13 October 2008

Fiscally challenged greetings, Reader,

Just as well I enjoy my work, because I may be about 117 before I can afford to retire. For the last week, every time I started to think the news couldn’t get any worse… it did.

I was amused by the question, “For how long can the stock market keep losing 6% per day?” No. No hints. You have to work it out for yourself. And no, the answer is not 16 days. It’s m-u-c-h longer than that…

On the subject of bad financial news, the stock market crisis has hit Japan very hard. In the last 7 days, the Origami Bank has folded, Sumo Bank has gone belly up, and Bonsai Bank announced plans to cut some of its branches.

Yesterday it was announced that Karaoke Bank is likely go for a song, while today shares in Kamikaze Bank were suspended after they nose-dived. Furthermore, 500 staff at Karate Bank got the chop, and analysts report that there is something fishy going on at Sushi Bank, where customers may be getting a raw deal.

Last Thursday’s BEC Breakfast at Mercure Centro Hotel was a beauty! A wonderful setting (thanks Ann Maree, Jayne, and all the Mercure staff), a nice fresh breakfast served to our tables, and a lovely fruit platter to follow was a great start to the day. Many thanks to Adam Roberts and Geri Williams from Digital Design and Poster Studio for their sponsorship of the breakfast, and for some very nice door prizes. Thanks also to David Relf and the Telstra Shop Port Central for their donations.

Members enjoyed the extra opportunity to relax and mingle afforded by the “reduced talking heads” format. Of course, the weather gods were kind to us with a gorgeous spring morning to take best advantage of the Mercure rooftop setting. Just great!

Time now to welcome a couple of new HBEC Members. Welcome to Susan Judd, with her business HR Culture. HR Culture provides business and workplace coaching, Human Resource software and tools, and systems for small and medium enterprises.

Welcome also to Peter Oriel, proprietor of EMOHRUO Financial Services. EMOHRUO offers services in the fields of financial planning, superannuation and retirement advice.

At this time of year it has become traditional for HBEC to offer 14+ months membership for the price of 12, to new members. If you know of a business that could benefit from joining HBEC, please take this opportunity to recommend membership. The more we grow, the more all members benefit.

On to this weeks activities:

+ = +

Port Macquarie Community College – providing work-related skills development programs

Manual Bookkeeping
BSBCMN308A - Maintain Financial Records, Statement of Attainment from Certificate III in Business Administration BSB30201. This course will show you how to maintain a cashbook to handle your receipts and payments and also reconcile your bank statement. You will be able to manage a general ledger to manually post journal entries and produce a trial balance. These newly acquired skills will provide you with the background knowledge to enter your accounts into a computerised system such as MYOB.
810W006 Tue Oct 21 to Dec 9 8 sessions 9am-11:30am $210

Negotiation Skills
Are you losing out in a potential win-win situation? Everyday we negotiate with our families, friends, colleagues and business contacts. This course will teach you how to recognise and benefit from a win-win negotiation. Areas covered include identifying issues, setting priorities, exploring options, discussing solutions and agreements.
810W009 Mon Oct 27 to Nov 10 3 sessions 6pm-9pm $115

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.
810C002 Thu Oct 16 to Nov 27 7 sessions 6pm-9pm $250

Computers for the Absolute Beginner
This course is for you if you have never used a computer before and need to start at the very beginning. We provide one computer per participant and our patient friendly tutor will guide you through the basics of the keyboard, mouse, parts of a window, startup, shutdown and basic word processing. This is a course with no pressure, You can do it!
810C012 Sat Oct 18 to Nov 1 3 sessions 12:30pm-4:30pm $125

Enhance your Digital Photos
Learn to use Adobe Photoshop Elements. Discover how to import and organise your photographs. You will experiment with photo adjustments, colour brightness and contrast. Repair, and retouch photographs as well as crop and resize. Also learn selection techniques, how to apply filters, shadows and blurring and special techniques of borders and text.
810C011 Thu Oct 16 to Nov 13 5 sessions 9am-12noon $185

+ = +

The Home Business Forum meets every second month in Port Macquarie from 9:00 until 12:30.
The next meeting is on Friday 17th October 2008 at Panthers.

