Naga Munchetty was excellent in her compering of the whole event.  She certainly interviewed all MP's, dignitaries, etc. in a very fair and clear manner and it certainly brought out the best in all of the speakers.  See some of the interviews on the FSB Website.

 

The South Kesteven Branch motion asking for the "FSB to call upon Her Majesty's Government to make the UK a lead country on sustained water management" was supported by the Policy Committee and action is to be taken on this matter.  The Motion was carried by Conference, well done!

 

Neil Sharpley, Chair of the East Lindsey Branch, had his attention to a presentation rewarded by winning a new computer from Dell.  Well done Neil. Unfortutunately, Jim Dixon of the Lincoln, North Hykeham & Sleaford Branch narrowly missed out on another.

 

Make a date in your diaries now for the celebration event of 40 years of the FSB next year when it is in Manchester on the 27th to 29th March 2014.  Please keep your thinking caps on for Motions to forward to the Conference Committee early next year.

 

BUT dear fellow members - Where were your votes? 1.1% of the membership nationally voted at our National AGM and this includes electronic and mailed votes.  Statistically that means just 66 members voted in our great Region - where were your votes?  Please may I ask you another question?  What do we need to do to encourage you to vote in and on the on the future of the FSB?  Sandra Dexter, our Regional Vice Chair, narrowly missed out on her mission to move from National Vice Chair to the Honorary National Chair by just 17 votes.

 

My fellow Regional and Branch Committee members and the Regional Development Manager, do give an awful amount of time in arranging events promoting political issues and our Service Providers.  We persue a lot of the issues we believe matter to and are of great importance to your business lives.  There is lobbying with local authorities, local MP's and at National level in Westminster.  I believe we have made significant steps to helping business matters.  Please take a note of our "wins" in the "A summary of work and achievements in 2012" from the FSB Policy, Press and Public Affairs".

 

The Lincolnshire Show is just around the corner and we will be situated in our usual spot on the 10th Avenue.  Come and discuss "What FSB Policy is doing for YOU" and see "What the FSB Service Providers are doing for YOU!"  Bring your views to the stand.  If you have a non-member business colleague with you at the show, who you believe would benefit from the FSB, please drop in with them to see the benefits of being a member.  There will be recruiters on hand with all the current information on the member benefits together with a number of Service Providers to refresh you of the many benefits of your membership.  Local dignitaries and FSB Personnel will be making  appearances at the show stand.

 

On a sad note - I had to wish Michael Self a very long and happy retirement from the end of March.  I appreciate this appear's to be a little late to thank Michael for his 10 + years of unstinting work for us in the press, the badgering of local authorities, on the radio and tv, etc.  He certainly was a great ambassador for the Federation and certainly did a great job fo rus as the Regional Development Manager.  Thank you Michael.  We had significant problems in finding a replacement and here's a happy note - we have a new DM joining us on the 8th April 2013.  I am sure we all wish this new person the best in this position and am sure you will make them welcome at the events around the Region in the coming months.  (No names at present subject to contract terms).

 

A series of Real Life Entrepreneurs Campaign meetings are underway around our Region and I would like to welcome you to those events where you will be able to avail yourselves of all the latest benefits available to you as a a member through our Service Providers.

 

Our FSB Connect Committee members are enthusiastically planning events around the Region.  Please see separate section for further details.

 

Please see the Branch Events Lists and website for further details throughout the Region.  Though yu may be a member of the Wash Branch, it does not preclude you from attending another Branches event i.e. Peterborough or the Lincoln Event - the more chances to extend your business base!

 

Thank you for giving the time to read this short message, you can send me an email or ring me on Tel: 01778 560507