Chairman’s Business Networking Blog, Thursday 6th March 2014.
Our visitors breakfast meeting. Lots of positives to take away from the meeting.
Positive 1
When I normally arrive at my usual time of 5.56 am my only companion tends to be Paul Booth. This time there were already half a dozen members waiting outside the doors of the Golf Club to be let in.
Positive 2
A lot of members have worked very hard in chasing round potential visitors and last minute checks made us anticipate around 20 to 25 likely arrivals.
Positive 3
Like a well oiled machine we set up and were ready by 6.15. for the first arrivals and by then we had 21 members present.
On the slightly negative side there was a disappointing turnout of visitors despite the promises and we finished up with 7 in all.
Positive 4
2 of the 7 are positive about joining, Stuart Smallcombe, a previous member has promised to turn up next week and Vivienne Kleyn from Barter Card has filled in an application to join which can be considered by the committee next week.
Dawn is to be congratulated in introducing 3 visitors. All visitors bar one expressed a continuing interest but it will remain to be seen whether they follow through with applications for membership.
Conclusions to be drawn
- We have the ability to organise a visitor’s event and members willing to pull together in such instances.
- With 31 people at the meeting it is obvious that we need enough members to sustain that sort of level of attendance. There was a real buzz about the meeting, both before the meeting proper started and during the meeting itself.
- If there were 25 confirmed visitors then this meeting was only the start. All of those who had showed interest and confirmed must be chased up, say on Monday morning with a view to getting them along to next week’s meeting. We must aim for a membership of between 35 and 40, and in this regard we have made a good start. Let’s build on what we have achieved so far.
Apologies for the Sermon on the Mount, no such lecture was intended. I had to put something down however as we abandoned the usual 60 second round and therefore the presentations, whilst very accurate were fairly dull and boring. Indeed I am scrabbling around for some highlight or another.
The Bard of Hadleigh managed a rhyme;
Neil Lewer was looking for people with libraries.
Alan Shaw remembered his name, and what he did, and was as succinct as anyone.
Michael Adelizzi despite certain problems managed to make it before we started the meeting with what I can only describe as the best excuse that I have heard “…I’ve got an ear infection and I didn’t hear the alarm…” I defy anyone to beat that in the coming weeks and they will get a special mentioned if they do.
There is one duty that I have to fulfil as a hangover from last week and that relates to Richard Reed. He felt left out, (from my Blog that is). May I accordingly commend his role in the visitor’s breakfast? As Committee Chairman he was at the heart of things, he was first there today and he does do terribly good holidays!
On a visitors day it was nice to have a genuine induction and Jay French is welcomed as our latest recruit.
Attendance was exceptional with only our two holiday makers, Marcelle and Brian missing from our regular attendees and Ed Crocker who has been absent for some weeks reorganising his new business. The good news is that Ed has emailed to say that within the next couple of weeks he expects to return as a full time member, which is great news.
The high point of the meeting was the number of referrals – 40 in all and the amount of business written (£32,565.00)
The whole visitor’s day experience will be regarded as a 100% success if we can get the rest of the visitors who showed an interest into our meetings in the coming weeks.
Remember the adage; “a pet is not just for Christmas….” In our case “a visitors is not just for visitor’s day…. Well done everybody!!
A great meeting despite the poor attendance. I think we need to turn this into a “Visitor Month”. My guests who couldn’t make it have already confirmed their attendance at next week meeting instead. I’m expecting similar if not more guests next week…
It was a good meeting and a pleasure to meet the visitors we had. and Chris the photos are a really good advertisement for your skills.
Really good effort by everyone to be there ready to greet our visitors- well done everyone and lets keep the momentum going for our push for new members!
Yes guys & gals, an excellent meeting, shame about the “no shows”. I have to correct Aidan on a couple of things tho’ I’m afraid… 1) I was there early but cannot take credit for being 1st – there were 4/5 there prior & I was only recorded 1st by Jenni who I had delegated the task of signing in all the members present as we set up. 2) it is Adrienne Kleyn of Bartercard.
Level of referrals and business passed was excellent – well done all – and just think what we could achieve if we did make a further effort on recruitment. Lets give those we invited another call.
Thank too to Warley Golf Club for accommodating the changes in layout etc. I have a potential visitor for next week or the week after. Car valeting
Great lively meeting again. It’s a pleasure and a privilege being a member. Let’s all continue to work hard to expand the group even more. Have a good weekend all and see you next week.