The cost to attend is only $15 with morning tea provided.

Our Guest speakers this time are:

Barbara & Laurie Smith presenting:
"Make the Important Things Count" - Learn from the experts in time management how to work smarter not harder!
Laurie and his wife Barbara have had a diverse background in management roles, including being owners/directors of a Time Management franchise - Priority Management. As time management trainers, they trained over 2,000 people in personal effectiveness, and major clients included Westpac, BHP, RTA and AMP.

Wayne Graham, (PM Hastings Council’s Industry Development Officer) presents:
'Doing business from home in the Hastings 5 years from now'
Discuss strategic issues affecting home-based businesses in the Port Macquarie-Hastings area. Wayne and guest speakers will talk to us about home based business issues concerning the local council, regulations, business statistics, infrastructure development, population trends and the industry development program. How council can help you grow your business and the do’s and don’ts of operating business from home.

If you are interested in attending or to find out more, contact
Renee Bell Photographer Tel: 02 6584 8866 / email: info@reneebell.com.au
OR Lisa Christie Tel: 0438 847 825 / email: lisa@visualedge.com.au

Everyone is welcome but you must RSVP! For more information: www.hastingsbec.com.au/downloads/hbfoct08.pdf

+ = +

Port Macquarie-Hastings Futures Development Board

Council has recently advertised for nominations for the above Board. While the nominations were of high quality, Council was disappointed with the number of applications received from females. Administrator Dick Persson has indicated a strong desire to ensure this key Council Board is comprised, if at all possible, by equal representation from both male and females.

Council is seeking nominations from women with foresighting capacity and an ability to forward think.

A copy of the charter and the original advertisement is available for download from:
www.hastingsbec.com.au/downloads/devbdadvert.doc , and www.hastingsbec.com.au/downloads/devbdcharter.doc .

+ = +

The next Customer Care Meet & Mingle Night will be held:

DATE: Tuesday, 21 October 2008

TIME: 6pm - 9pm

VENUE: Port Macquarie Race Club, Port Macquarie

COST: $10 per head (payable by either cash or cheque made out to Port Macquarie-Hastings Council upon entry, includes nibbles)

RSVP: ASAP but by Thursday, 16 Oct 08 to Rachel.Ross@pmhc.nsw.gov.au

Highlights of the evening include:
• Guest Speaker - Rodney Nugent (Monday morning "Take 15" staff education and awareness designed to ensure knowledge and service excellence)
• Administrator, Dick Persson welcome and introduction of new General Manager, Andrew Roach and his wife, Amy.
• Introduction of Liz Paine - new Customer Care Trainer replacing part of Geraldine's position
• Introduction of Sue Faulkner - new Customer Care Consultant replacing part of Geraldine's position
• Lucky Door Prize - 1 Free full page interview in the November issue of Focus Magazine
• Announcement of our 200th Customer Care Accredited Member - Special surprise for them!
• Craig Freudenstein, Catering Manager of Port Macquarie Race Club will be showcasing his glorious food. Yum!
+ = +

SMALL BUSINESS SUCCESSION SEMINAR in PORT MACQUARIE ON 31ST OCTOBER AT 7.30AM

As part of the Federal Governments Building Entrepreneurship in Small Business program, Peak Partners will be delivering a series of free Succession Planning seminars throughout Australia commencing in April 2008. Succession Planning is a major issue for small business in Australia with some surprising statistics underpinning the initiative to address this area:

51% of small business owners plan to use their• business as a

PRIMARY source of funding retirement.

43% aim for a lump sum and a third expect an• ongoing income stream.

