February Extraordinary General Meeting Minutes

General Meeting

9 February 2022
Held at Harrington Grove Country Club

The meeting was opened at 6.30pm

Welcome & President’s Report – Steve Moore, President

Steve welcomed everyone to the first meeting of 2022.  He acknowledged the traditional owners of the land.  He welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Sadly Steve advised the meeting that Chamber member Harry Hunt OAM passed away that morning.  A minutes silence was held in honour of Harry.  Steve highlighted the significant contribution of Harry Hunt to The Greater Narellan Business Chamber as a long term sponsor. He was an instrumental figure in several other business organisations in South West Sydney including Liverpool Chamber and the South West Sydney Tourism Taskforce.  The thoughts of the Chamber are with his family during this difficult time.

The Board has been working hard to deliver continued value to all members through the omicron outbreak, if there is anything further to be done please reach out

Steve highlighted the current available support from the state and federal governments

Borders are due to open and we are beginning to learn to live with the virus, the outlook is improving for local businesses.

Apologies

Tony Perich AM – Greenfields Development Company Pty Ltd
Arnold Vitocco – Narellan Town Centre
Kirsti Reynolds – RubyOnyx Marketing & Creative

Secretary’s Report – Roland Blackstone, Secretary

Roland advised the Minutes from 10 November were on the website.  The Minutes were moved by Jean Alim, seconded by Karina Rauch and accepted.  Any business arising please see Roland Blackstone, Secretary.

Treasurer’s Report – Karina Rauch, Treasurer

Karina presented the Treasurers Report as of 31 January 2022.  Total income for the 3 months to 31 January $27,618, plus the COVID19 Grant of $15,000, total expenses $29,755, net profit for the 3 months $12,882.  Current cash at bank is $122,695.  The report was moved by Roland Blackstone, seconded by Jean Alim and accepted.

EGM Vote – Rahul Lachman of Marsdens Law Group

Rahul presented the changes to the Constitution and why they were happening – see attached Summary Table.  Voting papers were handed out to each business as they signed in to the meeting.  He reminded the meeting that a Constitution is an evolving document.

The vote will require 75% of business’ present or by proxy.

Proxy’s were provided to the President by Greenfields Estate, Narellan Town Centre and RubyOnyx Marketing & Creative.

Rahul thanked Debbie Roberts for being the Scrutineer and Karina Rauch for assisting.

Membership Update – Sandra Bartlett, Membership Director

Current financial membership is 124 financial, 5 life members, 26 sponsors and contra sponsors, CIN 1 member and 4 new members, 13 renewals awaiting decision or payment. 

Of this is 1 new member that has been reviewed and approved by the Board – Australia Post Narellan Branch.

Member spotlight was presented by Coutts Lawyers & Conveyancers

Member Shout Outs:

• Alison Attard of BNI Sydney South West thanked Sandra Bartlett of Stairway 2 Dreams
• Sandra Bartlett as Membership Director thanked Wendy White for being the efficient and ever approachable Administration Assistant
• Joshua Phipps of Fusion Shutters and Blinds thanked Vickie Gregson of Gift Linx

Sandy reminded the meeting and its members what some of their inclusions are as membership of the Chamber – Business NSW Alliance Partnership.

Member Spotlight promo draw for March 2022 meeting – Sam Por of Community First Credit Union.

Members Facebook promo draw for March 2022 – Joshua Phipps of Fusion Shutters and Blinds.

Local Update – Brad Hannigan, CEO of Lifeline Macarthur and Western Sydney

We exist so no person in Australia has to face their darkest moments alone.

Lifeline Annual Dinner for 2022 is on March 25^th at Ottimo House Denham Court.

What’s On – Carla Upfill, Meetings Director

Carla advised the following upcoming events:

• Meals on Wheels Camden Trivia Night, Saturday, 19 March at Camden Civic Centre
• 2022 Carnival of Miracles at Club Menangle on Saturday, 5 March
• Carrington Care Morning Tea and Information Session for their new Riverview Assisted Living Apartments on 24 February from 10am
• Campbelltown Chamber of Commerce on 16 February from 6pm at Campbelltown Catholic Club.
• Camden Wedding Expo on 19 February at Camden Civic Centre from 10am-2pm
• Gregory Hills Nex-Gen Rotary Vocational Excellence Awards on 30 March

Sponsorship Update – Nicole Cusack, Sponsorship Director

Nicole introduced the following sponsors for their presentations:

Silver Sponsor Presentation – Carla Upfill, Carrington Care

Bronze Sponsor Presentation – Renee Garcia of CRG Plumbing & Maintenance

Bronze Sponsor Presentation – Sam Por of Community First Credit Union

Speaker Presentation

Carla Upfill welcomed and introduced Tony Nash, Founder and CEO of Booktopia.

