Upcoming trade shows, web seminars, open source software, etc.

TRADE SHOWS:

March 19: Institute of Real Estate Management; Burton Manor in Livonia. www.iremmi5.org for more information.

April 1-2: Michigan Facilities Expo, Rock Financial Center in Novi.  www.facilitiesexpo.com/fex/femi/index.po

April 24: Building Owners and Managers Association trade show, Burton Manor in Livonia. www.bomadet.org.tradeshows.htm

April 25: Southfield Business Exposition, Southfield Town Center, Atrium Hall

WEBCASTS:

March 12: American Management Association webcast, "Business at the Crossroads: Aligning Commerce, Earth, and Humanity; 12 -1 PM. Register at www.amanet.org/events/business-crossroads/

March 24-27: Microsoft Small Business Summit 2008; www.sbsummit.com/2008 for info.

OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE:

Open Workbench: Open source program; Competes with MS Project; www.openworkbench.org.

Scribus: Open source desktop publishing; www.scribus.net.

Inkscape: Open source vector graphics editor, similar to Adobe Illustrator; www.inkscape.org.

Star Office: Competes with MS-Office (sorry, no "Outlook" program); get through Google Pack (see following)

Google Pack- includes Google Earth, Picasa, Firefox, etc. www.google.com --> "more" --> "even more" takes you to the page. Also some tools for your mobile or blackberry device on this page.

ETC:

Google Apps has a number of tools for your blackberry or wireless; also check out Crackberry.com.

Enjoy!