August 2008
Art of Networking
FranceParisians' Evening Business Meeting
 |
Parisian members came with friends, colleagues, and contacts for this event. Everyone was impressed by the quality, professionalism, and conviviality of this meeting. Several non-BNI members felt that one of the most exciting aspects of this "soirée" was the diversity of the professions: "How fabulous to see a landscape gardener talking with an IT consultant and an actor!"
BNI invited some of its members who came with their best practices: finance, sales, Internet marketing, and entrepreneurship. They all presented different aspects of succeeding in professional life. And Marc-William Attié, BNI National Director, and Thierry Mazué, BNI Assistant Director, demonstrated the power of networking.
It was amusing but not surprising that Jocelyne Frapier, member of one of the first Parisian chapters, "The Opera Chapter," won the prize for the best networker of this event. She is the most rewarded member in BNI-France's history. She said: "We have a lot of members who contribute to chapters. I have always loved to contribute to BNI."
Submitted by Marc-William Attie, National Director, BNI France
South AfricaWine Tasting Mixer Is a Hit
 |
With the great quality of our South African wines, we clinked glasses, networked, passed around referrals, and made some great contacts within BNI—all with people serious about doing business.
All in all, it was an outstanding Wine Tasting Mixer with a wonderful wine selection and excellent attitudes!
Well done BNI Elite Chapter!
Submitted by Marilise du Preez, BNI Executive Director, Johannesburg, South Africa
PolandNetworking Growth in Poland
 |
After only two years, BNI has certainly made its presence known in the country of Poland. With UK and Swedish support, as well as a lot of enthusiastic members, the country ran their first International Networking Week this year. In addition, Givers Gain, BNI Podcasts, BNI articles and Dr. Ivan Misner's blog have all been translated into the Polish language.
Click here to see a preview of the Networker.
Submitted by Grzegorz Turniak, National Director - BNI Poland
New ZealandFirst New Zealand National Blog
 |
 |
It is designed to share valuable information, thoughts, reflections, trends, and news on networking, social capital, and relationship marketing—and to demonstrate how BNI is changing the way the world does business.
The goal of the blog is to assist businesses to develop and grow in a sustainable and ethical way. Our authors are leading networkers, writers, business people, and futurists who are passionate about leading the change in the way the world does business.
Please feel free to pass the address of the site to your education coordinators—and to anyone you think would be interested in joining our rapidly growing list of contributing authors.
Submitted by Graham Southwell, National Director - BNI New Zealand
GermanySiemens Enterprise Communications Hosts BNI Event
 |
• Bring many business cards—and we mean plenty, since we expect in excess of 250 participants;
• No sitting down—so ladies, don't wear your hottest high heels;
• Never ask, "How are you?" Ask, "How can I best help you and your business?";
• Spend 97.5% with unknown people—strangers are your friends of tomorrow; and,
• Bring tons of optimism, like always.
The 12th event was initiated by Andreas Stein, Sales Manager of Siemens Enterprise Communications. Two hundred and twenty-five BNI members and visitors, as well as 70 Siemens customers, were thrilled by Siemens fine hospitality.
In the last year, members of BNI in Berlin have exchanged 10.325 referrals each, resulting in a 4.6€ million turnover. It takes Siemens AG, one of Germany's largest corporations with annual sales of almost 70 Bill €, only 33 minutes to generate such turnover.
Mr. Thomas Schmieske, head of the northern region for Siemens Enterprise Communications SMB and host of the event, made it very clear that Siemens Enterprise's target group is small or medium-size companies. BNI members are a great example for this group. He plans to encourage sales managers in all major German cities to become members of a BNI chapter.
Mr. Schmieske found himself impressed by BNI members. They arrived very early to the event in order to have plenty of networking time. The later arrivals were the less experienced networkers. With the classical BNI warm welcome, members were networking in no time; and they were surprised how quickly they ran out of business cards.
Submitted by Thomas Jaeger, Executive Director - BNI Berlin
Hong Kong/MalaysiaIvan Misner Travels through Asia
 |
BNI Hong Kong also organized a session for members and invited guests in the evening. About 120 people attended as Ivan shared with them his experiences. It was a very successful event. The crowd departed motivated and impressed.
 |
It was an incredibly inspiring session. Three hundred books were sold after his talk. He sold out within an hour.
Submitted by Avyrl Au, National Director - BNI Malaysia, Korea & Thailand, Executive Director - BNI Hong Kong
MalaysiaLearning with Ecademy at BNI
 |
The solution was provided at the "Ecademy - Creating your Online Visibility, Credibility & Profitability Workshop," held for the first time at the Penang BNI Centre on 28th July 2008. Ecademy is a strategic alliance partner of BNI, and is an indispensable platform for BNI members to outreach to the worldwide market.
