So here we are in mid-December on the last gasp run up to Xmas. The last month for me has been a whirlwind as I’ve been travelling and attending most of the Regional Xmas parties. It’s been adorable to meet and see you all and put faces to the names that I know via FB and via our system.
We are lucky to have such wonderful women in this community. It makes all the hard work so very worthwhile!
And as for the weather – hasn’t it been wonderful? I ordered a long hot summer, and it seems like Santa is delivering it early – long may it last!
So what have I been up to?
First and foremost Yolanda Alba, our new National Manager, and I have been doing some planning – hold on to your hats, Venus is going to rock 2018 big time! We’ve been finalising the new Media Pack for the magazine due out in April and planning is underway for the NZ Businesswomen’s Conference that will be held toward the end of next year. We’ll be sending you out a ‘save the date’ for this in January so make sure you keep your eyes peeled!
Venus Training Academy
Yolanda and I have also been dotting our I’s and crossing our T’s re the Academy. It looks like we’ll have two new coaches coming on in the South Island in the New Year to complete our compliment. The Auckland and Wellington Management Teams are finalising dates for workshops; we’ll publish those to you as soon as the coaches and venues have confirmed. Additionally, we have a couple of new workshops in the pipeline for 2018 which are a direct response to member requests.
Because of the workload that comes associated with it, Yolanda Alba is going to take the reins of the Academy in 2018 so will be working alongside the VRM’s and Coaches on the day to day stuff.
If you want to find a little more out would be to book a RAVE with one of either the Regional Managers or the Venus Training Academy Coaches? These women have a good handle on what they are delivering via the Academy and will be able to give you a little more one on one information. Remember the Venus Training Academy is there to run group training in an environment that sees you alongside other women who are looking for the same learning and advice. It’s very much about the learning alongside like-minded women in a supportive environment.
Venus Networking
Member Success and Power Hour workshops continue to run nationwide – those booked for the first three months of 2018 are all up on Eventbrite now so you can get these in your diary and plan which ones to go to.
Remember if you’re new to Venus this is a free MUST DO workshop. You will need to have done this before you do your six-minute spotlight. Additionally, existing members need to do a Member Success ONCE A YEAR as well to stay up to date with the ‘goings on’ in Venus. Things move and change rapidly, and it’s the best way to keep up with what’s going on as well as network and meet newer members and the wider Venus community.
Summer School
Boy am I looking forward to this. I’m going to join you all and do this while I’m relaxing on the boat (probably with a glass of wine in hand!) Have you enrolled in the Venus Summer School FB Page yet?
What is Summer School all about? It’s about reviewing 2017 and planning for a rocking 2018. It’s a series of six modules that will be emailed out to all members each Monday for six weeks starting next Monday (18th December).
Xmas/New Year is a good time to take a break and think about what we want to do differently next year, what things can you do better and what do you want to put in place for 2018. It’s also about reviewing what has worked and what doesn’t work.
You can get as involved as you want. The modules can be done in your own time, and we don’t even mind if you’re doing them at the beach or the bach with a glass of wine in hand. Each module will also be uploaded to the Facebook page (just in case you forgot to pack your computer), so all you need is to log on, start the thought process and perhaps jot a few things down.
Remember Venus Summer School is offered free to Venus members every year and is another benefit of your membership.
Venus Magazine
Our next magazine is due out in April, and the Media pack is up online so get in quick. If you are keen to advertise or submit an article, it might pay to get yourself sorted sooner rather than later. We have a few articles left over from the first magazine already!
Free Month
Remember for each person you refer to Venus you get one-month free membership when they’ve joined and paid their membership fee. Simply get them to register online or put them in touch with your Regional Manager. Who do you know that would either benefit from being part of Venus or add value to this beautiful community – pick up the phone, drop them an email!
How to ‘step up’ your Networking for 2018
Get involved, go to your meetings, do Member Succes, Power Hour, Collaborative Teams and anything else that is going on in your region. Also, remember over Xmas/New Year you will be flooded with networking opportunities at those BBQ’s/social events. Lots of conversation about the year that was, and planning for 2018. Remember it’s a great opportunity to promote the wonderful women you know in Venus and help friends and family at the same time!
New Groups for 2018
As we still have a lot of enthusiasm and a rather healthy waitlist we are going to be launching ten new groups in 2018. Here’s the official ‘heads up’. If you know any women, who want to join a wonderful community of like-minded business in the following areas get them to register, quickly if they are in one of those popular professions!
- Taupo
- Rotorua
- Whangarei
- Dunedin (our second group)
- Havelock
- New Plymouth
- Christchurch x 2
- Brisbane
- Auckland Harbour
Venus Foundation
Our charitable status application has been signed off on and is with the Charities Commission for approval. We have set the Venus Foundation up and moving forward any profits will be going in there for the benefit of our members. The purpose of the Venus Foundation is to provide loans to our members to help them develop and grow themselves and their businesses. These loans will need to be applied for and will be approved by our soon to be appointed external board.
I was recently asked to write a mission statement for us as a charitable organisation, and here it is:
“Our mission is to educate and empower women in business to run good solid, ethical, profitable, sustainable businesses that contribute to the community. We do this by providing them with opportunities to learn and grow both personally and professionally as women via the Venus Training Academy. Venus Networking teaches our members how to be great businesswomen; they present and promote themselves collaboratively and build relationships with one another that serve not only their own business but the businesses of the women they are working alongside as part of the Venus community.”
Merry Xmas
So that’s it from me for 2017!
I want to take this opportunity to wish you a very Merry Xmas not only from myself but all the Venus Management Team nationwide. I’ve loved 2017, buying Venus was the best decision I ever made. Working alongside you all to develop and grow this community is my dream job. Bring on 2018, our charitable status and rocking the business world!
Have fun, rest, relax and most importantly stay safe – see you online at Summer School!
Carolyn x
