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GIVERS GAIN
The members of the Southern Saratoga Chapter in upstate New York ended the first half of 2002 with record-breaking totals for referrals and sales.
From January 1 through June 30, 2002, the 19-member chapter achieved a total of 538 qualified business referrals passed among members, representing a 26% increase over the total number of referrals passed among members from the comparable period in 2001. The chapter also generated a closed sales total of $62,330.72, representing a 43% increase over the closed sales total from the comparable period in 2001.
Submitted by Pauline Bartel, Chapter President
Business owners in Colorado will soon have another resource to help them gain new business referrals. BNI is beginning its first Fort Collins chapter. BNI has several chapters throughout Colorado including Denver, Colorado Springs, Loveland, Windsor, and Pueblo.
"Our mission is to help members increase their business through a professional word-of-mouth program," said Margie Cowan, BNI's Executive Director for the Colorado Front Range. "This will enable them to develop long-term, meaningful relationships with quality business professionals."
"We are very excited about being in on the ground level of this chapter," said Amy Madden, sales director for Idea Curve and BNI Fort Collins chapter president. "It really gives us an opportunity to gather the best of the best in terms of businesses in the area and put together a great networking group."
The South Metro chapter of BNI meets on Wednesday mornings in Bloomington, Minnesota. It was the first chapter in Minnesota, and turned 5 years old in February. Membership is at an all-time high - 53 - and we have a great group of people, half of which have been in BNI for over two years.
The current Membership Committee decided to encourage members to do dance cards throughout the summer when we all get a little lax in our networking. They came up with the Fun Facts Dance Card. Each week they draw six names and those three pairs are to get together and do a dance card within the next two weeks. Two weeks after being drawn, the members will do each other's commercial, and include a Fun Fact that they learned about the other person that the rest of the members may not know about them.
The group got very excited about the concept, and it really livened up this room of veteran members, many of whom have known each other for three or more years. This is the spark that has lit a fire under our membership, and we know that by the end of the summer we will all know more about how to bring each other business.
Beth Anderson
Assistant Director
I just wanted to say thanks. BNI has changed not only my business, but also my attitude about doing business. I was considering closing my doors, but after becoming active in BNI, over the last few months my business is starting to turn around. I just wanted to express my respect and appreciation for creating an organization that truly helps small business such as mine.
Sincerely,
Michael Shoaf
Vice President
SSI Technologies, Inc.
Carolyn Denny, a founding member of the founding chapter of BNI, recently sent us the following e-mail:
Thank you BNI. Referrals have always been the source of my best clients. And of course our BNI memberships over the years have brought in good clients who continue to give us referrals.
Carolyn
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 how it has helped me get connected in our new community. I attributed thirty-seven percent of my income 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!
Melissa Carlson
Member of Madison Midday Chapter
Madison, Wisconsin
Each week, the Houston Chronicle selects a local business for it's weekly Sunday small business feature. On Sunday, June 30, 2002, David Linda, President of SpaceMan Home & Office was the featured story! David is a member of immediate past president of our Greenway Plaza Chapter of BNI. Please join me in congratulating David, Dena and staff at SpaceMan Home & Office,
Kathleen A. Mathy, CPA
Executive Director, BNI
Houston West Region
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