15 September 2008

Breezy warm sunny greetings, Reader,

First off, humble apologies to subscribers who missed last Monday’s Update. Apparently some sort of technical malfunction resulted in some electrons heading off in the direction of Alpha Centauri instead of delivering your email. Personally I blame the Large Hadron Collider. Of course, back issues – including last Monday’s – are available on our Blog at http://hbec.blogspot.com

September is here, and so is the sea breeze. Our climate is just one of the many aspects of Port Macquarie for which we should be appreciative. Seeing news, over the weekend, from Galveston and Huston reminded me just how fortunate we are. Of course, our own country can be unforgiving at times. A light aircraft is currently missing on a weekend flight between Scone and Casino, over some very rugged country indeed. We don’t have to step too far beyond our comfortably urbanised town to encounter nature in the raw. For me that variety of environments is one of the real pleasures of living on the Mid North Coast.

Congratulations to The Glasshouse, as tomorrow night sees the launch of their first production. Oz Opera’s performance of Madame Butterfly will be staged at Panthers Auditorium, so two of our Patron Members are coming together to provide Port Macquarie with this fantastic event. After hearing a small sample of her wonderful voice at last year’s Season Launch on Town Green, I can’t wait to experience Jane Parkin in performance. Of course, the rest of the performers are wonderful too, but I have a special fondness for tall, gorgeous women who can sing.

If you haven’t already secured your tickets, there are still a few good seats available from the Glasshouse Box Office on 6581 8888 for performances on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. Don’t miss out!

Last Thursday’s BEC Networking Breakfast was a very successful event. More than 70 participants engaged in an enjoyable discussion with a panel of BEC Members who won category awards at the recent GPM Business Awards. The topic was “What makes a small business successful?”, and our panellists were able to provide a lot of interesting and useful observations. It’s great to have the opportunity to recognise the wealth of skill and knowledge we have “within”.

Thanks to the generosity of member businesses, we had a couple of fantastic door prizes to sweeten the morning. “Wazza” Affleck, from Compass financial management walked away with a $250 open order thanks to Digital Design & Poster Studio. And to prove that Karma is alive and functioning, David Relf from the Telstra Shop took away a 10.5 inch (even bigger in metric!) digital photo frame courtesy of Joyer. The Karma comes in because last year Daniel Jordan, from Joyer, picked up a very nice mobile phone donated by Telstra Shop. So, what goes around really does come around.

Thanks also to Sue and Mike Reid (Discovery Health & Fitness, and Jeffrey, Reid Flanagan respectively), David and Daniel for additional gifts to make several people’s day.

Later this week there is an event particularly focused on the ladies. On Friday, at Mercure Centro Hotel’s Synergy restaurant, Prue Goward will be keynote speaker at a Ladies’ Lunch on the topic “Why we need more women in politics.” See the item below for booking details.

Our next BEC Breakfast will be held on Thursday 9th October, on the rooftop at Mercure Centro - a terrific new venue for us. I hope you can make it.

That’s about it for the goss. Here are the upcoming events:

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Port Macquarie Community College business-related skills development:

Colourful Insights into Communication
Here is an opportunity to gain a communication tool which not only achieves results but creates an entertaining, dynamic and unforgettable professional development experience. Based on the research of Carl Yung this workshop introduces an easy to understand communication tool through which to identify and celebrate existing strengths and emerging human potential. At the same time it promotes self awareness. The true colours metaphor demonstrated in this workshop can easily be used to identity learning needs in students and respond, motivate and work collaboratively with the personality styles of managers, colleagues, customers and family.
810W007 Tue Sep 30 1 session 9am-4pm $98

Welcome to Work Workshop
Be prepared for the first day at work! Learn the skills and techniques to make starting work a breeze by gaining an insight to how an office is set up, how people work together, the type of work people do, the type of equipment used, workplace etiquette, how to set up a workstation and understand terminology and effective listening skills.
809W005 Mon Sep 22 1 session 9am-5pm $98

