BNI SuccessNet - First Quarter 2002

Hello. My name is Brett Oliver. My wife, Hilde and I run a software company in Thousand Oaks, California. We have been building professional client/server systems for 20 years and started working with the Internet when it first appeared. However, some of the technology used to build the Internet—since it grew so fast—is quite unsuitable and irritating. (For those of you technically minded, please ask me when we meet. I won't bore everyone with the details.)

So, we have built better technology. It includes everything you generally do on the Internet, only better. The result is a private communications network that delivers!

This system can be used by clubs, groups and chapters. We called it TrustedFaces, because everyone in the system is a trusted face. Membership is by invitation only. We invite those organizations in, which we consider trustworthy.

I met California Regional Director Harvey Branman and Executive Director Linda McCarthy and their chapters, and eventually Dr. Ivan Misner and the staff at headquarters. So with everyone's cooperation and support we've put 17 chapters onto the system. Each chapter has a group picture and a separate picture of each member with data about him or her. Doing this helped me understand how a BNI chapter works and what members are all about. I then became a BNI member myself. The requests I have gotten since from single members of the group are for customization. For example, we have customized order taking to work for photographers, thanks to Tony Maddox in our group, by creating a "preview and order" site.

In fact we have customized the system for every trusted organization we run into. We have invited in the Rotarians, the Kiwanis and Home Owners' Associations. Everyone has slightly different needs. We cater to them in terms of reports, secretarial duties, rosters or whatever is important for that group.

Are you tired of spam and viruses on the Internet? Our system is secure—being accountable—without spam or viruses. TrustedFaces does not lend itself to carrying viruses from one user to the next or even run them. Isn't that refreshing? With the "face" and data of each member available to others, with chat, email, file transfer, images and sounds, the system is very usable.

What else could one want? We do now understand what a chapter, president or BNI member wants in terms of personal promotion of business. The price for this we set at $20 per month per chapter. Of course private business sites for members of the chapter are also possible. Web pages can be linked to your picture in your chapter site for $36 per year. This makes the web site way more accessible by others.

So, are you interested to see what the staff at headquarters looks like? Go to http://www.trustedfaces.com/bni There are 24 slides of the system in action, with pictures of people you might know.

If you would like to do any of the following, send an email to brett@trustedfaces.com: register your BNI chapter with the system, get more information, put on a local Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis or HomeOwners Association (a great way to develop new leads), suggest improvements to the system, or create a template for your business type.

What Can Our Company Do for BNI?
Wouldn't it be great to have access to millions of other trusted organization members? We can bring 40,000 BNI members (as they join the system) into contact with 1.2 million Rotarians, 1.4 million Lions members, 600,000 Kiwanis and 20 million homeowners (as they also join the system). It may take us three years to build out the service but we are already well on our way. Every week we put on more Rotary clubs, Kiwanis clubs and Home Owners' Associations.

Also, in appreciation for the support given to us by Dr. Misner, his staff and Directors, we are pledging 20 percent of all BNI member-generated Business Directory revenue to the BNI Charitable Foundation.

"People do business with people they trust! Become a trusted face at TrustedFaces.com"

TrustedFace Samples

One of our progressive BNI Directors

The Thousand Oaks BNI Chapter

A group picture outside the restaurant

Nancy Krantz (the system allows zooming in to get a closer look)

Here are some of Linda McCarthys' Favorite Chapters (her own!)

BNI Strives for Cross Cultural Diversity
By Stacia Robinson, BNI Cross Cultural Council Chairman

What is the BNI Cross-Cultural Council?

BNI has officially initiated the Cross-Cultural Council whose sole purpose is to increase the number of representative business owners of diverse cultures in BNI chapters. The Cross-Cultural Council is a volunteer group of BNI Directors and BNI Members who develop Cross-Cultural policies and guidelines, educate and train staff, Directors, and Members about cross-cultural issues and monitor Cross-Cultural Council programs. The Cross-Cultural Council meets at Director's Conferences and corresponds as needed usually by email and periodic teleconferences.

How can you participate on the council?

