Folsom entrepreneur Al Canton was surprised this month when he got invited to a mixer for business people – "between the ages of 21 and 40."

Then he got mad.

The invite was from Corridor Connection, a young professionals' affiliate of the Folsom Chamber of Commerce.

Canton, a chamber member who describes himself as a "young 60," says the invite struck him as discrimination, pure and simple.

"I don't think it's right," he says, "for a chamber of commerce to be ageist – or racist or sexist."

He dashed off e-mails to chamber officials. The missives prompted some serious review, says chamber CEO Joe Gagliardi.

The result: The chamber will now emphasize that Corridor Connection is targeted at people between 21 and 40 – but open to anyone, Gagliardi says. While there was never any intent to exclude anyone, he concedes there may have been a "perception of discrimination."

In the past, he notes, plenty of older-than-40 folks have attended the group's meetings – and been welcome.

Still, the question persists: Is it appropriate for a chamber to sponsor a group aimed at younger members?

Absolutely, says Jim Pelley, the chamber's board chairman. The needs of younger professionals have sometimes been "neglected or not addressed," he says. The smaller group is a way to address those.

Canton sees it a bit differently. He says business groups need to make themselves more inclusive, not set up special-interest enclaves.

We think this is a topic for the ages. Let's hear your take on it.

Exchanging owners: After 30 years with the Learning Exchange, Carol Greenberg is hanging up her course catalogs.

She's sold the business for an undisclosed sum to a Roseville couple – Irene and Jason Wu – and is tackling new ventures, including a startup business helping executives with management tasks.

Her main reason for selling? Revenues are leveling off. They'll start declining, Greenberg says, unless someone with better Internet marketing skills jumps in.

"I think it's time to pass the torch to someone with more (expertise) in that area," she says.

Greenberg, now 53, worked her way up, starting as a Learning Exchange receptionist in 1978. She says the business has evolved from its '70s counterculture vibe – offering "funky" classes like hot tubbing and edible weeds – into a mature, mainstream enterprise.

She admits to being melancholy about leaving.

"It feels a little like sending your kid off to college," she says. "It's sad, but you know it's the right decision."

Passing grade: Sacramento's green energy efforts are earning modest kudos from one of the industry's top commentators.

Michael Kanellos, a senior analyst in the Bay Area offices of Greentech Media, visited here last week and reports in his blog that Sacramento is "putting the pieces together to become something of a regional powerhouse in green technologies."

Among them: UC Davis' efforts to commercialize green-tech research, an "alumni club" of seasoned tech execs able to run startup companies, supportive local government agencies and property values that still make the area relatively affordable.

Although numerous cities are trying to become green tech centers, Kanellos says not all will succeed.

But, the former CNET News.com commentator reports, "the circumstances look somewhat favorable for the 916 area." For his full assessment, go to http://greenlight.greentechmedia.com/page/2/

Reach Bob Shallit at (916) 321-1049. Back columns: www.sacbee.com/shallit.