<p>Business is about connections and motivation. Look within your member group for a passion – music? art? sports? drama? books? science? Chances are there are for-profits and not-for-profits in the community connected with these interests. Tap into them for expertise and assistance in developing a business where the profits are split between the club and a worthy related cause. Take music for example. Benefit concerts that charge an admission, and the proceeds get split between the club and, say, the middle school music department. Local (good) talent donates their time to perform – maybe a few Friday nights featuring local jazz bands at a coffee house; a Sunday afternoon classical piano recital at a local church; a summer “concert in the park”…and all the work in setting up these events is provided by your club, like a little local Bill Graham Presents. The coffee shop splits some of its snack/beverage profits; you charge for refreshments you buy from a local business that gives you a discount and/or offers to take back unsold items, etc… Or you could come up with some ideas to benefit local youth sports leagues, tapping into the expertise of one of the movers and shakers behind, say, the local Little League. There are always talented business people who volunteer their time to organizations that benefit everything from the local public library to the small, struggling town theater. They can be found through picking up the phone…Masons, Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, performing arts societies, friends of the [City] library, local artists, teachers, churches… People are often more willing to donate time to something that they have a passion for than money. So figure out a way to use their time to generate money. Sooner or later, you should have some capital to invest, and your business club will have a new department. ;)</p>