This year we have reached our 11th anniversary in our first fully free year out from under the shadow of the COVID lockdown.
Transfer Window
February and March often appear like the premiership January transfer window. Starting in February and March we lost Alison Bean due to family health issues, Emma Taylor, Sarah Steele as her company was bought out and Hannah O'Shea who started employment.
They were the early departures before we really got underway for the year.
There followed later, Fran Brabham-Neil who could no longer attend on Thursdays due to work commitments and staffing issues and the retirement of Mike Rogers the mortgage broker who had been with us from the start and who's presentation skills left us with a gap that was difficult to fill. On the London bus principle, another Rogers called Paul joined us as a commercial mortgage broker but had to leave us through ill health.
Mike Hickson had succeeded David Plumley as our IT consultant, but he retired following the sale of his company and wordsmith Paul Dulieu retreated to full time employment.
These members have been badly missed although Sarah Steele and Paul Dulieu continue to pass many referrals.
By my count we lost 10 members before much of the year was over.
Good members who regularly attend can often be lost for a variety of reasons over which we have no control. It should serve as a clear reminder, if one were necessary, that there is an ongoing obligation upon all members to try and ensure a regular flow of visitors to maintain our numbers.
Not that as a membership we were entirely idle on the recruitment side. Rosemary Driscoll, travel consultant, both came and went during the year but the business that she generated must be a stimulus to all of us to try and get a replacement on board as quickly as we can.
On the positive side there have been several gains.
Blake Hammond has arrived and introduced a combative element to our membership. He was already a frequent attendee because of his connection with JMH Technology but was great to see a new business created and then nurtured by so many EBF members.
David Roberts and Paul Corrigan have taken the important trade seats for electric and plumbing. I was going to use the term chair rather than seat, but it didn’t seem to go very well with electric.
Clara Downton has been a welcome replacement for Mike Rogers, and she has stepped seamlessly into his size 10s.
We are now 26 and the mantra ‘find more members’ must be the first and maybe most important of the year. From a performance League perspective, more points are to be awarded in this coming year for bringing guests along to the meeting as this is so important to us.
It is a simple but non the less statement of the bleeding obvious that the more members the more referrals.
Financials
We are settling into electronic recording…… just. Last year’s business passed totalled £493,000.00. This year has produced a grand total of £ 617,658.00 This was a solid performance. Although we did not reach any dizzy heights this has been economically a difficult year including the Liz Truss effect. This cannot be ignored, and we can perhaps take more from this year then might appear from first sight.
Please keep up the electronic recording of referrals and money received. A positive and consistent approach to record all activities on a week-by-week basis not only makes Scott's job easier but produces a more accurate snapshot of where we are at any particular time.
We should bear in mind that the referrals and testimonials round is arguably the most important round of the meeting and one where we should celebrate the business that we passed between us.
Other types of contribution
Some of you have helped contribute towards this section of my review and for those who did contribute my thanks.
Ben Golding is a standout tough guy suffering manfully at the hands of the National Health Service. His stoicism and enthusiasm have been an inspiration to many of us.
Blake Hammond has in some respects been equally inspirational by introducing the camouflage hoodie that doesn’t seem to make him invisible. He has raised camping to new heights.
The 10 minute presentation that left the most indelible impression was the Jane and Roger Malyon brownie extravaganza. The surprise must be that we all ate them after we had made them.
Best gaffe of the year must go to our newest member Paul Corrigan who followed the wrong member home for an after-meeting appointment. Maybe statistics aren’t that important after all.
What else
Jane Malyon has taken the Business to Consumer Synergy Team Meeting by the scruff of the neck. She took over from Richard Reed and has altered the time, location, and her own attention to detail in producing topics and minutes that has transformed attendance.
Numbers of 10 upwards are not unusual.
The Finance synergy team continues under the auspices of Paul Booth. We have just……. Tuesday last……. celebrated the 2023 Christmas dinner with a convivial get together. It was a different venue from the usual George and Dragon at Mountnessing.
Thanks to both for keeping these important get-togethers going.
Our social secretary Brian Painter has not been idle either. On a sunny Saturday in July Jane Malyon hosted a Garden Party. I am told that the table creaked under the weight and variety food and a good time was had by all members and partners an attendance. I can also bear witness to the bounty although I was prevented from attending. As if from nowhere I received a delivery of a selection of the goodies on offer by special delivery.
A big thanks from all of us to Jane.
Brian is also to be congratulated on a Christmas dinner that was attended by 21 and might well have been our best to date. The seating was arranged like the last supper, but the venue was great the food was good.
Details of other social events please. Please remember that social events can be big or small; inclusive or not. As long as there are more than two, otherwise it would be a 1-2-1, it will qualify and deserves Brian’s attention in helping you get the word round in organising any such event.
What a year! Sad to see some members depart but also great to welcome new faces. To me, EBF is such a crucial part of my business and the value it adds is irreplaceable. I thoroughly enjoy my Thursday morning meetings and networking with you beautiful lot…
well said Scott!
Genuinely gutted haven’t been a member of the EBF family for longer!
Still don’t like the public speaking part but getting easier every week.
In the voice of Sloth….. I love you guys!
careful, quoting things like that you may be made to do the “truffle shuffle”!!!
I love you too Paul. I think.
A year of changes! I always look forward to my Thursday morning meetings even if they are a little early but it gets me motivated for the day ahead. Building relationships makes you want to help other businesses grow. I am glad we now have a couple of trades and I am looking forward to working with them going forward (as with everyone!)
I love the Thursday morning meetings and really miss them on the odd occasion I am unable to attend.
It really is like a big family and couldn’t ask for a better bunch of people to have to see every Thursday.
I can not thank you all enough for the support and friendship you have given me and here’s to another great year.
Great review Aidan, this is always a highlight of the year (after the Oscars, Champions League Final, and the occasional appearance of Oscarina). This is a solid group, With solid members. Some physically more solid than others.I’ll not name names, as that would be uncouth
I’m so sorry I missed the meeting and gutted not to have received the plaudits and applause from my adoring fans and public!
Genuinely though, I’m chuffed to have been voted as members’ member!
Thank you
Very well deserved! (Teacher’s pet!)
Wow what an eventful year and well done Aidan for the summary and well done to those who contributed in all sorts of ways over the past year- you know who you are!
Onwards and upwards for this year which I am looking forward to immensely.
Wow, what a year it has been seeing people leave and seeing new people joining us. Thank you to the top table for all that you do. See you all next Thursday
Great summary of the year. Thank you Aidan. Congrats to all the winners – commiserations to the rest of us.
See y’all soon
Congratulations to the winners and thank you, Aidan, for your Chairmanship during the year. Members are, of course, the life blood of the group and it was disappointing to see we had a negative transfer situation during the new year, however, we have a good ten months to address the matter.
Great year for EBF and its members. EBF has helped me so much not only in the referrals we have received and the subsequent business but also in the business insight of other members and the help they have given. Look forward to another great year