The SaVVy Club^®, London’s first boutique social events club invites you to support our chosen charitable causes The Mineseeker Foundation and The Sole of Africa.

The Mineseeker Foundation is dedicated to raising funds from Governments, commercial concerns and funding agencies to deploy its unique airborne mine field surveying and mapping systems and enable the eradication of land mines and, through The Sole of Africa initiative, return liberated land to food production.

The patrons of the Mineseeker Foundation and The Sole of Africa include Nelson Mandela, his wife Graca Machel, Queen Noor of Jordan, Brad Pitt, Sir Richard Branson and John Paul Dejoria.

http://www.thesoleofafrica.org.za/
http://www.mineseeker.com/

To celebrate his 90th Birthday we’re giving Nelson Mandela an e-Birthday Card and we’re asking for more people to sign it than ever before!!

Have you signed yet?

http://www.mandela90.com/

This is what other people have written !

very happy birthday)))
Submitted By: Romanchenko Elena (Female, Country: Australia on Tuesday, Jul 01, 2008 5:09 AM)

Happy Birthday Mr. Mandela, Through out your years of captivity you were an example of what a man could withstand in order to achieve fredom and respect. You became greater afterwards, forgiving those who imprisoned you. Freedom has no better ally.
Submitted By: Flenner Robert (Male, Country: South Africa on Tuesday, Jul 01, 2008 4:55 AM)

Happy Birthday, Mr Mandela! You have made us all proud to be South African.I hope you enjoy your birthday-look forward to next years celebrations!
Submitted By: Moller Sue (Female, Country: South Africa on Tuesday, Jul 01, 2008 4:31 AM)

Wishing you a happy birthday Mr Mandela, have one on me
Submitted By: Mansfield George (Male, Country: United Kingdom on Tuesday, Jul 01, 2008 4:06 AM)

Happy Birthday Mr Mandela!
Submitted By: MESARIC IVANA (Female, Country: Croatia on Tuesday, Jul 01, 2008 3:34 AM)

Happy birthday Madiba! I pray that you will live forever… South Africans of all colour owe you more than you will ever know. We love you.
Submitted By: Tuck Barry (Male, Country: South Africa on Tuesday, Jul 01, 2008 2:01 AM)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TATE MADIBA… THANX GOD FOR GIVING THE WORLD …YOU
Submitted By: THOKA PRECIOUS (Male, Country: South Africa on Tuesday, Jul 01, 2008 1:50 AM)

I love you President Mandela - Happy 90th Birthday!!!
Submitted By: Nalubwama Sophy (Female, Country: United States on Tuesday, Jul 01, 2008 1:43 AM)

Best wishes to one of the most compassionate and caring people on the planet. UBUNTU
Submitted By: Banwell Laurice (Female, Country: Australia on Tuesday, Jul 01, 2008 1:21 AM)

Have you signed yet?

http://www.mandela90.com/

The Times is asking, “what do you give the man who has everything?” Any ideas?.

We have been given the opportunity of competing in the Celebrity Chef Live -
Ready, Steady, Cook -off!

We would love to have your support, so why not come along and cheer
The SaVVy Club^® team as we do battle? The celebrity chefs involved are Rob Reeves and Ed Bains. It is sure to be an exciting and rather amusing spectacle.

It will take place today, Wednesday 25th June at Earls Court 2 at 3pm.

The winning team (fingers crossed) will be crowned 2008 Celebrity Chef Live
Champions and have the once in a lifetime opportunity to be mentored by a
world famous chef.

We would love to see you there if you can make it. I think we may need the
moral support!

The SaVVy Club^®
www.savvyclub.co.uk
London’s first boutique social event club

Whenever I receive invitations to attend social events, I can always determine the kind of hosting organisation that authentically caters for the needs of it‘s members. This showcases true awareness and is something The SaVVy Club^®does so well.

It made me think about how we, as a nation of networkers, interact from a local to a global level in social and professional settings.

Rapport is a fundamental aspect and stems from connecting with others, building business, expanding social and professional connections and generally raising mutual confidence levels. This then enables the setting to meet many truly inspiring and memorable people.

Interacting with a diverse range of people is crucial to developing communication skills which purposefully builds your business.

What drew me to these individuals could have been their vocal tones, personality, dress sense, their consciousness or holistic approach to life, and even the most fundamental of all – their heart warming smile. It is these facets that make each person unique.

