Chairman’s blog Thursday 3rd April 2025

The first meeting after the clocks moved forwards by one hour. The initial darker morning gave way to glorious sunshine. It somehow made you feel healthier and certainly, the turnout of 21 members was healthy enough to set up a vibrant meeting. Such was her enthusiasm that Jane Malyon turned up before 6:00 AM and found the gate shut. Her enthusiasm was rewarded by her topping the Member Sign-in Sheet You could sense her excitement as she had written above her entry on said Sheet, ‘well done’ but on closer examination, I think it was a description of how she wanted a sausage cooked.

The Performance League & Education Presentation

It was a morning of fusion. Scott Griffiths combined the two presentations with confirming that not only was Matt Barry last month’s league winner but before one week was over he was still out front ahead of Paul Dulieu and Terry Maylin on 124 points.

The greater part of the fused presentation however was an excellent exposition of the workings of the Performance League itself. It’s not just a first short point on the agenda. It goes to the heart of who we are and how we operate. It reflects all of our activities, it sets a benchmark of points that is easily achieved if you turn up regularly and pass only one referral a month.

He was able to demonstrate how the points can be amassed and managed to prove that it was not an exercise by him in the dark arts. Hopefully we are all a little wiser as to how the league works and the importance of recording our activities.

Not only is it a helpful discipline but it gives us accurate statistics to enable us to make genuine claims when we report annually to the meeting. Visitors can see tangible and credible statistics that will encourage them to join.

The 60 Second Round

This week was slightly unusual in that we had joint winners of the Oscar from last week, namely James (soft boy) Humphreys and Leann Reason. James volunteered for the adjudication and we also had a volunteer manning the bell, namely Podcast Paul in the absence of the Mayor of Gants Hill Village. Things soon settled down with Barry Matt reversing names and giving a thumbnail sketch of his companies expertise, including social media guidance which is proving very effective.

Melissa warned that HMRC are cracking down, with more winding ups through their enforcement of tax arrears than in previous years. If all of this sounded like pie in the sky, it was a suitable introduction for Toby Acton to tell us about a great night out he had experienced star gazing in Buckinghamshire. The experience was substantially enhanced by the explanation given to what he could see by someone in the know. Proof of this is that he now knows His Nebula from his Milky Way. And of course it was a great opportunity for him to metaphorize his experience in the guidance that he gives to his clients as a business coach.

If Toby’s offering was slightly bizarre it was immediately outdone by Paul Corrigan who declared that he is sponsoring amongst other things the Maldon Mud Race. For those regular attendees of this annual sporting event, watch for the shower block that he is constructing. If only it had been there when the Vikings invaded…..

Not only did we have the alliterative Ben Golding declaring his Company’s ‘Bill  Busting Boost’ but he declared the new month to be ‘Awesome April’.

Blake Hammond is becoming a go to for personalised gifts. Ben Golding was sporting mugs personalised in a likeness of his dogs but Blake has managed to produce some rather attractive coasters advertising Ammo Hive. His positive attitude in always trying to develop his company quite rightly won him the Oscar although as this was not announced until the end of the round it did not deter other enthusiastic offerings. For example Podcast Paul abused his position as time keeper by going around the group handing out his new business cards… which do look smart! Joshua has just moved into a studio with another architect and is thereby able to expand what he is offering and it’s quality. Leann Reason was talking colour and bringing it into the home. Dark grey is this year’s neutral, or is it the other way round…

Dave Roberts was the only one to use a prop and he produced a very attractive box that he described as a ’surge protector’. It sounded slightly more important than Jane Malyon’s explanation as to how to cut a square sandwich. I wasn’t sure whether origami was a spread or a method of folding paper but you need none of this if you get a square loaf. In other words a’ Square Tin’ not a ‘Bloomer’

As the casual reader will no doubt I have observed, glorious sunshine heralds a glorious meeting.

10-minute presentation by Kory Martin

This was a first for Kory Martin. It was an exemplary approach to your first encounter with educating the group. With a sensible use of the television he gave us his back story which was an interesting introduction to where he is now. A couple of surprisingly intelligent questions then drew out from him aspects of the service that he can provide as a Courier and Storer. Congratulations Kory!!