BNI is supporting this Networking week and we (the Sussex Chapters) were

encouraged by Andrew Hall to invite to our meeting someone who would not

normally be interested in joining BNI but could benefit the group by

networking. He suggested a celeb.

Personally, I feel why would a celeb get up early to meet us unless it could

benefit them. Pet shop has Carla Lane on his books who runs an animal

sanctuary and so uses him and always needs local tradesman etc.

Unfortunately it seems she is unlikely to be able to come.

I felt that why not invite someone from the local community who might get

benefit from meeting us and who could possible put some business our way for

at least some of us. Obvious choices would be the Martlets shopping centre

and Oakmeeds school or Burgess Hill School to name a few. Various

members already do business with the first two but to my knowledge none of

us work regularly with BHS. It seemed a logical choice also as they are

trying to forge links with the local community (amongst other things, they

hold several pensioners tea parties a year which some of us may be eligible

to attend), so why not business community.

Through my wife (who is deputy head there) I have been able to give a few

referrals to members, but the man with the real spending power for many of

our areas is the Bursar, who has agreed to attend.

If anyone has other suggestions I would be pleased to hear them as this is

perhaps a thing we could continue, say once a month. It can't do any harm

afterall.

Regards

Phil