Beautifully sunny autumn greetings, Reader,
For me, this is the best time of year in Port Macquarie. The days are sunny, calm and warm. The sea is still warm, and there is breathing space before Easter hits.
BEC
Last Friday I had the pleasure of attending a regional meeting of BEC managers in Bellingen (another delightful part of the Mid North Coast). It was great to meet and network with my fellow BEC operators, and to share experiences with them. Keynote speaker at the meeting was David Baumgarten, NSW representative on the Board of BEC Australia (our national peak body).
The great news from the meeting is that, following years of government neglect, and abolition of funding to BECs, the new Federal Government is looking very favourably on the BEC network to provide an essential convergence point between government programs and small businesses. Federal Minister for Small Business, Craig Emerson has agreed to meet regularly with BECA, and a BECA representative has recently joined the Board of the Council of Small Businesses of Australia (COSBOA).
There are currently 33 BECs in NSW. 15 of them (including Hastings BEC) are unfunded by government. There is reason to hope that this situation will change with support from both State and Federal Labor governments, and we look forward to BECs once again becoming centres for business support, skills development and a service that can put together the government programs jigsaw puzzle to help small businesses see the full picture.
In the meantime, we remain reliant upon our loyal members, through your membership subscriptions, to support Hastings BEC in its business facilitation and networking role. We will continue to tender for government programs to assist business skills development and to supplement our operation.
The next big item on Port Macquarie Business Calendar is the Panthers Australian Ironman, to be contested on Sunday 6th April. This is a huge event for Greater Port Macquarie, with many thousands of people gathering from all over the world for the event. Quite a number of athletes are already here, and more are arriving daily, to acclimatise and train on the course before the event.
Last year many Port Macquarie businesses “adopted” an athlete, and we hope many more will do the same this year. Already I have more than 190 athletes who have registered for “adoption”, so we need more than 190 places for them in local businesses. This opportunty extends to ALL local businesses, big and small, not just HBEC Members.
The purpose of the “Adopt An Athlete” program is to give visiting athletes a special welcome to our town, to make them feel at home, and to encourage them to come back in the future (and bring more visitors with them). It’s a “feel good” exercise from which businesses also benefit. Most Ironman athletes are business and professional people, with a much higher than usual level of determination and tenacity. Your “adopted” athlete(s) will be happy to talk to your business staff about goal setting, commitment and perseverance, as well as making a few promotional appearances for your business.
You will also be able to display posters (provided) showing your support for your adopted athletes. The cost to you is trivial. Maybe a couple of drinks or a meal for your athlete(s), and a small amount of your time. But the benefits for the whole town are huge. Please see the separate item below for contact details.
Our HBEC Networking Breakfast this Thursday, 13th March, at Panthers Pier One restaurant, will be focused on the likely impact of Council administration on local business. I have invited our administrator, Mr Dick Persson, to attend, to introduce himself, and to speak based on his experience as administrator of Warringah Shire in
Other invited speakers include our PM-H Council Regional Development Manager, Trevor Sargeant, Gerard Thomson from The Pictorial, and Peter Bastable, from DDV Technologies. And, of course, we will have time for a few “Minute On My Business” (if I can remember who was chosen last month)
The focus of this breakfast is intended to be on looking forward; On how to use our changed circumstances to best advantage for business in the region, while preserving the amenity and qualities of Greater Port Macquarie. It is absolutely NOT about re-hashing the events leading to our current situation. The focus is to be on business impact and opportunities, NOT on politics or personalities.
As at least two of the speakers have pointed out to me, the “crisis / opportunity” adage certainly applies to our situation. The challenge is for us to identify and optimise the oppportunities. I believe that in many ways business can actually benefit from the change – if we approach it sensibly.
Please RSVP (yes, I know that’s a redundancy) for this breakfast, as we anticipate a strong attendance. Accept to admin@hastingsbec.com.au .
Now, on with this week’s news and events:
+ = +
803C008 GST/BAS Short Courses . Saturday 15th March, 9:30am - 4pm $89
Website Design and Maintenance (the course I enjoy presenting). Learn to understand and maintain your own personal or business website.
Thursdays 20th March to 3rd April inclusive, 9.00 am till 12 noon. (3 sessions) $85
Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAA40104) is available on-line with regular face to face support workshops. Enrolments taken at any time - $145 per unit or full qualification $1,800
Springboard to Business Success Program
The first course for a maximum of 15 participants starts late March and runs for 10 weeks, two hours a week, followed by mentoring.
