Fun Photo Shoot for the Bride's Ball



Joanne Gilligan (and wig!), Paula Whittaker - Brides at Poppy, Natalie Palmer and Helen Thomas, Latimer Hinks Solicitors

 What a busy day I had yesterday. In the morning I had organised for 18 of our fee earners to have their photos taken so that I could update their profiles. Quite an organisational nightmare considering the the fee earners take phone calls, have appointments and meetings. Hats off to our reception staff Michelle and Katarina for managing to locate all 18 before 12:30!

After that it was a quick dash up to Brides at Poppy. Owner, Paula Whittaker readily agreed to support our publicity campaign for The Bride's Ball at Rockliffe Hall, Sep 30th - a charity event in aid of three charities:

• St Teresa's Hospice, Darlington
• Age UK (Darlington)
• Holistic Cancer Care Centre at James Cook University Hospital

The dress code for the Bride's Ball is wedding attire. Bridal gowns for the ladies and groomswear for the men - the ultimate "dressing up" evening!

Natalie Palmer, Helen Booth and Joanne Gilligan, all employees of Latimer Hinks Solicitors were persuaded (and very easily at that) to "dress up" in bridal dresses from Brides at Poppy. The ladies at Poppys were extremely helpful in choosing a dress, headgear and footwear for each of them to wear...and my ladies were more than happy to be dressed by them!

They all looked stunning...and I must admit I was a little jealous that I had not dressed up - such beautiful dresses!

Joanne, who is undergoing treatment for breast cancer could not decide whether to wear her wig - or not... I think she looks stunning with or without!

So, many thanks to Brides at Poppy

Check out our Facebook page The Bride's Ball at Rockliffe Hall. We hope you can join us - tickets are on sale at £50 each.

See The Bride's Ball Flyer for further information

ASSIST - Social Networking & How it can Work for You

I believe i've mentioned before (a few posts earlier...) that I am on the committee of ASSIST (a support and networking group for professional ladies in the Tees Valley area).

For March, our event is entitled Social Networking and How it can Work for You

Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Blogs…..Social Networking is changing the way we market/promote business and we want ASSIST members to be aware and partcipate in these changes.

Jonathan Wheatley Managing Director of MC Ware Ltd & HD Forensics (sponsors of ASSIST), will give a short presentation on the benefits of Social Networking.
Jonathan will explain how social networking can help:

· build loyal customers with online communities
· market your product/service
· find partners to enhance your product/service and enhanced creditability
· find employees

The morning will start, as usual with a networking game to break the ice. ASSIST believe the networking game to be a unique selling point of the group. Many members have commented on how the games enable you to feel more comfortable and lessed "stressed" in a networking environment.

If you are a professional lady from the Tees Valley area and are interested in attending simply visit ASSIST and register. Places are limited

The Art of Networking - a talk

I believe i've mentioned before that I am on the committee of ASSIST (a support and networking group for professional ladies in the Tees Valley area). At the moment I am helping to organise an event entitled "The Art of Networking".

The event is going to be held jointly with Women Into the Network, a group dedicated to supporting, connecting and promoting women in business.

Wendy Parvin - owner manager of Conversations with Purpose will be facilitating

The session is for anybody who:

• needs to make new contacts
• join new groups
• meet new people
• wants network confidently and effectively.
• 
  The presentation will cover :
  Making networking work for you
• Understanding networking and what it is
• How to recognise networking opportunities
  

We'll also hold a networking game to "break the ice"

If you are a professional lady from the Tees Valley area and are interested in attending simply visit ASSIST and register. Places are limited

New Ladies Networking Group - Launch Event

Latimer Hinks, along with other committee members is helping to start up a much needed support/networking group for business women in the Tees Valley area.

If you are based in or around Tees Valley you may be interested... here is your invitation

Would you be interested in joining a targeted networking group?

A group:

• for professional and business women from the Tees Valley area?
• for like-minded individuals to meet and offer support and advice as well as exploring areas of common interest?
• To encourage networking, communication and sharing of knowledge?
  

If the answer is YES to all of the above, then please join us at the launch event of ASSIST – a support and networking group for professional ladies in the Tees Valley area.

The launch takes place at Crathorne Hall on 20th May 2009 from 9am for 9.30am until 11:00am where you will have the opportunity to find out more about ASSIST and their unique “buddy” system.

