We gathered for the fourth time at Hutton Cricket Club, which for the moment will be the final meeting before we return to Calcott Hall Farm next week. One of the few benefits of the clocks being turned back at the end of October is that you have lighter mornings, at least for a short period of time. It might have been lighter than last week but it was not brighter. This was in stark contrast to the mood that pervaded as we assembled from 6:00 am onwards.
We were cheerful because we were pleased to be free from the restrictions of a zoom meeting and we were stimulated by the smell of the various breakfast offerings Neil Bellham had provided for us. Black pudding was a welcome addition to the bacon sausage eggs and tomatoes etc. The meeting was in fact ready to go just before 7:00 am and we had mustered 24 even if you discounted Rod, Jane, and Freddie (added to the sign-in sheet by a naughty member!)
The Performance League
The results were in for the month of October. Out front was Matt Barry followed by Scott Griffiths and Terry Maylin. Well done to them all.
Education Presentation
Terry Maylin did the honours this week and produced a very clear review as to how we should be presenting our sixty seconds. He quite rightly pointed out that it was your weekly chance to present your business with or without props so make sure you get it right and let us know the aspect of your business that you want members to seek referrals for in the coming week. A timely reminder as we reassemble after the long lockdown.
The 60 Second Round
Jane Malyon was the Oscar adjudicator this week following her success last week. She demonstrated the effective use of props in advertising her wares. Vincent Goode is not averse to producing props but this week he restricted himself to extolling the virtues of labels and corners produced in quick time.
Mike Skinner has been videoing our meetings and of course his 60 seconds confirmed the benefits of videos in your business and in the presentation of your business. The round was advancing apace, and it was a timely message that Scott Griffiths produced reminding us to ensure those our websites did not stand still in presenting ourselves to the world
Allison Bean explained how she frequently had to pick up the pieces when bad referrals to the NHS occurred, the case in points was a young girl with an eating disorder. She need not be apologetic for bringing a sense of reality to our meetings. Stuart Smallcombe produced an aspect of reality by explaining how a company director, when travelling overused his mobile phone limit and ran up a bill of £21,000 pounds. Excessive use of a mobile phone tends to make my wrist ache, but this bloke was probably lying down sunning himself resting his phone on his stomach whilst he overused his data allocation. Also whilst in party mood Nick Cooke referred us to an element of his business this involves Party Wall disputes.
Colin O’Connor once again explained why Health and Safety should be a matter of common sense but never is.
Tina Walker gets a mention this week simply because she used the C word. She can take the pressure off small businesses by providing administrative support.
Paul Booth was slightly off message but understandably keen to draw our attention to the fact that he has two empty officers at his Hermitage building and we should certainly keep are eyes and ears open to help him find replacement tenants
It is many months that have passed since Richard Reed was able to declare that he was busy. Almost deserving of the Oscar but this week it went to Matt Barry who described his businesses success being down to relationship building with clients and keeping in touch even when things are quiet
Meeting Secretaries Report
Apart from acknowledging just over 20 referrals this week he concentrated on our upcoming visitor’s day on the 18th November 2021, our second week at Calcutt Hall Farm. Scott drew our attention to the website and the use of the materials that have been posted there for making invitations and he also emphasised the areas of work where we are looking in particular for new members. He urged us all to try and invite at least one visitor and not to be shy of inviting several. Those who do not successfully get a visitor through the door will be there to help meet and greet and make all visitors feel comfortable when they arrive. Full details about our visitors day can of course be found on this page.
10-minute presentation by Stuart Smallcombe
It was Stuart Smallcombe who produced this week’s offering and very good it was too. He explained about WAN and LAN and the importance of the Router. Your system is only as good as its weakest part and my only comment, as something of a Luddite, is that I wished he had given such a presentation five years or so ago. Our understanding of exactly how it all works will undoubtedly help us make referrals for one of our elder statesman (17 years before the mast). We all come into contact with some business that is moving from A to B and we should aim to get them into Stuart’s safe hands.
Referrals & Testimonials
This round did not lend itself to Zoom but comes alive when we’re all together. A busy and amusing ground produced in excess of 20 referrals and reminds us all while we get up early on Thursday mornings
Really enjoyed the 10 minutes Stuart, well won Oscar too!
thank you
Well done Stuart brilliant low tech 10 minutes and great turnout for such a horrible gloomy day outside!
Don’t forget to look out for opportunities to invite guests to our visitors day on 18th November
Thank you Terry, I was pretty amazing wasnt I
WAN and LAN – my life is enriched, thank you Stuart. A great meeting as always!
I’m looking forward to my first Calcott Hall Farm experience next week
You’re welcome
It would be too easy to point out the great Ed Slot, Oscar Winner and 10 Minute Presenter, but in truth, everyone was awesome this morning, even Toby. Thanks for the scrambled eggs Neil.
It would be easy….So it wouldn’t kill you then… just a little “atta boy” for a job well done eh
great meeting and well done Stuart and Terry for super presentations
the mushrooms were awesome as well neil
Well done to Stu & Matt. See you all next week!
Excellent presentation by Stuart, however, I’ve hung a piece of wire to the outside but it hasn’t improved the internet speed. Timely ed slot from the rottweiler. See you next week at the Barn.
How exciting to have the meeting filmed too! It was a really good session with excellent presentations. You clever peeps. Fab!