Calendar: Downtown parade set for Dec. 9

Nov. 30

The Chamber Singers of Southwest Baptist University present Ye Old Madrigal Dinners at 6:30 each evening in the McClelland dining facility on the Bolivar campus. A five-course meal will be served, with music, revelry and traditions reminiscent of Elizabethan England. Tickets are $20 per person and are available by calling (417) 328-1644 .

Evangel University’s Chorus and Concert Choir and New Covenant Academy’s Concert Choir and Chamber Choir will present a free Christmas concert at 7:30 p.m. in the chapel auditorium on the EU campus. For more information, call (417) 865-2815, ext. 7328.

Community

Nov. 30

Nathan Hodge, a reporter for Jane’s Defence Weekly in Washington, D.C., will speak at 11 a.m. in Clara Thompson Hall on the Drury University campus. Hodge will share his expertise in defense and national affairs as part of Drury’s Liberty and Security in a Post 9/11 World convocation series. For more information, call (417) 873-7299.

Dec. 1

Discovery Center of Springfield presents its fourth annual Parents Night Out 5–10 p.m. at the center, 438 E. St. Louis St. The event is for children ages 4 through sixth grade. Center exploration, games, crafts, snacks and movies will be provided for children while their parents enjoy an evening out. The cost for members is $25 for the first child and $10 for each additional child. Nonmembers pay $30 for the first child and $10 for each additional child. Preregistration and payment is required by Nov. 28. For more information, visit www.discoverycenter.org.

Dec. 2

The League of Women Voters of Southwest Missouri presents a legislators’ forum 9:30 a.m.–noon at the Discovery Center, 438 E. St. Louis St. Recently elected and veteran legislators have been invited to speak at the event, during which LWV also will outline its priorities for the upcoming legislative session.

The second annual Guns vs. Hoses Charity Basketball Tournament begins at 7:30 p.m. in the gym at Glendale High School, 2727 S. Ingram Mill Road. Springfield Police officers and Fire Department officials will square off in a basketball game for charity. Proceeds will benefit two projects, Project Hope and Cops for Casey. Tickets are $5 and will be sold at the door, and concessions, T-shirts and raffles also will raise money.

Dec. 9

The 2006 Springfield Christmas Parade begins at 1 p.m. at the intersection of Mount Vernon Street and Campbell Avenue. With the theme Christmas Carnival, the parade will feature marching bands and floats from area businesses and organizations. There will be special events on Park Central Square beginning at 11 a.m., and other activities, such as free ice skating at Jordan Valley Ice Park, will follow the parade. Additional information is available by calling Urban Districts Alliance, (417) 831-6200.

Business/Professional Development

Nov. 29

Mapping Your Marketing Strategy, a seminar that helps attendees outline a custom marketing plan, is 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. at the Missouri State University Small Business Development Center in Glass Hall on the MSU campus. The course will be instructed by Robert Winnie of The Winnie Group. The fee for the course is $109 per person. To register, call (417) 836-5685 or visit www.sbdc.missoristate.edu.

Dec. 6

Zig Ziglar presents Get Motivated, a seminar aimed at increasing income and productivity, 8 a.m.–4:15 p.m. at the Springfield Expo Center, 635 E. St. Louis St. The event includes sessions on money, sales, time management, competitiveness and business skills. There also will be an optional 15-minute session on the biblical secrets of success. Tickets are $225 per person at the door; there is a limited special of $49 per company by calling (800) 246-5179. All attendees will receive “Rule #1, The Simple Strategy for Successful Investing in Only 15 Minutes a Week,” by Phil Town.

Dec. 7

Good Morning, Springfield! begins at 7:30 a.m. in the White River Room at Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, 1935 S. Campbell Ave. This monthly morning networking program presented by the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, includes breakfast, updates from community leaders and chamber news. The cost is $12 for chamber members and $15 for nonmembers. Registration is available by calling (417) 862-5567 or online at www.springfieldchamber.com.