The cost is minimal - £5. Simply bring payment along on the day. However, if you need to cancel please do so 7 days prior to the event otherwise payment will still be due.

If you are interested in attending please send confirmation to: assistladiesnetworking@hotmail.co.uk

Places are limited so please hurry.

I look forward to seeing you there.

If you are unable to attend but would like to be added to the ASSIST mailing list for future events simply your request to the above address.

PS: many thanks to Crathorne Hall for their support

Networking Socially - in the Flesh!!

I've had a busy few evenings networking in a social environment, not behind a computer screen but in the flesh, so to speak.
latimerhinks.gooruze.com

Firstly, I attended the County Durham and Tees Valley Charity Awards which Latimer Hinks along with accontants Horwath Clark Whitehill, were sponsoring. It was an emotional evening for some and I was so pleased to see recognition for down to earth people who virtually singlehandedly have improved lives of those around them.

I spoke with Dorothy Bowman of Newton Aycliffe Junior Neighbourhood Watch, a lady of "just over" 80. When Dorothy saw that the children of Newton Aycliffe, a deprived area where more and more houses were being built with no thought of the children's needs were going to lose their meeting place - the Dandy Kart she and her husband came up with the idea of using a bus which they purchased and renovated to provide "The Kool Red Bus". Dorothy was previously a lorry driver so driving a bus did not pose a problem - remember this lady is over 80 years old!

Dorothy is determined to fight for the Council to give her some land so that she can build a permanent meeting place for the youngsters. She is an amazing woman, full of energy - she deserves a million awards - as do all of the winners and nominees for the Durham and Tees Valley Charity Awards.

Details of the winners

Secondly I attended Darlington Civic Theatre Gala Evening - the 100th Anniversary.

Latimer Hinks are corporate sponsors of the theatre and we share a long well established history in Darlington. Latimer Hinks Solicitors was born in 1872 and the Civic Theatre in 1907.

The Gala event was a great success (a sell out!) and thoroughly enjoyable. With guests such as Brian Conley, The Krankies, Zoe Birkett, Jane Macdonald, Journey South etc. Brian Conely was excellent and SO versatile! I was extremely surprised at how much i enjoyed the "variety type" performance.

It's never too early to organise Christmas events for our team of staff.

1) The first event for me to organise was of course, the Christmas Party. Fewer businesses these days travel the route of Christmas parties, there are so many pitfalls to avoid - they'd rather become a Scrooge than face the responsibilities of an office party.

Check out this article from last year - Avoid the Pitfalls of an Office Party

The party was organised in June - yes June! Latimer Hinks have a staff of 50 and require sole use of a venue/suitable room (with a bar!) on a Friday evening in December - it's not so easy trying to find a venue to fit this criteria - unless you want to pay a small fortune!

But, I eventually managed and Maxines Bar and Restaurant is where it's all happening in 2007

2) Christmas Gifts - Latimer Hinks staff are provided with a hamper on the penultimate day that we break up for Christmas. We've been extremely lucky with our allocated Christmas Break. The last day of work is 21st December (the Christma Party is on the evening) and we don't return until 2nd January. Everyone can relax and make the most of the party as there is no work the next day.

The hampers are bespoke, different every year and require thoughtful planning as to what goes in other than the obligatory red and white wine and chocolates.

Bountiful Baskets provide the hampers to our sepcifications and deliver to the Latimer Hinks office. The taste session in July is a treat - they come along with different cakes, biscuit, sweets etc for us to try. On one hand it's extremely beneficial to taste the produce, on the other there in invariably an increase to the old waist measurement! It's great to see the hampers on every desk in the office - it certainly feels festive and the handpackaging ensures they also look fantastic.

3) Christmas Cards - not all departments send out Christmas cards to Clients. We generally donate to a local charity. Staff can do the same, rather than send every member of staff a card a "global card" is placed in our postroom. Everyone can sign it and donate £1. The money collected is passed on to a local charity (also saves on paper wastage).

However, the Private Client department do send cards to the "little old dears" to cheer them up and wish them all the best. It's quite a challenge to choose a generic card suitable to send...until i received a sample from a company called Pop Shots Studios.
They produce a 3D Globe Card - it's fabulous - we're going to buy some for our loyal "little dears" for display on their mantlepiece!

see pic