With summer vacations around the corner, AAA is proud to host a travel trends and packing workshop to help travelers learn how to pack like a professional and save time in order to meet airport compliance requirements before they leave home.

Kathleen Collum, AAA Travel Store buyer and manager, will share packing tips and tricks to make the most of your packing space, showcase the latest travel accessories, and demonstrate the latest gear to help travelers comply with flying regulations.

There is no cost to attend and parking is available on site. RSVP’s are appreciated as space is limited.

May 8, 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

AAA Bellevue

14404 NE 20^th St. – Suite 201

Bellevue, WA 98007

RSVP: (425) 637-9209

AAA Washington has been serving members and the traveling public since 1904.  The organization provides a variety of exclusive benefits, including roadside assistance, discounts, maps and personalized trip planning, to its 1,048,000 members. In addition, its full-service travel and insurance agencies provide products and services for members and the public. Additional information is available through the company’s offices in Washington and northern Idaho, at AAA.com, or by calling 1-800-562-2582.

A colorful and traditional rite of spring, the only one of its kind in the world, brings many people to Seattle’s inland waterways this May 5th as boaters celebrate Opening Day of the boating season. Spectators crowd the shorelines of Seattle’s Portage Bay and Montlake Cut as boats, many of them decorated, parade past judges and spectators watching aboard boats anchored along the parade route.

There are small boats, motorboats, rowing and paddleboats, sailboats, antique boats and mega-yachts in the annual Opening Day parade sponsored by the Seattle Yacht Club. There are racing shells from top-caliber collegiate and international rowing teams, and this year’s races will feature teams from around the country and the world competing in the 2012 Windermere Cup Crew Races.

Seattle Fire Department boats move by in a cloud of spray, as well as sailboats with spinnakers flying. Two small flotillas of yachts carrying musicians from the University of Washington Husky and Washington State University Cougar Marching Bands set the musical tempo for the day.

Participating yachts will decorate to this year’s theme: “Porthole to Paradise.”

Opening Day in Seattle is a family affair; families decorate their boats for the festivities and parades, families spread blankets on the shoreline and spend hours watching and picnicking.

The boating season never officially ends in the Puget Sound area. There may be less extended cruising during the blustery, wet days of winter, but the faithful keep sailing. Opening Day, however, kicks off the happy spring and summer days of boating for many avid boaters in this area.

Sponsored annually by the Seattle Yacht Club, Opening Day can trace its roots to a Fourth of July celebration on Seattle’s waterfront in 1895. In 1920, shortly after the Lake Washington Ship Canal was completed, linking Seattle’s inland lakes with Puget Sound, the celebration moved to the fresh waters of the ship canal, Portage Bay and the Montlake Cut.

Opening Day offers some outstanding photo and story opportunities. You’ll not find anything like it in the United States or, to our knowledge, anywhere in the world. The only event comparable is an annual parade of commercial vessels in Venice, Italy.

There are lots of story possibilities in the weeks prior to Opening Day as families and friends and businesses decorate yachts, and racing crews from around the world practice for Saturday’s regatta.

“We have such amazing support from the community, and this is one of our largest fundraisers to support our programs,” said Barbara Langdon, EDVP Executive Director. “Not only do we want to fill the Meydenbauer Center to celebrate 30 years of service, but we are making a major announcement that signifies where our agency has been, and where we are headed in the future.”

In fact, Honorary Co-Chairs for the “World of Hope” dinner and auction are no less than Gov. Chris Gregoire and First Gentleman Mike Gregoire.  “As Governor, I have seen a dramatic increase in the need for domestic violence services,” said Gov. Chris Gregoire.  “I have met with victims, children and families living in fear and hopelessness. For many, even the most basic safety net can mean the difference between life and death.”

     EDVP answered 10,716 crisis line calls and worked with 5,179 local victims of domestic violence last year. Since 1982, EDVP has served more than 115,000 victims and their children, helping them escape from abusive homes and relationships.

“We’ve seen an increase in traumatic cases, where families are barely holding on,” said Langdon. “The 2012 World of Hope dinner and auction will raise funds that provide critical services to families in desperate need.”

One of EDVP’s clients, Stacy, will share her story during the dinner about domestic violence in her family. After years of physical and emotional abuse, Stacy reached a new low when her husband kidnapped her oldest son, and took him to another state. The mother of three, and now a college student, gives EDVP credit for literally saving her life and those of her children.

“Without the services of Eastside Domestic Violence Program, I don’t know how I would have survived or kept my family together,” said Stacy. “This program has forever changed my life.”

