ASSIST Ladies Networking Event - 29th September

ASSIST is a networking group for professional ladies in Tees Valley.

Our September event speaker is Anne Pink of New Horizons Coaching & Consultancy.


Anne has over 30 years experience in sales and will discuss the function of sales in business as well as providing some key tips.

The morning will start at 9:30am with a networking game to break the ice.

After the game….. we will then have the presentation -

After the presentation you will then have the opportunity for further networking.

If you are interested in attending (it's very informal and we have around 20-30 ladies at each event) please return this email with confirmation to: assistladiesnetworking@hotmail.co.uk

The cost is minimal – only £5 for members and £7.50 for non-members.

ASSIST - Top Tax Tips for Small Businesses

I've just returned from an event run by ASSIST - a networking group for professional ladies in Tees Valley (i'm on the committee).

As this event Carolyn Pedersen of Duffy Pedersen provided some Tax Tips for Small Businesses.

Did you know:

• £150 per head for a company Christmas party is deductable for tax purposes?....but £151 is not!
• a £45 pen as a customer gift with a logo is deductable but without a logo it is not!

Well, now you do.

If you'd like to come along to an ASSIST event you're more than welcome - as long as you're female and a professional lady based in the Tees Valley area!

Our next event will be at Crathorne Hall on the 29th September.

Latimer Hinks Charity Ball - Donations and Relationship Building!

Summer Charity Ball 2008 - drinks
Originally uploaded by fiveto8priestgate

Every two years Latimer Hinks organise a charity ball and this year it is to be held once again magnificent Wynyard Hall, Tees Valley on May 21st 2010.

I can hardly believe it's been two years since the last ball!

The 2008 Ball raised £10,000 and we would like to think that we can increase the amount we pass on to the charities who, like so many, have been affected by the economic downturn.

For 2010 our main charity is going to be “Help for Heroes”. No-one can fail to be impressed by the courage of the armed forces and we feel that “Help for Heroes” and all that the charity does should be supported. We will also still be supporting a number of local, smaller charities including St Teresa’s Hospice..

In 2008 we raised nearly £10,000 and intend to dramatically increase the figure for 2010

How?

1) HSBC have very kindly offered to match £ for £ monies raised on a fundraising menchanism (up to £1500). Their generosity is greatly appreciated.

2) A Charity Auction. If you feel you could donate an auction prize - perhaps a weekend break, use of a luxury car, a holiday.... etc etc we would of course be extremely grateful AND your support will be promoted in all literature, press releases, blogs (where we can also direct people to your website). We have already received a donation of tooth whitening or facial aesthetics (botox to you and I) from Elliott McCarthy Dental Care- thank you.

3) Tombola. Everyone enjoys a tombola, it's a great fundraiser and anyone can take part. Donations, again, would be greatly appreciated.

UPDATE: Our thanks go to Compugift for supplying a number of quality items for the tombola - your help and support is gratefully acknowledged!

4) Backward Bingo. Fun game, everyone can take part. Guest can purchase a bingo ticket, numbers are called out. If your numbers are among those called, you sit down. Last three standing win a prize.

5) Networking Contacts. Hopefully I can call on contacts made throughout the year through networking events in the hope that they will support/sponsor the ball. Mike Challands of MT Print has also offered to provide the design and print of tickets, program etc in return for a few tickets to the ball! Mike will benefit from exposure to around 300 high net worth business representatives at the event and will obviously have his quality print work on show and acknowledged AND we can pass the money saved on print to the charities.

This is what relationship building/networking is all about - we don't necessarily need to give business on every occasion but we can provide opportunities to expose new contacts to our networks.

If anyone reading this would be interested in sponsoring/supporting the charity ball, please let me know.

If you or your business would like exposure/ackowledgement at this prestigious black tie event, talk to me (you can use comments) and i will call you to discuss suggestions further.

Don't forget it's all for good causes!

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

ASSIST - Ladies Networking Group second meeting

July 1st is the date for the next ASSIST ladies networking event.

ASSIST is a networking group for ladies in the Tees Valley area. The aim of the group is to "help each other". ASSIST offers a "buddy system". Members will be allocated a PROFICIAM, someone to help/share knowledge with. For more information visit the ASSIST website.

There is obviously a need for this type of networking group - the launch event was a great success and a "sell out". The second event which will be held at the Thistle Hotel in Middlesbrough will hopefully attract the same numbers.

