3rd BBN gathering - 24/9/05

Greetings from BBN, Bro & Sis,What a FANTASTIC turnout and a very ENCOURAGING crowd. We had a 80 members who took time off from their busy schedule to give support toBBN to achieve its objectives & goals. The crowd started to trickle inas early as 1.30pm and the session started at 2.30pm.Uncle Vijaya who gave us an INSIGHT version of how Buddhism & businessdeveloped even in the early days of the Buddha's time. How abusinessman like Ananda Pandikar donated & help build the temple forthe Buddha and the sangha. Despite he has to leave immediately toanother talk in Bricksfield, Uncle Vijaya has graciously agreed tocome and share with us his time with BBN. A Big Sadhu to Uncle Vijayaon behalf of the BBN committee.Follow through, I did the presentation to the members the NEWdirection that BBN would entrenched our efforts and the IMMEDIATEactions was to run BBN on a 'PROFESSIONAL' basis with FULL TIME staff.The crowd agreed unanimously that in order to do that BBN needs fundsto run its activities and other events properly.For starters, BBN will be doing a RE-Registration exercise to registerour members under the NEW guidelines & critiria:-1.Members must be Buddhist or can join first but must register with any Buddhist centres within 12 months2.Annual Contributions of RM100 per annum ( 1 BBN T-shirt will be provided)3.Business Matching transacted through BBN platfom, members will contribute 10% of the NET Earnings to BBN funds.On the same note Bro Goh Kah Boon has generously donated RM500 to BBNfunds upon re-registration. 43 members signed up immediately which is60% of the turnout(excl committee members. Whao!!With these funds collected, BBN will look into employment of a staffto help monitor and organise events for our members. Currently BBN hasbuild a website: www.buddhistbusiness.com and members will be able tocommunicate more EFFECTIVELY with each other. The site is designed andbuild by Bro Lau ( Swee Aun's colleague) on a FOC basis. Sadhu to BroLau. The site is currently being constructed and updated from time totime.We shall notify the NEWLY registered members the procedure toupdate their information into the website soon.In short, BBN planned to organise:-1.Website2.Business Matching3.Business Coaching4.Business meetings,seminars,exhibitions etcDatuk Ananda then shared with us his views on how NETWORKING startedages ago. Arising from the word 'Fishing Net' which comprises of manyindividual knots, networking can only be effective when EACH & EVERYIndividual do their part in helping others. BBN can only achieve ourVision to be a 'GLOBAL Buddhist Business Network' when ALL of us doour part. Sadhu to Datuk Ananda.Bro Charlie & Bro Keek Seng Bee also shared their views on how memberscan help each other and how they can help BBN to achieve our goals.Sadhu to both of them.Towards the end, the floor was open to members who came out in supportto offer business opportunities and shared appreciation to BBN tocontinue its quest to spearhead this project in the buddhistcommunity. Members got the chance to mingle and exchanged name cardsand showed support to each other.The gathering ended at 5.30pm with a special thanks to the organisingcommittee namely:-1.Bro Swee Aun 2. Bro Eddy Ng 3. Bro Steven Quah4.Bro Hino Wong 5. Sis Wendy 6. Sis Mil Foong7.Sis Kooi Ching 8. Sis Oi Ying 9. Sis Oi Lum10.Sis Sock Fong 11. Bro Gilbert 12.Bro Nelson13.Bro Teoh EH (Absent) (Absent)More importantly, a BIG Sadhu to you, the members who came in fullforce and gave us the encouragment & strength to continue our journeywith confidence.The FIRST assignment undertaken to KICK-Start the momentum, BBN hasjointly with YBBM organised a special seminar for BBN members whichwill help members to have better understanding and INDEPTH explanationin the Business circle. The seminar title 'Buddhism & OrganisationManagement' officiated by Chief Reverand Dhammananda followed byreknown speakers like Bro Keek Seng Bee, Bro Chong Su Lim & Ven.Thitadhammo. Look out for the next mail which we will send you morewrite-up & synopsis of the speakers. Promised to clear your Doubts andFears, block your diary on 23 Oct 2005, Sunday. 9am-5pm.Look out for more interesting events to come...Business Sense,Buddhist ValuesWith MettaBro BennyChairman,BBN