BNI SuccessNet - First Quarter 2003 - BNI Happenings - North America

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BNI HAPPENINGS — USA
Montana rounds up members for motivational mega-meeting


	From Left to Right: Sue Anderson, Walt MaIntosh, Craig MacFarlane, Paul Gray, and John Chioutsis.

On Wednesday, September 18, 2002, the four BNI groups in Billings, Montana, gathered together for the first time to hear motivational speaker Craig McFarlane speak about succeeding in life despite being blind. The evening meeting was a great success, and they were thankful to have the chance to hear such a inspirational person.

This occasion came about through the efforts of Lily Moore, the Tuesday president, and Paddy Moore, the Thursday president, along with the support of three of their members from the Tuesday, Magic City, and Thursday groups. These latter three members represented Edward Jones Investments, which sponsored the speaker.

The first two groups, Tuesday and Wednesday, kicked off in February 1989. Two original members still attend meetings. One, a member of the Tuesday group, Sol Lovas, is an estate planning and business attorney. Paul Gray, the director of the Wednesday group is a life insurance professional.

The Thursday group started in May 1995, and the Magic City group began in April 1998. Thursday is the largest group with over 40 members. The others are attempting to attain that size.

BNI-NW wins Founder's Award


	Photo by Jerry Nelson, Nelvada Images.

BNI Northwest chapter was awarded the coveted Founder's Award at a luncheon in Tucson on October 11, 2002. Norm Dominguez presided over the ceremony. Shown in this photo are Laura Loman-Pressler and Dan Pressler, the co-directors for Southern Arizona. Receiving the plaque are Meagan Bonnel, incoming president, and Nohl Lyons, outgoing president.

Eastside Earlybirds celebrate Halloween, BNI-style

When the "Eastside Earlybirds" of Las Vegas, Nevada, (director, Leslie Taylor; president, Heather Marie; VP, George Manska; treasurer, Scott Reynolds) met on Halloween this year, the assignment was to make their 60-second commercial match their costume. The photograph shows the first- and second-place winners, George Manska, a financial consultant, and Sheila Martens, a massage therapist, respectively. The following commercial is the work of the first-place winner:

"Hi, I'm Willie Nelson. I left my guitar at home because it's got a hole in the top. A close friend of mine has got a financial consultant by the name of George Manska at Smith Barney who he is really happy with.

"I wish I had listened to him and chose George for my financial consultant, then maybe I wouldn't have got in all this financial mess with the IRS. Man, I got so many problems, my blue eyes are crying in the rain, my seven Spanish angles are flying too close to the ground, and my good-hearted woman ain't in love with this good-timin' man no more. I owe the IRS so much money, I concocted this here Farm Aid gig and put my feet back on the road again.

"Ain't it funny how time slips away. I haven't even got enough money to go on vacation with Pancho and Lefty in Whiskey River, and all the girls I loved before just make fun of me. So the next time you need to consider choosing a financial consultant, George should be always on your mind. Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be dirt poor cowboys like me, just teach them to hire a good financial consultant."

Submitted by Heather Marie, president.

California chapters unite for networking extravaganza

Recently I hosted a joint-breakfast BNI meeting with the seven chapters in my region: Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, Upland Breakfast, Upland Lunch, Diamond Bar, Chino Hills, and the Claremont chapter. We had 120 people at the event along with our national director Norman Dominguez. The event was hosted by one of the members from the Claremont chapter, Marchell Mccain, the director of catering at C&C Concessions/Anthonys at the Fair, which is located at the L.A. Fair Grounds.

The purpose of this meeting was to get all of the chapters together to support the theory that successful regions must have communication and interaction between chapters. The event was a huge success. This was a very high-energy meeting with lots of door prizes donatated by the members. The meeting ended at 8:30, but one hour later members were still networking.

This was our first annual breakfast meeting, and we are planning the next one to be even larger and better. Our goal within this region is to bring all chapters to 40-plus members by December 31, 2003.

Submitted by Leroy Gaines, director, San Bernadino, Calif.

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