Article by Debra Brunner, CEO of The Together Plan
Now in my 9th year as a member of Chipping Chapter of BNI (Business Network International) I continue to marvel at the incredible opportunities that this organisation facilitates. It truly is an extraordinary concept – a business support system that has untold potential. As with any business, or in my case charity, you have to work hard to build and grow your organisation, to lay down the foundations, create the networks and relationships and at BNI this is all part of that process. Over the nine years of my membership I have built my standing in the Chapter. My BNI business colleagues have played an integral part in the growth of The Together Plan, have been a source of support and knowledge and these businesses have also helped my friends, relatives and colleagues when they have needed their services. At BNI – I know there is always someone with knowledge and experience who I can turn to in almost every field. It is a membership that I value dearly even though it means I have to get up every Friday morning at 5am (read more here).
In the last few months – the members of Chipping Chapter have supported me and The Together Plan in some incredible ways and I want to take a moment here to acknowledge their endeavours.
On February 26th – Neil Ryner of Ryner & Partners Morgage Brokers successfully completed the Hyrox Challenge in Vienna raising over £2300 for The Together Plan. Neil trained for months in preparation for this incredible physical challenge and has some incredible photos from the big day. I am deeply grateful to Neil for choosing to support us. His efforts helped to pay for the lorry that transported 13.5 tonnes of humanitarian aid that we loaded the day after his challenge took place. Click here to see the aid lorry arriving and click here to read the article.
On March 12th – on the initiative of Chris Constanti of CTL Lock and Security
members of BNI Chipping Chapter stepped out to play in a charity football match against the BNI Fortune Chapter in support of The Together Plan. Vijay Chandras of Quality Conveyancing sponsored the football shirts for the Chipping team and donated an array of pastries and yummies on the day. Stunning auction prizes were sourced by David Jacobs of SRJ Accounting, Rachel B
rown of Action Coach Cheshunt, Sharmila Hume of the Holistic Hub UK, Adam Woolf of Air Woolf Air Conditioning, Matt Tiller of Boots Opticians, Cockfosters and Natasha Clarke (Coach, trainer and speaker). The charity banner, medals and winners cup were donated by Hak Huseyin of Absolute Print in Archway and Mike Segall of Money Collectors Ltd (and inciden
tally The Together Plan’s Chairman) ran the charity auction.
One beautiful donated prize was a stunning pamper hamper created and donated by Natasha Clarke. It found itself on the raffle prize table and wa
s won by Sharmila Hume of The Holistic Hub London (a member of BNI Chipping). Sharmila brought the hamper to the BNI meeting the week after the charity match and said that she wanted to keep the auction vibe going….
Hands aplenty went into the air instantly, driving the price up – until Vijay Chandras of Quality Conveyancing won! He then said he wanted to gift the hamper to Debra Brunner as a thank you for the charity work that she does! Debra was immensely humbled! But it didn’t stop there! Slavi Todorov of Vehicle Body Repairs matched the bid as a donation….but it didn’t stop there…. Matthew Lloyd-Winder of Stained Glass Artist also matched the bid! Emma Phillips of Houseman Properties also said
she wanted to donate her bid too!! An additional £350 was raised!!
This in a week where so many of the BNI members have already been so incredibly generous – with special mention to David Jacobs of SRJ, Charlie Perdios of Anthony Pepe Estate Agents, Hak Huseyin of Absolute Print (Archway).
So now we know what they mean when they call it ‘the beautiful game’!!
BNI Chipping Barnet – you ARE the BEST!!!
For anyone reading this article – please know that whether you are in north London or wherever you are in the world – if you are looking to connect to a business professional be it an accountant, a lawyer, an electrician, a plumber or anything else – please contact me because I can recommend and introduce you to fellow BNI members across the world because it is an international network and I know I will be recommending with confidence.
Thank you to everyone at BNI Chipping and indeed to BNI Fortune for so much support.
