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Chairman’s Report 2007
It is often said that an organisation is only as good as the people in it and CBN is no exception. I first attended a CBN event five years ago and was immediately struck by the warmth and enthusiasm of the members and guests I met that evening. I firmly believe CBN is the best networking group in Cambridgeshire and I am committed to ensuring CBN stays at the forefront of businesswomen's networking.
Events
A successful network is inclusive, and meets the needs of members in an effective and challenging way. CBN events are a mix of information/training sessions, personal development opportunities and the ever popular networking lunches. It is difficult to predict which topics will have the greatest appeal but the Events team works hard to bring something new to the mix each year. So if there is a topic you would like to know more about or a speaker you would like to hear do contact me or any member of the Team or e-mail events@cbn.org.uk.
Cambridge
CBN has a long and well established link with Young Enterprise sponsoring a Young Businesswoman of the Year award in the annual competition. We continue to be impressed by the creativity and commitment of the students and are delighted to see the personal and financial success they achieve in their YE businesses.
Beyond
For many years CBN provided a bursary for local women needing to retrain but it became clear that the amount of cash we had available was not able to make a real difference. In November 2005 John Pocock of estate agents Pocock & Shaw came to share with us his desire to pay back for his business and personal successes. His most recent project had been to participate in providing facilities for a small village and its school in Zimbabwe. The audience was visibly moved by the impact a relatively small amount of cash had on the mothers and children. As a result CBN is sponsoring a girl from the village through her secondary schooling. This is a longer term commitment than an annual bursary but one the Team felt well worth undertaking. We will continue to report on the progress of Thubelihle Sibanda over the coming years in Grapevine.
If there is anything you would like to voice about the network and its activities and benefits for members please do call or e-mail me on liz@courtyardcoms.co.uk. This is our network - let's continue to make it the best in town.
February 2007
Elizabeth Ingle
Chairman
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