hcc presentation for agm
Post on 31-Jul-2015
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The Hoedspruit Chamber of Commerce would like to extend a
warm welcome to everyone here this evening – and thank you
all for making time in your busy schedules to come and put your
voices together to assist us in creating a new stronger chamber
for this coming year as well as to assist us in setting goals and a
plan for the vision we have for our beautiful town this year.
WELCOME
CONTEXT AND UNDERSTANDING
“All business take up to 5 years to establish and become a success.
Before the first 2-3 years are over, one cannot judge whether a business
is succeeding or not. Every year is about building building and
building… Only after that can one see if profit is being made and if a
business is viable.”
Remember HCC is currently only in its 2nd year. We are still in our foetal
stage… can you imagine where we will be in 10 years!
CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS
Cecile de Kock:
President
Patrick Jordan: Vice President Municipal & Schools Liaison
Sarah Dawn Bergs: Chief Operations Office
Ernst Swiglaar: Treasurer
Vee Barnes: Business Networking
Lynette Strauss: Secretary
Nicole Meyer: Business Networking
DIAGRAM AND GOALS
Goals for 2014
Municipal Business
Underpinning goal for 2014 was to start establishing a sense of community in the town of Hoedspruit between different language sectors and socio-economic levels
BUILDING A HOUSE
Solid Foundation established…
Business Municipal
Communication
Heart =
sense of
community
So what have
we achieved ?
SOLID FOUNDATIONS
No building can stand without a solid foundation – as if you rush ahead with
walls and a roof, come the first hurdle it will all come tumbling to the
ground. The HCC spent time this year establishing a proper foundation
through the following accomplishments:
• HCC Website (www.hoedspruitccsa.com)
• HCC Brochures
• Member Packs including certificates, brochures, information, and a HCC
sticker
WALLS OF THE HOUSE: MUNICIPAL FEEDBACK
One of the main goals this past year has understandably
been one of dealing with municipal issues. Chambers
around the world are in existence in order to mediate a
relationship between the business concerns and issues –
and carry them over to the relevant local municipalities
and to negotiate with them until a resolution is achieved;
whether or not the resolution is always what we are hoping
for is not always the point– what IS the point is that we
facilitate this correspondence, and keep abreast of the
processes and decisions.
STARTING TO BUILD A RELATIONSHIP
The first step is always to build a successful relationship – one that is established
on a basis of ongoing and open communication.
After the Chamber was elected at the AGM on 20 May 2014, the first thing we
did was to connect with the Maruleng Municipality in order to facilitate this
relationship including monthly HCC/Municipality feedback meetings. A
breakfast meeting was hosted at Khaya Ndlovu including the Municipal
Manager, and the different department directors where we cemented our
ongoing relationship with the municipality.
POSITIVE RESOLUTIONS
• Hoedspruit Town Signs
• Water tanks were connected
• Communication on water issues is forwarded from the MM technical division and is forwarded directly to HOA’s
The HCC has been instrumental in pushing for these issues to be focused on and resolved, and are proof of our ongoing and longstanding meetings with the municipality.
We have achieved our objective for the past year which was to establish a good rapport and working relationship with the municipality. Whether this has borne the fruit that we hoped for is not necessarily the case; but we will make the pledge on behalf of our business members to not give up trying.
The Chairperson and Municipality liason have all department heads on speed-dial, so should you have any issues or are aware of anything that you would like brought to the Municipality’s attention- please channel this through the HCC.
POSITIVITY
“Success if not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
Winston S Churchill
ON GOING ISSUES
• Sewage Concerns
• Water Tower Squatters
• Municipal Events board
• New Taxi Rank for Hoedspruit
• Kampusrus dump
We are aware of these, amongst others and will keep ongoing
discussions and negotiations with the MM in order to achieve
what we hope is a successful resolution.
BULK WATER PRICES TO HOME OWNERS
ASSOCIATIONS
Issue:
It was brought to the attention of the Hoedspruit Chamber of Commerce
(HCC) that when the Maruleng Municipality (MM) started billing for water
again. The charges that Home Owners Associations were receiving were far
above what they were being billed prior to 2012. This has been addressed in all
of our meeting with the municipality to date.
Update: At this stage the higher rate is because HOA’s are being charged
business rates for residential units. An MOU has been drafted by the HOA’s and
is being reviewed by the MM to agree upon set water rates.
ILLEGAL DUMP SITE AT OBARO
Issue: The HCC made the Municipality aware of the illegal dump site
developing on the road that heads towards the railway from Obaro.
Update: This was cleaned up in the interim- and the Municipality has asked
that if anyone witnesses people using the site for dumping that their details
are handed to the Municipality through the HCC so that the appropriate
steps can be taken to fine and discipline these individuals.
TENDER PROCESS UPDATE
Issue: It was brought up at the meeting that the HCC is concerned that tenders
go out for Municipal work and is awarded to contractors from outside our
municipal area. Not only does this show a lack of faith in local contractors but it
also takes money out of our community without adding to it.