Regardless of the type of organisation, it’s sector or industry you specialise in, do you find that you always associate with the same type of people because of their personalities? Or do you feel more comfortable with people at the same level as yourself which could make you ignore others?

In networking, which is a world within itself, that would be seen as judging a book by its cover or, put even more plainly, shooting yourself in the foot!

Have you ever done this and then later found out that a particular person was a potential key contact to your getting your dream contract or work assignment?

At times, this kind of experience can be embarrassing, hurtful and even prove to be a death knell to your business as well as your own reputation. You will continually lose out on moving your business forward, hitting your targets, realising your goals and crediting your bank account.

One thing I can strongly advise: always be open to all possibilities in communications building and networking. You never know who is connected to whom and how deep their relationship goes.

Second tier networking involves high level professional introductions that includes the Top 3 Strategies of business building and multiples streams of income such as:

1. Strong Associations
2. Qualified Referrals
3. Joint Ventures

On a personal note, all 3 of those strategies would not have been implemented if:

1. I didn’t know what was happening in my professional and social circles;
2. I didn’t take the time to find out what my contacts wanted;
3. I hadn’t asked the right questions to realise what was also being offered.

So, how much do you know of what’s happening right under your nose?
How do other people within your circle of influence conduct their business?
What did they do that made them become important to you?

Below are the Top Tip 5 Reflective Questions you should consider before committing to any kind of action:

1. What is it about someone that makes you remember them?
2. Why would you want to connect more fully with that person?
3. Do you have a wish or ambition that they could help you achieve?
4. When did you realise that they could feature in your networking life?
5. What first steps do you need to take to make sure that you connect with this
person on a larger and mutually productive scale?

No matter how experienced or inexperienced you are at networking, there is always room for improvement to develop your rapport and people connection skills. All of the above and more relates to your experiences with others and how you make people feel. That way, they’ll want to engage and commit more of their quality time to you.

Using rapport to achieve someone’s dreams and to fulfil your purpose can be extremely gratifying, especially when you receive feedback that lifts your spirit and makes your day. I’ve communicated and networked with thousands of corporate bodies, business owners, entrepreneurs and start-up businesses and so rapport has become second nature.

Always Remember: in business time is money so communicate, rapport authentically and network wisely. When you do you’ll be emotionally, spiritually and financially rewarded.

Guest blogger: Valerie Lothian, Focusivity - Positive Energy Stress Management www.Focusivity.co.uk

The SaVVy Club^®- www.savvyclub.co.uk - As London’s most exclusive social events club, our members tend to work in senior management and professional capacities.

In the ongoing struggle to achieve ever more success there is no time just to be… to stop and stare or to smell the roses. Talk to most workaholics and they have little idea how to relax and enjoy the moment. The concept is alien to them and they find it most uncomfortable. They see no reason why anyone would want to do it.

Here are my top ten tips to learning to live in the moment, they are designed to fit in with a busy schedule and are just a starting point, they may appear inconsequential but done regularly they start to have a profound effect.

1) As you wake up each morning spend a couple of minutes breathing deeply. Breathe in deeply to the count of 2, hold it for 4 and breathe out to 4. As you breathe be conscious of exactly how each part of your body is feeling.

2) Tell yourself that you choose to be happy today and that you will find time to enjoy this day to the full. (Once past it is gone forever.)

3) As you take your shower or bath in the morning be conscious of how the water feels on your skin. Feel the temperature of the water and the sensation of the soap or shower gel on your skin. Contrast that with the roughness of the towel or the softness of your robe.

4) During the day stop and take a small amount of time to consciously notice your surroundings. Use each of your senses in turn, what can you smell or hear, look for the colour or texture of things around you. Be aware of how you are feeling. Even five minutes out of your busy day done on a regular basis will make a difference.

5) Smile, and make a conscious decision to make someone you pass in the corridor or lift to smile back. Be aware of how it makes you feel.

6) Create five small random acts of kindness during your day. They could be a simple as letting a fellow driver out of a side turning or helping someone with their bag. Notice how it makes you feel.

7) Do something, which makes you smile or laugh each day. Be conscious of how you feel when you laugh. As you travel to or from work take the opportunity to observe an aspect of nature. Look at the sky – see the cloud formation or look at how the trees are moving with the wind, look at the individual petals of a flower, or watch the raindrops making a pattern on the train window.

