1. WEN PROPOSAL

2. What does Mags do?
• Event planning
• Event management
• Budget management
• Identifying and liaising with speakers
• Ongoing needs analysis (annual survey and regular one-to-one)
• Communications/Promotion – social media, email newsletter and local PR
– communications involves collecting and disseminating information from
various sources including support agencies, members and other business
& women’s networks
• Partnerships – with other business networks
• Representation of network at events
• Advisory service to members
• Facilitation of introductions and referrals within and outside network
• Organisation and attendance at events
• Reporting and liaising with Waterford County Enterprise Board

3. Current Structure
• Meet once per month on last Monday of
month
• All events free to members
• 10 meetings per year (1 high profile)
• External speakers and networking events
• There are currently 120 members with an
average meeting attendance of 10-20 people

4. Current Structure
• Networking – informal networking over
tea/coffee
• Introductions – every member introduces self,
business and outlines what referrals they would
like
• Show Your Business – a member gets 5 minutes
to showcase their business
• Meeting – mix of seminar, workshop, networking
and/or training event
• Highlights – Mags details any upcoming events or
opportunities of interest

5. Current Benefits
Peer support Support/Advice from
network manager
Motivation
Business referrals Business connections Social connections
Sociable Relaxed Offers variety
Good speakers Strong role models Makes connections
across the county
Meet like-minded people Reduces isolation Make new contacts
Keep up to date with
what’s happening in
business community

6. Desired Improvements
• Name tags
• Higher attendance at meetings
• More focused meetings
• Mix of speakers and internal discussions
• Rotating venue
• More referral focus
• More member business focus
• Business book club
• 5 speakers and 5 meetings
• Summary at end of speaker seminars with analysis at following meeting
• More input on speakers
• Troubleshooting for member businesses
• Homemade cakes!!
• Get involved with St Patricks Day parade and other high profile events

7. Proposed New Structure
• Committee-led by members
• Some funded meetings for external speakers
(5 per year)
• Small membership fee to cover costs (€30)
• Meeting attendance fee for speaker events
• Consider paying for network coordinator

8. Member Actions
• Bring a buddy
• Share membership directory
• Refer WEN businesses to friends
• Share business cards
• Set up a Facebook group
• Facilitate rotating venue

9. WEN Transition
• Mags to sit as Chair on Committee transition
from Sept-Dec
• Every member to bring a friend to meetings

10. WEN Transition
The following members have agreed to join the
committee:
• Ann Marie Coghlan
• Ann Kearney
• Pippa Sweeney
We need two more bodies – who will help?