West One

Dear West-Oners,

Welcome Juliana

First of all we welcome Juliana as West One’s Hair and Beauty Therapy expert. Juliana’s business is based on the Brompton Road SW5 and we have Jon Henwood to thank for introducing her to our talent pool. Juliana already has someone in mind who she wants to introduce to West One. Clearly we have made the right impression! She will be attending the next New Member Orientation course which will help equip her for what I hope will be a long and fruitful association with West One.

Juliana is the first valuable signing (since the current leadership team stepped up to the oche) and I am delighted to tell you that Rebecca, the wine merchant who visited last week, has submitted an application to join West One.Let’s hope that this is just the beginning!

Education

Flora expanded upon the point I made in last week’s post-meeting notes - the benefits and opportunities that can flow from a good 10 minute presentation. This was especially relevant since we also concentrated on how we get the message across in our 60-second ‘infomercials’.To test this we all had a stab at presenting another member’s 60-second spiel. Fun, yes, but it was clear that our understanding of other people’s business is, in some case, a little superficial. Are we getting our message across !?

Chapter Growth and Development

It was great to have Laura Hurren along this week in what was a special Closed Meeting to discuss chapter growth and development initiatives. This is only the second time, to the best of my recollection, that we have had such a meeting.

We all want our chapter to grow because more members, means more business! It’s as simple as that. It’s not rocket science but the skill comes in having the right mix and the right attitude. And this is where the Power Circles come in … those groups within the chapter who already connect by virtue of their attachment to a particular industry sector. The Power Circles can and should be able to identify businesses that would be of benefit to them and to the chapter as a whole.

As the chapter’s STIG, Jon Henwood has taken on the role of re-energising the Power Circles, the key to which is the appointment of a leader for each Power Circle. Without leadership there is only apathy.

As Jon pointed out it is possible to expand the Power Circles to include members of other chapters, especially where a certain expertise or service is not represented within West One. More from Jon soon.

The primary driver for the current campaign is to ‘get back in to the green’ and to get 6 new members signed up by the end of May 2010 which could mean a £1,000 cash injection in to chapter funds!!

Thank you for your comments and observations which, for lack of a better heading I will refer to as Members Question Time. We covered a lot of ground here including the cumulative value to date of referrals, which comprises new business from both existing and former members, referrals from outside the chapter and repeat business; and the subject of mentoring people who may be struggling with giving and receiving referrals or have other concerns. I am pleased to say that we have one willing volunteer so far who is keen to act as a mentor.

Visitors’ Day Friday 21st May 2010

Please put this date in your diaries. We have a month to draw up plans for who we are going to invite – and this is where the Power Circles should  concentrate on what businesses would benefit their groups. The Membership Committee convened immediately after today’s meeting to chew over some ideas.

I will leave it there for now because more information and ideas will be rolled out in the days to come, but I want to say thank you to Tony Bishop-Weston who has recently returned from a well-deserved holiday after chairing the chapter for the last six months, a challenge which he rose to and performed with great humor and fortitude … never quite sure where the next meeting would be held! I missed the opportunity to say ‘thank you’ in today’s meeting.

And for you, Max…

• (just one for now)

Enjoy what promises to be a warm, barbeque weekend!