9) Set time aside within your busy timetable. Plan your time over a week or fortnightly cycle. Set aside time each week to enjoy simply for now. A quiet time to walk with no other intention than to enjoy it, or time to spend with your significant other.

10) Just before you go to sleep think of five things which you have been grateful for during the day. They can be as small or as significant as you choose.

May be it is time to start living now rather than waiting for your real “life” to begin once you have achieved professional success. The danger is that by the time you are ready to “live” you may be on your own or your health will have suffered in the mean time.

Guest Blogger/Author: Gina Gardiner, Recovering Workaholics, http://www.ginagardiner.com

Gina is a member of The SaVVy Club^®- London’s first boutique social events club

Opera Holland Park is a summer opera company which produces an annual season of opera performances staged under a temporary canopy in Holland Park. The Dutch Garden Lounge is a stunning setting and one that is impervious to the rather unpredictable British summer weather as all perforances take place in the fully covered auditorium.

The canopy was installed in 1988 and was initially used for a variety of music. However concerns about noise levels led to an increasing focus on opera from 1989, with productions staged by a variety of small opera companies. For the 2007 season, the theatre was expanded by the addition of a spectacular new canopy underneath which is new seating and other improved facilities.

It is the perfect venue for a relaxing evening of entertainment. The Dutch Garden Lounge is a beautifully finished glass-fronted lounge that overlooks the celebrated Dutch Garden of Holland Park. It is an enviable location to entertain and network with clients before the performance and during the interval.

So why not give your clients an evening to remember, and more importantly make yourself stand out from the crowd.

Sally Ormond
www.savvyclub.co.uk
London’s first Boutique social events club offering stylish, exclusive & memorable events

Have you heard? Due to popular demand The SaVVy Club® has announced two new membership levels.
Increasing numbers of you have been asking for a membership specially designed for those who do not live in London. After all, if you are not in London 24/7 it can sometimes be difficult to get to all the events that we offer on our London social events calendar.

We have listened and come up with two new types of membership: Out of town for those of you living 75+ miles outside of the capital and Overseas for those of you who regularly visit London but who are resident outside the UK.

Why not apply today and take advantage of these new memberships.

The SaVVy Club^® www.savvyclub.co.uk
(London’s first Boutique social events club offering stylish, exclusive & memorable events)

If you are the host of the party and want to stipulate a dress code, by all means do. Just spare a thought for your guests. Don’t make up an innovative dress code such as ‘relaxed’ or ‘Sunday casual’ – no one will know what you mean and your guests won’t thank you. To coin a phrase from Donald Rumsfeld, stick to known knowns then everyone will understand. Start using unknown unknowns and there is no telling what will happen.

Also a word of warning if you are holding a fancy dress party – make sure the theme is clearly shown on the invitation and also that it is compulsory. There is nothing worse (or more embarrassing for your guests) if only a handful of people turn up as their favourite Super Heros whilst everyone else is dressed normally.

So there you go, we have now solved the problem of what you will be wearing on your night out. Now all you have to worry about is what you are going to do when you get there. But we have thought of everything. Claim your free guide to the 10 Rules of Socialising. Everything you need to know to mingle successfully, create a good impression and have the time of your life.

The SaVVy Club (http://www.savvyclub.co.uk) – London’s first Boutique social events club offering stylish, exclusive & memorable events

Claim your FREE London Social Events Calendar

“Instant (Summer) Polo” is deliberately written in the style of an aide
memoire to fast-track someone unfamiliar with the game.

Game Object: to score more goals than the other Team
(NB Ends are changed after each goal, there is no offside rule)

o Biggest (300yd x 200yd) ground of any ball game (9 football pitches)
o One of the three Fastest games in the world (others are squash & ice hockey)
o Oldest (about 1000 BC in Persia) ball game in the world
o Most addictive
o First match in England: 1869 on Hounslow Heath; now over 60 Clubs in UK
o Only game where half-goals appear on the scoreboard (handicapping system)
o All Players must play right-handed for safety reasons
o Spectators are encouraged to go on the ground at half-time (treading in) – at other times keep behind the safety line, polo balls are hard and fast!

