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Meeting held in May 2008
Guest Speaker: Rachel Chai from the Ryder Cheshire Volunteers
Over 35 members attended this month's meeting and whilst it was
one of our smaller gatherings, it was perfectly formed!
The attendees heard from Rachel Chai who gave a very interesting
presentation about the work Ryder Cheshire Volunteers undertake
in the Cherwell region, with particular focus on:
RCV - what is it and and what does it do?
How RCV makes a difference, including some local case histories
Where RCV volunteers come from
The morning raised £45.00 to the Ryder Cheshire Volunteers,
so many thanks for your generosity.
View the May Newsletter
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Rachel Chai |
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Meeting held in April 2008
Guest Speaker: Phil Dourado from the Leadership Hub
Over 55 members attended this month's meeting and heard from Phil
Dourado from the Leadership Hub. Phil gave a very inspiring presentation
about 'What Makes Great Leaders' covering:
THREE STORIES illustrating what great leaders do
SIX KEY areas to developing your own leadership and the leadership
of the people who you work with and for you
As well as, challenging you to agree to IMPROVE ONE THING you do as
a leader, and to embed that new practice as a habit over the coming
month.
The morning raised £52.13 to the Katherine House Hospice, so many
thanks for your generosity.
View the April Newsletter |
Phil Dourado
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Meeting held in March 2008
Guest Speaker: Jacqueline Rawlings - Train to Gain
Jacqueline gave an excellent insight into the free training available
for businesses across the UK through 'Train to Gain'. As well as
presenting ideas on how continually training employees can help
businesses improve their productivity and competitiveness. If you
would like to find out more about Train to Gain and the options
available, please visit www.traintogain.gov.uk or email jacqueline.rawlings@traintogainse.co.uk.
View the March Newsletter
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Jacqueline Rawlings
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Meeting held in February 2008
Over 60 members attended this month's meeting and heard from Ruth
Robinson, Principal and Nick Davies, Chair of the Local Governing
Board from North Oxfordshire Academy.
Ruth and Nick gave an excellent presentation about the North Oxfordshire
Academy, which opened it's gates for the first time last year. The
attendees were given an insight into the background of the Academy,
the changes and progress that it has made since its opening and the
successes and challenges it continues to face.
For more information about the North Oxfordshire Academy,
please visit: http://www.northoxfordshire-academy.org/
View the February Newsletter |
Ruth Robinson
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Meeting held in January 2008
Guest Speaker: Tony & Sue Melia for the Bwengu Village Project
The Banbury Business Breakfast Club kicked off the year with an
update from Tony and Sue Melia from Warwickshire about the Bwengu
Village Project, the Malawi-based school building and development
project.
The dedicated couple talked us through their experiences and gave
us an insight into what it is like to live in a North African village,
as well as showing how the money donated from members of the BBBC
has helped the project develop and change so many lives in the Malawi
village.
For more information on the project please visit www.bwenguprojects.co.uk
or to make a donation please email Tony and Sue Melia at: bwenguprojects@yahoo.co.uk
View the January Newsletter
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Bwengu Village Project
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Meeting held in December 2007
Over 130 members and students from three local secondary schools attended
this month's meeting and heard from Holocaust survivor, Jack Kagan.
Jack gave an excellent presentation and a very moving talk about the
horrors of being a Jew living in German occupied Poland during World
War II. Jack does not speak much these days as he finds it very hard
and emotional, so I am sure all members who attended are in full agreement
that we were very privileged to hear such historical recollections
first hand from such an amazing person.
The morning raised over £185.22 for the London Jewish Cultural Centre,
so many thanks for your generosity.
View the December Newsletter |
Jack Kagan |
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Meeting 187 held on 1st November
Guest Speaker: Geoff Bell, Flood Risk Manager of the Environment
Agencies Thames Region.
Geoff gave an excellent presentation and a very clear insight into
the roles and responsibilities of the Environment Agency with respect
to flooding. He explained how dealing with flooding has changed
from simply building flood defences to flood risk management, including
development control, flood warning and improving flood resilience
of our homes, businesses and general infra-structure. The morning
raised over £60 for the Water Aid charity, so many thanks for your
generosity.
