Chairman’s Business Networking Blog Thursday 23rd January 2014
I search round every week for a theme for this Blog and this time it presented itself before the meeting even started.
A roll call of absentees had seemingly risen from their sick bed to tender their excuses, laid low by the dreaded Montezuma’s revenge, gippy-tummy, call it what you will. I counted at least 7 apologies for absence based upon over active sphincter muscle activity at both ends of the body. One member bravely struggled in with symptoms, could not participate in breakfast, sipped water throughout the meeting and only had to excuse herself during the meeting on one occasion. Well done Tina, it is probably a feat that will not be bettered throughout the year of 2014. Despite the co-incidence of reasons of absence different sources were blamed.
The majority who had attended the Billericay Meeting earlier in the week in support of a great visitors day put it down to eggs or sausages. Others to what they had eaten the night before.
And so it was our depleted merry band of members saw me open the meeting promptly at 7.15am. 17 , our lowest turnout for at least a year. We had one guest Roger Froment of Circle Printers and so there were 18 in all.
It was something of an irony that the Ed Slot, delivered by Terry Maylin, was aimed at the importance of attending our meetings and taking full part in the group’s activities. Terry went on to point out the importance of not leaving the meeting and thinking nothing further of EBF until the the following Thursday. It was well delivered and well received but inevitably, often the people that these insights are aimed at are not present to hear them.
The 60 second round was accordingly shorter in with the absence of members but nonetheless threw up several little cameos.
Alan Shaw told of a Bingo Hall in Pitsea, a jewellery shop somewhere or other (I got the impression he was not sure either) and a project at Maida Vale. For the more parochial amongst us, this was almost a description of an International Architects practice.
Neil Lewer emphasised his locally manufactured and handmade kitchens are more than a match on price as well as quality for anything else you can get out there.
Peter Hood is currently looking for small jobs and he received fulsome praise from Michael Adelizzi as to how he had dealt with a leaking washing machine. This solo job of simple disconncetion compared very favourably with a number of electricians it is rumoured are necessary to change a light bulb.
Kevin Brooks, perhaps not unsurprisingly, came back from his holiday from a “shed load” of problems. This appropriate adjectival phrase was met with very little sympathy given that said problems were of his own making.
Richard Reed, in an attempt to get a mention in this Blog, advertised a safari at £939.00 per person per head and several days in Bali for £1,099.00 per head……see, I am a sucker for figures. On the theme of figures, Mike Rogers declared that if two years ago you took out a fixed rate mortgage this would be coming to an end… so far so good. The reason for this astonishing piece of logic was that there are now 5 year fixed rate terms with better rates of interest. A feeling of well being was starting to spread around the meeting. Kevin Radford gave a compact 60 seconds with his usual verse at the end and a warning for the punter who is so foolish as to go DIY on his insurance thereby getting a cheaper deal without any proper cover. It is always good to see the Bard of Hadleigh in full flow.
The pride of place and the Oscar went to Ed Crocker. Not only was it nice to see him back after an absence of a few weeks and a torrid time …..but also the launch of his new business. We had had a sight of his new business card that was a picture that resembled Route 66 a name with “Ed” on the end. We all have to stem our enthusiasm however as he does not start until February. If he had thought of it, I am sure he would have offered some sort of prize for the first order he gets from a member after the 1st February 2014…won’t you Ed. Get you speed dialling facility ready for the big day.
The 10 minute slot was filled with Question and Answer session, and as usual and despite the low turnout this was a lively interlude.
A respectable and referrals and testimonials round brought the meeting to an end. It was followed by a Committee Meeting that, under the new Chairmanship of Richard Reed, laid the foundations for a visitors meeting along the lines of the very successful one that took place at Billericay on Tuesday. Team Leaders were selected for visitor searches and those who were not at the meeting will be contacted by your team leader. The next meeting will have a more detailed explanation of what will be happening, so watch this space.
I am confident that my team of Howard Bullock and Mike Rogers will reign supreme in the quest for visitors (even though I haven’t told them they are in my team yet). In fact so confident, that they will eat their hats if we don’t win.
I’m feeling a lot better and now back to normal (no comments please lol) and looking forward to this week’s meeting. Nick and Alan see you bright and early on the door!
As usual I am looking forward to our meeting tomorrow. It’s the only time I laugh at 6.30 in the morning!!!
Great mtg as usual despite the fewer numbers present. Aidan proved me right re quoted holiday offer prices – so expect more of these. Looking forward to hearing feedback from members re our forthcoming visitor day on the 6th March.
PS: just seen Kim’s note – does this mean Les hasn’t a tickling stick then?
I hope all those who were suffering last week are fully recovered as we missed you last week. That said it was a lively meeting and there were plenty of extra sausages to go round.
Lets have all of those who were struck down last week and those who weren’t struck down attending this week please ! Looking forward to meeting with my team Tina and Kevin Radford to progress the quest for guests!