Hello 2009! One thing that is constant is change and the results of that change is what makes us who we are today and what we are to become tomorrow. With that being said, I agree with Deepak Chopra in saying that we should embrace uncertainty this year and love every minute of it.

I suppose I’m going to jump right into this article as I am with this year and business. A few questions to ponder- are you Twittering? What is the latest post on your blog? Any new status updates on your Facebook page? How about ChaCha? Now Youtube everyone knows right? Hopefully you have an answer to at least one of these questions. If not it is most certainly worth the time and effort to find and have the answers to these questions. Serveys show that the highest number of people on the Internet it between the hours of 9 am and 5pm.

OK Let’s start with Twitter. Twitter defined by Twitter is- “a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?”

Now on to Facebook, what exactly is Facebook anyway?
“Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. Millions of people use Facebook everyday to keep up with friends, upload an unlimited number of photos, share links and videos, and learn more about the people they meet.”, as defined by Facebook themselves. Open a free account at www.facebook.com

What the heck is ChaCha besides a dance? That’s what I said when I first heard someone talking about it. ChaCha is “conversational, fun, and easy to use. Simply ask your question like you are talking to a smart friend and ChaCha’s advanced technology instantly routes it to the most knowledgeable person on that topic in our Guide community. Your answer is then returned to your phone as a text message within a few minutes. ChaCha is much more helpful to mobile phone users than typical computer-driven search engines.” This is a great tools for people on the go. Go ahead and try it can you find yourself or your company through ChaCha? www.chacha.com

What I have been talking about are technology driven marketing tools. Nope they are not just for kids and their silly videos or just talking with friends. But are they? The technology that our youth today embraces we can also embrace as marketing tools for connecting with friends, family, clients, art directors, newspapers, magazines. You name it the possibilities are endless! As people choose to stay around the their homes more in the coming year due to the ecomonic climate- remember they still have their computers and communication devices that they are always on in some way, shape or form. From the laptop to the iphone people are easier than ever to find. And you don’t need the typical promo card.

Article courtesy

www.TracyRasinskiPhotography.com

Isabella Penna from Swanland

 There may not have been room for Joseph and Mary at the Inn but there’s plenty of room for them and two special guests at Heritage Landscape Centre, which has been transformed for the festive period into Heritage Christmas World!

Children from all over East Yorkshire have been flocking to meet two donkeys who are visiting Heritage Christmas World in Melton during the Christmas season.

BNI member and Director of Heritage Landscape Centre, Ian Ashbridge, built them their own stable and invited Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus to stay with them!

“We absolutely love Christmas here at Heritage and there’s nothing better to get you into the Christmas spirit than to see the smiles on the children’s faces when they meet the donkeys and see all the Christmas trees and lights. It makes it all worth while.”

3 year old Daniel Brown and his father Nathan from Swanland

Carol Ellis, from Leconfield, who works for Hull City Council, said:

Thomas Ashbridge with Huckleberry

“I wasn’t at all feeling Christmassy until I visited The Heritage Christmas World and now I can’t wait to get the tree up and I’m rearing to go. The donkeys are so cute!”
Little Isabella Penna of Swanland said:

“I really liked seeing the donkeys and feeding them some carrots”.

And after you’ve visited the nativity scene you can buy your Christmas tree at the same time! There are hundreds to choose from and you won’t be disappointed! Then wander through the Christmas Cabin to see reindeer, polar bears and the North Pole Express.

Singer/songwriter Jess Bannister performed at BNI Wilberforce to a spellbound audience!

She’s been described as the female answer to James Morrison and, for one morning only (!), she gave a special breakfast performance to Hull’s Wilberforce chapter!Â

The 18 year old burst onto the music scene last year after winning the Hull Daily Mail’s Talent Trail. Accolades have followed her and she now has a loyal following around East Yorkshire.

Jess said: “Everyone here at BNI Wilberforce has been so kind and welcoming. I already have a nice grounding of gigs in restaurants and coffee bars, but I’ve really enjoyed performing at corporate events and this being a meeting of local businesses, I’m hoping to get some referrals.”

Members were spellbound by her performance and she did, indeed, receive a number of referrals – and many more will no doubt follow!Â

Andrew Crozier said: “We like to do things a little differently! Jess was fantastic and it was a real treat, not just for members, but for our other visitors that day, who were all extremely impressed.  It certainly introduced an extra dimension to our meeting and it was a great way of promoting BNI!”

This letter can be used when inviting visitors:

——————————————–
Mrs. Susan Squillionaire
Managing Director
Spiffing Widgets Limited
Acomb

Dear Susan,

Many thanks for speaking with me earlier. As discussed, my business group meet on Tuesday morning at The Village Hull.