Conducted by BNI Regional Director YP Lai, participants learned how to create a benefit driven online profile (Visibility), build online trust and relationships with other Ecademy members (Credibility), and use online networking effectively to source for new markets (Profitability).
President of BNI Laurus Chapter S.K. Goh says, "Although I have been active online for many years, I learned so many more new internet marketing ideas today! Ecademy is the right platform for serious entrepreneurs who want to build a trusted online network. This workshop is absolutely fantastic and I wish more of my members were here.
"I have long realized how powerful BNI is. Combined with the potential of Ecademy, I am very confident that in the next few months my business will explode into many more new countries."
Whether it is online or offline marketing, we have to adhere to the same principles of building positive Visibility and establishing Credibility before the real Profitability appears.
Submitted by YP Lai, Regional Director - BNI Malaysia
ScotlandVerdant Breaks the Mould
BNI is notorious for its early morning meetings, but the new Verdant Chapter in Dundee has broken the mould and has been holding its meetings at lunch-time. Verdant launched in April this year and has continued to grow ever since. Chapter Director Jeni McCabe from SCR Solutions says, "It has been difficult starting a new group. There has been a lot of interest but mixed views on whether or not a lunch-time meeting would work. However, we now have a great leadership team and growing membership. Verdant is going from strength to strength and it will only get better. We have already proved that lunch-time meetings do work."
Verdant has multiple applications from specific sectors so only the best companies get into the chapter. This has been helped along by their focused Visitors Days where a handful of sectors are targeted for visiting. Jeni also comments, "Verdant is positioning itself as the networking leader in Dundee. Although we fully support other networking organisations, we are dedicated to growing our members' businesses—and that is what business owners are desperately looking for, especially during the credit crunch."
They have used a number of methods to raise awareness of its unique timing in Scotland. Of course, word-of-mouth has played a large part in this, helped along with a little PR in the local press.
Click here to read an article about Verdant Chapter, published in The Scotsman.
Submitted by Jeni McCabe, BNI Verdant Chapter Director
United KingdomThe Successful Jack O'Newbury Chapter Extends Givers Gain
 |
Members of the Jack O'Newbury BNI group do more than network, however. They are keen to extend the BNI philosophy of Givers Gain to charity. Chapter Director John Skelton explained, "Networking through BNI is a powerful way for our 36 members to market their products or services and find new business opportunities. BNI works on the principle of Givers Gain, whereby if I give you business, you'll give me business and we'll both benefit in return. We extend that principle to supporting local charity.
 |
| Neal Marney from WBRRC thanks Lucy Venables from Jack O'Newbury BNI for their donation |
More information and details of all the members can be found at http://www.bni-newbury.co.uk.
Submitted by Lucy Venables
SpainA Fine Summer Evening in Madrid
 |
The regular meetings are in the morning, but the members felt they would be more successful in inviting guests if they switched to the evening for the launch. And they were right. There was excellent networking over wine and snacks, and then the fun started with an introduction to BNI and a business card scramble.
The event took place in a hotel in central Madrid. A small core group managed to attract 100 guests and consolidate their position in the local community, as well as inform many business people of the advantages of being a BNI member.
BNI plans to grow steadily in Spain over the next two to three years, and then a boom is expected to happen as the message spreads out from Madrid and Barcelona. Current members are extremely motivated and looking forward to growing in numbers and generating plenty of word-of-mouth business over the coming months and years with BNI.
Submitted by Mark Gibson, National Director - BNI Spain
CanadaSummer Bash in Ontario
 |
Thank you to all who made it a part of their family time to come out and enjoy the friendship and hospitality.
We had incredible entertainment, provided by Rayner Productions, Grant Rayner, VP of Oxwood Connections, and our own "Kenny Rogers." We also had Mark, who was the most realistic Neil Diamond Performer I have ever heard, and Barb, who gave a wonderful Barbara Streisand-styled performance.
 |
Another prize was given to the Leamington and area chapter members for loading up a "short" bus of members and driving the distance, thus producing the smallest "carbon footprint" of those attending the event.
Our hosts Bruce & Eleanor Elliott, Executive and Founding Directors for SW Ontario, and their generous hospitality were very much appreciated. Those who attended have said they can't wait to do it again.
Submitted by T.L. Sim, BNI Assistant Director - London/Woodstock
CanadaBNI "Make a Wish" Comes True Again!
 |
| Jakob with some of his favorite players from the Ottawa Senators NHL hockey team. |
We are happy to say that 100 percent of the proceeds go to granting wishes to children with life-threatening diseases. In the last seven years, we have been able to grant eight wishes to great kids and their families.
