Across the Globe - Europe
Portugal
BNI Launches Core Group in Portugal

Helder Falcao introduces BNI to Portugal

Prospective members mixing at the BNI launch

Recently, BNI was introduced to the Portuguese press and general public. BNI is a brand new concept in Portugal. The business press and some entrepreneurial organizations have begun talking about BNI.

On April 7th a networking event was held at the prestigious Hotel Le Meridien Park Atlantic in Porto, hosted by Terry Hamill and Helder Falcao. Several business professionals from Porto and the North of Portugal attended and presented themselves in BNI's "60 Second" infomercial technique.

We are now building a core group in Porto and the response has been quite impressive. Hopefully by the end of the year we will have several Business Groups up and running.

Please visit www.bni-portugal.com for more information.

To view an article in O Comerciodo Porto regarding the event, you may download the .pdf here.

Submitted by Helder Falcao, National Director, BNI Portugal


Austria
BNI Launches in Austria

BNI Austria kicked off its first chapter on December 7th, 2004 with a core group of 22 Members. The new Leadership Team is already setting high goals and hopes to reach the 35 member mark by the end of their first term.

BNI Austria would not have been possible if it weren't for Michael Mayer, the chapter Director. At the core group launch of BNI Austria, there were 86 visitors present, in addition to the 22 original members.


United Kingdom
Going for Gold

Chapter Director Mike O'Shea with Rachel Hunter and James Grant from Martin & Co - makers of the famous Cheltenham Gold Cup.

In most chapters, referral slips are personally handed around or across the breakfast table. But in the new Cheltenham Gold Cup Chapter, 30+ members do it in a unique style—using a priceless gold cup to convey referrals between colleagues.

The gold cup that is featured prominently at every chapter meeting is entirely real! That's because the town's leading jewelers, Martin & Co, who makes the prestigious trophy for one of horse-racing's most famous events, is a member of the namesake chapter. BNI colleagues were quick to seize a golden opportunity to get their hands on one of racing's richest prizes.

Chapter Director Mike O'Shea said, "We had a fantastic launch event attended by more than 100 guests from the local business community and we are very excited about the group's early success. Having three solid BNI chapters in Cheltenham is something special for businesses in Gloucestershire. We put so much into making this one of the fastest-ever launching chapters in the country. With a famous name as well as a brilliant leadership team and membership, we're going to grow quickly."


United Kingdom
Magna Carta Chapter Marks 6th Anniversary

Carole Jones, Mayor of Runnymede

On the 18th of February the BNI Magna Carta chapter celebrated it's 6th anniversary and the passing of over 12,000 business referrals. All chapter members and 14 guests were in attendance.

Among the guests was the Mayor of Runnymede, Carole Jones, who gave the Chapter an enthusiastic welcome opening with, "There is a wonderful spirit here; this chapter clearly brings great value to Surrey businesses!"

Additionally several members testified to their success through BNI:

• Ken Cooper of The Dewgard Window Company in Egham, a member for over 3 years, says that £200,000 of their business over the past 3 years has come directly from BNI.
• Nick Danson of Netcall Computer Services has generated over a quarter of million pounds in the same period.
• Carl Hawkes of New Dawn Gardenscape has grown his landscaping business over 300% all thanks to BNI.

United Kingdom
Top Performers Pass the 20,000 Mark

Super Chef Paul Linden (pictured right) hands Bentley Chapter's 20,000th referral to flooring specialist Phil Berg.

There are plenty of high performing BNI groups when it comes to referral passing. Then there is Bentley Chapter. The 38 Bentley members have turned the referral business into an art form!

Bentley (previously known as Stanmore Chapter in Middlesex) just celebrated the passing of their 20,000th referral. The chapter routinely exchanges 80 to 100 referrals per meeting.

Chef Paul Linden (right) of 'Dining in Style' handed over the group's milestone referral to flooring specialist Phil Berg of Philip Berg Interiors. This single opportunity turned into business worth several thousands of pounds!

To mark the event, Bentley's cake-maker Anne Hoad presented a commemorative cake to the chapter.

Chapter Director, surveyor Robert Rose commented: "It was very appropriate for Paul and Phil to be involved in this landmark referral. Paul has become one of our most prolific referrers, while Phil was recently voted the chapter's top achieving member. Our success is based on teamwork, mutual respect and a great camaraderie."