Your Business Presentations with Powerpoint
Powerpoint is a powerful tool which is widely used in boardrooms, classrooms and meeting rooms. From sales presentations and passive advertising to staff orientation, discover the hidden uses for Powerpoint in your Business. Create professional presentations that make your business stand out from the crowd.
809C004 Tue Sep 16 to Sep 30 3 sessions 6pm-9pm $93

Internet & Email
Learn to surf, browse, use web addresses, search for information, print, create email, send and receive email, reply to emails, send attachments, address book and more.
809C016 Thu Sep 18 to Sep 29 4 sessions 3:15pm-5:15pm $85

Responsible Service of Alcohol
Provider No. 90886 LAB Approved. Successful participants will receive a Statement of Attainment THHBFB09B - Provide responsible service of alcohol from Certificate II in Hospitality (Operations) and a Certificate from the Liquor Advisory Board. The LAB Certificate is required for employment in the industry.
810W002 Wed Oct 1 1 session 9am-4pm $90

Responsible Conduct of Gambling
Provider No. 90886 - LAB Approved. Successful participants will receive a Statement of Attainment THHADG03B - Provide responsible gambling services from Certificate II in Hospitality (Operations).
810W003 Thu Oct 2 1 session 9am-4pm $90

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The Port Macquarie Chamber of Commerce’s next member information and networking night will be on
Tuesday, 16 September at Quality Sails Resort at 6.30pm following the AGM.

Date: Tuesday 16 September 2008
Time: 6.30pm (following the AGM starting at 6.15pm)
Venue: Quality Resort Sails, Port Macquarie
Cost: $10.00 for members $20.00 for non-members
Drinks and savouries will be provided on the night
Non-members and guests are most welcome
For catering purposes please RSVP by 3:00pm 15 September 2008 to (02) 6583 4412 or info@portchamber.com.au

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The Glasshouse Arts, Conference & Entertainment Centre presents
MADAME BUTTERFLY
at Panthers Port Macquarie
Tuesday 16 Sept and Wednesday 17 Sept 2008 at 8pm

Single Tickets Now On Sale
A Reserve
Adult $45 | Concession $40 | Student & U18 $25

Premium
Adult $65 | Concession $60 | Student & U18 $55

GROUP BOOKINGS of 10+ people qualify for the concession rate on tickets.
If you are booking with friends, please let the Glasshouse Box Office know to ensure that your seats are allocated beside each other.

There are 2 simple ways to purchase a ticket – Telephone the Glasshouse Box Office on 6581 8888 or book online via the Glasshouse website www.glasshouse.org.au

Download this flyer www.hastingsbec.com.au/downloads/madameb.pdf for full details of Cast, Production and Storyline.

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Sausage Sizzle at The Men’s Shed, Timbertown

Wednesday 17th September at 12.00 for 12.30

If you are a bloke, you are invited to attend a sausage sizzle that is intended to become a monthly event on the third Wednesday of each month.
Why? Because it’s a Men’s Shed, and because we can!

RSVP to Mort Shearer on 0417 498 821 or to Peter Nash on 0448 504 312
(Make sure they tell you about the ‘secret’ back entrance to Timbertown)

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Ladies, You are invited to join special guest Pru Goward for Lunch at the Mercure Centro Hotel
Cnr Hay & William Streets, Port Macquarie

Topic—”Why we need more women in politics”

Pru will be supported by other local “women in politics”
Hon Melinda Pavey MLC, NSW Parliament and
Leslie Williams, Nationals Candidate for the Port Macquarie by-election

Friday 19th September, 12.30—2.30pm Cost $30

Pru Goward is the state Liberal member for Goulburn in the NSW Parliament, shadow Minister for Women, Climate change and the Environment.
She was federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner for six years from 2001 until 2007 and before that Executive Director of the Office for the Status of Women in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet under Prime Minister John Howard.
She is an economist by training and was a current affairs reporter with the ABC for 19 years. She has three daughters, a grand daughter, a husband and a farm.