This year’s dinner and live auction on Saturday, May 5, 2012 at the Meydenbauer Center, 11100 NE 6^th St. in Bellevue, will be hosted by KOMO news anchor Molly Shen. Auction Chair Brinette Rounds promises a sensational evening, beginning with a VIP reception, then a gourmet dinner paired with fine wines, followed by dancing. “We will be encouraging high-energy bidding on fantastic travel destination packages, unique getaways, and other items not otherwise available for purchase,” said Rounds. “We give special thanks to our supporters whose generosity will create a World of Hope for victims and families in need.  Join us for this memorable evening!”

To register for the ‘World of Hope,’ please visit edvp.maestroweb.com, or call Tiffany

Solack at 425-562-8840, ext. 249. Tickets are $150 per person, or a table of 10 is $1500.

For more information, please contact Kelly Becker, EDVP Development Director, at kellyb@edvp.org, or call 425-562-8840, ext. 253.

EDVP is the largest provider of domestic violence services and confidential shelter in North and East King County, Washington, and is a nationally recognized leader in the field. Since 1982, EDVP has provided safety, support and access to education and training for more than 115,000 victims and their children. To learn more about domestic violence, visit EDVP at www.edvp.org. If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship, call EDVP’s 24 hour Crisis Line at 425-746-1940 or 1-800-827-8840.

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/232822 
info@woodinvillewinecountry.com    |    (425) 205 – 4394

This event is the largest local event of the year and is always very well run – this year is their 30th Anniversary!

Here is the schedule of events:

Friday April 20th: Meydenbauer Center:
9:30 – 10:45am: Fitness and Figure competitors only registration. Measure
heights, check NPC registrations, numbering and goody bags.
11:00am: Doors open to public. Competitor Meeting for Fitness and Figure with
Head Judge NPC Vice President & IFBB Professional judge Jim Rockell. Pro
Powerlifting Event Promotion with Sean Zilla Katterle begins and Expo Booths open.
Please note that Expo booths and all events are together in the Expo Hall.
12:00 Noon: Fitness/Figure Judging.
3:00 – 3:30pm: Expo Hall closes.
4:00 – 5:45pm Meydenbauer Center Lobby. Bodybuilding and Women’s Physique
Competitor Check in. Early competitor check in for Women’s Bikini and Men’s
Physique. Measure heights, check NPC registrations, numbering and goody bags.
Bodybuilders will turn in their music at this time.
6:15pm: Doors open to Expo Halls.
6:20: Big Screen Video By Terry Photo of California.
7:00pm: National Anthem by Marissa Carew. Special Guest Emcee Alicia Marie.
Fitness/Figure Evening Finals featuring guest performers IFBB Fitness Pro Sheri Vucick,
Physique Artist Extraordinaire Russ Testo and cirque performer world champion Eric
Saintonge “The Wheel Cyr”.

The pressure on information professionals to keep pace with the surge of digital data is greater than ever. Rapid adoption of smartphones and tablets in the workplace as well as the use of cloud technology are changing the way companies do business and requiring workers to address knowledge gaps. AIIM’s one-day boot camp will provide busy information professionals an easy way to get current on the latest trends and developments of the business process revolution including mobile, social and cloud technologies.

Boot camp participants will learn how to:

• Cut costs and reduce bottlenecks by moving business processes to the cloud
• Get content and information ready for mobile access and engagement
• Collaborate across geography and time zones with social technologies
• Make better decisions by exploring the analytics and new opportunities in big data

“Mobile, social and cloud technologies are combining to revolutionize business processes,” said AIIM President John Mancini. “The Bellevue seminar will equip local business and technology practitioners with the knowledge, tool kits and peer connections they need to navigate digital business content in today’s ever-changing technology landscape.”

The AIIM Content Management Boot Camp will be held at the Westin Bellevue from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The first 100 registrants to arrive at the event on May 15 will receive a free Certified Information Professional (CIP) exam voucher, a $265 value. The Institute of Certified Records Managers (ICRM) has pre-approved four hours of ICRM Certification Maintenance Program (CMP) credit for attending the AIIM Content Management Boot Camp, and the seminar is also approved for four credits towards the Certified Information Professional (CIP) credential maintenance.

To register for the free, one-day AIIM Content Management Boot Camp in Bellevue visit: http://www.aiim.org/events/seminars/schedule/Bellevue-WA-2012.

