CHAPTER BRAGS
Givers Gain
The clients of Sue Tierney, Colleen Abbott and Johanna Pansier—a.k.a. the Terrific Trio—are ecstatic about the service they provide. One satisfied homebuyer said, "They were able to visit me at home and complete details in the front seat of my courier van."
"I found Colleen, Johanna and Sue most helpful, polite, knowledgeable and very credible. It makes buying a home so much easier," he added.
The Terrific Trio were featured in the Ponsonby Patter, a "fortnightly" newsletter compiled by Lisa Davis of Vermillion Art Hire and Troy Benner of Corporate Focus, the Ponsonby Chapter of BNI.
The Troy-Somerset, MI, chapter assembles a welcome basket that is given to each and every visitor to the chapter! President Deborah Bogle is seen here with Dr. Misner, holding a sample basket. These baskets contain a coffee mug from the chapter's specialty advertising representative as well as other items from members. This is one way to be sure that visitors feel welcomed and take away something memorable from the meeting.
When one of our outstanding members died suddenly and unexpectedly, last year our chapter decided to hold a dinner, dance and auction to raise money for a memorial scholarship fund that would carry on his name.
All our months of hard work on the project paid off; our event was a big success and it was a lovely evening that we will remember for a long time.
We raised over $10,000. Not only that, working on the event provided our members with the opportunity to get to know one another better, become closer and more involved with each other and make our chapter stronger.
Submitted by Alma Smith, Metro South Chapter, St. Louis, MO
Joining BNI has been one of the best things I have done. Aside from the referrals, I met have met people just like me, doing their business; the validation, appreciation, encouragement and enjoyment of each other that goes on in the meetings is worth ten times the price of the membership alone! Plus, it is so interesting to learn about the work of others.
I was very shy and did not think that I could get up to speak, but having to do it every week has increased my confidence tremendously. I LOVE BNI! I tell everyone about it.
Submitted by Linda J. Donoghue, Infinite Jewels Appraisal Service, Madison Midday Chapter, Madison, WI
My husband and I made a move 15 months ago from Racine to Madison, WI. Many people—friends, family and business associates—have commented on how difficult an adjustment it must have been, especially for me with my home-based graphic design business. I just smile and tell them about BNI, and I tell them how it has helped me get connected in our new community.
Thirty-seven percent of my income can be attributed to BNI this year. Twenty-five percent of my income could be attributed to BNI when I lived in Racine. As of November 14, 2000, I had already realized a 35 percent increase in income from 1999 to 2000. So, it's fair to say that being a BNI member in Madison has been very beneficial to my business growth.
Besides income, BNI provided resources when we needed a new investment specialist, CPA, insurance agent, the list goes on and on—bottom line is you know you can trust the folks in your BNI group, and you can refer them to your family and friends—with confidence. I appreciate the business my BNI associates have passed my way!
Madison Midday is the finest chapter in the land.
Submitted by Melissa Carlson, Graphic Designer, Madison Midday Chapter, Madison, WI
Bill Kupsh, immediate past president of the Greater Green Bay chapter, attended a President's Club meeting where I encouraged the presidents to encourage their members to be specific for the referrals they are seeking during their 60-second Sales Manager Minutes. At the next Greater Green Bay chapter meeting I attended, Bill—the owner of a Nationwide Floor & Window Covering franchise—asked for the name of the broker/owner of three specific real estate companies in Green Bay (ERA Titletown, Olejniczak, and Realty Executives). By the time referrals were over, Bill had the names of all three.
Submitted by Terry Misfeldt, NE Wisconsin Area Director
Wepco Printing, established in 1852 in Watertown, Wisconsin, was ready for the museum when we took over in 1997. The two gentlemen who owned it were ready for retirement—that showed in their lack of upgrading equipment and their attitude of printing only what they felt like printing. We had a huge challenge to overcome—getting the word out about our new state-of-the-art equipment, our new philosophy on customer service and our talented personnel. BNI helped us triple our sales in two years.
It has been over three years that I have been involved in BNI. I cannot believe I came in kicking and screaming, saying I did not need another thing to do. My husband and I are both self-employed, he as an industrial consultant and I as a custom goldsmith. Our life insurance agent invited Pete to his BNI meeting and Pete came home saying he thought it would be great for my business. My specialty is in making jewelry that cannot be found in stores or catalogs and jobs that others say, "can't be done." I did not have time to do another thing, not only did I have more work than what I could keep up with, I had two little boys.
After attending my first BNI meeting I realized I could educate people how a fine piece of jewelry should be made, and give people exactly what they want while staying true to my family. Two months into BNI I had replaced the # of jobs I was doing and increased my income. I loved it. My third child was born on a Wed. morning a few hours before my meeting was to start. I called at 7:30 to let them know I had had a girl, the first born in four generations in my husband's family. I could hear people clapping and cheering, "Way to go, Beth!" So not only do I do high quality business with BNI members and their referrals, I have a BNI family. By the way, thank You, Pete!
Submitted by Beth Lee Stern, Lee Stern Design, Madison Mid-Day Chapter, Madison, WI
I have been a member of BNI since 10/99, but have found BNI to be very beneficial to my business. So far, I have received 10 referrals. I have closed 3 sales on those 10 referrals and still have 2 pending. On the 3 sales, 10 applications were written.
