Chairman’s Business Networking Blog Thursday 13th March 2014.
A disappointing start with only 18 members present;
One visitor from last week returned, Stuart Smallcombe who submitted his application for membership, things were starting to look up.
Next came the Education Slot. Our guest speaker was Howard Bullock.
Things were starting to get better; his message delivered, Moses like, from a tablet to the waiting multitude produced 14 commandments.
For those of you reading this Blog, whether you normally contribute to the comments afterwards or not please take time out to indicate a form of activity that would have the following 14 effects and in the following order on the participator.
Optimism, excitement, thrill, euphoria, anxiety, denial, fear, desperation, panic, capitulation, despondency, depression, hope, and finally relief; Best suggestion will get another 5 points
(I speak without Scott’s authority but I am sure he will agree) let’s hear from you and prove that Howard’s Ed Slot reached an appreciative audience.
By now we were all starting to get into the swing of things and going through all the emotions from optimism to relief, we reached the 60 second round.
Scott was first up and reminded us that it is the 25th birthday of the Internet. Tim Berners-Lee (I don’t think he is any relelative of Kim Redwood-Lee but no doubt she can confirm this), was not on the photograph that Scott produced but a piece of machinery that looked rather like an extractor fan resulted in we now know as the Internet. It was appropriate that Mike Rogers, who was next up was able to give it his warm curmudgeonly blessing by suggesting that it represented 25 years of development that we could have well done without. I did detect a few nodding heads for a while before they realised the full implication of their outward show of solidarity with this particular piece of heresy. By the time he had finished his 60 seconds we had all reverted to norm and would have needed little prompting to sing happy birthday.
There followed a series of simple messages from various members all vying to reaffirm their position in the group.
Neil Lewer offers “anything to do with wood”
Dawn Ribnell – “anything to do with press release”
Alan Shaw – “anything to do with building design”
Graham Wright – “anything to do with furniture and house clearance”
Michael Adelizzi – “anything to do with bathrooms”
To put a bit more meat on the bones, Alan Shaw talked of the new Building Regulations Part L apparently or was is Part Hell. Anyway it is going to make it more difficult to implement a planning permission. Nick Cooke added a festive note “I know a turkey when I see one”, and Michael Adelizzi optimistically said he was “all about solutions”, even if this means wielding a Kango on 3 layers of tiles and old lead piping.
There then followed contributions that were a little more left of field or complicated…which probably means less interesting.
Terry Maylin had rescued a conservatory man from the worst excesses of a claim against him by way of arbitration.
Kevin Radford reckoned 50% of his business came from property owners. What I am more interested in is what type of insurance he is selling to the homeless.
David Plumley, not to be outdone by Scott Griffiths produced a photograph. I found it difficult to get a full picture from where I was sitting but it looked to be a selfy of him in his office.
Dean Caldon talked of gross yields. Basically if you own a property that you let out in Basildon where the houses are cheaper your rental yield is likely to be higher than the more expensive property in say, Billericay.
Kim “Berners” Lee has a new client who distributes fruit and veg., amongst other things through a farm shop. A far cry from the internet you might say.
Allan Moller explained that he was NIC Registered as an electrician and described how he gets inspected regularly. He scrubs up quite well doesn’t he!
I admit to having spent some time on my 60 seconds this week and was therefore very pleased when I was awarded the Oscar by Allan Moller, only to find it was awarded to me for my efforts last week…all very puzzling.
After the 60 second round Scott Griffiths’ Meeting Secretary’s Report concentrated mainly on the lack of success from the visitor’s day; please remember we have extended the price reduction offers for the whole of March for any visitors who join. It was doubly disappointing that none of last week’s guests other than Stuart Smallcombe showed any sign of being interested in joining by returning to see us for a second meeting. May I add my plea to Scott’s, namely, the job of attracting visitors is the responsibility of all of us and therefore let us all follow up on the hard work we have done in sending out invitations and get visitors along in the coming weeks who will turn into members.
Back to the positives, the Synergy Team report from Paul in relation to the Finance and Professionals Group reported a very useful meeting with a couple of outside visitors and 9 in attendance in all.
This week it fell to me to do the 10 minute presentation and I hope as a result of that 10 minutes you all know what I do and where I do it from; but ultimately the upshot of it being my turn to present the 10 minutes is that I also got the pleasure in “running” the referrals and testimonials round.
We made a good start last week with a lot of referrals and good figures for money passed. This was sustained with £13,500.00 worth of recorded business and a lively round which led us to the end of the meeting. The winner of the speaker’s prize opted for a bottle of red and I will be scouring the shelves of Waitrose to produce something befitting of the Bard of Hadleigh.
May I extend to all of those who were unable to attend the meeting through illness best wishes to get well soon, and to all of you, good luck in trying to get more visitors through the door next week?
May I suggest just 3 stages in a process? … Optimism, investigation, despondency. Good meeting despite lower numbers and great to have Stuart with us again
Well done Aidan on another comprehensive report I think the 14 steps seem to relate to every time I sit down to write one of my spiffing poems . Initially I was thinking of a man meeting his “to be wife” but it fell down at the last hurdle “relief” . There is no relief for us poor chaps (but don’t tell the wife) . On the basis that homeless people don’t have a fixed address I am afraid I cant help them and lets face it could they afford the premium.
On reflection it the 14 stages remind me of a bad date I once had (minus the thrill & euphoria).
Next weeks education slot….? 🙂
Sorry I couldn’t make it this week folks but, take it from me, you wouldn’t want what I have had for the last week. Sounds like a good meeting was had regardless of the fewer numbers though.
I had passed details re the JGE award but this seems not to have taken place so I will do this next week. As for the 14 effects Aidan they sound like what I have gone through during 50+ years of supporting West Ham.
Well done to those members present for making the meeting worth attending…. be great to have some new faces over the rest of March with a view to new members.