Sponsors of the AIIM Content Management Boot Camp Seminar in Bellevue are Adlib, Canon, CMMC, EMC, Fujitsu, IBM, KnowledgeLake, Kodak, Kofax, Opex, and Oracle.

About AIIM

AIIM has been an advocate and supporter of information professionals for nearly 70 years. The association’s mission is to ensure that information professionals understand the current and future challenges of managing information assets in an era of social, mobile, cloud and big data. Founded in 1943, AIIM builds on a strong heritage of research and member service. Today, AIIM is a global, non-profit organization that provides independent research, education and certification programs to information professionals. AIIM represents the entire information management community, with programs and content for practitioners, technology suppliers, integrators and consultants.

The Jim Mora Celebrity Golf Classic brings together friends from the sports and entertainment industries to “tee it up” for charity. The Golf Classic matches foursomes with a celebrity for a day of golf on the picturesque Golf Club at Newcastle. Golfers will compete for prizes from start to finish, enjoy great food and beverages on the course and be treated to the BackSwing Bash Happy Hour and Dinner Auction that evening. The BackSwing Bash will include a live auction featuring unique sports memorabilia; one-of-a-kind experiences, like golf for four at POTUS’ country club and amazing trips to Super Bowl XLVII and the 2013 Pro Bowl. A celebrity-studded VIP Appreciation Party will be held at Joey Restaurants in Bellevue the night before the tournament, on Sunday, June 24.

Celebrities that have participated in prior Golf Classics include:

Bill Russell, Marshall Faulk, Lenny Wilkens, Jay Buhner, Roy Jones, Jr., Jeff Foxworthy, Detlef Schrempf, Slick Watts, Rich Eisen, Lawyer Milloy, Matt Hasselbeck, Michael Irvin, Hugh Millen, Jordan Babineaux, John Carlson, Sonny Sixkiller, and Ray Pinney.

Sponsorships are still available at most levels for this exclusive event. Please contact Casey Kennedy at (206) 396-4441 for more information.

The Jim Mora Count On Me Family Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization created in 2005 to support children in need, primarily in three target areas: children from low socio-economic backgrounds, mentally and/or physically challenged children and children at risk. The Foundation affords young individuals the opportunity to realize their potential and achieve their dreams. The Jim Mora Count On Me Family Foundation strives to lend support to charities and children’s organizations through monetary grants and increased community awareness, empowering organizations to help children improve their lives by: building and instilling confidence; encouraging health, wellness and safety; fostering learning opportunities; and using the sport of football as a springboard to talk about life and life lessons.  Since 2005, the Foundation has raised over 1.3 million dollars for over 50 children’s organizations in need. For more information, please visit countonmefoundation.org.

For this year’s event, the top sommeliers in the city will be at Salty’s to vote on the winning wines. Joining us will be Jameson Fink, Wine Editor – Foodista.com, Food & Wine Contributor – Dabble Magazine; Chris Nishiwaki, Freelance Food & Wine Writer; Christopher Gronbeck with Seattle Wine Calendar; Antoine Pin, Underground Winos; Jennifer Schmitt, Willows Lodge; Steve Body, Chef & P-I Blogger of The Pour Fool; Sean Sullivan with WA Wine Report; Ted Furst with Le Grand Bistro Americain; Chad with C&G Wines; Jon with Bin 41; Jason Erikson, Wine Director with Poppy Restaurant; Duane Pemberton with Winefoot.com; Yashar Shayan, Sommelier with Wine World; Phil Masssey with Wine World; and Tim O’Brien, Salty’s sommelier.

On April 18th, Salty’s will host a Dinner with the Winners featuring the six wines voted on by the top sommeliers in the city. Salty’s Chef Jeremy and Sommelier Tim O’Brien will create a six course menu paired with the best Syrahs in Washington and featuring local produce. Each winning winemaker will be back at Salty’s to talk about their wines and the pairing of the dishes at this dinner. Dinner is from 7:00-8:30, $100/person, limited to 75 people.

Syrah is seducing wine enthusiasts who have an affection for red wines with bold spices, rich fruit and silky texture. Salty’s chefs will serve appetizers designed to showcase Syrah’s outstanding affinity for food. Produced by Sommelier David LeClaire, of Seattle Uncorked and Wine World, and Salty’s Sommelier Tim O’Brien, this very popular 11th annual event always sells out, so buy tickets today! This year, for the first time, the wines will be available for sale, so guests can build their wine cellar while enjoying Salty’s skyline view.

