National Chamber Chairman At Membership Breakfast

Michael Starnes, chairman of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, will speak at a general membership breakfast meeting of the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce on Friday.

As chairman of the nation’s chamber of commerce, Starnes is the key spokesman for the world’s largest federation of businesses, chambers of commerce, American chambers overseas, and trade and professional associations.

At the breakfast, he’ll discuss international trade and job creation.

During his stay in Spokane, he’ll also meet with business leaders to discuss transportation issues. He has 25 years of experience in the transportation industry and is chairman and CEO of M.S. Carriers Inc. of Memphis, Tenn.

He’ll speak at 7:30 a.m. at the Doubletree Hotel in the Valley. Call 624-1393.

In other events this week:

Today

Washington Restaurant Association holds its fall conference at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue, Wash., continuing Tuesday. Call 1-800-225-7166.

Dick Ward, project manager for Eastern Washington Manufacturing Services, speaks at a breakfast meeting from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at the Business Training and Applied Technology Center. Call 509-533-4700.

In Los Angeles, the trial begins in a lawsuit by Foodmaker restaurants against Vons Grocery Co. in connection with the 1993 E-coli infections in the Pacific Northwest that killed one and made hundreds ill.

Tuesday

The Full Committee on Agriculture will hold a public hearing in Washington, D.C., to review the Forest Recovery and Protection Act of 1997.

The Computer and Business Technology Expo is held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and tomorrow at the Spokane Convention Center.

Wednesday

The Spokane Chamber of Commerce will hold a special luncheon at 11:30 a.m. at the Ag Trade Center for those who attended its Sept. 16 annual meeting. Call 459-4111.

Thursday

A seminar sponsored by Associated Industries - Employee Orientation Programs: What’s Working and What’s Not? - is held from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Call 328-6832.

The Consumer Credit Counseling Service offers free money-management workshops starting at 6 p.m. in Spokane at the East Side Public Library, 524 S. Stone, and in Chewelah at Jenkins High School, 727 E. Lincoln. Call 800-892-6854.

Friday

“Building Media and Corporate Partnerships,” sponsored by Washington State Tourism, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Ridpath Hotel; $35 per person. Call 360-357-8044.

The Southern Oregon Inclusion Conference, sponsored by the Down Syndrome Association of Southern Oregon, will be held today and tomorrow at the Ashland Hills Inn in Ashland, Ore. Call 541-535-8666. , DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Graphic: Measuring the Economy - Total employment

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: ON THE SHELF BusinessWeek, Oct. 6: Cover story explores Travelers Group CEO Sanford Weill’s triumph of buying Salomon Inc., thereby enabling Travelers to join Wall Street’s elite.

Biggest Takeovers Here are the top U.S. corporate mergers, assuming WorldCom Inc. completes its acquisition of MCI Communications Inc., showing target name, acquirer name and value in dollars unadjusted for inflation: 1. WorldCom Inc. offers to buy MCI Communications Inc. for stock valued at about $29.3 billion, announced Oct. 1, 1997, in competition with an earlier $24 billion merger agreement between MCI and British Telecommunications PLC. 2. Bell Atlantic Corp. combines with Nynex Corp. in an exchange of stock valued at $25.6 billion, completed Aug. 14, 1997. 3. RJR Nabisco Inc. merger with Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., $25 billion, in 1989.