Massage Therapist, Clinical Aromatherapist, and Certified Traditional Herbalist. She is also certified in CPR and Wilderness First Aid.

Instructor: Susan Patrice

$24 Non-member Adult**

 (**Arboretum Members receive a 10% discount on all classes.)

Limit: 12

Take a fresh look at the objects, moments and vistas that surround you during this “awe walk” led by documentary photographer Susan Patrice. The contemplative practices she teaches help you experience place through new and loving eyes, to see beauty and wonder in your surroundings. Bring cameras or phones to capture what calls to you in the enveloping landscape. Participants will be sent meeting instructions for this small-group class that will take a slow intentional walk through parts of the Arboretum forest and forest meadow. This walk is a precursor to the generative writing and contemplative photography workshops to be held the following weekend.

Susan Patrice is a documentary photographer, community artist, and founder of Makers Circle. She recently launched Kinship Photography Collective, a global community of practice designed to create rich visual conversations that explore the intimate connections between nature, culture and belonging. Susan’s own photography and public installations focus primarily on the Southern Landscape and its people and feature intimate images that touch deeply into the questions of place, gender, and belonging.

Doors Open: 5:00 PM

– ALL AGES      

– SEATED SHOW
– LIMITED NUMBER OF PREMIUM SEATING TICKETS AVAILABLE

WESTERN CAROLINA WRITERS

Here comes the 5th Western Carolina Writers Showcase since the first production in July of 2022!  This showcase features these 9 incredibly talented local singer-songwriters:  Whitney Mongé, Melissa McKinney, Ben Balmer, Jeff Santiago, Tina Collins (Tina & Her Pony), Siena Christie, Steve Taton, Hunter Andrus, and Jim Swayzee.  There will be 3 rounds of 3 performers taking turns playing their original music with occasional spontaneous collaboration creating many magical moments that can only be experienced live.

Western Carolina Writers was established in 2019 by Nick McMahon, along with Jesse Frizsell and Thomas Yon, as a traveling “Songwriters-In-The-Round” style show.  The idea was to take turns performing original songs with fun moments of collaboration at venues all over Western North Carolina.

After about a dozen increasingly successful shows, McMahon started inviting other area songwriters to participate.  And now, after around 150 shows featuring close to 80 different local artists, the concept has become even more popular, fun and diverse.

In 2022, Mcmahon and current project partner, Stephen Evans, decided to take this show into the listening rooms and out of the noisy bars and breweries so the songs could really be heard and appreciated.  With four recent magical & successful songwriter showcases, three at The Grey Eagle and one at Ayurprana Listening Room, this decision has proven to be the right move.

Making connections is key to meeting business goals and building brand awareness. Mega Networking lets you do just that. In a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, you’ll meet business contacts from a variety of industries, gain exposure for your company and learn about other local businesses.

Held just twice a year, Mega Networking’s structured, “round robin” approach allows you to make valuable connections in a small group. Each person has a chance to share about their business, and a table leader moderates to put you at ease and keep the group on track. As you rotate from table to table, you’ll interact with most of the attendees, allowing you to make numerous connections in just one morning.

You’ll leave with great leads, great ideas and positive energy to keep your business moving forward.

Helpful tips:

• *     Practice your “elevator speech” ahead of time so you can share your most important information in one minute.
• *     Bring a little something to help others remember you and your business (something visual yet simple, AND your business card).
• *     Stay “portable” — you’ll be moving from table to table throughout the morning.
• *     If you’re a newcomer to this event, arrive a little early so you can settle in comfortably at your first table and learn the flow of the event without being rushed.
• *     Schedule time now on your calendar to follow up soon with those you meet.

Cost is $50 per Chamber member, $85 for other attendees.
Limited to 1 attendee per organization and five attendees per business category.

Table Host Sponsorship – serve as moderators for each table during the connection rounds rather than rotating as other attendees do. Previous experience at Mega Networking is preferred and extremely valuable for serving in the Table Host role. Table Hosts are encouraged to decorate their table in a fun and festive manner representative of their business. 

If you’re considering Chamber membership and would like to attend this event we welcome you to come and check us out! Please contact Jessica Kanupp, our Membership Development Specialist, at [email protected]

Great news for poets and poetry lovers: Dark City Poet’s Society is returning to the Black Mountain Library. DCPS is a completely free poetry group that is open to poets of all ages and experience levels. Join us at the Black Mountain Library from 6-7:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month for our (respectful) critique group. DCPS will meet at BAD Craft from 6-7 p.m. on the third Tuesday for our monthly open mic Poetry Night. Find out more on Instagram @darkcitypoetssociety or contact the Black Mountain Library.

Join us each month for an info-packed event brought to you by the Blue Ridge Community College\’s Small Business Center, the City of Hendersonville Main Street Program, the Hendersonville Merchants & Business Association and the Chamber. Get the lowdown on current community events and the issues that matter to our local businesses and community.

Stay tuned for updated on our monthly lineup of guests and speakers!

The 2024 Business Morning Updates are proudly Presented by ALLCHOICE Insurance!

Emergency Tech Repair (ETR), the renowned name in quick and reliable tech repair services in WNC has moved from the Asheville Mall to 1417 Patton Ave into the former PNC Bank building! Their new location still looks like a bank: we utilize the SAFE for hardware safe keeping, and will be offering drive-thru services in the former teller window! They provide both business and consumer tech repair services: cell phones, computers, tablets that need either internal system repairs, or external cosmetic repairs. ETR also provides B2B services such as both physical building security and cybersecurity, business phone systems, Wi-Fi install and internet connectivity through both Spectrum and AT&T. Their origin began with a simple vision to bring reliable, high-end tech repair at the most competitive cost, directly to those in need. Along with this new location, they have transformed a retired ambulance into a state-of-the-art mobile repair unit, and developed the brand into the most reliable tech services provider in Asheville!

They are so excited to showcase their new location to all Asheville Chamber members! Light food, Hor d’oeuvres and soft drinks /water will be served. Door prizes will be available during their business card drawings.

Elevate & Connect

Gear up for our monthly socials, where networking takes center stage. Join other Young Professionals under 40, for connections, exchange of ideas, and occasional guest speakers. Enjoy a complimentary beverage on us, as you mingle in style. Bring your energy, business cards and elevate your professional circle!

Young Professionals are Presented by:

Ribbon Cutting for Au Pair in America

Saturdays from 10:30 AM – 12 PM

Join us as we embrace the arrival of spring with our Sound Bath and Meditation Workshop. Awaken your senses, align your spirit, and embrace the renewal of the season. Reserve your spot now for an evening of deep relaxation and inner harmony.

· Cacao Ceremony

· Meditation and Journaling

· Healing Sound Bath

Happy Body Biltmore Village – 25 Reed St. Suite 210 – $49pp

Great news for poets and poetry lovers: Dark City Poet’s Society is returning to the Black Mountain Library. DCPS is a completely free poetry group that is open to poets of all ages and experience levels. Join us at the Black Mountain Library from 6-7:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month for our (respectful) critique group. DCPS will meet at BAD Craft from 6-7 p.m. on the third Tuesday for our monthly open mic Poetry Night. Find out more on Instagram @darkcitypoetssociety or contact the Black Mountain Library.