by Max Ward
 This took place on the 2nd November 2011 at the Hotel Malmaison in Birmingham. There were nine attendees and one apology from a Chairman, who will remain nameless, who turned up the day before! The attendees included the National President Derek Packer, Past-President Max Ward, National Committee member David Jones, Birmingham Branch Chairman Richard Lawrence, Derby Branch Chairman Graham Banks, Nottingham Branch Chairman Steve Rayner together with Paddy Harkins - Secretary Derby Branch, Vicky Chell and Craig Smith, both Vice Chairs of the Birmingham Branch.
Following the meal there was then a lively debate about the organisation of Interact, the way the various branches operate and of course the current business climate which we all operate in.
The President gave a brief overview of Interact which confirmed that Interact is alive and well and continues to have a good take up of members even in the current climate and there are at least three new branches in the offing. The management meet twice a year and also conference call at regular intervals. The President explained that the main purpose of this committee over the last two or three years has been to create and monitor the web site, liaise with branches, organise national events and to carry out a comprehensive survey of members’ requirements.
The support for national events has dwindled recently due primarily to the current economic situation and the focus has been more on regional events, this Chairman’s lunch being the third in a series enabling the various regional chairman to meet with their other counterparts and at the same time get the views of the President and to understand what their membership fees are being used for!
The committee is mindful of the fact that the majority of branches are perfectly content to meet for lunch on a regular basis and continue to uphold the Interact mission statement :- ‘’ To maintain, develop and strengthen contact between senior professionals in property, design and construction throughout the UK in a forum that ensures quality of service and delivery.’’
The President took time to explain that although there is a set of national guidelines for the membership, the actual way the branches operate is really down to them to establish what works best for them. For example there are some branches which collect the cost of the lunch at the beginning of the year as an annual sum whilst the majority have a standard arrangement whereby members pay for each lunch attended.
There are also a number of branches which levy an additional small subscription to cover administration costs and to provide extras such as coach travel to lunches with other branches, which both Leeds and Sheffield branches have done in the past.
Apart from arranging lunches with neighbouring branches some individual branches also arrange their own events, the most well known of these being the Derby Branch Christmas Lunch organised superbly by Paddy Harkins and his team, which regularly attracts over three hundred members and guests.
The format of this Chairman’s Lunch was particularly appreciated by the two Vice Chairs who attended as it gave them an insight as to how the organisation is run. It is hoped that the Chairman’s Lunch model will be continued over the next few years. |
