Our March event on 27th was another success, the theme was -Legal Services.
We invited a whole 'pack' of lawyers (about 52 of them) from around Kyiv and our guest speaker was Oleg Vysochynskyy, Partner from the law firm Grischenko & Partners, who privided a speech on bank takeovers and mergers in Ukraine.
I think my jokes about lawyers went down OK. None of them threatened legal action against me, so I guess it was acceptable. My favourite joke has to be: What's black and brown and looks good on a lawyer?.....A Doberman Pinscher!! (But some jokes just don't translate so well).
We changed the catering company and were provided with better service, I hope they can maintain the standard. Plus I want to say thanks to Peter Flanaghan who has stepped forward and volunteered to help organise our events and maybe start cleaning up our web site to improve our image. Peter has lived in Ukraine for about 12 years and knows alot about 'The Ukrainian way' of doing things.
Plus we have had more new members joining this month, so things are going according to plan.
Onward and forward.
30 March 2008
02 March 2008
February Meeting EVEN BETTER
The BBCU February meeting on 28th was a great success, moreover it was a joint meeting with the British Ukranian Society (BUS). We had over 100 people packed into the top floor at INTER TV and our two VIP guests Nicholas Soames MP and Richard Spring MP demonstrated the very high level of professionalism people expected from British members of parliament.
Most of the formal part of the event revolved around the future expectations of Ukraine and future membership of both NATO and the EU. Both speakers made it clear that it was up to UKRAINE to decide its own future and that no pressure was being put on anyone or any government to join or not to join. But we were all happy to see from a raise of hands amongst our Ukrainian members that THEY thought Ukraine could over come the hurdles to one day join the EU.
I have now found two more people who are interested in helping to promote the BBCU and increase the membership, so the March meeting may even prove to be equally interesting.
Most of the formal part of the event revolved around the future expectations of Ukraine and future membership of both NATO and the EU. Both speakers made it clear that it was up to UKRAINE to decide its own future and that no pressure was being put on anyone or any government to join or not to join. But we were all happy to see from a raise of hands amongst our Ukrainian members that THEY thought Ukraine could over come the hurdles to one day join the EU.
I have now found two more people who are interested in helping to promote the BBCU and increase the membership, so the March meeting may even prove to be equally interesting.
09 February 2008
Positive Steps Forward - WTO Membership for Ukraine
Well done to Ukraine. Its official, this week Ukraine joined the World Trade Organisation. Like many, I hope this brings benefits to businesses in Ukraine, but also allows for many restrictions to be lifted on doing business WITH Ukraine.
Just this week, I was contacted by a British company who were having problems getting paid by a Ukrainian company. I explained the long beaucratic process businesses must endure in order to make payments outside of Ukraine. (Translation of invoices and then approved by a lawyer etc)
But maybe good news is that from next week, residents and non residents can transfer higher amounts of money to other countries. But expats (if they are non residents) will still have to prove where they got the money from. I still transfer spending money to my daughters in England by Western Union, because its easier than using a bank. (Actually my wife sends it, as she is Ukrainian, I being a 'foreigner' cannot send money so easily)
Like many I am optimistic about the future and changes will come eventually. One problem we still have in Ukraine is that laws are passed by Parliament, but there is no real system for dissemination of law. It takes along time for the people on the ground (at customs posts etc) to become aware of the laws and procedures.
Just this week, I was contacted by a British company who were having problems getting paid by a Ukrainian company. I explained the long beaucratic process businesses must endure in order to make payments outside of Ukraine. (Translation of invoices and then approved by a lawyer etc)
But maybe good news is that from next week, residents and non residents can transfer higher amounts of money to other countries. But expats (if they are non residents) will still have to prove where they got the money from. I still transfer spending money to my daughters in England by Western Union, because its easier than using a bank. (Actually my wife sends it, as she is Ukrainian, I being a 'foreigner' cannot send money so easily)
Like many I am optimistic about the future and changes will come eventually. One problem we still have in Ukraine is that laws are passed by Parliament, but there is no real system for dissemination of law. It takes along time for the people on the ground (at customs posts etc) to become aware of the laws and procedures.
03 February 2008
Should Ukraine join the EU?
Its going to be very interesting this year in Ukraine with a lot of discussion about the possibilities of Ukraine joining the EU- ONE DAY in the future.
So to help the process our next BBCU event will be a debate/audience participation meeting with that subject in mind. Thursday 28 February will be a joint event together with the British Ukrainian Society. Plus we hope that Nicholas Soames MP will attend together with Richard Spring MP
Details should now be available on the web site: www.bbcu.com.ua
So to help the process our next BBCU event will be a debate/audience participation meeting with that subject in mind. Thursday 28 February will be a joint event together with the British Ukrainian Society. Plus we hope that Nicholas Soames MP will attend together with Richard Spring MP
Details should now be available on the web site: www.bbcu.com.ua
25 January 2008
First Event was a Success - 24 January
Our first event for 2008 went down well with the membership and guests.
As usual we held our monthly networking meeting on the 6th floor at 25 Turgenivska, Kyiv
(Administration of INTER TV Channel)
The turnout was very good with 76 people registering. Unfortunately I had to start the evening by giving people the bad news that our VIP guest speaker (A British MP) could not attend due to a vote taking place in the British House of Commons. So Richard Brady and I had to put together a double act, quickly and I think we held it together.
