7 July 2008

Mid-winter greetings, Reader,

I’m looking forward to this Thursday’s HBEC Networking Breakfast at Rydges Port Macquarie, as we have a very interesting keynote speaker lined up, and several other people providing tasty tidbits to keep us informed and amused. Our keynote speaker has been arranged by COMPASS financial management – see details below.

I’m very pleased this week to be able to welcome several new business members to Hastings BEC:

• Two talented and delightful young women, Tennille Sharp and Kylie Morris operate a graphic design business called Hot Graphics, located right across the road from Joyer in lower Murray Street, where they specialise in presentation, website and marketing graphic design. Welcome Tennille and Kylie.

• Sarah Carle is Advertising Executive for Prime TV, and we welcome Sarah and Prime TV to HBEC Membership. Now maybe we’ll be able to drag Prime’s Sales Manager Marc Stortenbeker out of bed in time for our BEC Breakfasts.

• Welcome to Peter Vane and his business, IT West. New to Port Macquarie area, IT West is a well established computer service and support business in Dubbo, now branching out to provide support services on the coast. Damien Bush will be the local face of IT West.

• Welcome to an old face (figuratively, not literally) under a new label. Gale and Scott Oxenford have recently taken over Westport Newsagency. Congratulations to Gale and Scott, and welcome to our first newsagency member.

• And, finally, not really a new member, but a new name for multi award winning Sunrise Health Consultancy (formerly Sunrise OT for Kids). Welcome back Angela Lockwood and congratulations on all your awards. Now, enough, give someone else a turn!

It’s very pleasing to see a steady trickle of new members joining HBEC. Even more importantly, it’s gratifying to see the strong participation by our valued existing members. I’m all too aware of the limited contribution we, as a small and government-unfunded organisation, can make to the business community. But the gradual growth in membership is a pleasing endorsement that we are moving in the right direction. Our principal function is to foster local economic development by facilitating networking and communication within and across the business community, and to providing visibility and promotion for our members at every opportunity. We also facilitate establishment and development of new businesses start-ups and, coordinate with other services including the Mid North Coast Business Advisory Service.

On a different topic, after discussion with Melinda and Steve Robinson, I’ve decided that a useful contribution HBEC can make to their efforts in Uganda (discussed in previous Updates - see our Blog at http://hbec.blogspot.com ) is by way of providing some wind-up powered LED torches for the remote villages in which they are working. These torches require no batteries or light bulbs, and are good for many years of use without replacement parts. They are also robust enough to handle shipping into remote Uganda, so they appear highly suitable. At about $20 each, we should be able to package up and ship a good number to help Mel and Steve “light up a bit of Africa”. I’ll communicate with members separately about some fund-raising.

Finally, for today, a warning about the ongoing (and growing) spate of internet-related scams. A member recently received an official looking letter addressed to her business, originating from a Spanish company but postmarked from France, entitled “WorldWideWeb Register”. Should you receive this rather official looking letter, DO NOT RESPOND. If you respond, you will be charged 870 Euros (approx AU$1400) per year for a three year contract. Yes, you will probably get what they tell you, your website listed on their website and a CDROM listing… but it’s worthless.

After that bit of negativity, on with this week’s events:

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Port Macquarie Community College

Food Hygiene & Safety
This course covers safe food handling and safe storage, effective use of detergents and sanitisers, waste and pest control. Includes an overview of how the new food safety legislation will affect you. Meets Food Safety Program requirements. Successful participants will gain Statement of Attainment THHGHS01B – Follow Workplace Hygiene Procedures from Certificate II in Hospitality (Operations). 807W009 Fri Jul 18 1 session 9am-3pm $95

NEW Communicating with Customers
If you have contact with customers and want to explore your own interpersonal communication style and its impact on others, then this is the course for you. The dynamics of communication in the encounter between a customer or team member can be quite complex. This program focuses on customer service and examines the communication skills which help you to establish a relationship with your customer which is conducive to creating a happy and long lasting relationship. Communication processes like non-verbal communication, assertiveness, listening, questioning and feedback skills will be covered in this "hands-on" workshop.808W002 Wed Aug 13 1 session 9am-4pm $98

Introduction to MYOB
BSBADM309A Process accounts payable and receivable, Statement of Attainment from Certificate III in Business Administration BSB30201. Topics include: manage and set up your business or club accounts. Record sales and receivables, purchases and payables, invoices and payments, cheques and deposits. Basic computer skills are essential. 806C021 Thu Jul 17 to Sep 4 7 sessions 3pm-6pm $250

Excel Assessment
Do you possess Excel Skills but have no formal recognition for this? If you have done the Introduction and the Intermediate Excel classes with the College, or you have the equivalent skills then this two hour assessment class will offer you (upon competent achievement) an Accredited Excel Certificate from Certificate II in Business BSB20101 - Unit of Competency BSBCMN214A Create and use simple spreadsheets.807C022 Thu Jul 24 1 session 6.15pm-8.15pm $95

MS Word Essentials
This class is ideal for expanding your skills and knowledge with MS Word. Topics covered will be saving documents, navigation, adjusting margins and layout, shortcuts, copy and move, search and replace, simple tables, autotext, mailmerge, printing and more.808C003 Fri Aug 1 1 session 9am-3pm $90

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Hastings BEC Networking Breakfast, Thursday 10th July at Rydges Port Macquarie

Acceptances are flowing in strongly for this week’s breakfast, so don’t miss out. This will be a memorable breakfast. Thanks to COMPASS financial management, and their close connection with AXA Australia, we are able to introduce AXA Business Development Manager, Mr Andrew McCormack to speak on “Behavioural decision making”. Following on from our ongoing discussions of personality issues relating to business, this talk is right on the button.

