Briefly

SouthEnd

Upcoming meeting: The National Association of Women Business Owners' Charlotte chapter will have their next meeting 5:30-7:30 p.m. Feb. 7 at Byron's South End, 101 W. Worthington Ave, Suite 110. There will be networking, dinner and speaker Mary Tribble, who will discuss the secrets of successful business growth. Tribble is the co-founder and director of the N.C. Governor's Conference for Women and is the chief of Event Planning for Charlotte's Host Committee for the Democratic National Convention. Details: www.nawbocharlotte.com; 704-367-3454.

Cotswold

Gardening class: Local Master Gardener Don Rosenberg will teach an organic gardening classes 6:30-8 p.m. Feb. 8 and Feb. 15 in the Ministry Center, Room D, of St. Gabriel Catholic Church, 3016 Providence Road. Cost is $10 a class. To register, email Cathy Esposito, cesposito@stgabrielchurch.org. Details: www.stgabrielchurch.org.

South Charlotte

College prep: Registration is now open for the annual Demystifying the College Application Process seminar 2-5 p.m. Feb. 12 at the Levine Jewish Community Center, 5007 Providence Road. College admissions professionals will share their tips on topics such as financial aid, admissions decisions, SAT and ACT prep and landing a merit scholarship. Cost is $140 per family. Each individual can attend three seminars. To register: 704-366-5007. Questions: Ellen Martin, emartin@collegeadmissions101.org.

Ballantyne

Golf honors: Marc Lapointe, Senior Instructor and PGA Class A Professional, and Molly Tullar, Staff Instructor and LPGA Class A Professional at Dana Rader Golf School, were recently made the U.S. Kids Golf Honorable Mention list of Top 50 Kids Teachers for 2011.

Give blood: The American Red Cross will host a blood drive in Ballantyne Corporate Park on Feb. 1 from 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. The blood drive will be held in the Bissell Training Room in Suite 300 of the Chandler Building, 13860 Ballantyne Corporate Place. All donors will be treated to a movie.

Schedule your appointment at redcrossblood.org and click "make a blood donation appointment" on the right side of the page. Then enter the sponsor code 5857. Bring your driver's license or other identification.

Networking event: Come network and share ideas in a relaxed environment with IT professionals living and working in the Ballantyne area. Ballantyne IT Professionals offers this opportunity on Feb. 9 from 5:30-7 p.m. at Villa Antonio Restaurant in Ballantyne Village.

Pineville

Grief counseling: GriefShare offers sessions for those who have lost a loved one will be held beginning on Feb. 1 at the Pineville Nazarene Church, 8614 Pineville-Matthews Road. Meetings will be held in Room 410 of the Family Life Center at 7 p.m. To register, call the church office, 704-542-3618. Cost is $10 and child care is available.

South Charlotte

Go green: Composting classes will be held in partnership with Mecklenburg County Waste Reduction starting in early March. The classes will be held Thursdays from 6:30-7:30 p.m., South County Regional Library, 5801 Rea Road. Call 704-416-6600 to register.

SouthEnd

Upcoming meeting: The National Association of Women Business Owners' Charlotte chapter will have their next meeting 5:30-7:30 p.m. Feb. 7 at Byron's South End, 101 W. Worthington Ave, Suite 110. There will be networking, dinner and speaker Mary Tribble. Details: www.nawbocharlotte.com; 704-367-3454.