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South Alabama Region Supports Meals on Wheels
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| From left to right: Marc Nattier, Janet Wolfe, Paul Murray III, Linda Brokaw, Harriett Guttery, Randy Guttery, Eric Nager, Diane Porter and John Woodham. |
Meals-on-Wheels volunteers in Foley, Alabama, were recently the recipients of contributable donations by members of local BNI chapters. Members from the Baldwin County Business Alliance and Southern Business Leaders (BNI South Alabama Region) recognized the self-funded organization for their support of the local community by giving monetary donations and volunteering their time as meal delivery drivers. The Foley Meals-on-Wheels is comprised of volunteers that deliver free meals to the sick and elderly within a twenty-mile radius of Foley, Alabama.
Submitted by Janice Malone.
Thank You, BNI!
Jan Miller was one of the 140 winners and guests who won a trip to Florida in the U.S. Member Extravaganza. Here’s her report from the trip:
Just wanted to say THANK YOU for the wonderful trip to Florida.
We had a fantastic time. The Friday night evening with Ivan and his wife and family was great. I always enjoy listening to him. And networking with other BNI members from other states was great! I collected quite a few business cards.
The entire trip was well planned and very well organized, the transportation went very smoothly, the hotel was absolutely gorgeous and the whole time a very pleasant experience. Of course we also enjoyed the day at Disney!
Again, thank you, thank you, thank you so much!
Submitted by Jan Miller, Monroe 1 chapter.
Referrals from the Galleria chapter (Atlanta) helped me win a five day/four night trip to Seattle from Starbucks. I sold Starbucks to more offices than any other account executive in the country!
Submitted by Ann Mann, Senior Account Executive, Standard Coffee Service Company.
I visited the chapter my friend was in last May but didn't join right away. I spent months going through the list of objections (would the early morning meeting really be worth it?), but then I saw my friend getting referrals and enjoying the increased business. She even found a way to combine our services and get business for both of us (she's a writer and I'm a graphic designer so we combined efforts to do newsletters)!
Anyway, I soon realized that she was getting this work as a result of being a member of BNI, and I started reviewing the positives (who doesn't need more business?).
The only problem was that I really needed to find a group that was closer to where I lived. My friend put me in touch with the director of our area, and I found out that there was a list forming of people interested in joining a group in my part of town.
I got on the list and met the person spearheading the effort. She and I went to work to find a place to meet. Within two months we were meeting the other people.
A month later we all went through Leadership Training. The “spearheader” is our President (obvious choice) and I am the VP. We have been in these positions since February of this year and have built a great working relationship as well as a strong friendship.
Anyway, I could tell you all about how much business I've gotten as a result of being in BNI (around $6,000 and counting), but that's what people expect to hear—as if that's the only reason to join BNI. Beyond that, BNI has strengthened my business skills, made me a much better speaker and I am striving to train everyone I know to come to me when they need a quality reference!
Posted on BNI-Yahoo Group site.
About seven years ago I joined the KOI chapter of BNI in northern Kentucky. I had just opened my own commercial real estate brokerage and was looking for ways to market my business. After reading about something called Business Network International, I visited a local chapter only to discover that it already had a commercial broker. I needed to find another one. It was a “no brainer” because I was impressed with the professional way the chapter went about its business. Coincidentally, also attending that meeting was Geof Scanlon, whose father I knew from a previous position I held with a non-profit corporation. He too was enthusiastic and also went searching for another chapter as his profession, financial planning, was represented in the chapter.
Our efforts resulted in two new chapters for BNI. It became clear that if I was to be successful, I would have to be patient and follow BNI's tried and tested procedures. Commercial real estate, the selling, leasing of business spaces, including retail, industrial and office, is not a transaction for which someone in the chapter has a need each week.
