This quarter's Lunch 'n Learn will be held at The Willcox on Wednesday, September 8th, from 12-1pm. Our guest speaker will be renowned Aiken historian Owen Clary who will be discussing interesting facts about Aiken's history. Cost is $10. RSVP today with Mandy Collins at 803-641-1111 or mcollins@aikenchamber.net and come learn a lot about Aiken's history!

This month's third thursday will be September 16th from 6-8pm. Come and enjoy appetizers, drinks, free door prizes, and meet new friends or business associates. Again, please RSVP via the Evite or contact Mandy Collins at 803-641-1111 or mcollins@aikenchamber.net.

The Aiken Dirt Road Race is part of the two day celebration of the upcoming 175th Anniversary of Aiken, SC. The first day is the festival downtown on Newberry St. and then the road race the following morning on October 16th at 8 AM. To Register for this event, you must use active.com's website at:

https://www.active.c...om/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1883974

Adult 5K Cost $30 includes prizes and gifts
Kids 12 and under $15 includes prizes and gifts

Make sure you sign up no later than October 14th 11:59PM. This will be an awesome event is open to everyone not just AYP Members. Lace up your running shoes and see you at the race!

This month's third thursday will be August 19th from 6-8pm at The Willcox' beauthiful pool and courtyard in downtown Aiken. Make sure you mark your calendar and RVSP via the Evite sent out. This will be a great location for our networking focused 3rd Thursday. The Willcox is also offering AYP members dicounted drinks during their Friday Evening Acoustic Sessions featuring Kenny George from 6:30-8:30pm. In addition to the evening sessions, The Willcox offers Sunday BBQ with volleyball tournaments from 4-7pm every Sunday. All are welcome and you do not have to be an AYP member to participate. It's a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon, and currently around 15 teams of 5 are participating.

Again, please RSVP via the Evite or contact Mandy Collins at 803-641-1111 or mcollins@aikenchamber.net.

This just in!

Liz Borom, owner of Soiree has got the hook up for your summertime blues! She pulled out all the stops for this month's Third Thursday for the Aiken Young Professionals. Make sure you are in attendance for this Third Thursday, this Thursday @ Soiree in the Alley from 6-8PM. This is what Liz has lined up for Third Thursday:

• Awesome Food, if you remember the last time we where at Soiree, you will remember how great the food and service was!
• Drink Specials, This is going to be a great event for drink specials..... $2 Miller Lite Draft Beer and $4 Absolut Berry Cosmos
• Now for the kicker! The Miller Lite Girls and Absolut Vodka Girls will be at Soiree to share samples, giveaways and more to liven up the atmosphere.
• Door Prizes, How about some quality Door Prizes from some great Businesses like: Security Federal Bank, Kents Korner, Soiree, and Miller Lite.

Make your plans now to be at The Willcox this Friday Night (6/25) between 6:30-8:30 PM for a awesome night of live music by the pool! Kenny George will be playing, and The Willcox will be offering AYP members a discount. A good turn out ensures this great event will continue! Also, Sunday BBQ & Pool volleyball tournament will be starting Sunday July 10th from 4 - 7pm.  The Willcox will have drink and BBQ specials by the pool and prizes for the winning team at the end of the summer! Get your team together now!

Thunderstorms rained out the pool, but not the fun as around 80 AYP members attended the event at Woodside Clubhouse on June 17th. Thanks again to Wooside for the venue, free food, beer, wine, and the great raffles! We currently have 198 members!!!!

Thanks again to The Willcox for sponsoring AYP's quarterly Lunch 'n Learn on June 9th with the topic of "Managing Your Money: What You Should Know About Your Credit"!

Thanks again to The Westside Bowery for putting on a great event in their patio on May 20th. Lots of new members joined and enjoyed the great food, drinks, and doorprizes!

Click Here for the Event Poster!
Thanks to everyone who attended Celebrity Waiter Night benefiting Children's Place, Inc. I know all of the members who participated had a great time, as well as the customers who were able to take a few friendly shots at Aiken Public Safety's finest in the dunking booth outside Soiree. AYP raised a total of $1801 for the charity (finishing 6th out of 14 restaurants), and the event topped at $84,000, well over last year's mark of $62,000. Check back in a couple of days for pictures from the event! We're already looking forward to participating again in May 2011!

From the Aiken Standard (8/24/09) "Celebrity Waiter Night is the largest fundraiser of the year for Children's Place, a United Way agency that provides daycare for at-risk children from throughout Aiken County. Besides meals and a caring environment, the agency also provides speech, occupational, behavioral and play therapy tailored to each child's needs and parental and caregiver training and advice. Celebrity Waiter Night donations are used to support those therapeutic activities. The Children's Place staff cares for approximately 100 children each day and each year serves approximately 35,000 meals, makes approximately 1,500 home visits and provides more than 1,200 hours of therapy."

Are you interested in contributing to the City of Aiken's 2010 update to the Strategic Plan? Here is your chance! Click above for the online survey of sixteen questions. Your opinions are important as the City is planning projects and initiatives to keep Aiken the great community it is. The Strategic Plan divides Aiken into four parts: our Green, Family, Business, and Historic cities. This survey is an important part of our 2010 update of the City Strategic Plan. After the rating questions, please also provide comments you believe to be an important part of the developing overall strategies which will become the basis for annual goals and objectives and budget priorities. Get involved and help Aiken continue to be a wonderful place to live, work, play, and raise a family!

Another organized business networking event went off with a blast at Travinia Italian Kitchen, on Thursday, April 15th.  Around 80-100 people were able to socialize, meet friends, and make business contacts on TAX night. Thanks again to Traviana's for all of the great food and accomadations!

Members kicked Steeplechase weekend in Aiken off with a bang by having a great time networking and socializing at the Aiken Brewing Company on March 18th. Thanks again to Plum Pudding and the Aiken Brewing Company for donating door prizes for the event!

For our Houndslake February 18th date, we introduced a professional networking aspect to the event. Look for quotes soon, as our members seemed to really enjoy the opportunity. Thanks again to Houndslake Country Club and First Tee of Aiken for sponsoring the event and offering lots of great door prizes!