My Credentials – the good, the bad and the ugly

Entrepreneur – We make the invisible visible.  I believe everyone is an entrepreneur

The Universal Hack – “Entrepreneur” comes from the French words “to enter” and “take”

My Gold Ingots – These are the building blocks of our business, my invitation today is to consider them:

• Asking?  The quality of your life is determined by the quality of the questions you ask
• Customers – What do they want?
• $1.00 – Focus on the cash
• Focus on the sales – Place your bills behind you
• Cats & Dogs – Intensity of focus
• Double Win/Win – Everyone must win to create a sustainable model
• Build It To Sell It – Asset creation
• You Are Not Your Car – That Maserati moment
• Break It Up – In-tuition, Dis-appointment
• Bring It On – Riding the emotional rollercoaster of business
• Competition – Improve your peripheral vision
• Measure Everything – If you cant measure it how do you know its working?
• Just Do It – Check out www.booktopia.com.au or archive.org
• Add Value – Will shops survive?  I get asked this all the time.
• Think in 3-D – You have to think outside the cube

Entrepreneurs Rock!

Tony was really impressed and inspired to come out to the South West, it’s a great way to see the future.

One piece of advice – focus on the customers and maybe find a niche.

Q&A session:

• Rob Elliott asked if you had a self written book do you go to a publisher or self publish
  • Booktopia represents publishers.  To self publish you’ve got to do all the jobs, a publisher builds your brand.
• Lachlan Gelder of Marsdens asked why would you leave a secure income, and why books
  • Ignorance and I can do it better
    Needed to follow the cash, the barrier to a lot of things was too high and so many fear to tread.
• Sandra Bartlett asked how does Tony Nash wind down
  • Sudoku is great as he is ADHD

EGM Ballot Results – Steve Moore

Steve announced that 45 ballots were handed out, 42 were returned with the results of:

40 in favour
1 against
1 abstain

With a favourable vote the Constitution will now be updated.

Lucky Door Prize

Hamper donated by Carrington Care won by Brianna of Coutts Lawyers & Conveyancers

Wine donated by Community First Credit Union won by Megan of Wakeling Automotive and Jade of Marsdens Law group

Toilet paper and bag donated by CRG Plumbing won by Sue Robinson of The Strictly Limited Group

Closing Remarks – Steve Moore

Steve thanked everyone attending and supporting the EGM.

Thank you Harrington Grove Country Club and the Chamber sponsors.

The next meeting will be on 9 March at Wests Lakeside, celebrating Small Business Month with guest speaker Leanne Faulkner, founder of Billie Goat Soap.

There being no further business, the meeting was closed at 8.40pm.

Business’s that attended the EGM:

4K Automotive

Access Law Group

Achieving Solutions Counselling and Mediation Services

Alpha IT Solutions

BNI Sydney South West

Camden Council

Camden Mowing

Carrington Care

Century 21

Choice Seedlings Pty Ltd

Club Menangle

Coleman Greig Lawyers

Community First Credit Union

Coutts Lawyers & Conveyancers

David Harvey Auctions

Debbie Roberts Consulting

CRG Plumbing

DEED Consulting

Fusion Shutters & Blinds

Gem Complete Health Services

Home Loan Hub

Imageology Photography

Jones XL

Kelly Partners (South West Sydney) Pty Ltd

KIJA Digital

Lifeline Macarthur and Western Sydney

Marsdens Law Group

Narellan Smash Repair

Nictricious

PestGo

Radi Electrical

SipTel Pty Ltd

Sparkling Voices

Stairway 2 Dreams

SWNG Narellan

The Strictly Limited Company

Wakeling Automotive

Wests Group Macarthur

Windy Hills Farm

Youth Solutions