Monthly Newsletter
July 2020
|
|
|
 |
Dear Friends of the BABC,
We have made it halfway through the year and our day to day lives have had to adapt given the impact COVID-19 has and still is having around the globe. As you will read from HM Consul General, Andrew Whitaker, we are functioning under ‘a new normal’, and this too is true for the BABC.
Despite the struggling situation we find ourselves in, our BABC Members have shown the organization tremendous support by renewing their memberships, and many of you have paid your dues early to help us through this time. I’d like to personally offer my thanks, on behalf of the BABC Board, for this outstanding support.
We continue to promote the countless webinar, virtual seminars, and zoom meetings held by our members and hope you have found them both informative and an effective and sociable way of engaging with fellow BABC Members. This has certainly been the way we have kept our community active and engaged.
We have hosted two well attended and successful Virtual Happy Hours over the last two months. On our June edition we were joined by CEO of Werqwise, Alan Mackay who shared some thought leadership comments on the future of work and on Wednesday, CEO of Elements.cloud, Ian Gotts was our Lightning Talk speaker discussing digital transformation and how a 5-year plan has become a 5-week project.
These well-received lightning talks has now become a staple addition to the format of our virtual Happy Hour. Stay tuned for next month's announcement.
We also joined forces with Community Partner BBS to produce what is normally our BABC Young Professionals Annual British-American Pub Quiz. Led by Quizmaster Peter Brook over Zoom, just shy of 15 teams competed for the coveted Pub Quiz Cup where our British and American Trivia Knowledge was greatly tested. Fun was had by all and it was 'Fish, Chips and Mushy Peas' who will be getting their name engraved on the trophy! Thank you to all that attended and congratulations to the evening winners. Stay tuned as we hope to host another Trivia night in the near future.
On that note we have some exciting events in the planning so please keep an eye out on the BABC Events calendar and our email communication. This will of course be in line with any restrictions in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Please be advised that due to variable schedules during these summer months which have resulted in low registration for next week’s Annual General Meeting, we are postponing the AGM until September 16. We anticipate that by then most BABC members will be back from any planned vacations/holidays, and that we will have greater clarity on plans for the Christmas Lunch and other important matters that impact our fiscal health.
As always I hope you and your family are safe and well.
|
|
|
|
|
Stephen Wares, CGMA,
BABC President &
VP Business Development,
CCW Business Solutions
|
|
|
|
From The Consul's General's Desk
|
|
|
Dear BABC Members,
As we head into July, and now 5 months since the coronavirus has changed the way we operate I thought I would take this month to talk about the new normal and how that has changed the way we operate for the foreseeable future.
I have no doubt all of you have been diligently participating in Zoom events hosted by not only your companies but also the BABC. The Consulate too is moving to hosting more of these open, online gatherings. With inspiration from the first ever Free Trade Agreement Negotiations talks occurring virtually, we are moving full steam ahead with online work as way to remain connected but also continuing to promote UK values and the UK economy.
Just last month, I participated in my third Pride event while with the Consulate. The first I had the chance to walk down Market Street with the thousands of others celebrating the LGBTQ+ community; then last year we expanded our participation to ensure we had representation at the Oakland and Seattle Prides; and this year we hosted our first virtual Pride, featuring experts in the community to talk about business sustainability, maintaining diversity, and expanding internationally during these times. Now more than ever, it is important to commit ourselves to being inclusive and rejecting hate, and know that strongest, most prosperous societies are ones where people can live free from discrimination.
We’ll continue this month when our telecomms and hardware team will host our first virtual mission, which will be a mix of fireside chats and pitch meetings as we work to continue to be that bridge between Silicon Valley and UK companies. And farther out, we’ll be looking at ways to welcome CEOs and Ministers alike on virtual visits. And we will of course keep you apprised of all public events via the BABC calendar, I hope you’ll be able to join us.
As ever, I hope you are all keeping well and taking care of yourself.
|
|
|
|
Andrew Whittaker,
HM Consul General
|
|
RESCHEDULED
BABC 64th (VIRTUAL) Annual General Meeting 2020
MEMBERS ONLY
|
Wednesday, September 16th, 2020 5.15 PM - 6.30 PM
|
Please be advised that due to variable schedules during these summer months which have resulted in low registration for this week’s 2020 BABC Annual General Meeting, we are postponing the event until
Wednesday, September 16th at 5.15pm. We anticipate that by then most BABC members will be back from any planned vacations/holidays, and that we will have greater clarity on plans for a Christmas Lunch and other important matters that impact our fiscal health.
