Presidents Message
August 2011
Greetings KAHBA members,
Thanks to all the members who came to the breakfast meeting Saturday the 9th and provided valuable input in assessing where KAHBA is today and where we need to move in the future. Below are the results of the President’s “Plus Delta” Review intended to provide direction to KAHBA for the upcoming year.
+ Plus: What is KAHBA doing for its members currently?
Provides opportunities for members to:
- Meet new entrepreneurs
- Promote their business
- Acquire training in business practices and computer technology
- Practise leadership skills
- Practise presentation skills
- Network at monthly breakfast meetings
- Get referrals from other members for their products and services
Offers members inexpensive ways to experiment with marketing and promotional techniques such as:
- Advertising in local newspapers ($150)
- Having a booth in the annual KAHBA/KEDCO business showcase ($300 with $75 membership)
- Profiling their business and products on the KAHBA website (free with $75 membership)
- Using professional looking items such as monitors and display boards (under $25 per day)
- Participating in local promotional business events such as the Chamber of Commerce Business Mixers and the KEDCO Business to Business annual event
- Offering incentives to promote a business such as the KAHBA bucks
Holds regular monthly meetings and special social events that include:
- Guest speakers
- Full breakfasts, BBQs, Christmas social
- Up-to-date information on topics such as computer viruses, local events
∆ Delta: What do we need to improve or change?
| ITEM | SUGGESTIONS |
| Meeting Format | |
| Length |
Promote concise reports and introductions Hold after meeting sessions for those who want more information |
| Membership Involvement |
Plan regular member showcases or presentations Install a strategic business growth centre Encourage members to share their successes over the past month Initiate the “Perfect referral wheel” Provide space for members to advertise and promote their business |
| Business Orientation |
Reinstitute the business card box Focus guest speaker topics on business and training; provide more information versus a sales pitch |
| Breakfast Menu |
Provide a wider selection to promote healthy eating |
|
Newsletter |
|
|
Format and distribution Viability |
The publicity Committee has the newsletter under review and will provide a report at the next meeting. |
|
Membership Recruitment and Retention |
|
| Number of members |
Broaden the focus of membership recruitment to include small businesses Reinstate procedures for contacting members and past members regularly by phone Increase KAHBA exposure |
| Attendance at meetings | Re-examine meeting format |
| Retention |
Create an orientation package Revisit the production of the Gold Pages |
| Web-Site Usage |
Provide regular training sessions Include use of Skype, Linkedin etc. to increase member-to-member communication |
| Membership participation |
Encourage the use of sub-committees Increase group advertising opportunities Plan more social networking events Offer incentives – e.g. member-to-member or for bringing a guest |
As mentioned at the last meeting, we will continue this discussion at the August meeting, with a view to creating a plan to address the issues outlined above in a purposeful, systematic way in order to continue to polish and refine our practices and our image in the community.
Since the future of the Legion on Montreal Street will be in question over the next while, please watch for any emails that might indicate a change of venue for our meeting. At the moment, the plan is to meet at our regular location and have the breakfast catered by one of our members. Hope to see you in August.
Regards
Lorayne Bradshaw