The presentation is based around “behavioural concepts” and in particular, behavioural finance. Why people make various decisions, sometimes irrational ones.Importantly, these same issues relate to your business, and how your customers relate to you and, perhaps, how you relate to them. An understanding of behavioural decision making may give you a greater insight on the behavioural decision making of your customers, and the way your behaviour may impact on your customers.

Any methods that helps you better understand your customers, positions you well to assist them to satisfy their needs. A positive outcome for you both.

As usual breakfast will commence at 7.00am (sharp) and finish by 8.30am.
This will be a very interesting breakfast, so book your place now.
RSVP to admin@hastingsbec.com.au
Members and Guests welcome$20 for Members, $25 for Guests

Remember: This breakfast is at Rydges Port Macquarie

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Seminars on financial markets, Superannuation, Centrelink and your financial health might not sound too exciting – but they’re sure to be informative!

COMPASS financial management invite you to a Financial, Super Strategies & Retirement seminar (Guest Speaker: Andrew McCormack – AXA)

• What is happening in all markets, and what can we expect? Some plain-language information on the current investment markets.
• Why is super an even more attractive investment under current rules and taxation?
• How can I continue working, access my super & save substantial tax if I am over 55?
• How can I take advantage of super opportunities in 2008 and beyond
• I hear that Centrelink entitlements allow greater access to funds – do I qualify?
• Why getting your finances right is only one part of a healthy, happy retirement.
• How much superannuation do you need to invest to fund your retirement?

All attendees receive a copy of ‘Choosing the Good Life’ which explores the four dimensions of a happy secure retirement

When: This Wednesday 9th JulyStart time: 6pmWhere: COMPASS financial management, 5 star Centre, 158 Gordon Street, Port Macquarie

Places are limited, so please call 6583 2211 during office hours to register, The AXA “I’m never too young for a retirement seminar” PLAN

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TAFE NSW – North Coast Institute presents A Course For Women

91347NSW Certificate II in Skills for Work and Training - Career Education and Employment for Women (CEEW)This course prepares woman for further education and employment. Commencing 6 August 2008 and will run Wednesdays to Fridays between 9.00am and 2.20pm at Port Macquarie TAFE.Information Session Wednesday 23 July at 10.00am in room F1.8.

For more details contact Port Macquarie TAFE on 6581 6200.

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The 2008 Volunteer of the Year Awards are a unique opportunity to recognise and publicly acknowledge the invaluable work done by hundreds of thousands of volunteers throughout NSW.

There are two major categories

- firstly, NSW Volunteer of the Year Award (with special Awards for Youth and Senior Volunteers of the Year), 16 Regional Winners, including the Mid North Coast

- secondly, NSW Corporate Volunteer of the Year Award (only one corporate Award will be issued across the State). Judging criteria comprise a range of factors and include -

- Demonstrated benefit to the local community, region or State
- Evidence of initiative and innovation
- Capacity building and sustainability
- Length of service and number of hours of the nominee
- An explanation of what is outstanding about the nominee and the work for which he/she is being nominated
- Any obstacles which the nominee may have had to overcome to achieve the outcomes of their volunteering Timeline
- Nominations opened Monday 12 May 2008, and close on Tuesday 30 September 2008.
- Regional Winners announced mid-October to mid-November 2008
- 2008 NSW Volunteer of the Year announced Friday 5 December 2008, International Volunteer Day.
- Cash awards will be made to the winners' nominated non-for-profit organisations.

For more information, have a look at www.volunteering.com.au/nsw_volunteer_awards/

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Come To The Camden Haven - Holiday Coast Pictorial - August Edition

Holiday Coast Pictorial is making advertising available at a special rate - specifically in the Camden Haven Section which continues to grow each month and showcases progressive Camden Haven and district businesses. They are still offering the $ 110 adverts ( 5cm x 6cm ), as well as the attached offers, but do require 12 businesses ( currently 3 ) to keep this offer going each month.

If you wish to advertise in the August edition, please contact Chrissy Jones, Sales & Marketing Consultant, The Pictorial, Ph: 0412 137 621 or chrissy@thepictorial.com

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Don’t forget, tomorrow New Business Member, IT West is presenting a seminar called “The 5 biggest mistakes small business computer owners make with their computers”.

Where: Mercure Centro Hotel, 103 William Street, Port MacquarieDate: Tuesday 8 JulyTime: 5.00pm—6.15pmRSVP to Brooke via phone or email by Friday 4 JulyPhone: 6884 3188 - Email: admin@itwest.biz

Download the full brochure from: www.hastingsbec.com.au/downloads/itwest.pdf

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Why You Should Care About Ethics

Reason #1: It makes economic senseReason
#2: It improves the quality of resultsReason
#3: It is the socially responsible choiceReason
#4: It makes humanistic senseReason
#5: It shapes and sustains organizational value systemsReason
#6: It strengthens strategy and competitive advantageReason
#7: It builds trust as an organizational resourceReason
#8: It helps avoid civil and criminal penaltiesReason
#9: It advances managerial leadership as a professionReason
#10: It is the right thing to do

Reference: Kerns, C. (2005). “Value-centered ethics: a proactive system to shape ethical behavior.” Amherst, MA: HRD Press.

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And just to finish off, a little something from the gnomes of Belconnen:

8635.0.55.002 Tourist Accommodation, Small Area Data, Australia, Mar 2008http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/8635.0.55.002?OpenDocument

8635.1.55.001 Tourist Accommodation, Small Area Data, New South Wales, Mar 2008http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/8635.1.55.001?OpenDocument