Nigel Reed Elected President of The Chamber of Commerce for a Second Term

Dorset county councillor Nigel Reed was unanimously re-elected President of Weymouth & Portland Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Tourism for a second term at the annual general meeting.  He is manager of the Weymouth Basepoint centre on Jubilee Close.

President Nigel Reed presents Fiona Penny with her 2010 membership certificate, winner of the prize of free membership for a year, drawn at the closing Open4Business lunch. Seated right are Chamber Treasurer Stephanie Pettitt and auditor Alex Goracy. Photograph by Michel Hooper-Immins.

Fellow county councillor Andy Cooke, Managing Director of Getaway Digital Ltd., was elected Senior Vice President and Anna-Maria Geare, Business Manager at Lloyds TSB Bank at Weymouth and Portland, became Junior Vice President. Secretary to the Chamber is journalist and broadcaster Michel Hooper-Immins. Stephanie Pettitt of Equation Accounting Ltd. was re-elected Treasurer.

Two new members were elected to the Executive Committee, Alan Cheesman of Cockings Electrical in Weymouth and Julie Cleaver of Popcorn Marketing at Chickerell. Re-elected to the Executive Committee were George Afedakis [Ta Dyo Adelphia Restaurant,] June Chorley [Newberry Associates,] Alison Cocks [The Beach Cafe,] Trevor Matthews [Wessex Film & TV,] Fiona Penny [Sunflowers Floral Design Ltd.] and Matthew Pye [Bartle Pye Commercial Ltd.]

The Chamber’s 83rd. annual general meeting at the Banus Club began with a minute’s silence in memory of Past President and Chief Executive Joan Bliss, who had passed away last year.

Nigel Reed told members it had been an interesting year and he felt good progress was being made. He welcomed new members on the Executive Committee and new ideas. Business Breakfast organiser Anna-Maria Geare was heartily thanked for the enormous success of the early morning events sponsored by Lloyds TSB Bank. The President expressed disappointment that plans to organise a Christmas event in the town had fallen through, but it is intended to do more this Christmas.

Chamber Secretary Michel Hooper-Immins thanked Linda Cleary of Cleary Creative in Portland, for again designing the handsome membership certificates and the new membership leaflet. “There are plans for a glossy magazine to be produced in a few months time, with the co-operation of our friends at Resort Marketing,” the Secretary told members. “This is intended as a public relations tool and will be distributed widely to businesses in the borough.” He referred to the new system of email alerts, popular bite-sized notes about future social events and meetings. “I know June Chorley, Alison Cocks and Trevor Matthews, our wonderful social team, find email alerts a vital way of enthusing members about our events,” he said.

“I believe the lack of interest in formal general meetings stems from our communications being so good. What we are doing and thinking is widely publicised not only in our Newsletters and email alerts, but in the press, radio and television. I must thank my friends and colleagues in the media for their much appreciated support in keeping members- and the business community at large- well informed about our activities,” continued the Secretary. “I featured on the BBC Politics Show two Sundays ago with the proposal for residents only parking- a really brilliant idea by Anna-Maria Geare. I’m told 3.5 million viewers tune in to the Politics Show in the South West, so our voice is well heard!”

He told members that agreement had been reached with Weymouth & Portland Borough Council to hold bimonthly meetings with council officers on topics of the Chamber’s choice, starting in March. This would initially involve five from the Chamber and five council officers. The first topic to be discussed is how the council can encourage and promote business in the town. Members will be asked to suggest topics for future discussions.

“Finally, in an age where organisations generally are falling apart with apathy, I am delighted to see the Chamber is still the premier business organisation in the borough,” concluded Secretary Michel Hooper-Immins “It is 82 years old this year and we all need to work hard to ensure the Chamber stays vibrant and active- and we need to work together to achieve that.”

Social Organiser Trevor Matthews spoke of the successful President’s Dinner at the Prince Regent Hotel in early February and announced the 2011 dinner will be held there again. The Christmas lunch would be at Perry’s Restaurant and planning was already going ahead for a motorised entry in the new revitalised Carnival procession.

Constitutional amendments which increased the Executive Committee to 12 in number and which gave the vote to Honorary Life Members, were unanimously approved.