Chairman’s Business Networking Blog, Thursday 9th June 2016.
20 Members were present with Graphic Designer Matt Barry and Insolvency Practitioner Mellissa Jackson present invited by Scott Griffiths and Paul Booth respectively.
Please remember for future weeks, those of you have successfully invited a visitor will have the pleasure of formally introducing them to the meeting. This will be after I have given details of any apologies for absence.
After a break of a couple of weeks I had taken stock of the contents of the Blog and note that over recent months I have made very little comment upon the sartorial accomplishments of our members. Let me try and put this right.
Brian Painter always presents a dapper image and this week was no exception. Other fashion matters that stood out included Lewis Hackney’s welcome to Summer; open collared yellow shirt and tailored shorts. Pride of place however must go to Jill Willis who wore trousers that were both eye catching and challenging. They were challenging because I had been racking my brains as to particular creature of the veldt the pattern represented. Was it tiger, puma or some type of cross breed. Jill might be able to enlighten but otherwise you are all welcome to have guess. It certainly caught my attention as she stood up and delivered a very effective Ed Slot. Her subject was the importance of using our EBF personal entries to ensure that they contain maximum information and link with website. The advice was both helpful and important but how many people will take her up on it remains to be seen. Some leopards never change their spots. ….was that a Freudian association!!!
As the 60 second round started the recently returned from holiday members apparently exhibited jet lags as well as tans. We can only hope that Peter Hood, Scott Griffiths and Paul Booth will be firing on all cylinders in the next day or so.
As to presentation, the School of Whimsy was fully represented and in good form. Nick Cooke continues his exploration of structural faults. Last week he talked about cracks, this week it was sagging roofs which result from people going up into their attic and taking out bits of wood to enable them to get their luggage in. Brian Painter was defusing a OCD Dentist who not only scrubbed up well herself but tried to scrub up her family both husband and children. Brian resolved it. For a pittance.
Alan Shaw however probably takes pride of place amongst his fellow Whimsies. He went to the Rolling Stones Exhibition and discovered that they took an architect on tour with them to make sure the stage design was at its best. You get the impression he feels he has missed out on a particular course that his career could have taken. Heaven knows how we would have viewed the Beverly Sisters if Alan had been involved with them. Howard Bullock, prime mover of the Naughty Corner was whimsical himself. He talked of how to boil frogs. Now that there is a strong possibility of Britain leaving the EU we are at last starting to explore continental habits.
Other efforts included Jo Eastwood parading her European beers and; pride of place going to a brew from the Trappist Monks which was strong enough to render you speechless.
Mike Rogers declared that he had 10 files on his desk and promptly was awarded the Oscar by Marcelle. What would have happened if he had had 20 files.
The 10 minute presentation was a Peter Hood special. It started without any pictures on the screen, he started his presentation and then suddenly the screen lit up. We saw images of toilets and hand basins before and after. There is a rumour that next time he does a presentation he will run the same pieces of bathroom furniture but will include the occupants using them. In one instance I suspect you only need one occupant to use both facilities simultaneously but I am pleased to be able to testify that you could tell the difference between before and after. To be fair to Peter, he appears to have dealt with and overcome very difficult situations not least Alan Shaw demonstrating a leak with a movement of his hands that was more representative of a fountain than a leak.
We finally moved to a very positive referrals and testimonials round and it was a good advertisement for our visitors. There is a good prospect that at least one of our visitors will join. Whilst we are talking about visitors do not forget that Terry’s request that we all review our recent invitations and re-approach people who appear to have some interest in joining.
Well, that’s your lot for this week, I look forward to seeing you all again next week.
Great lively meeting and a pleasure to welcome our two guests both of who will be most welcome to apply to join. Looking forward to the social activities being organised by Brian and Aidan.
I love the picnic in the park idea!
We are good at bringing visitors but our conversion rate needs improving. How about having a couple of members from a pool telling visitors how EBF has grown their business. This could be fitted in after the Oscar presentation. Let’s bring our lights out from under the bushel!!
Sounds another “good ‘un”. I think Ill should send round a picture oterwiose it’s not a fair competition for those not present.
I would also like to endorse the picnic in the park suggestion.
See you next week upon my return.