JAN. 30 — This month, if you’re one of those people looking for more energy and less arse (and who isn’t?), I have the thing for you. The freakishly fit folks at Northwest Personal Training are hosting an EATING FOR MAXIMUM ENERGY AND FAT LOSS lecture by Alison Ozgur. Ozgur, a registered dietician in private practice specializing in sports and fitness nutrition, has nearly eight years of experience helping people reach their nutrition goals. Come learn what you need to do to lose the body fat, keep it off, and look and feel your best. (Northwest Personal Training, 1011 Broadway; 7-8pm; free; call 574-7292 for more info.)

FEB. 10 — Save for catheters and waterboarding, few things are as fun and easy on the spirit as job hunting. Yes, there’s nothing quite like wearing one of your two sets of presentable clothes to an interview and trying to tell total strangers what a badass you are while simultaneously wondering if your shave-job cut the mustard that morning.

For everyone else who is in that position and would like a little help (or just some camaraderie), be sure to attend the JOB SEEKERS CONFERENCE this month. This conference, sponsored by the City, will provide expert advice from hiring managers about what they look for in résumés, cover letters and interviews. They will also cover job search sites, effective networking tips, government jobs, self-employment options, and family health care. (Water Resource Education Center, 4600 SE Columbia Way, 8am - noon; $99; or visit www.creatingleadersllc.com for more info.)

FEB. 5 — February’s FIRST TUESDAY PRESENTATION (which is actually on Thursday this month) is GREEN WORKING AND LIVING: LOCAL ACTIONS, GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES, presented in conjunction with the National Teach-in on Global Warming. A panel of citizens will present ways that Clark County is already working and living green. Learn about projects in local businesses and neighborhoods, along with changes you can make in your own home to promote a greener lifestyle. The teach-in (www.nationalteachin.org/), focuses on engaging the public in a dialogue about climate change solutions as we embark on the first 100 days in the Obamasphere. (Clark College, Gaiser Hall, 1933 Fort Vancouver Way, 4 p.m.; free; call 487-7955 or email terry.lenhart@ci.vancouver.wa.us for more info.)

FEB. 5 — The WSU VANCOUVER PROFESSIONAL WRITERS SERIES presents Kim Stafford, a poet, essayist, and short story writer who directed the Northwest Writing Institute at Lewis & Clark College. Mr. Crawford has received two creative writing fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, and his book, “Having Everything Right,” won a Western States Book Award. (WSU Vancouver, 14204 NE Salmon Creek Avenue; 7-9 p.m.; free; call 503-816-2742 or email howard823@comcast.net for more info.)

FEB. 7 — Secular business networks be damned, it’s time for the JEWISH BUSINESS NETWORK THIRD ANNUAL FUNDRAISER. The Jewish Business Network (JBN) is holding this event, “A Day of Hope”, at the Vancouver Hilton. Proceeds from this event will benefit local families in need as well as the children of the “Good Family” Orphanage in Odessa, Ukraine. This year’s event is “Comedy Night” and comedian Mark Schiff will headline the show. Schiff’s claim to fame, of which I’m sure you are all very well aware, is as the voice of the little dog on the animated series 2 Stupid Dogs. There will also be a raffle in which guests can purchase tickets ranging from $10 to $25 for prizes include a $1,000 Westfield Mall shopping spree, a Nintendo Wii™ and Wii Fit™, an iPod® Touch or Iphone®, a 42” Panasonic® Plasma HDTV, Dell® Vostro® A860 Laptop and much more. A Split-the-Pot raffle with guaranteed minimum of $500 will also be held. (The Hilton Vancouver, 301 W 6th Street; 7:30 p.m.; $50 per person includes kosher dinner and entertainment; make reservations at www.theJBN.org or call 450-3256 or email rabbi@chabadclarkcounty.com for more info.)

FEB. 11 — I’m tough, and I’ll kick your ass! (Insert primal roar here.) But...I did take piano lessons on my grandmother’s piano for almost two years. But did I mention I’m tough, and I’ll kick your ass!? Anyhow, every time the tuning slid on the old beast we’d call the Piano Hospital and a blind guy would come tune the piano while his wife would knit. It seemed perfect that he was charged with making sure that the 220 strings were in tune in a way that my senses could not register. Props, my blind magician. Props.

This month is THE PIANO HOSPITAL’S 60th ANNIVERSERY OPEN HOUSE. Founded by Emil B. Fries in 1949 to help blind and visually impaired people live independent, productive lives, the school remains the only one of its kind. Over the past 60 years, more than 300 students from 36 states and 14 countries have traveled to Vancouver to learn the unique piano tuning and repair techniques developed by Mr. Fries. (School of Piano Technology for the Blind, 2510 E Evergreen Boulevard; tours begin at 10 a.m., entertainment and refreshments 4-7 p.m.; call 693-1511 or email lenleger@pianotuningschool.org for more info.)

FEB. 12 — The 2009 State of the City address is later this month. However, as one of this publication’s main goals is to unite the communities of S.W. Washington under one Vancouver Voiceian roof, we’re here to tell you about the STATE OF THE COUNTY ADDRESS delivered by County Commissioner Marc Boldt. (Camas High School Theater, 26900 SE 15th Street, Camas; 3:30-5:30 p.m.; free; call 397-2232 or email Tina.Redline@clark.wa.gov to make reservations or for more info.) [VV]

Eric Johnson is an account executive for The Voice and enjoys running for fun.