Chairman’s blog Thursday 20th February 2025

Although it was half term there were 21 all of us present. It was also our 12th anniversary and the day of our annual review.

The Performance League

I was out front last week and against all odds I have remained out front ahead of Toby Acton, Jane Malyon and Terry Maylin. I was so excited that I forgot to note down the number of points that I have earned thus far.

Education Presentation

It was the Mayor of Gants Hill Village who produced a piece about greeting one another, particularly at networking meetings. He warned of the dangers of having sticky hands for the handshake and the importance of not trying too hard to assert a dominant grip. He was able to illustrate this with members of the naughty corner. He warned of the in appropriateness of touching fists……. So post pandemic! He also felt obliged to address the etiquette of assuming an open grouping when visitors arrive so as to enable them to feel reassured that they can join you if you have not already taken the first step of introducing them into your conversation group. It all made the 60 second presentation seem like a piece of cake.

New Member Induction & Existing Member Renewal

With the departure of Brian Painter the preparation of membership certificates had somewhat fallen into abeyance. Catherine Foley has taken up the baton and brought the certificates up to date. This enabled Terry Maylin to distribute them to those members present. Watch out for performance league winners certificates which are apparently in the pipeline.

The 60 Second Round

Clara Downton was not only adjudicating but was also recommending that she could assist people, needing to use the care sector, to maximise their investment in their home by recourse to equity release schemes. Nick Cooke also talks of aged persons with the example of an old lady who had to get the spray foam insulation removed in anticipation of a house sale.

It was without regret that Catherine Foley announced that if she had been still in employment as a teacher she would have been having a lie in today, what with it being half term and all. Now of course she applies her skills as a private tutor and therefore has the opportunity of getting up nice and early on Thursday mornings. Mike Skinner was also into training this week by asking us to consider referrals that would enable him to produce training videos for members of staff.

Kory Martin was emphasising the two clear roles that he can fulfil, the first as a Courier service and the other for Removals. He was looking in fact for laundrette owners who provide service washes. He can get the washing to and from the service provider. Ben Golding, unaware of the impending award of best 60-second presenter made us all aware once again of Utility Warehouse’s alliterative Bill Busting Boost.

 Dave Moore produced props by way of carpet samples whilst Howard Bullock felt the need to share with us why you frequently see him consuming boiled eggs before the meeting, or even breakfast has been served. It’s all to do with blood sugar levels and the need for cavemen back in the day to be able to get up, go out, kill a bear in order to both feed and clothe his cave-dwelling family.

As something of a follow-up to his education presentation, Vincent Goode declared that it was Business Card Day and the business card is something that goes on working for you… even if you have delivered the series of dominant handshakes to those to whom you were distributing said cards.

Leann Reason was it pains to point out that she provided a service that was not a luxury as she is able to arrange quotations for the most difficult of jobs that can be very cost-effective.

Terry Maylin had a simple but important message surrounding the fact that he had turned away certain clients this week because they had problems where he felt he could not provide the necessary experience or the service that was being requested. He will only provide services where he can give and you can receive 100%. On a similar thing, Scott Griffiths emphasised his experience in dealing with websites to be aware of those who do not and who might even charge you for leaving them.

Paul Dulieu, as a celebrant, wants to help you achieve the sort of celebration that you want…. This could even involve having your dog as your best man at your wedding.

Lots of interesting presentations this week but Clara Downton was not sidetracked from selecting John Hammond’s clear illustration of why the mediocre might be cheaper but his experience and expertise will alternately be a cost-saving as this week’s Oscar winner

Annual Review

Apart from a short and sharp Referrals and Testimonials round the rest of the meeting was dominated by the annual review coupled with the annual statistics and annual awards. Scott Griffiths and I presided and these details are separately published for you to check over after you have read and commented upon this blog and those reviews.