Chairman’s Business Networking Blog, Tuesday 2nd September 2014
16 members present. An improvement on last week and there are still some of us on holiday. Indeed, I will be joining their ranks next week.
So it was the first Tuesday of the month, it was a training day, led this month by Brian Painter. As usual, dispensing with the Ed Slot and the 10 minute presentation Brian devoted his attention to the importance of visitors, how they should be dealt with at the meeting, how we should go about physically recruiting after the meeting and indeed how to approach them in the first place. This was all very theoretical, but the underlying purpose of his training message was to introduce us to our visitors open day breakfast which will be on Tuesday 30th September 1024. In anticipation and preparation for this attempt to substantially boost our numbers, we have all been slotted into teams of 3, together with allocated businesses for each group to focus on. After the meeting everybody congregated and presumably set the ball rolling amongst their individual groups. Think about it, if all of us actually bring (not just invite) one guest to the meeting we will potentially have over 20 new recruits.
All of this however was still to come, other matters were higher up the agenda. The Performance League for August was won by Jim Henshaw, the business card box proudly displayed Richard Willis’s new cards we launched into the 60 second round.
Kieron reintroduced himself and referred us all to the back of his business card to remind us of what he does. Chris Adams referred us to his Around Town magazine advert to remind us of what he does and Stuart Sinclair handed round the latest additions of the Around Town magazine for both Billericay and Rayleigh because that is what he does.
One good prop deserves another. Lewis Hackney displayed bricks in the table. On top of them he had some sort of sealer, unless my first impression was correct and he had thrown up his breakfast onto aforementioned bricks. He also produced something that looked like a toothpick but is apparently PVA jointing stabiliser. So we had our first acronym, PVA. This was quickly followed by Ian Nicholson with his ISA’s or now, because they are more inclusive NISAs .
As by old granny would have said, “what will they think of next”…well, all the products that Dr. Deb sells for a start. Her 60 seconds was replete with little phrases and quotations; here’s one “…it takes 20 second for what you put on your skin to get into your blood stream…”, here’s another, “ a little goes such a long way…”! and finally, for good measure, “..it’s not tested on animals but it is used by humans”. Moving into her new home has obviously had an uplifting effect on her.
By now I was slightly bemused but was brought down to earth as always by Nige Kirby. He is just looking for people with boiler to service and Hugo was far too cheerful, as usual, but he did ring the bell with gusto when called upon to do so.
It fell to Scott Griffiths to mention the C word,.. actually the SC word – Santa Claus. The season of good will approaches…before I have even had my summer holiday!! I could feel the black clouds of depression coming to overwhelm me, I needed somthign to cheer me up. Who should emerge on his white charger brining joy and summer like thoughts but Brian Painter; smoking is dangerous, it kills people the poisons that are numerous and the death is painful. I am starting to feel better already and by the time Chris Adams was awarded the Oscar I was feeling almost cheerful.
There are other reasons to be cheerful, other than the fact that Brian’s well organised tutorial got us under way for the upcoming visitors day that is. Another reason, business passed was just under £3,000.00 , showing an increase that is welcome and by the time all the referral slips were counted we reached 10, things are slowly but surely building up.
Oh well I suppose I ought to admit it, I also found it slightly cheery to hear Richard Willis taking about the Christmas party. We could do worse than a day in the week before Christmas attending the festivities being organised by the Golf Club. When Richard send round his email…please pay attention and respond.
Finally, neither Scott nor myself will be present next week, Richard Willis is standing in for Scott, not only next week but for the rest of the month and Brian Painter for me. I will therefore not be thinking of you all next week but I will the week after.
I’ll miss the meeting next week but look forward to reading Brian’s version of the blog!!!
Have a great holiday Aidan – Christmas will be even closer on your return!
Enjoy your rest Scott!
See you all next week x
Brian as usual made an excellent job of the edd section, I’m looking for any one next week who thinks they have something useful they may help the group!
I’ll write the blog now,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,you smokers, what are you waiting for? You’ve seen the evidence, you’ve read it!