Just contact Stacia Robinson, council chair, and tell her you're interested in being on the Council! It is just that simple. So far, the council has been developing for the past three years through the efforts of BNI Directors and a few members from all over the world. Now, we need many volunteers, (Directors and Members), who are willing to be a point of contact to help BNI reach it's cross-cultural goals of increasing culturally diverse membership in BNI chapters worldwide. Some members of the council may have expertise with specific cultural groups, while others will be able to advise and assist the council broadly because of experience with global business alliances. Basically, the only requirements to participate are interest and willingness to expand your business network and target markets.

What's next?

Once the new members of the council are identified, we will publish their names, areas of expertise, and how to contact them. We will assist the entire organization in implementing strategies that will continue to move us forward in being 'the' global business referral organization for business owners of ALL cultures!

Stay tuned for our next issue to see if your chapter members have "BLM!"

Stacia Robinson
BNI Cross Cultural Council Chairman
Phone: (334) 279-1824
Fax: (334) 277-8193
Email: sfrobinson@bni.com

2002 BNI Members' Cruise

Since several BNI members mentioned they missed our annual Members' Cruise, we have decided to plan a special BNI Cruise. Please join us for a 4-day, 3-night cruise with an ocean view cabin onboard Carnival's "MS Ecstasy." The ship will sail from San Pedro, CA, to Ensenada, Mexico. After a day at sea, we will return to San Pedro, CA. The MS Ecstasy will depart on April 19th and return on April 22nd, 2002.

The cruise includes a FREE mixer hosted by BNI, a networking workshop presented by Dr. Ivan R. Misner, Founder and CEO of BNI, and much, much more!

Members from all over the United States will be sailing on this cruise along with BNI Directors.

BNI has been offered a special price of only $465 per person (airfare not included).

If you want to join us, all you have to do is contact Amy Brown by phone—(909) 305-1818 inside So. California, or (800) 825-8286 outside of So. California—or email amy@bni.com. A non-refundable deposit of $50 per person is due by January 15, 2002 (VISA, Mastercard and American Express are accepted). Space is limited, so call or email immediately to reserve your cabin for this incredible event!

Attention BNI Travel Agents!! You may sell this cruise to your BNI members out of our group.

—Contact Amy Brown for the details.

MS Ecstasy

BNI International Director of the Year 2001

Congratulations to Robert French, Executive Director, United Kingdom. Robert was chosen in November at the International Directors' Conference in Brea, CA, as BNI's International Director of the Year (IDY) 2001. The IDY is chosen each year from National Directors of the Year for each country.

2001 International Director of the Year, Robert French (right) receives his award from Dr. Ivan Misner (left) and 2000 International Director of the Year, Patti Salvucci (center).

BNI Membership Drive Trip to Cancun

This year 40 lucky BNI members won a 3-day trip to the Cancun Palace Resort. BNI members got together for a mixer by the beach on Friday. Mary Monogue of the Rock River, WI, chapter said, "It was really great to meet and talk with members from other chapters to get their ideas and perspectives on what they do to make their meetings successful.

Dr. Misner's workshop was Sunday and members and their spouses were there to enjoy his talk and delicious refreshments served. Mark Bergsma of the Grand Rapids 5, MI, chapter said "Dr. Misners workshop was good. I enjoy him and always leave with new ideas. My wife, Kim, used to ask me why I couldn't skip a BNI meeting now and then. Now she says, "You'd better set your alarm and make sure you don't miss your BNI meeting."

The rest of the time, many members enjoyed snorkeling, sight seeing, parasailing, and just relaxing. Lynn Hill of the West Houston, TX, chapter exclaimed, "What an experience! I never dreamed that the water shown on the post cards is the true color of the water—it was beautiful!"

Mr. & Mrs. Chuck Tomasello of the Jackson MI, chapter said that the All-Inclusive feature was "the best part of the trip. It was a relief not to worry about how much things cost, exchange rate, and tipping. Great! I am going to be trying a lot harder to win next year since I found out how great the trip is."

Dr. Misner, Beth Misner and Executive Director Lance Mead enjoy the mixer. On Saturday, several members, as well as Dr. Misner and his family, toured the Yucatan Pennisula and saw the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza.

Chichen Itza