• The average age of a family business owner in NSW is 56 years.

68% of Principals plan to exit the business in less• than 10 years.

Less than 25% have sought any advice on succession.•

• The retirement of family business owners will accompany the transfer of approximately $1.6 Trillion in wealth.

Further details are available online at http://www.enjoyit.net.au/workshop.html

The breakfast seminar in this area is to be held on 31st October at Rydges – Port Macquarie at 7.30am

For further details please contact Peak Partners on 1300 665 473

+ = +

TASTINGS OF THE HASTINGS - A JOURNEY OF FLAVOUR

Take a journey of flavour to Greater Port Macquarie for “Tasting of the Hastings”, a week long celebration of food and wine from Friday 24 October to Sunday 2 November 2008. New events this year include a Farmers Market dinner, SLURP night of wine, an evening with the winemakers at Bago in Bloom, plus favourites from last year, coffee and brewery tours – all culminating in the main event on Sunday 2 November 2008.

On the Sunday some 5,000 gourmands will converge on Port Macquarie Race Course to taste their way through stalls from 50 local food producers and growers, and 20 restaurants. Buy local trademarks such as freshly shucked Laurieton oysters, Lorne Valley macadamia nuts, Ricardoes Tomatoes and strawberries, and wicked Russian style chocolates.

Local and guest chefs will conduct ‘Cooking Demonstrations’ in a kitchen and the inaugural ‘Waiters Race’ at 1pm will be a light hearted test of serving skills. The Tastings of the Hastings Main Event will be held from 8am to 2pm and offers free entry.

For the first time this year patrons can buy a souvenir cook book for $10 which features 30 local restaurants and producers, and is developed from the freshest and the best of the region.

“Tastings Diary”
? Six Degrees of Degustation Dinner (24 Oct) - six local chefs, six wines and a 6pm start at Rydges overlooking the Hastings River
? Mountain Market, Cuisine and Countryside (26 Oct) - the hinterland village of Comboyne will offer a special food market and garden walks from 10am to 1pm
? Peak Coffee Appreciation Nights (28, 29, 30 Oct) - learn from the baristas at the Mid North Coast’s first roasting business
? SLURP a Night of Wine (29 Oct) - perfect for wine connoisseurs, a fun night in the private dining room at The Corner restaurant with local sommelier Renee Baird
? Stunned Mullet ‘Farmers Market’ Dinner (30 Oct) - an evening of food and indulgence with insights from leading local producers
? The Little Brewing Company Tours (1 Nov) - discover the passion and processes behind Port’s pioneering and award-winning boutique brewery
? ‘Bago in Bloom’ at Bago Vineyards (1 Nov) - an evening with the winemakers under the pergola at this picturesque vineyard in the hinterland, ‘the home’ of monthly jazz concerts
? Tastings of the Hastings (2 Nov) – the main event with growers, producers, cooking demonstrations, entertainment and more

A full schedule of events with locations and prices is available at www.portmacquarieinfo.com.au along with travel packages. Or call 1300 303 155.

Our HBEC Patron Member Holiday Coast Credit Union is the official sponsor of Tastings of the Hastings 2008.

+ = +
You’re invited to come along and join in for our Health Expo to help celebrate the 10th Birthday of Discovery Health & Fitness.

Whether you’re a member or just someone interested in their health & wellbeing we will have something for you.

Free Mini-Consultations with Local Health Professionals:
- Diabetes Educator
- Nutritionist
- Dietician
- Naturopath
- Occupational Therapist
- Reflexologist
- Osteopath
- Hypnotherapist
- Remedial Massage Therapist
- Medical Acupuncturist
- Chiropractor
Cooking Demonstrations

Our Personal Trainers will be on hand also with Free FITNESS AGE testing and cardio fitness testing.