ASSIST members are given the opportunity to present/talk to attendees. Fiona Carter of CMF Solutions has very kindly offered to provide an interactive presentation on “Time Management for Those who Don't Have Time to Attend a Time Mangement Course” – we figure we all need advice in this area, how DO we make more time?!

The rest of the morning will provide an opportunity for further networking.

If you are interested in attending and are based in the Tees Valley area simply contact us at
assistladiesnetworking@hotmail.co.uk. Full details canbe found here
Cost £5 members, £7.50 non members

Networking Power - Ross & Brand Scandal

The Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand telephone scandal has hit the news big style.

Russell Brand has resigned and the BBC will be discussing whether Jonathan Ross should be sacked.

It all started out with prank calls to Andrew Sachs - Russell and Jonathan stepped over the line.

Initially 67 complaints were received by the BBC, but once the Daily Mail began their campaign to have the pair sacked the complaints rose to 18,000 upwards.

The power of Web 2, social networking and the press! You may not have heard the original radio show at the time, but there are links, sound bites, video and media coverage available for anyone to listen to and read.

They are then passed on through networks, word of mouth etc to a global audience - an audience that has the opportunity to complain - if that is what they wish to do.

I can see the number of complaints rocketing - time will tell.

Full story

Apology 27th October

Summer Charity Ball and Relationship Building

Every two years Latimer Hinks organise a charity ball and this year it is to be held at the magnificent Wynyard Hall, Tees Valley on May 16th 2008. It's an absolutely stunning venue and we have sole use - very prestigious!

The ball provides the opportunity to support the local community and for 2008 we have chosen three very worthy charities to support

• County Durham Foundation - providing a way for individuals, companies and trusts to have their own charitable funds, held in their name, to make grants to projects or individuals of their choosing


• Great North Air Ambulance - providing emergency medical cover for the North of England using helicopters to transport time critical injured or ill patients


• Make a Child Smile - supporting local children of Tees Valley, North Yorkshire & County Durham who are either sick or under-privileged

In 2006 we raised nearly £10,000 and intend to dramatically increase the figure for 2008

How?
Hopefully I can call on contacts made throughout the year through networking events in the hope that they will support/sponsor the ball. I can also seek advice from a massive knowledge base.

Yesterday I spoke with Mike Challands of MT Print who I met at a very tasty networking breakfast. Mike is not only going to advise me on banners/displays etc he has also offered to provide the design and print of tickets, program etc in return for a few tickets to the ball!

Mike will benefit from exposure to around 300 high net worth business representatives at the event and will obviously have his quality print work on show and acknowledged AND we can pass the money saved on print to the charities.

This is what relationship building/networking is all about - we don't necessarily need to give business on every occasion but we can provide opportunities to expose new contacts to our networks.

If anyone reading this would be interested in sponsoring/supporting the charity ball, please let me know.

We have yet to book a band, music (we would like string quartet or similar). Donations of champagne etc for a sponsored reception would be gratefully received. We are looking for auction prizes, raffle prizes - the list goes on!

If you or your business would like exposure/ackowledgement at this prestigious black tie event, talk to me (you can use comments) and i will call you to discuss on suggestions further.

Don't forget it's all for good causes!

Press from previous balls 2006, 2004. More Charity Ball photos

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.

Balls!

...and lots of them.

Charity Balls - they kill two birds with one stone. Firstly they provide a great networking opportunity and secondly by supporting the event worthy causes within the local community greatly benefit.

It seems to be Ball season at the moment. In October we have arranged to be at:

St Teresa's Hospice Ball - Hospice at Home, Day Care and In-patient Care for people across South Durham and North Yorkshire

The Darlington Mayors Ball - is in aid of Darlington Coronary Care Support Group and Tracheo Oesophageal Fistula Support, which provides support to families of children born with rare congenital conditions.

The Masquerade Ball - in aid of Redcar & Cleveland's Women Aid

All proceeds from the Balls go to their nominated charites. Next year will be Latimer Hinks turn to hold a Ball. Organised every two years the event is always a great success. Last year alone we raised £9,200 with the help of generous Clients, friends and family.

In 2008 we aim to increase this, but until then.. as you can see from the pic, it's a hard life.... !

Judith Middleton, Partner at Latimer Hinks attended the Mayors Ball and this is what she has to say about it!