RSVP 65830830 by Wed 16/9/08
Email: events@centrohotel.com.au
Payment at time of booking please (Tax Invoices will be available if required)

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Some great tips for Members who are leaders or members of teams.

The following key issues need to be addressed if teams are to work well.

1. The team must know each others strengths and weaknesses
2. The team must have a common purpose.
3. All team members must be committed to the common purpose.
4. There must be clear goals, objectives and timeframes.

These are just some of the issues for teams, but BEC Member Peter Coe Consulting can really help you by coaching your team to make sure it will deliver results.

Peter has an excellent new Team Coaching methodology that will deliver the results you want. A single session or series of sessions with a team can be arranged at a reasonable cost. Contact Peter as follows:

Ph: 02 6582 4650 Mob: 0400 998 917
Email: peter@coeconsult.com.au
Web: http://www.coeconsult.com.au/

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Pine O’Queen

Kathleen Norman will be representing the Combined Rotary Clubs of the Port Macquarie Hastings for the coming Carnival of the Pines.

Kathleen will be raising funds by way of a Dinner at The Stunned Mullet on Thursday 18th September at 6:30pm.
Tickets are only $75 per head and include a two course meal (main & dessert) plus wine.
Kathleen is organising lucky door prizes and a raffle with vouchers for Restaurant meals; petrol; supermarket just to name a few.

CONTACT: Kathleen Norman 6583 8088 / 0438 006 566

Hope you can make it along and help in raising funds for a very worthwhile cause!
Download a PowerPoint extravaganza with details, from www.hastingsbec.com.au/downloads/Pines.ppt

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Mid Coast Care is presenting a 3-part breakfast series “A Woman’s Heart”, in support of the Women’s Refuge in Port Macquarie.
Sponsored by Rydges Port Macquarie and Focus Magazine, this series of breakfasts also celebrates the 6th anniversary of the charity Mid Coast care.

Breakfasts will be held at Rydges Port Macquarie on Wed 24th September, Fri 17th October, and Fri 14th November 2008.

Women of Port Macquarie come along… be moved and support those women and children in our community who are fleeing domestic violence.

Full details by downloading the brochure www.hastingsbec.com.au/downloads/mccawh.pdf
Phone Liz (Mon, Tue) 0427 085 801 or Jo (Wed, Thu, Fri) 6581 3303

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Chris Newton, of Marketing Help Online, has made contact with BECs to promote his online business.

“Marketing Help Online’ encapsulates decades of testing what works best to market small businesses, and gives you the answers on a platter. It is a business owner’s dream toolkit, an ideas factory, and even a staff members training tool, all rolled into one. Accessible online, it gives you an abundance of processes that lift your daily success rate.

Renowned author of the system, Chris Newton, has put his money back guarantee in writing. That Marketing Help Online WILL work for you (as long as you work with it).” Find out how to get it at ( www.marketinghelponline.com.au/BEC004 )

Download the brochure with full details from www.hastingsbec.com.au/downloads/BEC004.pdf (warning 2 MB file)

Declaration of interest: If you choose to enrol with Marketing Help Online, Hastings BEC will receive a small referral fee (commission).

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And there you have it for another 7 days. Good on all the hard workers out on Port Macquarie Golf Course this afternoon, making a quid for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service. A great cause. I’d like to be there with you, but I learned on Saturday not to lift a 25kg bag of salt and a gas cylinder at the same time. Ouch!

We can’t leave without an item from those fun-loving people at the Bureau of Stats:

Here’s some help to get your vehicle use claims in line with statistical norms…

9210.0.55.001 Survey of Motor Vehicle Use: Data Cubes, Australia, 01 Nov 2006 to 31 Oct 2007
http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/9210.0.55.001?OpenDocument

Don’t have too much fun with all those numbers!