YOU WILL SEE
o 1 Timekeeper monitoring each period (chukka) of playing time; should be 7 min 30 sec, usually elapsed time is more like 15 min allowing for stoppages due to Fouls
o 2 Umpires (sometimes only 1) administer the Rules; they wear shirts like pyjama jackets and carry objects like toilet-plungers (for retrieving balls)
o 2 Goal Judges, they wave a flag to show a goal is scored
o 4 Players a Team, often numbered 1 to 4 on their backs
o 4 Chukkas a Match (usually); however a player’s handicap represents the number of goals they are worth to their team in a 6-chukka match (historical)!
o 5 virtual lines or marks parallel to the goal lines: at the centre of the ground and at 30, 40 and 60 yards from each goal line

To minimise danger and ensure fairness there are strict Rules, because of the speed of the game; both the play and the clock stop when a whistle is blown by an Umpire.

Basically, if you are following the “line of the ball” then you have “right of way” over everyone else. If that is infringed, then Penalty hits may be awarded, or the decision may be “no foul” and the ball is then “thrown in” to restart play.

You may “ride off” an opponent but may not “sandwich” them and you must not use your elbows.

Guest blogger: Roy Law, www.Soft-SpokenWords.com

© 2007-2008 Soft-Spoken Words, submitted to The SaVVy Club^®

The SaVVy Club^®: London’s first boutique social events club

This is definitely the year of the foody. If you love food, (let’s face it, who doesn’t?) we have just the event for you.

Taking place between 19th and 22nd June in the gorgeous setting of Regent’s Park is ‘One of the World’s greatest food festivals’ (Time Magazine, October 2007), Taste of London.
The event will be hosting over 40 of the capital’s top restaurants including Le Gavroche, L’Atelier du Joel Robuchon, China Tang and Café Anglais who will be serving up signature dishes in sample sizes.

You may also get the opportunity of meeting world class, Michelin starred chefs including Tom Aikens, Angela Hartnett, Gary Rhodes and Atul Kochhar who will be showing off their renowned culinary skills. This year’s festival will be visited by world famous chef and food campaigner Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. Hugh’s new River Cottage Spring programme is on C4 at 9pm on Wednesdays.

For the first time ever, 2008 sees Taste of China which offers a unique culinary journey through China showcasing the nation’s best food, drink, destinations, cultural arts and entertainment.

The SaVVy Club^®
London’s first boutique social events club

Many people have transformed their lives by using the principles of Feng Shui to change their lives for the better with increased wealth, better health and greater happiness.

One way of starting with Feng Shui is noticing how the energy in your home affects you, how do you feel when you walk into your home, or your office, do you feel good or does it make you feel lethargic and tired, is it a place where there are a lot of arguments, do you feel as though you never have any money. Have the previous occupants in the house or office been divorced, made bankrupt or suffered from ill health (this is called predecessor chi) and history can repeat itself where occupants will keep suffering what the previous occupants did. It may even be just one area of your home or office.

These negative energies can be caused by the earth energy fields being disturbed and traumatised and this is called GEOPATHIC STRESS.

You might wonder what is Geopathic Stress, how can my home or office be stressed, “I feel stressed” – is this how my home/office energies feel. Geopathic Stress can be caused by a number of factors these can be disturbances with renovations to your home or office, building work, underground railway, railway lines, mental hospital site a war zone anywhere where the earth’s energy has been traumatised will have an effect on the buildings that we live and work in and thus will cause problems for the occupants.

It is possible to harmonise these energies by working on the earth’s energy grids and meridians. Many people have found that once the energies have been harmonised then their ill health, with cancer, diabetes, gallstones, all the bad luck with bankruptcy and divorce from previous occupants energy is not a problem.

The Chinese believe that if you respect your ancestors and bury them on a good site with good earth energies then they will be fortunate in this life in every aspect. This makes good sense when you take into consideration the land formations as traditionally there was a mountain at the back of their home and a river or a road in the front of the house with low mountains to one side and high mountains to the other and the good site would be centred.

You will hear many people say “It was only when we moved house/office that our luck changed” and they find themselves getting divorced when they were previously happy, they have succumbed to ill health with cancer or become bankrupt and before they moved they where quite successful, healthy and happily married. It is always worthwhile having a Feng Shui consultant survey your new home before you move in to check that it would be a good place for you to move to.

Guest blogger: Vicky Sweetlove, Feng Shui Life www.fengshuilife.co.uk