It started out as an idea for a sausage sizzle and ended as a an auction and social night for a hundred people which raised 5,845.00 for the Waipuna Hospice in the Bay of Plenty.
Events Co-ordinator for BNI In The Bay Chapter and General Manager of Classic Cuisine, Paulina Schumacher, says people now joke that she ‘got a little carried away”.
“From the sausage sizzle idea we moved on to thinking about getting all the chapters together for one big social event where people could meet other BNI members in the region and network.”
Tauranga Racecourse donated the venue – with necessities like the projector – and sponsored a prize, while Classic Cuisine provide catering services and food at cost.
“Both Tauranga Racecourse and Classic Cuisine sponsored the event because we also wanted to celebrate the fact that Classic Cuisine now has exclusive rights to catering all functions for Tauranga Racecourse,” says Paulina.
Members were invited to donate their products and services for the auction. Examples of some packages include a skydiving freebie combined with free chiropractic care, an electrician’s WOF, a free house marketing package, 20 free visits to a chiropractor, a weekend leisure package including car and batch, and free day at the races in the Sponsor’s Lounge.
BNI National Director Graham Southwell attended the event on behalf of BNI New Zealand.
“I’m always blown away to see how BNI members really get behind Hospice and, in so doing, have so much fun and accomplish so much for their own businesses,” he said.
