Faye chaired this evening’s club meeting at Cilantro where we enjoyed a fabulous 3 course meal with cheese being focused and included in each course in various guises. Sam performed Invocation, and Helen N performed the Loyal Toast. Faye welcomed her son, Scott, our guest speaker, and daughter Kate, husband Ken, guests Rotarian Liz DeNitts and daughter Loretta, our former exchange student to Finland, and welcomed other member partners – Sarah , Warren and Gary.
PRESIDENT ANNOUNCEMENTS – President Ron
Bentleigh Market – Ron thanked Julie and the team who had some challenges at last Sunday’s market and handled with professionalism.
Big Tennis – Ron thanked members who volunteered for last Sunday’s Big Tennis competition – despite there being a miscommunication with start times.
Club Forum – next week’s meeting on 8/11 will be a club forum, and an opportunity for members to bring ideas, suggestions and raise topics for club discussion.
Board Meeting – the next board meeting will be Monday 13/11.
GUEST SPEAKER – Scott Weeks – Business Consultant
Scott is a business consultant providing a range of consulting services to businesses wishing to improve processes and maximise their opportunities. Scott opened with his background of school (dux), attending university where he graduated with an accounting degree, followed by studying financial planning and attending Harvard University. Scott’s working path commenced at age 16 at McDonald’s which he recalls was a great experience for inspiration and ideas, and following his tertiary studies, work has been in a variety of roles – working with large corporates, then small businesses, and now with his accumulated business knowledge, culminating in running his own business as a consultant. Scott outlined the business trends that have escalated since post Covid, and highlighted the changes that have come about as a result. The business world has changed dramatically in many ways – including customer online interaction, work environments adopting a hybrid working model, outsourcing processes and services offshore, recruitment and onboarding processes with challenges recruiting and retaining skilled staff, and advanced technology including the introduction of AI and Chat GPT. With the advancement of technology and online services, there is an increased need for cyber security, and businesses are investing heavily to keep their businesses secure. To keep abreast of current times, businesses need to embrace and keep on top of technology to maximise their opportunities as more business is conducted online in a future of paperless processes, social media and use of AI. Scott ended his presentation with a fun audience interactive exercise using AI with a survey of simple questions everyone responded to using their mobile with results being processed immediately and projected onto the wall - it was both entertaining and amazing to witness, and provided a taste of what is possible. Thank you Scott for your dynamic presentation that was very informative and enjoyed by everyone.
CLUB ANNOUNCEMENTS
High Tea at the Healey - Sunday 12/11 – Faye
- Faye reminded members of the High Tea at The Healey on Sunday 12/11 and encouraged members to book. The project is a combined effort involving all the club’s committees with much work and effort happening in the background over many months. Everything is ready to go – however, missing is more bookings, if members could please come and bring their family/friends.
Mahjong – Samantha
- There is no Mahjong for tomorrow evening (2/11). The social committee will convene to consider the future of this activity going forward.
Club End of Year Event - Sunday 10/12 – Samantha
- This year’s event will be held at Dendy Park Café, Brighton for a fully catered BBQ lunch 1pm – 4pm. A flyer with more details will follow.
Rosters – Ron
- Next week’s rosters for the market and next week’s meeting were announced.
President Ron closed the meeting, encouraging club members to come to next week’s meeting with ideas and suggestions / topics for discussion on how to make our club better for all concerned.