We pushed the boat out this time and ordered EXTRA drink and of course as usual it all went and a good time time was had by all. Although, I still find myself trying to explain to our support team that its not good when one of the catering staff replies "shas" (wait) everytime someone asks for more wine or food. (We still have a long way to go on the customer service front in Ukraine).
The live music (Violin & Sax, but not at the same time!!) was OK, but the real enthusiasm was for the 'Stars of the East" exotic dancers to liven the place up at the end.
Our small team put in a lot of hard work and I made sure that this was greatly appreciated.
I think some of the British expats find it hard to understand that we do this for the hell of it.
I hope we can persuade a few more expat volunteers to help out in the future.
Well, thats 2008 off to a good start, now lets get the web site updated.
Need to find a new member of staff who can promote the BBCU to potential new members, do the admin, take care of the web site, plan the monthly meetings and speak fluent English.
Anyone interested?
As usual we held our monthly networking meeting on the 6th floor at 25 Turgenivska, Kyiv
(Administration of INTER TV Channel)
The turnout was very good with 76 people registering. Unfortunately I had to start the evening by giving people the bad news that our VIP guest speaker (A British MP) could not attend due to a vote taking place in the British House of Commons. So Richard Brady and I had to put together a double act, quickly and I think we held it together.
We pushed the boat out this time and ordered EXTRA drink and of course as usual it all went and a good time time was had by all. Although, I still find myself trying to explain to our support team that its not good when one of the catering staff replies "shas" (wait) everytime someone asks for more wine or food. (We still have a long way to go on the customer service front in Ukraine).
The live music (Violin & Sax, but not at the same time!!) was OK, but the real enthusiasm was for the 'Stars of the East" exotic dancers to liven the place up at the end.
Our small team put in a lot of hard work and I made sure that this was greatly appreciated.
I think some of the British expats find it hard to understand that we do this for the hell of it.
I hope we can persuade a few more expat volunteers to help out in the future.
Well, thats 2008 off to a good start, now lets get the web site updated.
Need to find a new member of staff who can promote the BBCU to potential new members, do the admin, take care of the web site, plan the monthly meetings and speak fluent English.
Anyone interested?
14 January 2008
Monday 14 January - Great News
The good news - The BBCU has a sponsor for the event on 24 January confirmed.
Two members of our small team Tanya and Elena are already busy sending out invitations to the contacts on our database and we hope to attract 50 or more people to our first event in 2008.
Richard Brady and I had lunch today with a 'new guy' from the Kyiv Post.
Jonathan B Holmberg - a Staff Writer, appears to be a smart guy who is interested in writing about what we are doing through the BBCU in Kyiv. We invited Jonathan to the event also.
Decided that we need to recruit a really smart new member to our team to take care of the promotion and upkeep of the BBCU web site, plus also to communicate with potential members.
We both have day jobs and its not easy trying to do everything via email.
We need to get that web site updated fast and place an advert in the Kyiv Post.
Two members of our small team Tanya and Elena are already busy sending out invitations to the contacts on our database and we hope to attract 50 or more people to our first event in 2008.
Richard Brady and I had lunch today with a 'new guy' from the Kyiv Post.
Jonathan B Holmberg - a Staff Writer, appears to be a smart guy who is interested in writing about what we are doing through the BBCU in Kyiv. We invited Jonathan to the event also.
Decided that we need to recruit a really smart new member to our team to take care of the promotion and upkeep of the BBCU web site, plus also to communicate with potential members.
We both have day jobs and its not easy trying to do everything via email.
We need to get that web site updated fast and place an advert in the Kyiv Post.
09 January 2008
January 2008 - Joint Meeting with BUS
To start the year off on the right foot, our first meeting will be a joint meeting with the British Ukrainian Society. We have invited John Grogan MP to the event and we hope to attract many local expats and Ukrainian companies to the event.
Plus we have a sponsor: Grishenko & Partners (Well known law firm) who have kindly offered to help promote the BBCU and themselves of course, to the business community.
We are also looking at a joint BBCU and BUS event in February where we hope to attract Nicholas Soames MP and Richard Spring MP on 28 February.
I must remember to ask our administrator Tanya to update the BBCU web site ASAP.
So, here ends my first attempt at blogging. Maybe I have said too much and maybe I have rambled on a bit. (I didn't read any of those 'how to blog' links, I must admit.)
I certainly hope this is going to be a great year for the BBCU and its members.
My holiday ends today, so its back to the office in the morning. I hope my time management skills allow me to keep this blog going.
Plus we have a sponsor: Grishenko & Partners (Well known law firm) who have kindly offered to help promote the BBCU and themselves of course, to the business community.
We are also looking at a joint BBCU and BUS event in February where we hope to attract Nicholas Soames MP and Richard Spring MP on 28 February.
I must remember to ask our administrator Tanya to update the BBCU web site ASAP.
So, here ends my first attempt at blogging. Maybe I have said too much and maybe I have rambled on a bit. (I didn't read any of those 'how to blog' links, I must admit.)
I certainly hope this is going to be a great year for the BBCU and its members.
My holiday ends today, so its back to the office in the morning. I hope my time management skills allow me to keep this blog going.
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