Participants will be selected based on:
* Their business having high growth potential in terms of turnover and employment
* A stable or growing business history
* Willingness to commit to the whole program and participate actively
* Keenness to find creative solutions to key business development problems
Business people wanting to participate should contact the
For more information contact David Ledgerwood on 0419 827709
+ = +
Adopt An Athlete
The 2008 Panthers Australian Ironman is fast approaching. We ask local businesses to “adopt” one or more of the athletes for the duration of their visit to Port Macquarie. You get to welcome them to Port and spoil them a bit with local hospitality. In return, you get to promote your sponsorship by displaying “Adopt An Athlete” posters (provided) and, of course, your athlete(s) will be happy to provide you with some on-site promotional opportunities.
Remember, these are HIGHLY motivated people who know what it means to set a goal and then go about achieving it. Not a bad message for business!
If you would like to Adopt An Athlete, please use this link to email gregg@greggf.com
To obtain more details, download an information document here: www.hastingsbec.com.au/downloads/AAA.doc
+ = +
ANZ Lunch
NSW Business Chamber and the ANZ Bank would like you to join us for a complimentary lunch at Rydges Port Macquarie to hear from one of ANZ's leading economists, Mark Rodrigues, on the 25 March 2008.
Mark is a senior member of the economics team at the
Prior to joining ANZ, Mark spent six years as an economist at the Commonwealth Treasury. His public sector experience included roles in the domestic and international macroeconomic areas of the department and a secondment to the Research School of Social Sciences at the
Mark holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and a Bachelor of Economics degree with Honours from the
It would be appreciated if you could indicate your interest in attending by reply email to maree.mcentyre@nswb.com.au on or before Thursday 13th March so that a formal invitation can be prepared. Places are strictly limited.
+ = +
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, in conjunction with (all the region’s business networks – save me some typing, please!)
invites you, your key associates and fellow businesses to the
5th Customer Care Networking Function
Featuring Guest Speaker Mark Smith
“Learn to develop the experience that encourages repeat visitation time and again”
Wednesday evening 2nd April, 6.30 till 9.30 pm at The Pelican Room, North Haven Bowling & Recreation Club
(
$10 per head (payable at the door – cash or cheque please)
RSVP to the delightful and elegant Ms Rachel Ross on 6581 8036 or email rachel.ross@pmhc.nsw.gov.au
Please note, seating is limited (I guess she means only one seat per person!)
+ = +
I apologise that I was late making the down-loadable document for the next item available last week. Here it is again…
Young Achievement
Young Achievement Australia is a not-for-profit organisation that runs and facilitates Business Skills Programs for Year 11 students across
Together, the students and mentors select and register a business name, research and develop a product. The students take on positions within the company - such as Managing Director, Finance Director, Marketing Director etc, they sell shares to raise capital and develop business plans. They are required to keep accurate financial records, and the overall aim is to make a profit for their shareholders. The company is liquidated after the completion of the 24-week program.
Steve Young, YAA Coordinator, is looking for business mentors to students in the
Please see the downloadable document ( www.hastingsbec.com.au/downloads/YAA2008.doc ) for full details.
+ = +
Glasshouse Ticket Sales
“Since the launch of the 2008 Spring Season at the Glasshouse last December, you have responded magnificently in terms of subscription ticket sales and there is strong interest in the release of single ticket sales from the 3rd March.
We are pleased to inform you that construction of the Glasshouse is on track to open in September 2008 and we look forward to welcoming theatre and gallery patrons, community hirers and local and national presenters. Construction and operational management of the Glasshouse continues without disruption.
The Glasshouse website - www.glasshouse.org.au - is extending its services and from 3 March 2008, you will be able to purchase single tickets directly online. The Glasshouse Box Office (telephone 6581 8888) is manned from 8.30am to 4.30 pm, Monday to Friday, and we will be happy to answer any queries you have about the dates of shows, ticket prices and the seating plan in the Glasshouse theatre.”
+ = +
On Wednesday evening April 2nd Direction Accounting are holding their Business Growth and Success night at Rydges.
The night will provide you with 2 ½ hours of key business strategies to increase profits and get more satisfaction from your business. You will also hear an example of creating a customer experience that will definitely get you thinking about how you can DREAM outside the square.
Download a registration form now.
+ = +
Attention Revheads and dust-munchers:
Launch of the AASA Australian Rally Championship will be held at Wauchope RSL commencing at 7.00 pm this Friday, 14th March.
Please contact Peter Leicht on 6583 6611 for details
+ = +
Don’t forget to RSVP for this Thursday’s BEC Breakfast. 7.00 am till 8.30 am at Panthers Pier One Restaurant.
Members $20 and Guests $25 (payable at the door – cash or cheque only please)
And that’s about it for another fun-filled week in sunny Port.
No comments:
Post a Comment