The Big Breakfast Christchurch

What an amazing morning! After travelling for a week picking up the precious cargo from regions around NZ - the cargo - Hampers filled with love and goodies from members all around NZ, it was finally time to give them out. Keeping it a secret has been the hardest thing.

With the hampers hidden underneath black cloth the secret was kept until half way through the breakfast.

The room filled and by the time we were all seated for breakfast there were 200 people in the room. This was the start of a roller coaster of emotions for me - knowing what as about to happen, and catching up with members whom I had met at the Shakedown in October.

A great opening from the MC, Dean, and then we tucked into a tasty breakfast. An opening address from Graham Southwell and then Mayor, Bob Parker. His words - opportunity, safest siesmic city, building for the future, attracting people and business back resonated with all of us. We can't forget Santa Sam - the Director from Christchurch who was giving out presents - not for free however, there was a BNI quiz. And Rob, Director from Christchurch who updated us on the growth of chapters. 15 of 16 chapters up and running again and growing.

And finally the time came to reveal the surprise - Paul Meyer, Auckland Director took the stage and revealed the real reason our fellow colleagues, BNI family, were there - the video with everyone's best wishes from around the country was shown and us Directors' even done a wee ditty - and I don't think there was a dry eye in the house. Sam had a wee, actually, no a huge lump in his throat as he thanked all of NZ for the the gift of the hampers, to a standing ovation.  The turmoil of emotions from everyone - the remembering, the gratitude, the gesture, the surprise, the thanks, the tears ended the morning as each member recieved a hamper filled with our love and christmas goodies from around the country.

This was a wee thing we could do for our BNI family down in Christchurch and we wish them all a very happy, safe Christmas and hope the new years brings new opportunities and happiness.

I wish to thank everyone who was part of this and supported this intiative.

Thanks are also flooding in from Christchurch so we will document the whole journey in a video book which should be out next week.

Thanks again to everyone and thanks to Sam and Rob who managed to keep it a secret from all their members al this time. Not so difficult for men though - hehehe