How Many to Have a Cluster Meeting?

[lkprescott]

I'm new to PC but not to the need for meetings. They bring cohesion and make folks feel a part of something. Even as our own bosses, it's nice to know there's a larger group to gain info, ideas and such from. I was feeling a little 'lost' myself as my director is very busy and the only real contact I have is her weekly canned email. Then I got an evite forwarded by her for a meeting. I went... I knew she'd be out of town and so I'd know nobody *but myself* which is completely outside my comfort zone... and I'm SOOOOO glad I went! The meeting was packed full of info and best of all... motivation! Someone demoed a new recipe in a mini-show style so we could learn from her techniques... we had a check in... someone brought a dessert pre-made... so we got to chat, learn and eat! Thing is.. I couldn't tell you how many ladies showed up... the important thing was we all left energized and laughing. Quality over quantity... I went in knowing nobody and found out I have folks, just like me, [some were brand new, some weren't]... all interested in helping each other succeed and I think that's what it's all supposed to boil down to, eh? I also found out they happen every month! So I marked it on my calendar so I didn't schedule a show then... to me it's worth giving up a night of making money to gain that which money can't buy.

 

[chefann]

I'm new to PC but not to the need for meetings. They bring cohesion and make folks feel a part of something. Even as our own bosses, it's nice to know there's a larger group to gain info, ideas and such from.
<snip>
Thing is.. I couldn't tell you how many ladies showed up... the important thing was we all left energized and laughing. Quality over quantity...

I went in knowing nobody and found out I have folks, just like me, [some were brand new, some weren't]... all interested in helping each other succeed and I think that's what it's all supposed to boil down to, eh? I also found out they happen every month! So I marked it on my calendar so I didn't schedule a show then... to me it's worth giving up a night of making money to gain that which money can't buy.

I completely agree! There are so many reasons to attend meetings, whether you think you need them or not. And what you'll find is that, rather than the meeting taking away from your income (because you didn't schedule a show), they actually add to your income by increasing your skills.

 

[chefjeanine]

And what you'll find is that, rather than the meeting taking away from your income (because you didn't schedule a show), they actually add to your income by increasing your skills.

So true. I'm baffled by people who schedule shows on our Meeting days (Saturday mornings -- a schedule is distributed in early January or late December) or schedule other activites that don't have to be held on those days.

It hurts all of us when people don't attend the meetings. It's always better when there are more people (the energy is up) but you should go/have them even if there are only one or two.

 

[Chef Kearns]

I'm a Future Director with 4 people signing up in the next few weeks. I want to start doing my own meetings. I won't have the HO Director meeting form so what should I use as a guidline for my training? I get a little overwhelmed when I think of all of the information I want to convey and then taking into account the level that they are at.

After being in the business for 4 years I feel like I should've been a Director 2 years ago. Especially when it comes to the meetings. Now, I'm not the PC directory Ann is, but I find that I tend to be the only one at the meetings with the company info, product knowledge and tips (much thanks to the wonderful people on Chef Success). And being a hospitality doesn't help the situation. I kinda feel left out. And while I still wouldn't be getting the recognition I (CRAVE) like by having my own meetings I think it would help me feel as though I'm truly giving back. At the meetings I attend now I just feel like a lump in the room. I miss having my own Director. She was FABULOUS!! I miss Kim. She was really great with recognition and making you feel like you were a valuable part of her team. I hope to a director like that one day!

 

[baychef]

She does actually share her meetings with another director who is in her downline. Both have not had meetings all year long. I have never received a newsletter from her either. It makes me so upset to know what I am missing just because I have a cr*ppy director!

Oh, and no reply to my email as of this morning.

This bothers me to no end especially when she can share a meeting and/or newsletter with another director. I would contact your upline...not to rat on her. Let her do as she wishes, but let your upline know that you want to attend a regular meeting and is there a director close to you she could recommend.

I almost wrote "another" director in your area, but this issue is not about her. It is about YOU and YOUR desire for learning. This way, it keeps any hint of ill feelings out of it. If your upline asks you about attending meetings with your director, just state that there have not been any recently and don't explain anything further. If she presses you for details, just let her know that you are interested only in attending a regular meeting and would prefer she ask your director any questions she may have. This way you are not in the middle of something. Let them deal with whatever concerns that come up from there.

I do remember getting frustrated as a new director of low attendance, but I only cancelled 2 meetings when I heard from no one. Each time I had one show up that had not RSVP'd and I felt bad so I will never do that again. I do ask for RSVP's and list who I have heard, yes, no, maybe or nothing at all from so I can get an approximate number of how many copies to bring. Good luck and keep us posted. Stay focused on what you want and need from your business!!!

 

[JAE]

I'm usually the only one who shows to my meeting or maybe one other will come, too. I get free stuff, so I keep going. My director plans nothing except the time and place. That's not totally true. She did make a new recipe in our August meeting, and sometimes she plans what she has in her gift bag. She doesn't do many shows and has a hard time getting $750 a month. She doesn't plan to sell that in December and barely got there in November.

