Chair Report

Johannesburg Branch AGM
Monday, 27 February 2006

The past year 2005 was, again, an exciting year for the Johannesburg branch of the BWA. Some of the highlights include:

Regional Business Achievers Awards

The 2005 gala awards dinner was held at the Bryanston Country Club. Approximately 200 guests attended the dinner which netted a record R 53 144.37 profits for our bursary awards.

Bursaries

Johannesburg awarded three bursaries for a total of R 90 000.00 to Corna Posthumus, an MBA student, Charmaine Pillay, an MBA student and Nomvula Gladys Msimango, a MAP student.

2005 End of Year Lunch

Dr. Linda Friedland, JHB Chair Clara Priester, BWA President Namane Magau and CEO Tina Thompson

Approximately, 200 individuals attend the end-of?the year lunch at the Bryanston Country. The featured guest speaker was Linda Friedland a much sought after health media personality, healthcare professional and public speaker, Dr Linda Friedland is the anchor for a weekly health and medical television show Housecall on SABC 2. She is a general practitioner, consultant on stress management, corporate and women?s health issues, a recognised international conference speaker and a feature writer for health and women?s publications and radio programmes.

Dr Friedland is a consultant in the South African and international Healthcare industry. With more than fifteen years clinical experience in general practice, she speaks on and designs programs on a wide range of health, lifestyle and personal development issues. These include transforming stress, ageing, spirituality, personal empowerment, nutrition and living with meaning and passion. She is also mother of five children. Linda is the author of Self ? The essential health and life guide for today?s woman (July 2005).

Workshops

During 2005, Johannesburg introduced a new workshop concept, ?Structured Networking?. This session allowed members to present their business or personal credentials. Membership feedback was outstanding as they felt this workshop allowed for more valuable networking. Other 2005 workshops included:

• Power Presentations
• Effective Business Leaders
• Time Management
• Recruiting Talent
• Assertiveness
• Monthly Management Reports

Industry Luncheons

Seated: Yvonne Johnston, Ann Nurock, Nina Morris & Maserame Mouyeme
Standing: Clara Priester

The branch also introduced Industry Luncheons at the Grace Hotel. The purpose was to present personal experiences, challenges and insights into various industries by women in key positions. The two luncheons in 2005 were Women in Advertising and Golden Women in Mining.

Networking Events

In addition to our Champagne Golf Events, last year?s networking events included:

• Market Theatre ? Green Man Flashing
• An Evening Of Structured Networking
• Giselle Ballet
• Franchising
• Wine Tasting with Juliet Cullinan
• 2010 Coming Ready or Not

BWA Nedbank Events

Deputy President, Ms Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcula & Monhla Hlahla, Businesswomen of the Year

As Johannesburg has done the last two years, we are the first branch to feature a networking event with the BWOY winner. This year?s cocktail evening was on 29 August with Monhla Hlahla. Other Nedbank events included the Budget Presentation with Nicky Weimar and the Economic Review also with Nicky Weimar.

Mentoring

The BWA Mentoring Committee initiates and co-ordinates mentoring projects aimed at developing the potential of professional and businesswomen in South Africa. We realise how vital it is for working women today to be empowered, guided, and encouraged to grow and develop both professionally and personally. The BWA Mentoring Committee has a number of beneficial projects that strive towards meeting this objective.

Following the success with the placement of WBS Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PDM) interns, the BWA Mentoring Committee is undertaking another significant project to offer you the opportunity to host Interns from Norway.

The BWA's current mentoring projects are:

• Helping Hand - facilitates the placement of young tertiary level graduates in internships in BWA member companies to gain practical experience and skills in a work environment.
• Quick Connections - suitably matches female mentors and mentees to appropriately facilitate one-on-one mentoring between experienced business women who impart their business expertise and women in business who aspire to develop themselves professionally and progress their careers.
• Practical Business Workshops - provide business owners with practical information on a diverse range of aspects related to running and managing a business.
• Succeed Campaign - provides business management support to women-owned start-up businesses via a structured process and a panel of business advisors who assist new businesses succeed beyond their first year of business.

Current Membership

Johannesburg membership is 860. Our focus in 2006 will be on growing our membership numbers.

Future Johannesburg Events

Businesswomen of Tomorrow

Rationale
Young women, particularly blacks / Africans, continue to have limited career choices largely due to lack of awareness as well as resources to pursue career options that are available to them. Businesswomen's Association?s (BWA) strategy is to serve and work closely with the business sector, the community and government institutions to promote an entrepreneurial spirit in South Africa. To this end, the BWA plans to host a Careers event for young school girls (Grades 8- 12) beginning in June 2006, in Johannesburg.

The Project
The ?Businesswomen of Tomorrow? project is envisaged for launching during 2007, to enable young girls to be exposed to and to interact with institutions and employers that will hopefully assist them in making appropriate choices in school subjects and study options. It is hoped that this project will be rolled out nationally in the future. The intention is to focus less on the academic or service providers, but rather to have an industry focus promoting various career options in business, and with a strong emphasis on entrepreneurial activities. Businesswomen role models of all races will be identified from key industry sectors. Community stakeholders will also be mobilized in order to be involved, particularly women in the local community. Motivational talks as well as a range of career topics will be covered. It is also envisaged that there will be a large number of volunteer counsellors and psychologists who will provide an hour- long career counselling session with interested girls. This will be preceded by a career interest test.

Core Purpose
We exist to ?Harness the potential of young women by economically and emotionally empowering them to make creative, informed life and career choices through integrated intervention focused on creating a South African society with balanced female representation in business leadership and direct contribution to economic sustainability.? Young women in grades 8 to 12 will be the initial focus of the initiative.

?All labour that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence? - Dr Martin Luther King

Electronically Directory Pilot

Two Options:

1. Company Listing

500 word company profile

Up to 10 products and/or services details

Company logo

Member photo

2. Company Profile

Full company profile

Up to 100 products and services details

Company logo

Member photo

Product images

Protected Details

• Members must logon to the site to gain access to other member details.
• Members contact other members using the online product and service request form ? E-mail and optional SMS is sent.
• Products and services of interest can be selected.

National BWA Programmes

The P3 Personal Protection Plan
The P3 programme is a proactive and highly effective step against HIV exposure that helps out clients minimise the risk that HIV presents. We have recorded a 100% success rate in preventing HIV / AIDS infection. International Organisations have also stated a 100% success rate in using the P3 protocols.

When it comes to HIV / AIDS exposure, the critical factor is speed and that's why the difference between having access to the P3 programme, or not, can be the difference between life and death. Having a plan and access to professionals and specific medical assistance, during what could be the most traumatic experience of a person's life, without the added worry of the financial implications, is the kind of peace of mind that should not be limited to a privileged few.

The P3 Personal Protection Programme is possible South Africa's most effective tool against HIV / AIDS, safeguarding the future of all the people that will forge the future of our country.

BWA Investment Fund
The BWA is proud to launch its own Investment Fund. The 2004 survey to members showed an overwhelming demand for an investment fund.

Coronation Fund Managers
Our Core Range aims to provide the optimal product solution to both financial advisers and clients. Coronation takes full responsibility for all investment decisions in order to provide investors with real returns over specified periods. The range includes low risk, medium risk and high risk funds.

Clara Priester, Chair
Businesswomen?s Association Johannesburg Branch