28 July 2010 BISC Wednesday Meeting Theme : "It's not what you know, it's who you know"

Dear All

What more fitting a theme for our twice monthly meeting than one centered around networking. As a club with a large proportion of members whose livelihoods involve the art of meeting and forming relationships, it was refreshing to come together and learn a little more about the art of building a successful network.

Our very own Carole Manship ran a fabulous workshop on some of the theories behind networking using as her reference points personal experience,the experience of other members and the Malcolm Gladwell book " The Tipping Point" -that's next on my reading list!

Josie took to the floor for the second time in as many meetings; this time in the role of speaker. Not unusually for a BISC member, Josie gave her own spin to the theme for the evening,stating that it's not what you know, it's knowing yourself that matters. Thereafter followed a well structured and superbly paced speech on the theories of Myers Briggs and their take on the subject of personality types.

We welcomed one guest to the evening and hope to see him back soon !

On Tuesday evening, the board of the club for our quarterly (give or take a few weeks) committee meeting where we welcomed Steve Hopkins as secretary for 2010/2011 and Michael Chan who is the technical support behind BISC section of the GB Powertalk website and blog. Amongst items for discussion were the our current membership numbers, aims for the next year and the upcoming annual club awards which will form part of the our summer social evening on 8th September at the Thistle Hotel in Birmingham. Thanks to Lyn's networking, she's managed to secure a fabulous deal for a private barbecue for the evening-can't wait!

Our next meeting is on 11th August at 7.30pm at the Plough and Harrow,Hagley Road, Birmingham. August tends to be a quieter month for the club with the onset of the holiday season so we have opted this year not to have formal meetings but to meet for drinks in the bar for as long as anyone wishes to stay. Following our ideas workshop a few weeks ago when the suggestion was made to play Scrabble one evening, i shall be bringing my board along with me so if you're not somewhere else getting yourself a great tan, come along and join us for a game or just a drink and a chat.

See you soon !

Best wishes
Lucy Dinsdale
President of Birmingham International Speakers Club (BISC)