A portion of your $45 ticket will benefit FareStart. Here’s our growing list of wineries to enjoy:
Apex at Alder Ridge
Bunnell Family Cellars
Cedar River Cellars
Four Lakes Winery
Gamache Vintners
Goose Ridge Estate Winery
Jones of WA
Kana Winery
Kerloo Cellars
Kitzke Cellars
Lantz Cellars
Native Sun
NHV-Naches Heights Vineyard
Patterson Cellars
Piccola Cellars
Purple Star Wines
Redmond Ridge Winery
Shingleback
Skylite Cellars
Smasne Cellars
Tapteil Vineyard Winery
Trust Cellars

On the Buffet
Grilled Frisee and Radicchio Salad with Honey Tangerines, Pulled Berkshire Pork and Manchego Cheese
Pacific Shrimp and Trofi Pasta with Fava Beans, English Pea and Vine-Ripened Yellow Tomato

Grilled Zucchini Succotash with Giant Italian Beans, Smoked Country Ham and Sweet Pepper
Southern Smoked Turkey with Jezebel Sauce

Watch for Trays
Smoked Salmon Mousse in Filo Cups with Herb Pistou and Chum Caviar
Pork Lumpia with Plum Dipping Sauce
Dungeness Crab Bisque Shooters with Crispy Fried Rice and Lemon

Served
Mini Dogs on our Patio, Grilled Housemade Sausage Served in a Brioche Roll with Charred Peppers, Sweet Onions and Cream Cheese
Blackened Cod Tacos with Cabbage Pico de Gallo and Cilantro Crème
The Odd Couple Pairing Chocolate with Bacon by Pastry Chef James Gibson

FareStart is a culinary job training and placement program for homeless and disadvantaged individuals. Over the past 20 years, FareStart has provided opportunities for nearly 6,000 people to transform their lives, while also serving over 5 million meals to disadvantaged men, women, and children.

Tickets must be purchased in advance at https://getinvolved.farestart.org/sexysyrah or call 206.267.6213

About Salty’s Seafood Grills:
Salty’s Seafood Grills are Seattle and Portland’s “Premier Seafood Restaurants”™ offering extensive menus featuring fresh Northwest seafood, USDA prime aged charbroiled steaks, local produce, and delicious house-made desserts. Located on prime waterfront beaches, Salty’s Restaurants give you unrivaled views in both Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon. Recently, the readers of Seattle.Citysearch.com and Portland.Citysearch.com voted Salty’s the Best Brunch and Best Waterfront Restaurant in Seattle and Best Seafood Restaurant in Portland. Our Bar-Cafés feature live entertainment on select evenings where you can enjoy cocktails, Northwest seafood appetizers, and smaller meals. Our outdoor decks are open in season for al fresco dining, and our private dining rooms are the best in Seattle and Portland for catered meetings, private parties or wedding receptions – with specialized services, we do everything for you. For additional information and reservations, please visit www.saltys.com. Follow us on Twitter at SaltysSeafood and LIKE us on Facebook at SaltysSeafood (Alki).

The sponsorship is the culmination of a month-long partnership in March between Eastside Heritage Center and the Microsoft Store in Bellevue Square to present local history programming and workshops for the community. The Microsoft Store is dedicated to reaching out to people of all ages, and to businesses in the community, providing tools and educational opportunities to help build a better future.

Eastside Heritage Center’s annual Bellevue Strawberry Festival celebrates the region’s agricultural heritage, as well as its diverse cultural past, present and future. This family-oriented, historic community event features fresh strawberry shortcake, hands-on history experiences, food and vendor booths, entertainment, a Classic Auto Show and tons of Family Fun with games, inflatable bouncers, strawberry shortcake eating contests and much more. In 2011, more than 40,000 people attended the two-day event, consuming 6,000 lbs of strawberries!

As the Main Stage & Presenting Sponsor, the Microsoft Store will be bringing an Xbox 360 Kinect experience to the Festival this year. With Kinect games, YOU are the controller. Literally. So if you find yourself jumping around, battling the dark side or break dancing in front of your children, don’t be surprised. It’s all part of the fun that the Microsoft Store will provide for Festival goers!

Eastside Heritage Center is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization committed to preserving the past as it builds community and connects people with their heritage. In addition to maintaining and preserving the largest collection of artifacts, photos and archival material related to East King County, Washington, the EHC focuses on sharing this collection with the community through exhibits, books, presentations and a wide variety of educational programming. Eastside Heritage Center was supported by over 5,600 volunteer hours in 2011 and engages more than 1.1 million people through its programs and services annually. For more information on the Eastside Heritage Center, visit www.eastsideheritagecenter.org.