 

[ChefBeckyD]

I'm usually the only one who shows to my meeting or maybe one other will come, too. I get free stuff, so I keep going. My director plans nothing except the time and place. That's not totally true. She did make a new recipe in our August meeting, and sometimes she plans what she has in her gift bag. She doesn't do many shows and has a hard time getting $750 a month. She doesn't plan to sell that in December and barely got there in November.

Seriously? Even in November with SAT? That is just sad. Really makes me think she won't be a director for much longer - if she can barely make $750 in Nov, and can't make it in Dec - how will she make it in Jan and Feb?

Good thing you have your "spare" cluster, huh? You know you can always come to ours - Jen has adopted you, and thinks of you as one of hers anyways!

 

[JAE]

She made the $750 in November by someone buying $350 in products and then signing up to sell. Amazing! She's doing something right because she consistantly gets recruits. I wish she'd teach me what she's doing.

 

[sfdavis918]

Seriously? Even in November with SAT? That is just sad. Really makes me think she won't be a director for much longer - if she can barely make $750 in Nov, and can't make it in Dec - how will she make it in Jan and Feb?

Good thing you have your "spare" cluster, huh? You know you can always come to ours - Jen has adopted you, and thinks of you as one of hers anyways!

I wouldn't think that the SAT would be that big a deal to a director, since they get everything anyway, right?

 

[KellyTheChef]

Sarah~

They don't get it unless they meet minimum sales requirements in the months before hand. Someone on here will know the specifics!

 

[chefann]

Directors typically have to sell $1250 in 3 out of 4 months before the SAT to get them - it's usually detailed in the fine print on the SAT flyer.

 

[MORFIA]

FYI
as Directors we are required to hold meetings if not--- We can get a call from H.O. etc......

I have meetings with one++ if its that small sometimes we go out for a bite---relax and brainstorm----
initiate it by inviting your friend-Director---YOU CAN GROW SO MUCH together---You are leader so LEAD---go for it---

 

[baychef]

Directors typically have to sell $1250 in 3 out of 4 months before the SAT to get them - it's usually detailed in the fine print on the SAT flyer.

You are correct, Ann. In addition, you do not receive your extra 3% commission on your cluster's sales and your personal sales if you do not sell $1250 in a month. I am terrible...I know they just increased one of the levels of sales we must obtain, but since I usually get well beyond that, I don't recall what it was. I am hoping to promote my first director with in a few months so I will have to get on the stick!

As far as your director getting more recruits...she must be doing something right...she just may be at the right place at the right time! But with those low sales (especially for a director) she will not hold that title.

 

[agraywolfe]

I am about to recruit and my cluster does not have a Director close but I do have a future director close to me and our firstline Director is a Senior Executive Director and she sends the information to do meetings to the future director and it would be the three of us Her (future Director Carol) Me (Carols recruit recruited me), another girl (Christina my recruits other recruit) and my Recruit. Carol does nto have any of her recruits show up as they dont live close or work interfears with the meeting times.

I will be holding mini meetings for just me and my recruit and christina as carol is going to be helping at home with her daughters surgery and then her recovery so I will be requesting the information from her to have meetings untill CArol can again.

So to answer your question if she your Director does not want to hold meetings you should ask her or your senior director for hospitality close as we have a Director who has 4 diffrent hospitality directors in the meeting becasue all of the clusters are small.

But we my cluster has broken off to do our own detailed training. We are wanting to build our business and get things going. I want to cross stage with me Recruiter (who moved to Misouri) and her Recruiter Carol and Me all crossing stage on the same day. That would be cool. To have our cluster grow by leaps and bounds.

Your directors up line can talk to you and will probably be more then willing to help you teach each meeting and at least have something for you and her as we have found out all you have to do is ask.

 

[buckeyefan08]

We have monthly meetings with out cluster about an hour away from where we live. My recruiter is a FD. Her, myself, and her other recruit all live out here so we do our own little meeting once a week. We all are very busy with other things so we rotate who goes to the actual cluster meeting and then meet up for coffee and go over the stuff we learned at the meeting and brainstorm among the three of us. That seems to work better, it's easier to get three people together than 15. Do what works for you!

 

[jrb0328]

I'm sorry...I don't agree with your director at all.

There was one month that the cluster meeting I attended was just ME and MY DIRECTOR. Just cuz other people don't want to attend, or can't attend, I don't think others should suffer.

If she doesn't get it together...are there other clusters in your area? Can you see if you and your recruit can attend someone else's meetings?

My very first meeting was just my director and I. No one else could make it, she has 5 other consultants in her downline. I was ok with this, since it was my first I kind of liked the one on one

 

[pampermejolene]

Wow, I didn't know how fortunate I am! I'm in my second month... we have meetings every month and and extra meeting each month for any new recruits. The 2 main meetings that I have been to have had probably 25-35 people in attendance.
There is a wealth of info even outside of the meeting just chatting with others.
For those of you without set meetings, I highly suggest that you try to find people to meet up with. It's such a great help!

 

[Thinker]

Maybe you should suggest a conference call cluster meeting. our cluster did that last month and we had a great meeting.