But I had the proverbial "ace in the hole": A chapter full of people looking out for me. The first commission came from a member whose secretary's lawyer’s husband needed a commercial broker to handle an estate matter for one of his clients. On the strength of my relationship with the chapter member, the lawyer, who did not know me, recommended me to his client. The property sold and I received a welcome and handsome commission. During my tenure with the chapter, which continues to this day, I received other commissions by working with the residential agent member of the chapter.
Just recently, my seven-year-old meeting with Geof Scanlon produced the most bountiful BNI-related commission. After our first meeting, Geof went on to become Executive Director for Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky but never forgot he is still in the business of giving and receiving referrals. When he heard that one of his financial planning clients needed assistance in finding a site to expand their business, he called me. The contact was a perfect BNI contact. Geof's personal relationship with me was transferred to my prospect, which meant we could start doing business right away. It turns out that I knew the prospect from a fundraising experience over 20 years ago but without Geof's reassurance to the prospect, there would not have been a transaction.
Does BNI work? Yes, but the bigger deals take longer and are dependent upon the same requirements on which "faster" deals rely: patience, giving good referrals and maintaining contact with those who want to help you.
Submitted by Gene Archbold.
Thank you, BNI! I have received 200-plus clients since joining BNI in September 2001!
Submitted by John B. Townsend, Twin Cities chapter, BNI Mass.
Two ‘Virtual Assistants’ Key into Global Networking
Networking: that’s what BNI is all about, right? After all, networking is BNI’s middle name, and we know networking is one of the strongest tools in a smart business person’s toolbox. There are different forms of networking, from the person-to-person method utilized by BNI to online networking utilized by the virtual assistant community. I am a Virtual Assistant (VA), and we network with each other daily in our virtual world. We live by the computer, literally.
I am a member of BNI Boise Macaroni Grill chapter in Boise, Idaho. Last year I was contacted by Rich Wilson, BNI’s Executive Director of Southern Idaho, with an interesting request. He was looking for VAs who were current BNI members who would be interested in doing data entry of chapter information for the various chapters throughout the United States. Rich thought such an assignment would be a perfect referral for us because physical location is not an issue for VAs.
I put out a call for assistance on the worldwide International Association of Virtual Office Assistants (IAVOA) member listserv and received replies from Sr. Vida Barr, Humility Publishing, member of the Minneapolis, Minnesota Downtown Skyway chapter; Randene Nelson, Randene Online, member of Minnesota Biz Net North chapter in Blaine, MN; and Kathie Thomas, “A Clayton’s Secretary,” from the Southland chapter, Victoria, Australia. I knew Sr. Vida through my association with the IAVOA. I had not had the opportunity to meet Randene Nelson and knew of Kathie Thomas through her educational pieces and association with the IAVOA. The four of us discussed the scope and terms of the project, came to an agreement, and joined together to make our offer of assistance to the various directors of BNI, all online.
I knew that BNI is an international organization, but truly didn’t get the “international” part until I received the note from Kathie Thomas, “I'm an Australian VA with BNI Southland (Victoria, Australia) if I can help at all.” I thought, “Wow! Australia, the other side of the world.” That’s when I “got it.” BNI is more than just your chapter or district, or even region. It is truly international, and it is networking at its best.
Submitted by Barbara Rowen, barowen@idahova.com, Virtually Everything, Boise, Idaho.
Ever since the Internet first reared its head here in Australia I became aware that it provided an opportunity to build and develop my business in a way I had not first intended. After all, running an international business was only for the big guys—or was it?
Networking to me has always provided hidden opportunities. I say “hidden” because not everyone sees straight away the possibilities. I always like to look between the lines and find what is there. When a message was put out via IAVOA regarding BNI members, I first thought they meant U.S. members only, but then I thought, “Why not? I run an international business, the Internet is how I operate mainly and BNI is worldwide.” So, I was quick to respond.
I love that networking today means “global” not just “local” as it did in the old days. You never know who or what is going to come along and each day brings something different. Working at home, via the Internet, networking with people around the other side of the world, why would anyone want anything different?
