There’s no need to book – just turn up, and don’t forget your business cards!

Tea/coffee and scones are available for €3 per person and we will also be collecting donations for Kerry Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Margaret Slattery, from Clahane, Ballyduff, County Kerry is the Camp Co-ordinator and Parent and can be contacted by e-mail at slattery.margaret@gmail.comand on 087 982 9847.   There will be two groups: junior camp for 9 to 12-year-olds and senior camp for 13 to 18-year-olds.  Parents should attend with their child on the first day of the camp.  Registration forms are available at all Kerry County libraries and from the mobile library.  There is a registration session on Thursday 10th June from 5 to 7 pm at the North Campus of IT Tralee in Dromtacker.

The programme includes touch typing, texthelp software, mind mapping, study skills and time management, Word Shark software, Nintendo Brain Training, Astro Turf soccer, GAA, basketball and much more.   Three other facilitators are involved – Marie Stubbings (Director of the Dyslexic Support Centre), Conor Hartigan (Support Co-ordinator of Disability Services, University of Limerick) and Lorraine Gallagher (AHEAD – Association for Higher Education Access & Disability).

Previous participants in Aidan’s programmes have benefited from a dramatic increase in leads or enquiries, coupled with a far higher proportion of those leads converting into paying customers, meaning more profit ……. even in today’s difficult business climate.  Aidan offers a 100% zero cost guarantee: if a business which participates fully and takes appropriate action does not get a return of at least the investment in the programme, the fees will be returned in full.

 Aidan comments:

“Most of our tried and tested business growth techniques are not being used by 99.9% of businesses.  The course is based on practical application rather than theory, with step-by-step guidelines, examples, ongoing implementation and feedback from the group.  Our approach is that the copious “food for thought” we provide is very much just the foundation for the far more important “fuel for action””

 A recent participant in the programme gave feedback typical of that received from other groups:

“Aidan’s marketing workshops are inspirational, practical, interesting, interactive and fun.  They  give techniques which can immediately be put into action.  I learn every time and always put the learning to good use.  It’s great to be with other business people who contribute ideas and constructive criticism.”

 The course will run over 14 half-day workshops between now and the end of the year and incorporates 1:1 sessions with Aidan.  This spaced approach enables immediate implementation of the tools and techniques in the participant’s own business, dramatically enhancing its growth.

 For further information, visit www.mgcp.info and contact Aidan at 087 410 7909.

There are more than 30,700 marriages registered each year in the island of Ireland and nearly 262,000 in England, Wales and Scotland – that’s great news for the many businesses who cater for the wedding market.  Annie Byrne of Aislinn Events is convinced that bringing these businesses together to learn and network can lead to new or improved business opportunities. 

 The first Business of Weddings Ireland conference will be held at the luxury five-star Muckross Park Hotel in Killarney, County Kerry on 2^nd and 3^rd November 2010.  This is timed for “pre-engagement” season!  Annie Byrne is excited and delighted that Meghan Ely, an expert in PR and marketing for wedding businesses in the USA, will be flying over to be the main speaker. 

 Annie comments:

“This conference is ideal for wedding co-ordinators and planners, bridal shop owners, photographers, florists, bakers, designers, videographers, hairdressers, make-up artists, entertainers, chauffeurs and any other business connected with weddings.  Meghan will be focusing on how to reach and market to “Generation Y” brides and grooms, bridal show marketing strategies and using social media and networking to raise your profile.”

 Annie Byrne (http://aislinnevents.com), originally from Los Angeles,  is an experienced wedding planner and co-ordinator based on the lovely Dingle peninsula; she specialises in working with couples from outside Ireland who want to come to Southwest Ireland for their wedding.  The process starts with “dreamstorming” – a chance for the couple to chat about their wishes so that Annie can come up with a “to do” list, inspiration board and checklists.  Annie has been working in the wedding business for more than five years, involving hundreds of weddings and events.  Her blog (http://aislinnevents.com/blog) is an inspiring collection of photographs and articles.

 Meghan Ely of OFD Consulting lives and breathes the wedding industry and has planned three “Artful Wedding” bridal shows.  She is MD of the Richmond Bridal Association, co-host of Bridesight TV (a webcast show) and Marketing Chair of “Wish upon a Wedding”.  As a writer, she contributes to Virginia Bride and Premier Bride magazines.  Her blog – “Illuminate” (http://ofdconsulting.blogspot.com/) – gives a taster of her tips and ideas for the wedding professional.

 Booking for the conference is already open and there’s an early registration price of €237 until 1^st September which includes lunch, dinner and overnight stay plus breakfast in the Muckross Park Hotel.  Killarney is only a 20-minute journey by taxi from Kerry airport (served by Ryanair and Aer Arann).  Book on www.thebusinessofweddings-ireland.com or contact Annie Byrne at hello@aislinnevents.com or phone +353 76 6026800 or mobile +353 87 676 1900.

BNI (www.bni.ie) provides a structured, supportive, business environment in which local business people can get together to network, learn valuable new marketing skills and develop the strong personal relationships that lead to trust and the consequent generation of significant business for each other.  The Kingdom Chapter, which meets in Tralee, was launched on 31st March this year and already has 32 members, generating business for each other.

Well done to Midpoint Creative (www.midpointcreative.com) on a great new design for the brochure.

Businesses and individuals can support Siamsa Tire through the Cairde (Friends) scheme.   Contact the box office on 066 7123055 for more information.

Biz Camp is a conference generated by the participants.  To begin with, there’s no fixed programme.  Anyone who wishes to present (but not pitch for business) on a relevant topic can do so.  Registration to attend, and offer a speaking slot, is via the website – www.bizcamp.ie.  The best part is – it’s FREE!

The latest BizCamp Limerick is on Saturday 8th May, 10 am to 4 pm at the Kemmy Business School Limerick – see the website for more details.  I attended one last year and I’ve already booked for this one.

Business Showcase will be on Thursday 6th May, 7 for 7.30 pm at the Meadowlands Hotel, Tralee.  Guests are welcome to attend their first meeting without a fee; subsequent meetings are €12 per guest.    Membership is €60 (until 31st August 2010) and has many more benefits than just the networking meetings.

On 6th May, nine of our members will take ten minutes each to tell us about their business.  We will also have an exhibition for members to display information, samples or demonstrations.

To book a place for this event, contact kerrybusinesswomen@gmail.com

To find out more about the network, visit www.kerrybusinesswomen.com

They comment:

“For many of us the high paced life of the nineties and the noughties is catching up with us and taking its toll. Though you may not be suffering from many of the chronic diseaes of the modern world, nevertheless, environmental and self-inflicted pollution, combined with the relentless pursuit of money, indulgence and success has left many of us bloated and stressed.  If this sounds like you, then it is time for some internal damage control.  To find out how to get back on the road to wellbeing, live your life in a balanced and integrated way, put the pep back in your step and start to feel vibrant again, join us for our taster evening.”

To reserve a place for this free event, go to www.lisandjan.com/vitality/