If you had already registered for the July 15th event, you do not need to re-register. If you plan to attend on September 16th, but have not yet registered, please
follow this link to do so. The Zoom registration link will be sent to attendees registered via our ChamberMaster system.
There will also be a short opportunity to mix and mingle (virtually) with your fellow members prior to the beginning of the AGM.
|
|
|
BABC MEMBERS PLEASE COMPLETE A BALLOT EVEN IF YOU CAN'T ATTEND
It is imperative, that if you have not returned your Ballot for the election of our Board of Directors, that you do so
immediately
. If you will not be available to attend the Virtual AGM in September, it is also important that you complete a Proxy Letter to ensure the meeting establishes a Quorum (51% of all members) to pass the vote. For ease, we have combined both the Proxy Letter and the Ballot in to one Docusign document. Please use button below to complete both documents. It should only take a minute to complete.
info@babcsf.org
|
|
THIS IS A MEMBERS ONLY EVENT.
ONLY FULLY PAID & PRE-REGISTERED MEMBERS CAN ATTEND.
If your membership is up for renewal you can click the renew button below. Or alternatively if you are wishing to join the BABC you can do so below also.
|
|
FREE Webinar Events hosted by our Members
|
|
|
Founders x Funders Roundtable:
How to Thrive in a Changing Landscape
|
Date: Wednesday, 15th July, 2020 Time: 4PM - 5PM PDT
|
|
|
Date: Wednesday, 22nd July, 2020 Time: 9:00AM - 10:00 AM PDT
Attendees will walk away with an understanding of…
- What incident response preparation really looks like and how to close the gaps
- How proper preparation and configuration helps to reduce MTTD and MTTR
- How MITRE ATT&CK benefits from proper configuration and preparation
- How proper configuration and preparation aides in threat hunting
|
|
|
2020 PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
Hosted by Corporate Member 2020 PGA Championship
|
|
|
2020 PGA Championship Rescheduled for August 3-9, 2020
The PGA Championship at Harding Park in August of 2020 will be the first PGA Championship to be staged in San Francisco.
|
|
CHARITY PARTNERS IN NEED OF YOUR SUPPORT
|
|
|
|
|
British Benevolent Society
|
|
|
|
|
Lewis & Llewellyn Is Hiring - Trial Lawyers. Problem Solvers.
|
To meet increasing client demand, Lewis & Llewellyn is looking to hire another associate attorney. The ideal candidate should come from a top law school and have two to four years of substantive litigation experience at a well-respected firm. Most importantly, the candidate should have a passion for litigation, trial practice, and the desire to win. In return, the candidate will join a team of twelve highly experienced attorneys practicing at the cutting edge on high-stakes, high-profile matters. Our lean and efficient approach to litigation means you will not be watching from the sidelines but will be immersed from day one in the strategy and tactics of litigation. We approach and staff cases to win, not to bill hours.
|
|
|
|
|
The new, digital edition of Currency Outlook has landed
|
The global economy has changed, and so too have some of the key drivers impacting currency markets.
We are headed into uncharted waters in the second half of this year, as governments gradually ease their COVID-19 lockdowns and travel restrictions to revive economic growth. Only time will tell if the global economy can rebound, or whether it will be a case of two steps forward, three steps back.
|
|
|
|
|
COVID-19: What was in the Summer Statement?
|
The UK is now in the second stage of the Government’s three stage coronavirus recovery strategy. On Wednesday 8 July the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, delivered the 2020 Summer Statement announcing financial support for specific businesses recovering from the impact of the pandemic. There were tax cuts to help the residential property market recover, as well as tax cuts intended to reignite the UK’s hospitality sector (restaurants, tourism etc.)
|
|
|
|
|
Krystle Chow Admitted to Firm as Partner – Spott, Lucey & Wall, Inc. CPAs
|
Spott, Lucey & Wall, Inc. CPAs (2009 to Present) - San Francisco, California
Krystle Chow is a partner at Spott, Lucey, and Wall, specializing in the U.S. perspective on international taxation and reporting for privately-held businesses and individuals with cross-border transactions.
|
|
|
|
|
Closing the Door to Talent Will Cost Jobs and Hurt Competitiveness
|
The Trump administration’s plan to suspend the issuance of H-1B and other temporary visas through the end of 2020 is a direct challenge to the business model that has made Silicon Valley and other U.S. technology centers successful. It is also a model that underpins our economic and technological leadership.
|
|
|
|
|
ICSF Can't Wait to Welcome You!
|
Go through their presentation of the many measures the InterContinental San Francisco has adopted in lieu of COVID.