I have provisionally reserved you a place on the 9th and 16st December and will call you later to discuss which date suits you best.

In the mean time I have circulated your details to the group to make them aware of who you are and what you do so that they may consider opportunities for you before your visit…

Kind regards

Oliver Hudson of Hudsons Estate Agents is to take a starring role in a new television series on Sky TV.

Real Estate TV, the UK’s only dedicated property television channel, approached Hudsons in October to take part in The Great British Property Review, due to be shown on our screens early next year.

The series consists of 20 half hour programmes, each show being based on a different city or area that has great opportunities for buying or investing in properties – and yes, you’ve guessed it, one of the cities is Hull!

 Two days of filming took place earlier in the month. Oliver, who was one of two estate agents chosen, had to “show” the camera around a property and was then interviewed back at his office on The Weir in Hessle.

 Oliver said: “I had a great time! After Phil and Kirsty hammered Hull a few years ago on Channel 4, placing it as the worst place to live in the country, it was fantastic to have the opportunity to show the great properties and opportunities that this area has to offer.”Â

Some of the filming took place here at Hudsons Estate Agents, The Weir, Hessle

 The Great British Property Review is being billed as a short, upbeat and optimistic show and is designed to show off each city to its best potential.Â

Hudsons and the city of Hull will be seen by over 21 million viewers in the UK and Ireland and to millions more across Europe.

The Hull programme is expected to be shown in February 2009.Â

By thinking pink to fight breast cancer, Kingston Mobile Telecom are also hoping their fundraising will help reduce waiting times for cancer patients.Â

Margaret Pridmore, Director of the Hull company and a strong supporter of local cancer charities, was delighted to help Castle Hill Hospital when they approached her to raffle off a pink mobile phone to raise vital funds for its Breast Care Unit. Â

Anne-Marie Taylor, Superintendent Radiographer at Castle Hill’s Breast Care Unit, said:

Fundraising efforts by Kingston Mobile Telecom

Â

“We are extremely grateful for the kind donation of a pink mobile phone from Kingston Mobile Telecom. The money raised from this and some other events during the month of October will go towards our Patient Pathway Scheme which aims to make what is always a difficult experience more pleasureable for the patients.”

The Patient Pathway Scheme is all about ensuring that cancer patients are seen and treated within 18 weeks. Castle Hill Hospital has been one of the pilot sites established across England to run programmes, projects and initiatives to make this a reality. The idea is to reduce waiting times for patients during the diagnostic and treatment phases of care as well as to improve patient access to services.

Margaret bought a box of pink shrimp sweets. All you have to do is pay £1 and whoever correctly guesses the number of shrimps in the box, wins a Samsung G600 phone!  There are boxes of pink shrimps in both the main reception of the breast care unit and the reception at Kingston Mobile Telecom and there are still a few days left if you fancy your chances – the closing date is November 30th!Â

Watch this space to find out who the lucky winner is – and more importantly how much money was raised for this life-saving cause.

Â

 Â

Fundraising Efforts by Kingston Mobile Telecom

Here’s a riddle for you! What do pink ribbons, pink shrimps and a pink telephone have in common? Well, it’s all part of Kingston Mobile Telecom’s fundraising efforts for Castle Hill Hospital’s Breast Cancer Care Unit!

As we all know, October was Breast Cancer Awareness month when thousands of people around the world, including celebrities, sportspeople and politicians, wear a pink ribbon not only to raise money to help find an effective treatment for breast cancer, the second most deadly form of human cancer, but also to raise awareness that it exists all around us.

In Hull, Margaret Pridmore, Director of Kingston Mobile Telecom and a strong supporter of local cancer charities, was eager to help Castle Hill Hospital when they approached her to raffle off a pink mobile phone to raise vital funds for its Breast Care Unit. Staying with the “pink” theme, Margaret bought a box of pink shrimp sweets. All you had to do was pay £1 and whoever correctly guesses the number of shrimps in the box, wins a Samsung G600 phone!  Â

As well as having a box of pink shrimps in both the main reception of the breast care unit and the reception at Kingston Mobile Telecom, Margaret called on her fellow BNI Wilberforce members to join in the raffle at one of their regular Tuesday morning meetings in an effort to raise as much money as possible.

There’s still time to try your luck – the closing date is November 30th! We’ll update you with the results as soon as they are in …….so watch this space to find out who the lucky winner is – and more importantly how much money was raised for this life-saving cause.

The Hull BNI Wilberforce chapter website has recently gone live, as has the BLOG, and over the coming months members from this successful chapter of 5 years will be regularly posting articles about success stories within the chapter, member news as well as relevant news from around the world.

Watch this space!

Shane Beardsley
Managing Director and IFA with Kirk Ella Investments Ltd