From a financial standpoint, the membership fee is very reasonable. With the 10 policies written, the membership fee has already more than paid for itself. BNI is simply the most organized networking group I have been involved in. Also, BNI has introduced me to a whole new group of professionals who meet with the sole purpose of trying to enhance each other's business.
BNI groups seem to attract as members mortgage brokers, bankers, realtors, and lawyers, which are great sources of referrals for us in the insurance industry. I am very pleased with my involvement in BNI and am looking forward to renewing my membership.
Submitted by Jeff Hansen, American Family Agent, BNI Waukesha D.R.E.A.M. (Delivering Referrals Every Afternoon Meeting) Team Chapter, Waukesha, WI, http://www.amfam.com/
This fall, our five-year-old BNI group ran our usual Build a Better BNI contest. Using the points system described in the leadership manual, we modified it to fit our group and focus on three main areas, bringing in new members aboard, promoting attendance and turning leads into sales. Well, now we have to brag a little.
In a six-week period, we brought in ten new members. The majority of them are representative of classifications we have never had before. Of 32 members, we had less than three people missing at any time. During the same period, we passed an average of 47 leads at each meeting and we tracked our sales resulting from BNI leads during the six-week period. We are pleased to say that we generated over $94,085 in sales in only six weeks!
When you consider that our group is comprised primarily of small business owners with an average company size under five employees doing business in a city of 125,000 people, those numbers are amazing! BNI works when the members work BNI!
Julia Jones, Thursday Morning BNI, Billings, MT
The Monroeville Chapter in the Pittsburgh Region did Meeting Stimulant #24—Name that Tune. Among the numerous clever entries, Thomas Menzietti of Menzietti Enterprises, a commercial cleaning firm, had this to sing (an adaptation of a country music hit by Junior Brown):
Well you've heard about the singing brakeman,
You might have heard him in a cowboy song.
Well I'm TOM the singing janitor
I'm in a theatre near you.
And I'll also be appearing
At the concert you'll hearing,
But I won't be singing with the band.
If a broomstick was a microphone,
I could tell you a thing or two.
But I'm not on the stage just a dirty old floor
and I got a lot of work to do.
I can't carry a tune in a bucket
but I can carry a bucket with pride.
I'm the man behind the mop,
I make everything sparkle and shine.
I'm in your schoolroom, your poolroom,
your office and your home.
And always give you service with a smile.
So go easy on a guy trying to make life easy for you.
Deanna Tucci Schmitt, Executive Director, Greater Pittsburgh Region
Last spring our Canterbury BNI chapter (UK) passed the 7,000-referral mark since inception (July 1997).
I joined BNI back in December 1992 just about a year after I started my real estate career. I could not have guessed that an invitation from my insurance agent for breakfast would do so much for my business for so many years to come. I was a very active member over the next 7 years, serving as Social Committee Chairman, Visitor Host, Treasurer, Vice President and even President twice. My efforts were rewarded with valuable referrals from my chapter. Every year since joining, my BNI referrals generated anywhere from $15,000 to $45,000 in commission.
THAT'S A TIDY SUM MR. BIGGLESWORTH.
Since October of 1999, my personal business from BNI referrals is well over $200,000. If your business is based on referrals, BNI is for you. Please come check it out. This is something you have to see to believe!
Jim Richardson, North Chapter Luncheon, Austin, TX
I work with Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. Because of my membership in the Greater Fox Valley chapter of BNI, I have met a lot of great people and business owners that I might not have otherwise met. Those relationships have opened the doors to many other relationships, and so on.
Today, I am well on my way to becoming an icon in the Fox Valley through the associations I have made that started with my BNI membership. Soon, I believe everyone in the area will think of me when they hear about legal service plans. That was (and is) my ultimate goal, and I could not have achieved it so quickly without the key associations BNI has given me. My membership has already paid for itself over and over again, and I'm glad to be a part of BNI!
Thank you for all you do!
BNI supplies its members with an abundance of excellent, practical resource materials and group support leadership that is unparalleled in normal business organizations. Extraordinary tips, approaches and ideas fortify the novice networker in the weekly group meeting experience and the mentoring by the group leader provides the direction and accountability to insure success.
The Masters of Networking text stands apart in its scope, depth and efficient treatment of networking techniques and strategies in today's business milieu and is a handy reference well worth its price. Craig Campana is a gifted leader, and author and national authority on the emerging business networking phenomena. He is one of the first persons any serious student of networking should consult with.
Thomas J. McClure
The Darke County Chapter will start awarding a quarterly "Golden Shoe Award" as an incentive for people to use the one-on-one dance card more. The golden shoe will be mounted on a plaque and passed to award winners to keep in their offices. We just thought it would be something fun and would make people more aware of the one-on-one dance card.
Vicki Jones, Darke County, OH, Chapter
Pick up a copy of my latest book Business Professional's Kit for Dummies. It's a professional survival guide that covers doing business via e-commerce, troubleshooting computer problems, doing business internationally, conducting savvy meetings, setting up a home office, and much more. The book comes with a CD-ROM that has hyperlinks to cool Web sites, toll-free numbers, and lists of how to's for almost any business issue you face. There is even an endorsement from Dr. Misner!
Sheryl Lindsell, Professional Business Writer, Marlborough, MA chapter
Member Angie McCarthy's husband Shawn was recently on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire". Angie has been a member for over 2 years as a financial planner in the Fargo chapter. Shawn won $32,000 on the popular game show. The couple is expecting their first child in December. Congratulations Angie and Shawn!
Shanna Reed, BNI member
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