View the November Newsletter
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Geoff Bell
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Meeting 186 held on 4th October
2007
Over 70 members attended this month's meeting and heard from John
Dean, Chief Executive of British Shops and Stores Association. John
gave an excellent presentation and a very clear insight into some
of the problems that face the high street, where the stores have to
battle with internet shopping and now supermarkets. On top of this
the SME's have to compete against the highly commercialised chain
stores and in order to stay above water the owners are also expected
to be trained and educated in all areas of the business, including
dealing with complex staffing issues, marketing and managing budgets
and cost issues, which as you would have thought is not always the
case. Undoubtedly the high street has changed dramatically over the
years and is expected to continually do so. The morning raised over
£60 for charity, so many thanks for your generosity.
View the October Newsletter |
John Dean |
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Meeting 185 held on 6th September 2007
Speed Networking
Over 50 members attended this month's meeting to join in the frenzy
of speed networking. There was no formal speaker so after a feast
of eggs and bacon, members formed two lines to embark on their speed
networking experience. The whistle was blown, the chatter began
and business cards were exchanged. In the short time frame the members
managed to have 15 three minute conversations. Although, everyone
was out of breath and in need of some water it was agreed that the
meeting was extremely useful and beneficial.
Ken Norman who is running the Great North Run at the end of September
in aid of cystic fibrosis nominated the charity to be the recipients
of the donation bucket. A total of £60.70 was raised. Good luck
Ken and many thanks to all for your generosity.
View the September Newsletter
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Meeting 184 held
on 2nd August 2007
Over 60 Breakfast Club members attended this month's meeting and heard
from Peter Gorbing,
Chief Executive of Dogs for the Disabled.
Peter gave an excellent presentation and one that was very emotional
and thought provoking.
The attendees were given an insight into how the charity builds on
Labradors and Retrievers ability
and enthusiasm. The dogs are then trained to put this in to action
and help disabled people live
life more independently.
The presentation ended with a two minute video of Daniel, aged 11
and his dog Yogi. Daniel,
stated: "I used to feel like I was trapped in a box and couldn't get
out. My dog has made me feel free."
If the charity can help one person feel like this, let alone hundreds,
than it is completely worth supporting.
Dogs for the Disabled are continually looking for financial backing
and voluntary support, if you are interested
in helping, please contact Peter Gorbing on 08700 776 600 or info@dogsforthedisabled.org
The morning raised over £100 for the charity, so many thanks for your
generosity.
View the August Newsletter |
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Meeting 182 held on 29th June 2007
Guest Speaker: Sir Digby Jones
The first ever Oxfordshire Mega Breakfast was a huge success with
nearly 150 attendees. Banbury Business Breakfast Club, Witney breakfast
Club and Chipping Norton 729 Club joined forces to host the brekkie
in aid of Oxfordshire Cheshire Home Appeal.
Sir Digby Jones, former director of the CBI was the candid speaker of
the morning and definitely did not fall short of surprises and amusement.
Sir Digby gave an excellent presentation about the ins and outs of the
British Industry, as well as exclusively revealing his appointment as
Minister of State for Trade and Investment. Sir Digby received the news
from the new Prime Minister, Gordon Brown the night before and was going
to be formally announced straight after the breakfast.
He also exclusively revealed that he has been made a life peer and
will be senior minister for business in the House of Lords.
View the July Newsletter
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Sir Digby Jones
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Meeting 181 held on 3rd May
2007
Guest Speaker: Sir William Stubbs
Our guest speaker was Sir William Stubbs, the Chairman of the Oxford
Radcliffe Hospital NHS Trust. Sir William gave a very clear insight
into some of the problems that are faced in running a business, which
not only has to cope with huge budgets and very complex staffing issues,
but also a situation where demand will always outstrip supply. If
you missed this meeting, you missed a very good one.
View the May Newsletter |
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