This month I attended a special breakfast at Rydges Latimer in Christchurch where a cheque for $26,561.83 raised for the Nurse Maude Hospice was presented. The money was raised by BNI through the Nurse Maude Black Tie Event – the signature fundraising event for Nurse Maude. Over 140 businesspeople belonging to the BNI New Zealand organisation attended the event where keynote speakers included Selwyn’s Mayor Sam Broughton and Managers from the Canterbury Employers Chamber of Commerce. 2016 was a fantastic year for Canterbury chapters with $10.5m in business generated and 129 new members added to BNI business groups in this region.
Nick Greenwood, BNI Director Consultant Canterbury Region
The atmosphere in the room was electric with so many local businesspeople gathered to hear the keynote speakers and do some casual networking. It was great to hear from speakers whose work is so closely related to the interests of the BNI members.
Speakers
Graham Southwell, New Zealand Director, presented some of his recent observations including some feedback from the recent BNI conference in the States.
Sam Broughton, Selwyn Mayor, talked about his leadership journey and shared some of his learnings and realisations with us.
- What decisions are paralysing you? What is holding you stuck? Better to try and fail than to later regret that you didn’t give it a go.
- Don’t let the opportunities missed in 2016 go past you again next year.
- Know yourself; love generously; value relationships
Lydia Stoddard, Membership & Marketing Manager of CECC, introduced the 6 keys of membership of Canterbury Employers Chamber of Commerce:
- Advice & consultancy
- Training & development
- Events
- Member savings
- Resources
- Advocacy
Leanne Watson, General Manager of CECC, gave us some insight into the projected future.
- Canterbury is in a transition stage … from construction to more traditional sectors (e.g. tourism)
- There is significant projected growth in tourism (already back at pre-quake numbers)
- Currently $100m per week still being spent on Canterbury re-construction (60% through – and $17b of the $30b projected spend)
- Canterbury needs a strong vision for the future – still known internationally as the ‘Earthquake City’, the Christchurch vision is little known
- Canterbury has strong diversity – not just due to international migration, but also generationally. We need to seriously look at how well we are training and catering for our younger generations.
- 75% of construction migrants want to make Christchurch their permanent home
- There is an increase in use of contractors by businesses as opposed to employing more staff
- Looking ahead, AQ (adaptability quotient) will be more important than IQ (intellectual quotient) … ‘soft skills’ of collaboration and adaptability
- Estimated that 40 to 50% of current jobs won’t exist in 20 years – technology
- Cybercrime will become bigger than drugs crime
Please see following link provided by CECC https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpEFjWbXog0
I wrapped up the speeches with a reminder that we cannot do it alone. Now is the time to work together, utilising our individual talents and abilities, so that this period of significant development and change is positive and we more than just survive. Both the Chamber and BNI exist for the sake of local business – to grow and empower them for the sake of the wider community.
Quote to close was… “Leaders who don’t listen will eventually be surrounded by people who have nothing to say” -Andy Stanley
Presenting the cheque
On behalf of BNI Canterbury members, Alison Poulter presented the cheque to Jane Rollings from Nurse Maude – funds raised at the recent BNI Nurse Maude Black Tie Fundraising Dinner. Jane says she has been overwhelmed by the way BNI gets behind Nurse Maude year after year. The black tie event is now the signature fundraising event for Nurse Maude. The fact that BNI goes to so much effort on our behalf to benefit the patients is fantastic she says.
Jane says she feels that she is part of the BNI family now. She notes that it’s such a fantastic network and over the years she’s got to know members really well. When she visits chapters it’s like catching up with friends. Everyone is touched by hospice at some point in their lives and this makes the connection between BNI and hospice particularly strong.
The 2016 ‘Aha Moment
Each table talked about what their ‘aha moment’ for the year was – something that suddenly became clear or obvious. For example:
“Whenever going to different cities, take the time to visit a BNI chapter”.
“Realising the ‘need’ for holidays and giving myself time out”.
“BNI really works”.
“Find your business ‘why’ and let everyone in your organisation know what it is”.
“Receiving coaching along the way which requires me to work and reflect”.
“Joining BNI”.
“Learning to delegate more”.
“Working a 3-day week; work-life balance”.
“Learning to take time out”.
“Taking on a business mentor”.
“Network marketing is the best”.
“Givers gain – the reality of this. To give/help others without the expectation of return”.
“BNI network reach – international contacts to support business”.
“I joined BNI hesitantly but now seeing the proof. Aha – BNI really works!”
“Ask questions and listen”.
The breakfast was another great opportunity for the hospice to thank BNI members for their contribution and celebrate the organisations’ strong partnership. The money raised will help to buy specialist electric beds to benefit hospice patients. All in all, it was an incredible event that will be back bigger and better next year.
Nick Greenwood, BNI Director Consultant Canterbury Region