Update: To date we have now been included in al tender notification since our
first meeting and we have sent this out through our social media and other
avenues. We need to assist the Municipality in getting more local tenders
through our advertising and members.
HAWKER STALLS
Issue & Update: We have been informed that the Hawker Stall
refurbishment project is being run by the Spatial Planning office and we are
in the process of setting up a meeting with them to discuss how the HCC
can assist in the beautification of this eyesore.
Proposed design
HOEDSPRUIT SIGNS
SECOND WALL: BUSINESS
The second “arm” as it were of the Hoedspruit Chamber is to
make Hoedspruit a viable platform for business- not to market
individual businesses but to advance the economic and civic
welfare of its members through our various business objectives.
Photo taken at our Cocktail Meet &
Greet with new members
BUSINESS NETWORKING
The HCC hosted 2 Business Speed Networking events this year –
which were very successful and well attended. This was created to be a platform whereby businesses could introduce and
market themselves. Apart from being a free marketing tool and
opportunity- it was also a way to bring the community together
in a constructive and communicative environment and to
encourage positive business linkages.
Creating
Networking
Opportunities
BUSINESS SEMINAR
This month the HCC hosted a business seminar which was run by Esprit Business Services. This event was a full day seminar at Fire and Ice business venue– and covered 2 issues:
*Social Media as a Marketing Tool
*Change your thinking; Change your World
This was a “ free perk” of being a member of the HCC – although we were also happy to offer a reduced rate to non-members as we feel this was a very beneficial seminar for our community. Hoedspruit and small businesses in particular benefit from being able to use “free” social media platforms and from knowing how to access these tools in a way that will direct more attention and exposure.
Thank you to Vicky Nish from Esprit Business Services for an incredibly well planned and constructive seminar.
HOEDSPRUIT HAPPENINGS
Hoedspruit Happenings was our local event calendar which was by
run by Lynette Strauss; in her capacity as secretary of the HCC. This
was updated and circulated monthly and was regarded as a
informative platform for people to stay abreast of happenings in
Hoedspruit- especially so as not to have conflicting events.
We will endeavour to continue providing you with this service.
ARE WE
ACHIEVEING IT?
MODELLED AFTER THE EXPERTS
“we promote enterprise development, skills development,
development training and business advisory services.” Chamber
of Commerce Johannesburg
Achieved through our business seminar and speed networking!
“the real benefit we obtained from the membership of the Chamber of Commerce was gained from meeting fellow
members, which in turn has lead to new business contacts and
increased turnover.” Chamber of Commerce Cape Town
Achieved through our business seminar and speed networking!
… just saying…
GROWTH OVER THE YEAR
The Hoedspruit Chamber of Commerce is only as
powerful as its body of members. We have made an
effort to recruit members to the HCC over the
preceding year, and our membership has increased
by 150%
1 2
Rate of growth increased by over
100%
Growth over year
MEMBERSHIP
May 2014
March 2015
Nu
mb
er o
f m
em
be
rs
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: HCC BRAAI CHALLENGE
One of our biggest networking successes and community feel-
good events was the HCC Braai Challenge which took place at Safari Junction in November 2014. This was not only a annual
fundraising event for the HCC, but also an invaluable way for
businesses to interact, team-build and engage in an informal
manner as part of the greater Hoedspruit community. We
applaud the participants for their spirit and creativity.
GOING GREEN
The Chamber of Commerce is not only about municipal, business and a sense of
community, but also about BEAUTIFYING AND BENEFITTING out beautiful town.
In a small and fun way we were happy to “go GREEN” for St Patricks day by
sponsoring 100 TREES to Hoedspruit. This was an awesome project because not only
did we green Hoedspruit, but we bought the trees from a community project
keeping funds going back to upliftment. They were planted by Green Kidz as part of
a fun green community day!
The HCC is proud to have initiated this greening initiative.
ROOF: COMMUNICATION
The roof of any house is positive communication. We believe that communication falls into the following
branches:
• Communication between HCC and our members
• Between members
This we aimed to facilitate through our AGM, followed by our cocktail party “meet-and greet”; thereafter
we hosted a feedback meeting, as well as 2 business speed-networking events, a braai challenge and a
seminar – all of which were an opportunity for us as the HCC board to engage with you- our members; to
voice issues and concerns, and to network amongst each other in a way that forms a cohesive voice of
business and we hope forges lasting business contacts and networks.
Our goal next year is to enforce this communication with more feedback via our Social Media platforms
as well as with quarterly newsletters.
PROCESS NOT AN EVENT
During the year we did have 3 members of our board resign (due to
unforeseen circumstances such as moving, or getting a full time job), and as
such in a small way we have been limping along trying to do our best to
both grow our town and business community as well as stay on top of
municipal issues. We are aware that we have neglected communicating
feedback from all our issues – we do acknowledge our short fall in this
regard, and we will be communicating more regularly via social media as
well as in newsletters.
POSITIVITY
There is no great failure except GIVING UP… ~Becka Schoettle
Make a Difference. Be part of Hoedspruit. Join the Chamber.
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