designingnetworks

Beverley O’Neil and Dolly Watts launched the Aboriginal Business Club in January 1996 as a community-based volunteer group wholly supported by the volunteers, Aboriginal community and those who attend the luncheons.  We realized there was a need to create a forum where Aboriginal business people, organizations and associations, and those who do business with the Aboriginal community can convene on a regular basis, exchange information and ideas, and build their network.

The purpose of the Aboriginal Business Club is to... strengthen the Aboriginal economy by providing a forum where Aboriginal business can network, develop business contacts, exchange information, identify issues and concerns, and gain business knowledge.

Our Vision

The Aboriginal Business Club was created to help bring together, support, develop, and strengthen the Aboriginal business community, the private sector, organizations and governments together.

Principles

Growth of the Club will be conducted in a manner, which is controlled and effective, which ensures accessibility for Aboriginal business people to business contracts, information, and knowledge devoid of government funding. Operations and activities will adhere to the principles of fairness, openness, honesty, and respect.

Members

The Aboriginal Business Club was established to bring both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal business people together. Roughly 80% of members are Aboriginal. Member groups are described below.

• Aboriginal - Aboriginal business people primarily in the Vancouver metropolitan area and throughout British Columbia. The business people may be entrepreneurs of small or large business, existing or new, or work in the business community. They may be experienced or new business people.
• Non-Aboriginal - business people residing primarily within the Vancouver metropolitan area interested in communicating, networking, and doing business with Aboriginal people.
• Representatives of government and other organizations - having a role or responsibility to do business with the Aboriginal community.

*NOTE:  There are no membership fees - anyone can attend.

Benefits of Attending

Aboriginal members...

• improves business relationships
• removes systematic barriers
• procurement of goods & services from Aboriginal business
• create business opportunities

Non-Aboriginal members...

• opportunities to develop relationships with Aboriginal business people
• increase knowledge of issues related to Aboriginal business, governance and community

Meetings

Meetings are held on a monthly basis, usually the last Tuesday of each month, except July and August when the group breaks for summer vacation and December when a Christmas social is convened. Meetings began as breakfast meetings, but have changed to lunch meetings as of September 1996. Many people outside of and in Vancouver expressed an interest in attending the meetings, but found 7:00 am meetings difficult to attend.

Meetings are open with the main attraction being a guest speaker. Guest speakers are invited to talk on issues / subjects of interest or benefit of club members. A door prize draw provides an opportunity for promotion of the contributor and an extra benefit to those in attendance.

Affiliation

We are pleased to announce we've expanded!!  The Aboriginal Business Club has become affiliated with the National Aboriginal Business Association.  This affiliation will connect the Aboriginal Business Club and its members with other organizations and contacts across Canada.  For more information on NABA visit their website at www.nabacanada.com 

Some of Our Past Speakers

• Miles Richardson, Chief Commissioner BC Treaty Commission
• Chief Leonard George, Tsleil-Waututh First Nation
• Danny Watts, Lions Gate Bridge Expansion
• Chief Manny Jules, Indian Taxation Advisory Board
• Elder Dr. Bob George, Tsleil-Waututh First Nation
• Gary Yabsley, Ratcliffe & Company
• Eric Denhoff, Federal Treaty Negotiator
• Chief Sophie Pierre, Ktunaxa/Kinbasket Tribal Council
• Victoria Whithers, IBM
• Ian Tait, Vancouver Whistler Winter 2010 Olympic Bid Committee
• Stan Dixon, Kahtou Newspaper

Would you like to be added to the email list for notification of the next luncheon, other events and notices? Email your contact information to us

O'Neil Marketing & Consulting and Numa Communications Ltd.

#409-100 South Park Royal, West Vancouver, BC  V7T 1A2     Tel (604) 913-1905     Fax (604) 913-1906    Email:  info@designingnations.com

Last revised: September 7, 2008