Public Input Meeting for The Amp: The Metropolitan Transit Authority is holding public input meetings for the final design and engineering phase of The Amp, Nashville’s proposed bus rapid transit system. Today's meeting will focus on West Nashville and will be held at 5:30 p.m. at West End Middle School. MTA will hold a second round of meetings in March to discuss how the input has or has not been incorporated into the project. The purpose of this week's sessions has been to incorporate the community suggestions that uniquely represent each neighborhood impacted by the Amp. Each charette will focus on the portion of the route in which the meeting is held.

THURSDAY, JAN. 16

Waller’s MLK Tribute

Francis S. Guess, an advocate for equal opportunity, will address Waller’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day tribute luncheon at the DoubleTree Hotel, speaking on the theme: “It’s Our Turn,” as it relates to building upon Dr. King’s legacy to foster equality throughout the Middle Tennessee business community. Reservations are required and may be made by calling 850-8185.

Baker Donelson Labor & Employment Law Breakfast

Martha Boyd is the featured speaker for “What to Expect When You’re Expecting … A Deposition.” 8 a.m. – breakfast and networking. 8:30-9:30 a.m., program. Baker Donelson Center, 211 Commerce Street, First Floor Special Events Center, Nashville. Registration: [email protected].

Baker Donelson Hosts Franchise Business Network Meeting

Joel R. Buckberg will moderate a discussion of “The Next Stage of Growth: Are You and Your Business Ready?” Other speakers include:

• Glenn Carver

• Jason Meadows, Nashville office managing partner, Frazier & Deeter

• Turner Gaw, vice president, small business lending, First State Bank

• Mark Carlson, Corporate/Mergers & Acquisitions group leader, Baker Donelson

Presentation, 4-5:15 p.m. Networking Reception, 5:15-6:30 p.m. Baker Donelson Center, first floor, 211 Commerce Street, Nashville. Registration: [email protected]

Real Estate Investors Network

Williamson County Subgroup – Rehabbers, new construction builders, commercial, mini-storage, wholesalers, private lenders, transaction funders, hard-money lenders, bankers, title attorneys, Realtors and vendors discuss deals, the state of the market and how they can help each other prosper. 11:15 a.m., Bosco’s Restaurant & Brewery, 2000 Meridian Blvd, Ste 110, Franklin. Information: www.reintn.org. Other opportunities include:

• Monday, Jan 20: Landlording Subgroup – Join other REIN members to share ideas and discuss the many areas of landlording and renting property. 6:30 p.m., REIN Education Center, 2416 Music Valley Drive, Ste 151, Nashville

• Tuesday, Jan. 21: REIN Lunch Network – Active and experienced real estate investors meet first and third Tuesdays of the month to discuss trends and real estate topics of interest. Jan. 7th, at 11:15 AM, Dalt’s American Grill, 38 White Bridge Road, Nashville

• Tuesday, Jan. 21: Funding Your Deals: Various Financing Avenues – Shaun Lyons, a mortgage specialist with Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc., will lead a discussion on all the various financing products he has available and new changes and requirements. 6 p.m., REIN Education Center, 2416 Music Valley Drive, Ste 151, Nashville

• Thursday, Jan. 23: Ca$h Flow & Millionaire Maker Games – Learn financial strategies without having to invest any of your own cash. These games are fun and educational ways to learn about wealth creation, managing assets and liabilities, and escaping from the “rat race.” 6 p.m., REIN Education Center, 2416 Music Valley Drive, Ste 151, Nashville

FRIDAY, JAN. 17

Cheatham County Chamber of Commerce Christmas Party and 25th Anniversary

Due to weather, the annual Christmas party for Chamber members was postponed. All tickets purchased for the Dec. 6 party will be honored. Party will be held at the Sycamore Girl Scout Camp. Information: [email protected].

SATURDAY, JAN. 18

Middle Tennessee Genealogical Society

Dr. Dave Dowell, who holds two degrees in history, library science, has served as a special investigative officer for the U. S. Air Force and has been actively researching genealogy over the past few decades, will speak on “What Would I Learn by Adding DNA Testing to My Genealogical Tool Kit?” 1-3 p.m., Patricia Hart Building, 174 Rains Ave. Information: www.mtgs.org

Tennessee Small Business Development Center and Volunteer State Community College Workshops

Social Media Digital Marketing: 9 a.m.-noon. $99. A hands-on computer lab course consisting of two 3-hour sessions (the second on Jan. 17). Location: TSBDC @ Volunteer State Community College, Betty Gibson Hall, Gallatin. Register online www.tsbdc.org.

