November Comment

Welcome to November! And yes, its a day early for those reading this on the 31st, but we thought we'd get in before the Melbourne Cup and all that jazz!

For the Schmooze team its full steam ahead with several great events for you, and planning our expanded 2012 program.

We're also looking to add some additional events for the summer break of a social / informal nature and so don't think we turn the lights off at the end of month.

Please see the articles below on getting in touch with us to see how we can work together over summer and next year.

I had the honour recently of being profiled in the Canberra Times's In the City Magazine Summer Edition that will be out shortly. They were interested in my thoughts and philosophy behind Schmooze. I made the point that its evolved over eight years into a vibrant and supportive community, and its a collaborative space with a range of opportunities for our members and guests - what they make of it is up to them.

As we come up to our 8th Birthday (and 99th monthly Schmooze) I think our best is yet to come, and its thanks to you that we've come this far.

Phillip A. Jones

Director & Founder

Featured Cause for November: L'Arche Genesaret

Our featured cause for November is L’Arche Genesaret.  

L'Arche is a support organisation that focusses on the community!  Each community around the world is made up of family style homes where people with an intellectual disability and assistants live together to create a home in an atmosphere of friendship, mutuality and belonging.  L’Arche was started in France in 1964 and is now represented through more than 137 communities in some 40 countries.

L’Arche Genesaret is the full name of the local L’Arche community here in Canberra.  In Canberra the community consists of 3 houses and 2 flats accommodating 13 people with a disability.  Each household is supported by assistants, live-out community members, friends, families and a local Board.  The Board works with members to ensure the maintenance and long term security of the community and the organisation. 

As we look to the future, with an ageing core membership and increasing demands from the wider Canberra community to welcome additional members into the L’Arche family, the Board must also find new ways to strengthen the community’s long term viability.

Every year creates challenges for the Community and the Board to raise sufficient funds to cover the gap between Government money, member contributions and the overall costs. 

Looking ahead there are some particular challenges for L'Arche with a pressing need for maintenance in several of the homes and also a requirement to replace a very aged car!  Fortunately L'Arche has some very valued, regular supporters but these challenges will place additional pressure on this small, local organisation.

Get Involved

If you are interested in helping L'Arche, donations can be made to L'Arche Genesaret, PO Box 419 Curtin ACT 2605.  The community leader, Claire Lawler can be contacted on 6282 9066. 

L'Arche has a particular interest in engaging with businesses that may be interested in establishing a relationship with this great local community organisation.

Contact

The L'Arche Genesaret email address is canberra@larche.org.au and the web address, through the national body, is  http://www.larche.org.au/communities/list_articles.cfm?search_category=NWCAN&loadref=13

Want a Free Membership?

We've grown thanks to the word of mouth of our wonderful members, and we think its the best way to evolve any business.

So from now on, anyone who introduces 3 new members to us will receive a free 6 month Professional or Young Professional member package.

All the new members need to do is mention you when completing the application form.

Current members who introduce three new members will receive a bonus 6 months to their membership.

So if you've always wanted to join, just find 3 colleagues and get them to sign up!

Get Ready for 2012

Well its coming, and we're putting together our program for next year now.

We'd love to hear from you with suggestions for topics for our workshops and seminars, venues, event formats and ideas in general.

So please email us soon!

We'll also be reaching out to our members to be presenters for our Campus, Lifeskills, Professional Development programs soon. 

If you want to be considered for these you'll need to be a member, so don't put off joining or renewing till next year!

Now is also the time to be thinking about how you want to leverage Schmooze to progress your business and professional goals- so please get in touch for a chat with one of the team.

We are also fielding sponsorship and event partner offers for our monthly Schmooze and other opportunities next year, you'll find more info about those here.

Member Hosted Events

These events are hosted by Schmooze members, so please book and enquire with them directly.

• Capital Region BEC: Networking Breakfast, 1 November
• Lighthouse Business Innovation Centre: Design and Invention Commercialisation Seminar, 4 November
• Mount Majura Vineyard: Days of Wine, Roses and all that Jazz, November 5,6
• National Gallery of Australia: Melbourne Cup Luncheon, 1 November
• Speak2Us: Look Good, Feel Great, Speak Well, 19 November
• University House: Melbourne Cup Lunch, 1 November
• Wines of the King Valley: La Dolce Vita Festival, 19-20 November
• Wisdom Learning: Mediation Skills for Managers, 4 November

You'll find details of these and other events on our website calendar here.