They wish to offer the safest meetings in town, and are eagerly ready to welcome you!
|
|
|
|
|
Latest ACCA research finds organizations face increasing operational challenges as a result of Covid-19, with SMEs hardest hit
|
Due to the global pandemic, smaller businesses – those with 200 or less staff – are especially pessimistic about their future revenues and face greater challenges than their larger counterparts, reveals ACCA’s Covid-19 global survey ‘
The Road to Recovery’
.
|
|
|
|
|
BUY ONE and get the second, and the fourth, and even the sixth night free!
For every night you buy, the next one’s on us.
Our doors reopen July 1, and we’re thrilled and ready to welcome you back to Wine Country!
|
|
|
|
|
7 Blunders & Key Mistakes Businesses Make During a Crisis & How to Avoid Them
|
Mistake #6: Boom Packaging – Products for Last Business Cycle
An event as traumatic as a pandemic increases the impact on businesses, no matter their size. Product sets and packaging geared for a boom may feel “too big” or “too risky” in a crisis environment. It does not matter if the cause is a perception or an actual cash constraint.
|
|
|
|
|
Work Visa Proclamation | Explaining what it means for BABC Members | Courtesy of Erickson Immigration Group
|
On Monday, 22nd June 2020, President Trump signed the “Proclamation Suspending Entry of Aliens Who Present a Risk to the U.S. Labor Market Following the Coronavirus Outbreak.”
Erickson Immigration Group has released this FAQ and this shareable PDF to clarify who is impacted, for how long, and what to expect.
|
|
|
|
|
Get to know our Member Werqwise
|
At our June 10th Virtual Happy Hour, Alan Mackay joined us to share some insights into the future of the workplace. As well as being a Board Member and huge supporter of BABC, Alan is CEO of Werqwise who many of you will know is an innovative services business, focused on flexible coworking and private office spaces.
|
|
|
|
|
Serviced Apartment Discount for BABC
|
Whether you need us now or down the road, Furnished Quarters offers move-in ready apartments for relocating employees or anyone that needs some extra living or work space. Our fully furnished apartments include everything from WiFi to utilities to a fully equipped kitchen, and are available throughout the Bay Area, NYC, Boston and around the globe. We professionally clean and sanitize every residence, and ensure a minimum of 96 hours between guests.
|
|
|
|
|
Werqwise – Health and Safety Brochure
|
Premier Member Werqwise has prepared its space to be the healthiest and safest environment.
They have thought hard about the workplace needs, so members don’t have to.
|
|
|
BAB NETWORK NEWS
The latest news from the BAB Network
|
|
|
Duncan Edwards
Chief Executive Officer
BritishAmerican Business
|
|
Why BAB is Supporting the Trade Negotiations - CEO Update
July 2020
|
If you believe, like we do here at BAB, that reducing financial and technical barriers to trade and investment is a fundamental driver of growth (and the historic evidence for this is overwhelming) then you will be rooting for a successful outcome for the negotiations going on now between the U.S. and the UK. There is a short, three question
survey here which we would love you to complete.
|
|
|
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ALL OUR MEMBERS THAT HAVE RENEWED FROM THE START OF OUR FISCAL YEAR & DESPITE OF COVID-19
|
|
|
Joe Calder
Nichola Barber
Stacey Archbell
Alexandra Berven
Ian Paget
Jerry Lundblad
|
|
Katie Wechsler
Matthew Lambrinos
Peter Woodhouse
Preston Gordon
Wallace Poulter
Withbert Walter Payne
|
|
|
YP MEMBERS
Emily Matthews
Jessica Clancy
Meredith Sellers
Sean Anderson
|
|
WITH THANKS TO OUR SUSTAINING
PATRON & PREMIER MEMBERS
|
|
|
MEMBER TO MEMBER OFFERS
See the perks of being a member
|
|
|
One of the benefits of membership in the BABC Northern California is the opportunity to access Member to Member Only special offers and hot deals. To learn how to access codes and instructions, log in to your BABC Account and click on the Offers and Deals button.
|
|
|
BABC Members get one month free!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Discounted Short-Term Housing
|
|
|
|
|
Weekly print edition over 20% off regular rate
|
|
Now offering BABC members special access to SFBT including premium content, downloadable contact lists and email alerts plus the Weekly print edition at $110
|
|
|
|
|
|
Receive a 20% discount on all WowDolce Catering orders
|
|
|
|
|
*Rates start at $79 plus tax per night.
|
|
Includes overnight onsite parking.
Valid for stays from July 1 to August 15, 2020
|
|
|
|
|
|
Try DocuSign eSignature FREE for 30 days
|
|
|
British American Business Council | (415) 296-8645 | info@babcsf.org | www.babcsf.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