Submitted by Kathie M. Thomas, www.asecretary.com.au, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Founder’s Award Winners Announced
Congratulations to the following chapters for receiving the Founder’s Award.
Alabama:
Bay Area chapter, South Alabama region
Florida:
West Palm Beach Thursday chapter, Palm Beach region
Destin chapter, Northwest Florida region
Oregon:
Emerald chapter
Florida:
Miami Beach Thursday chapter, Miami-Dade region
Massachusetts:
Hockomock chapter, Southeast Massachusetts region
Hyannis chapter, Southeast Massachusetts region
Plymouth chapter, Southeast Massachusetts region
New York:
Huntington chapter, Long Island region
Rhode Island:
Cumberland chapter
Providence chapter
West Bay chapter
Texas:
Greater Conroe chapter, Houston-West region
Submitted by Ann Longanecker.
Persistence Pays!
I received a referral from the CPA in our group back in January. I had a hard time getting in touch with the referral but continued to follow-up. Now, approximately eight months later, this referral has led to a $350,000 SBA business loan, over $100,000 in deposits and personal and business accounts. This one was definitely worth waiting for!
Submitted by Stephanie Delair, Business Banking, First Citizens Bank, Greensboro, NC.
Three Cheers for the Leadership Program!
I just wanted to send a testimonial, on the benefits I gained by attending the Leadership Program in Westport, Conn., on Monday, September 15. I was nominated as a Visitor Host for my chapter recently. Being fairly new to the group, I was very enthusiastic about my role in the welcoming guests and BNI members!
Until the training I had no idea of the importance that this position entailed! I found the description of Visitor Host to be a very important position, and BNI had it all mapped out. Their proven successful plan and team leadership was a winning combination. I highly recommend everyone, team leader or player, to attend this mutually beneficial opportunity!
Submitted by Keith Thompson, Stamford 1 chapter.
Keeping Track of Success
Last year I kept track of some advanced stats that our chapter keeps. I thought you would appreciate an update.
Year: Oct 2002 – Sept 2003
Average # of members: 33.67
Total referrals given: 3,896
Average referrals given/member/month: 9.64
Total Income from 1st generation referrals: $685,000 exactly
Value of a seat at our BNI chapter: $20,344.52
Best month: June ($94,660)
Worst Month: December ($39,875)
Submitted by Joe Friedt, Vancouver’s First chapter.
Making New Friends, Generating New Business
You never know what will happen when two people get to know one another outside of BNI.
I arrived here on the East Coast about one year ago. After spending most of the last year doing absolutely nothing on nights and weekends, I was beginning to become very discouraged that the only friends I would ever have would be via phone line 3,000 miles away.
Well, that all changed. In the beginning of July, Jennifer Aussant (Attleboro Chiropractic Health Center) joined our North Attleboro BNI chapter. Sensing we had a few things in common (one being we were about the same age) we decided to grab dinner a glass of wine one night and talk about business, men and all the fun things women talk about when they get together.
During our conversation at dinner she mentioned that her dad works for Dale Ernhardt Jr., the Nascar racing super-stud! Needless to say my company is in the throws of trying to obtain a license for Nascar. The very next day she was on the phone with her father and he said, “Sure have Kristen send a sample plaque and I will walk it into my buddy’s office over in licensing.” Who would have known her dad has ties with the licensing department at Nascar? Now that’s a lead! He got his samples within a week.
As far as Jenn and I are concerned, we’ve been seen hitting the town on a few occasions, shopping, working out and even catching a game or two over a beer. It’s been a fun!
Submitted by Kristen Collins.
Gold Club Member Awarded
Congratulations to the following new Gold Club Member:
Kathy Newton, Saco Bay chapter, Maine
Submitted by Linda Macedonio, BNI Executive Director, Rhode Island, SE Massachusetts and Maine.
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