The briefs

Learn how to get involved

The Downtown St. Charles Partnership will have a workshop for interested volunteers Saturday at city hall, 2 E. Main St. The one-hour session starts at 9 a.m. and is open to local residents, business owners and property owners. The partnership will explain how the nonprofit organization works and outline volunteer opportunities with several annual events, including the Concerts in the Park series and the St. Charles Fine Art Show. For a reservation, call (630) 513-5386, ext. 1.

Small-business forum:

Join other small-business owners and area experts in an open forum exploring effective strategies and techniques to maintain business during the economic slowdown from 8 to 10 a.m. Jan. 31 at the Congregational Church of Batavia, 21 S. Batavia Ave. The free workshop is sponsored by the Congregational Church of Batavia Small Business Networking Group and Batavia MainStreet. For reservations or information, contact Ellen Huxtable at ellen@advantage-biz.com or (630) 879-6511.

Charlemagne Awards set

The St. Charles Chamber of Commerce's 86th Annual Charlemagne Awards Dinner is scheduled for Feb. 1 at Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St. Tickets are $50. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. and includes cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, dinner, music and dancing. The chamber will present several awards, including the Charlemagne Lifetime Achievement Award.

Call (630) 584-8384.

Jazz fundraiser planned:

The Greater St. Charles Education Foundation will have its annual fundraiser at 6 p.m. Feb. 9 at St. Charles Country Club, 1250 Country Club Road. "Jazz the Night Away" will include raffles, auctions, dinner and live jazz music performed by high school students. Tickets are $85. Call (630) 377-2777.

Register for kindergarten:

Kindergarten registration in St. Charles Community Unit School District 303 is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Feb. 11 at each of the district's 12 elementary schools. Parents and guardians should register children at the school they will attend. A certified copy of each child's birth certificate must be provided. Children must be at least 5 years old on or before Sept. 1 to register. Families also must provide a proof of residency, such as a driver's license, property tax bill or utility bill, as well as a parcel identification number from their property tax bill. For more information, call your neighborhood school.