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Seventeen members of the Chamber attended the Annual General Meeeting held at Telscombe Civic Centre on Tuesday, March 22, 2011.
Apologies were received from:
Peter Crowley and Neil Cameron of Wave Leisure, Claire Duc of Newhaven Enterprise Centre and Trish and Andy Bullivant of Long John's Grill.
Chairman's Report
In his report chairman Gary Maskell paid tribute to the hard work and commitment of his committee. Although it was acknowledged that times were difficult, businesses who remained positive would always have the edge.
He said: "As the weather improves we can all reflect on a long hard winter were the news has been as gloomy as the forecast.
Having survived this long dark winter it is time for local businesses and the Chamber to start looking forward and planning once again for the growth of our businesses and the betterment of our personnel situations and I must say rarely have I relished the challenges ahead with such intensity. Never has it been more important for the local business community to work together and I thank you all for your support in the past year and your continued support in the coming one.
"This year's AGM is the fifth since the Chamber's inception and my fourth as chairman and I look forward to once again serving our membership in the coming year. The committee is working tirelessly on your behalf to make the year a success and we have a number of new initiatives lined up for 2011 which we are sure will be both fun and fruitful for us all.
"This year has also seen a change of personnel within the committee ranks of the Chamber and I must welcome Chris Chandler, Rachel Brown and Helen Macaulay to our ranks; Chris as newsletter editor, Rachel as secretary and Helen as treasurer. I must also thank the 'old guard' for their continued support without them the Chamber would be a shadow of itsself.
"As for this year the Curry Club has been born and is proving a popular evening in member's diaries as we all get together to network and enjoy our national dish! I need to thank Rachel Brown and Louise Robinson for their energy in making this happen and I hope to see you along for a ruby very soon.
"The Breakfast Club continues to thrive with a variety of speakers plus visits to the Waste Water Treatment works and Brighton's new football stadium. More exciting speakers and field trips are scheduled for the summer including a return to the Waste Water Treatment Works.
We are planning two new initiatives this year. In May we have an exciting competition being launched at the Breakfast Club with a trip to the Komedia in Brighton as the prize and I must say we are looking forward to this immensely. Also after a year off we are going to reinvigorate the showcase with a new identity as a business market and what can only be described as a 'networking orgy' taking place on the day. Be sure to stay glued to your emails to find out more details.
"As well as networking opportunities we also continue to serve as your voice in the local community and have been involved with the councils at both district and local levels this year as we continue to serve as the only recognised voice for local business in Peachaven and Telscombe.
"The level of renewals we have experienced this year only serves to underline how much you value the Chamber and we hope to swell the ranks of the membership in 2011 and hopefully bring a few old faces back as well. The bigger this community of ours becomes the more work and valued contacts we will all gain.
"My tip for 2011? With the current economic situation it has never been more important to keep focused and work a clear business plan. Owning a business means you have to take 'Ownership' of your destiny and drive it forward. No one will do it for you and those business that remain passive and blame the world for their situation are the least likely to succeed.
Good luck and I look forward to enjoying all of our successes with you in 2011."
Official Business
Minutes of the AGM held on March 23, 2010, were agreed as a true record.
A financial report presented to the meeting and accepted showed there was an excess of income over expenditure..
Gary Maskell announced that by rotation, the following members of the committee were due to stand for election: Christian Fleming, Rachel Brown and Mark Derrick. They were duly re-elected en bloc. The remaining members of the committee - Gary Maskell, currently chairman, Phil Howson, currently treasurer, and Phil Merry, currently publicity and PR officer - would continue and individual roles would be decided in committee. In addition, two new members were welcomed onto the committee - Chris Chandler and Helen Macaulay.
Business Awards
The Mayor of Telscombe, Cllr Ron Maskell, presented the prizes. The main prize in each category was an inscribed glass monument, the design based on the famous Meridian Line monument.
There were three award categories; Business Person of the Year, Business of the Year and the Chairman's Prize.
Nominees for Business Person of the Year were Helen Macaulay, Chris Ogden, Chris Bray, Gary Maskell, Mark Derrick, Chris Chandler, Melanie Wilson, Simon Studd, John Lawrence, Tony Bingham, Rachel Brown, Christian Fleming, Claire Duc, Cheryl Poulter and Susanna Shakerley.
Business Person of the Year was Mark Derrick.
Awards of Merit went to Helen Macaulay and Chris Chandler.
Nominees for Business of the Year were Aztech Systems, Haven Security, Sussex Will Writing, Focus Media, Northstar IT, Helen Macauley Bookkeeper, Icon Business Solutions, Taylor Wilson. Secretary Outsource, Leads Direct, Tennyson Suite, Dane Europe, Newhaven Enterprise Centre, Barwells Solicitors, Excell Design, Jarlands, Howson & Son, J Wagstaff Ltd, PC Help, Studio Crafts and Wave Leisure.
Business of the Year was Jarlands.
Awards of Merit went to Sussex Will Writing Co and Leads Direct.
The winner of the Chairman's Prize was Chris Bray of Leads Direct
The Year Ahead
Gary Maskell outlined the committee's plans for the Chamber in the year ahead.. He confirmed there would be no Showcase this year but instead an exciting new concept called a Business Market to include a 'networking orgy'. This would be more cost-effective than a trade show with a focus on networking..
Addtionally, the Breakfast Club was continuing to go from strength to strength with further visits to the sewage works, football stadium and the Newhaven incinerator.already in the pipeline. The Golf Club would be hosting a putting competition for the Breakfast Club.
For those unable to attend breakfast, the Curry Club had been re-launched to facilitate evening networking. One of the main features for members of Peacehaven Chamber attending networking events was the fact that they always stayed around after the end of the meeting and continued to do business.
So the committee had decided to concentrate its efforts on what worked best and effectively do less in terms of events, but do what it is doing even better.
“Join the Chamber.
They said it would be the best £75 I have spent
– they were right.”
BOB WELCH (PARTNER), WASP PRINTERS
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