MONDAY, JAN. 20

MLK Day Celebration at the GJCC

John Seigenthaler will speak on the topic of “Civil Rights in the 50 Years Since John Fitzgerald Kennedy’s Death.” The celebration is co-sponsored by the Community Relations Committee of the Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee and the Gordon Jewish Community Center Meryl Kraft Discretionary Fund, and will be held at the GJCC. Noon-1:30 p.m. The event, open to the public, does require reservations. Fee: $10. Reservations: [email protected]. The GJCC is located at 801 Percy Warner Blvd.

TUESDAY, JAN. 21

Lipscomb University’s MLK Day service

T.B. Boyd, III, president and CEO of R.H. Boyd Publishing, a producer of literature and church supplies for more than 100 years, will speak at Lipscomb University’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day chapel service. 10:55 a.m., Allen Arena, Lipscomb University, One University Park Drive, Nashville.

Social Enterprise Shared Interest Group

An opportunity to learn about the movement from local and regional thought leaders. 8:30-9:30 a.m., Centresource Lab, 1312 5th Avenue North, Nashville. Information: nashvillechamber.com, 743-3063.

THURSDAY, JAN. 23

People’s Law School

A free program that provides an overview of common civil legal issues. Taught by Legal Aid Society attorneys and volunteer attorneys, the weekly, one-hour classes are 6 to 7 p.m. on Thursdays at Wright Middle School, 180 McCall St., and at Cohn Learning Center, 4805 Park Ave. Registration information: 298-8050, www.nashville.gov/Nashville-Community-Edcuation.aspx.

• Jan. 23: Renters’ Rights: You will learn your legal rights as a renter and how to assert them, what to look for in a lease, how to get your landlord to make repairs, how to get back your security deposit and more. (Cohn)

• Jan. 30: Social Security Options: This course will cover how to apply for and get Social Security retirement, disability, spouse and child payments, Medicare health insurance, Supplemental Security Income disability and old age payments. (Cohn)

• Feb. 6: Update on the New Health Care Law: This class will cover such questions as: What will the law do to help me afford health insurance? How can I sign up for insurance through the Marketplace? What happens if I don’t have health insurance by 2014? How will this affect my Medicare? With serious health problems, will the law help me get insurance I can afford? (Cohn)

• Feb. 6: Basics of Advance Care Planning: The class will cover such advance care planning topics as: how to tell your doctors what future health care you do or don’t want, naming someone now to make health care decisions for you when you can’t, naming someone now to handle your money and bills when you can’t, wills and more. This class will run until 7:30 p.m. (Wright)

• Feb. 13: Update on the New Health Care Law: See description above. (Wright)

• Feb. 20: Basics of Advance Care Planning: See description above. This class will run until 7:30 p.m. (Cohn)

• Feb. 20: Social Security Options: See description above. (Wright)

• Feb. 27: Paying for a Nursing Home or Home Care with Medicaid: You will learn how to get TennCare/Medicaid help to pay for nursing home costs or care at home, who can get this help and other rules. (Wright)

• March 6: Basics of Consumer Bankruptcy: This class will cover the different types of bankruptcy, bankruptcy steps, who can get bankruptcy, what a bankruptcy can and cannot do and tips on picking a bankruptcy lawyer. (Cohn)

• March 6: Renters’ Rights: See description above. (Wright)

• March 13: Paying for a Nursing Home or Home Care with Medicaid: See description above. (Cohn)

• March 13: Basics of Consumer Bankruptcy: See description above. (Wright)

• March 20: Basics of U.S. Immigration: This course will provide an introduction to the terms and concepts of U.S. immigration law, ways that people immigrate to the U.S., new changes in immigration law and how to avoid potential scams. (Wright)

• March 27: Basics of U.S. Immigration: See description above. (Cohn)

• March 27: How Power of Attorney and Conservatorship Work: Want to name someone to make your decisions when you can no longer make them? Have a loved one who already cannot make decisions for themselves? (Wright)

• April 3: How Power of Attorney and Conservatorship Work: (Cohn)

Young Professionals Networking Event

The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce event offers an opportunity to mix, mingle and network with other young professionals. 5-7 p.m., Loews Vanderbilt Hotel’s Mason Bar, 2100 West End Avenue, Nashville. Information: nashvillechamber.com, 743-3063.

JAN. 23-26

Nashville Boat and Sports Show

The show at Music City Center will feature hundreds of new boats for sale, plus nautical attractions and educational offerings for all ages. Tickets are $6 on Jan. 23, $9 the following three days. Ages 15 and younger are admitted free throughout the show. Information: www.nashvilleboatshow.com.