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Congratulations, Members!
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Clair Lee-Sang recently became her region's "Spotlight Member." Clair Lee-Sang opened Gift Baskets & Things in 1997 to provide the corporate market with quality, affordable gifts and convenient service. Clair's business has grown since that time, and BNI has played an important role in its development.

  "I believe in BNI'S concept of getting business through work-of-mouth referrals," says Claire. "I joined BNI in March 2003 and since then, one BNI member has given me so many referrals that it has generated enough business to pay for my membership 20 times over, and it is still ongoing! This is in addition to all the other business I have gotten from everyone else in my chapter."

Besides referrals, BNI has helped Clair to become a better businesswoman. "BNI is also a confidence-builder and has taught me to be a good networker," she says. "It has brought out qualities in me that I did not know I had."

She recalls: "When I first became a member, I was horrified of speaking in public. I would usually read my 60-second infomercial off of a script that I had written the night before. In my third week as a member of the chapter, I lost my script en route to the meeting. I was in such a panic thinking what I was going to say. Then I remembered that I wasn't there to sell to my fellow members but to teach them to sell for me. With all eyes on me, I just talked about my business and told them what to look and listen for when they are meeting with clients and customers. Since then, I no longer read from a script, I'm no longer nervous and I use what I've learned in BNI in other business situations."

Submitted by Tim Houston, Area Director, NYC Outer Boroughs: Staten Island/Brooklyn/Queens.



The following members have achieved Gold Club status:
  • Steve Bottone, West Bay, RI, chapter
  • Kenneth Fortinin, Business Alliance, MA, chapter
  • Michael Talbot, Mashpee, MA, chapter
  • Michael Kaplan, Houston West region
Submitted by Linda Macedonio, BNI Executive Director, and Kathleen A. Mathy, BNI Executive Director



Congratulations, Chapters!

The following chapters achieved Bronze Level status during 2003:
  • Network Masters, Staten Island, NY
  • Brooklyn Originals, Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, NY
Submitted by Tim Houston, Area Director: NYC Outer Boroughs: Staten Island/Brooklyn/Queens.


The following chapters have been awarded Founders' Awards:
  • Hilltoppers, Fall River, MA
  • Business Connectors, Dennis, MA
  • Newport County, RI
  • Old Colony-Kingston, MA
Submitted by Linda Macedonio, BNI Executive Director.



Thank You, BNI

When Geek Housecalls joined BNI in March 2002, we had fewer than 300 customers. We now have in excess of 3,000 customers. We can't give all the credit to our BNI involvement, but it has certainly been a worthwhile investment of our time.

Submitted by Dave Ehlke, Newell chapter, BNI MA.



Brag about Your Chapter

Chapters anywhere in the world are invited—and encouraged—to put up information for FREE about their chapter, meeting location, date and time and website by visiting bni.com's new Chapter Links section (http://www.bni.com/default.aspx?DN=347,12,1,Documents). Click here and post your information today.
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