PORTER

Beach health is topic at Dunes Sept. 15 meeting

The Great Lakes Beach Association will hold its eighth annual meeting Sept. 15 to 17 at Indiana Dunes State Park and the Indiana Dunes Learning Center.

Seminars will cover beach monitoring, microbiologic water quality, source tracking, testing methods and other topics.

For more information, call (219) 926-8336.

VALPARAISO

Trip aims to spark China business opportunities

Valparaiso University's Confucius Institute will sponsor a delegation of Northwest Indiana business and civic leaders in an October trip to China to explore economic development opportunities.

The trip is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 20 to 29 and will focus on facilitating business connections between Northwest Indiana and Zhejiang province, Indiana's sister state. It also will promote economic development and investment in Northwest Indiana.

Zhejiang, located south of Shanghai with a population of more than 50 million, is one of China's most prosperous provinces.

The trip will include pre-trip orientation, attendance at the Hangzhou Expo for small- and medium-sized businesses, visits to businesses in Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces, networking opportunities, meetings with local Chinese government officials and side trips to Hangzhou, Nanjing, Yellow Mountain and Shanghai.

Chinese officials, business leaders and educators will make presentations on the business climate in China, attracting business and capital to the U.S. Midwest, partnering with Chinese business, following through on initial contacts and historical and cultural traditions in China.

The delegation is limited to 20 people. CIVU will pay for all transportation, lodging, meals and side trips during the stay within China. Participants pay a flat fee of $2,400 for the cost of roundtrip airfare to China, transportation within the U.S., visa costs and other fees.

Those interested in participating should email continuing.ed@valpo.edu or call (219) 464-5313.