Friday 17th October 12 Noon till 4pm, and Saturday 18th October 10.30am till 3.30pm

Buy 12 Months membership and receive 15 Months with $0 Joining Fee

+ = +

We are looking for support from Hastings BEC for the upcoming Wauchope Country Music Festival set down for 9, 10 and 11 January 2009.

We have so far secured some very talented artists from as far away as Ireland, New Zealand and Norway, not to mention our local and interstate artists. Our program is now full and we have a waiting list for the 2010 festival.

The festival also includes a ute show, market stalls, buskers and a street parade.

We have secured major sponsors NBN Television and Countrylink.

I have attached a couple of our press releases (download here: www.hastingsbec.com.au/downloads/wcmf.doc ) which include more detail of where we are up to.

This will be a major event for Wauchope and it is proposed to put this festival on each year at the same time which coincides with the lead-up to the Tamworth Country Music Festival and is also located on the proposed Slim Dusty Way.

Please contact Debbie Jones, Ph: 0411208867 or email: gdjones1@bigpond.net.au

+ = +

Here’s a good news item. The Bill Ussher Agricultural Scholarship, provided by our Patron Member BCU, has been awarded to a local business.
Susie Boswell of PORT P.R., who manages publicity and promotions for Ricardoes Tomatoes, sends news of a significant achievement by one of our keenest local entrepreneurs:

On Friday, Ricardoes was awarded the Bill Ussher Agricultural Scholarship, announced at the BCU Pro-Ag event at Macksville.

Started by banana growers at the Pub with No Beer in 1970, the scholarship funds access to education and training or networking with other professionals to share ideas and improve skills to keep abreast of industry changes. BCU's testimonial said: "In a short space of time, the Sarks family has become not only an efficient producer of high quality tomatoes and strawberries, but an important tourist attraction and employer in the Port Macquarie district, a highly impressive business that has managed to develop a sought-after brand and reputation for quality. Judges were impressed by Ricardoes’ ability to meet customer demand, identify opportunities and exploit them, and their willingness to share information." Ricardoes aims to study methods of producing quality strawberry ice cream, expanding its production portfolio and its workforce from its current level of about 20 staff.

Well done Ricardoes, and well done BCU.

+ = +

Your weekly diet of statistics from ABS… I know you’d get twitchy without them…

5372.0.55.001 International Merchandise Trade: Confidential Commodities List, Sep 2008
http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/5372.0.55.001?OpenDocument

6202.0 Labour Force, Australia, Sep 2008
http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/6202.0?OpenDocument

5671.0 Lending Finance, Australia, Aug 2008
http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/5671.0?OpenDocument

8752.0 Building Activity, Australia, Jun 2008
http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/8752.0?OpenDocument

8782.0.65.001 Construction Activity: Chain Volume Measures, Australia, Jun 2008
http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/8782.0.65.001?OpenDocument
+ = +

And, finally, this week’s thought provoker from my friend Beth Flynn:

From Wilkinson, P.R. (2008). Aha: insights for effective leadership and management. Baltimore: Publish America.

The Peter Principle

“We have all heard of the Peter Principle. It is usually couched in very negative terms concerning the people suffering from the malaise. Maybe we should dig a little deeper.

I believe each of us has an inherent capacity to understand and cope with certain levels of complexity. When an individual is at the top of their capacity, he/she is right on their game and usually very effective at what they do. This level of effectiveness is likely to be noticed and can result in a promotion because of the old adage that past performance is usually the best indicator of future performance. So the promotion comes and they get moved to a position of increased complexity which they cannot handle. They become ineffective and people wonder how they ever got to that position. The problem is that no matter how hard they work, they will not be effective because the job has exceeded the level of complexity that they can manage. It is not that they are bad, they are just in the wrong position. There is a way out.

If a person is suffering from the Peter Principle, it would be a great benefit to the organization - and the person - to find another position that matches this person’s complexity level capabilities. While this can be challenging, it will result in the organization benefiting from a very effective employee (Wilkinson, 2008, p. 159-160).”