Exclusive Member Offers and Resources

To access these  offers and resources members just need to log into the Members Lounge on the website.

Members can also add their own via a simple online form.

• Position Vacant- Team Assistant with Access Testing
• Exclusive Yarra Valley Wine Offer from Blank Canvas Wines - limited stock left!
• October Newsletter from HRAssistance
• Special offer and information from the Investors Club
• Prince2 Foundation and Practitioner Course- a $450 discount to Schmooze members or referrals to clients of members from Aravena Global Solutions (NEW)
• Pre release sale in Woden and Harrison ACT off the plan apartments. Prices start from $279,950 from LJ Hooker Gungahlin
• The Schmooze Guide to Professional Networking from Schmooze
• A $200 discount offer for members plus free Website Starter Kit from Web123

Lifeskills Seminar: Small Business IT Essentials - Everything you need to know

Designed for under 30's, these monthly seminars offer practical expert insights for up to 12 participants. There is also the opportunity for informal networking after the session in the lounge bar.

This month our presenter, Andrew Newnham, Principal Software Developer from mBits, will guide you through:

• Choosing the rights computer systems (and why a cheap computer might end up being very expensive)
• Data security (and why it’s important even for a small business)
• Backups (and getting them away from the office)
• Databases (and why using excel for everything can be bad)
• When to ignore advice (being on the lookout for the “my brothers nephews cousin” who knows something about computers type discussions and why it can cost big dollars)

So if you're thinking of starting a business, or have one already, this is the one seminar you need to ensure you've got all your IT bases covered.

• Where: Diamant Hotel, New Acton
• When:  Monday 21st November from 5.30pm
• Cost: Free for Schmooze members, social members $35.00, non-member guests: $55.00 incl GST (invoiced when you RSVP)
• RSVP: Book now: rsvp@schmooze.net.au

Professional Development Workshop: Art Investing for Pleasure and Profit

Our series of monthly workshops offer practical expert insights as well as informal networking opportunities as well following the presentations.

Is the stock market making you nervous, or your super not looking so hot?

Or maybe you just love art but want to know the secrets of auction tactics, spotting a promising artist or when to buy and sell. Then this seminar will give you an understanding of how the art market works, how best to work with gallery owners and artists and much more.

The workshop will be presented by the director of Chapman Gallery, Kristian Pithie.

More details will be released shortly, but email us to express your interest in this special event: rsvp@schmooze.net.au

The November Schmooze

Something special for you this month.

Its our 8th Birthday and we're celebrating with a garden party in our own private courtyard at the gracious University House.

The evening will include some great give aways, a performance from our Artist in Residence, music by Canberra's most sophisticated DJ Ashley Feraude, and much more.

If you have never been to one of our events, or haven't been for a bit, then this is the one evening you'll want to experience.

We're also offering special entry rates to our young professional colleagues and tertiary students for this event only so they can do some Schmoozing in style too!

• Where:  Drawing Room Courtyard, University House, ANU
• When: Wednesday 30 November, from 5.30pm
• RSVP: Essential- to rsvp@schmooze.net.au
• Cost: Free for Schmooze members, Non-member guests are most welcome: $55.00 incl, $35.00 for under 30's, and $15 for full-time students (must be over 18)
• Entry includes two complimentary drinks and canapes etc

Melbourne Update

Finally, we thought you might like to know how we're travelling with our Chapter in Melbourne.

As we wrap the first year there we've been very happy with the support, interest and enthusiasm that Schmooze has been received there. 

We've seen members and guests start attending events in both cities, received sponsorship from Servcorp in Melbourne to host our professional development workshops there, and the first companies have taken up membership in both places.

We have also partnered with the Australian Institute of Training and Development Victorian Division twice in hosting our monthly Schmooze's.

The calibre and diversity of our members and guests have also been excellent indicators that we're on the right track.

Members are reminded that they can attend events there and the services of our wonderful Melbourne team, just the same as in Canberra.

So if you know colleagues in Melbourne, please suggest they get in touch with us to get in the loop of our program there which will expand in 2012 as the community grows.