In order to grant a wish, a minimum of $6,500 needs to be raised. This year's tournament raised $7,052.52, bringing our total to over $52,000 in the last seven years. Some of our major sponsors this year were Rogers Communication, Ottawa Senators NHL Hockey Club, Cohen & Cohen, and the Royal Bank of Canada.
The funds raised at the tournament helped grant Jakob's wish. Jakob is a bright 7-year-old boy from Ottawa. Last year he was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, a rare disease in which cancer cells are found in the bone or in soft tissue.
Jakob's wish was to go on a Disney Cruise with his parents, brother, and grandmother. BNI Eastern Ontario/Western Québec and The Make-A-Wish Foundation were happy to grant Jakob's wish. He sailed on a seven-night West Coast Cruise from May 25 - June 1, 2008.
Submitted by Denis Brisson & Jocelyne D'Aoust, Executive Directors - Eastern Ontario/Western Québec (Canada)
United StatesWhat Is It About Westwinds?
 |
My mission to find the answer has led me to ask "the people": members, visitors, and subs. Here are their responses:
Westwinds does things the BNI way. They learned that it works, and keep doing it—fun, creative commercials, great energy, an obvious environment of caring for each other. People help others become successful in business.
The team that meets with the visitors at the end of the meeting is great. There are also great social and fun events outside the meeting: BNI Babes on the Boat, pot luck dinners, Supper Thyme nights, happy hour, and more. There are no expensive weekly fees—the annual fee is less than a cup of coffee a week! Timing and execution of past Visitors Days, BNI games and so forth have been well planned and successful.
One of our members says: "One of the things that made me join Westwinds was how welcomed I felt at my first meeting. It is very tough to walk into a room full of people who all know each other and try to start a conversation. It's a scary feeling to not have anyone to talk to at a party. I can't even remember right now who talked to me, but I was never left alone and people at my table helped me know what to do throughout the meeting. I think that the visitor hosts are vital and that we all need to make an effort to talk to new people when they walk in."
So, what is it about Westwinds? It's the people! It's always been the people. In another ten years, it will still be the people. We each make Westwinds a successful, effective, caring, supportive, and productive three-year million dollar BNI chapter.
Submitted by Paula Pursley, "Toolbox Tweaker" of Westwinds Chapter, Minnetonka, Minnesota
Westwinds Chapter has just celebrated its 10th Anniversary. Click here to check out their fun anniversary celebration invitation.
United StatesSenior Sphere
 |
The "Senior Sphere" is composed of BNI members who have products or services that cater to adults who are 55 and older now residing in cooperative communities. Recognizing the needs of this fast-growing segment of the population, the "Senior Sphere" locates the communities, contacts the director of social activities, and provides information on program agendas that sphere members would be willing to present free of charge.
The "Senior Sphere" consists of the following categories: Attorney, Home Care Provider, Commemorative Graphics, Entertainment Services, Financial & Personal Records Assistance, Hair Stylist, Handyman Services, Travel Agent, Reverse Mortgage, and Insurance. As new members join the chapter they are evaluated on their benefit to the sphere.
Click here to view the flier produced by our chapter graphic artist to promote "Senior Sphere" members' businesses.
Submitted by Ted Halone, South Metro Chapter, Richfield, Minnesota
United StatesBNI Letter of Credit Good After 15 Years
 |
In May, 2008, Beth was invited to visit the Sunrise Chapter of BNI in Placentia and decided to submit an application. She was accepted, paid her registration fee, and used her letter of credit for membership.
The question everyone asks is, "How did she manage to keep the letter of credit for 15 years?"
The answer is easy: she is a professional organizer!
Welcome back, Beth!
Submitted by Sue Mills, Executive Director - BNI Southern California
United StatesCircle of Excellence Substitute Day
 |
Because summer is a heavy vacation season, chapters often experience a lull in attendance and referral activity. The Substitute Day is a proactive way to keep the energy and momentum going throughout the summer.
A Substitute Day is beneficial to the subs, because they get a trial run to see what the meeting is like and meet the chapter while the member is present to introduce them. In addition to this special benefit, there are the usual benefits to the chapter when a sub is present-the substitutes may be interested in applying for membership, refer themselves to members, know other potential members, or be able to make a useful business connection for a member.
BNI Circle of Excellence's Sub Day was held on Wednesday, June 25, 2008. Twenty-three substitutes were present! In addition, four visitors attended the meeting. The total meeting attendance for the day was 63!
Submitted by Linda H. Schumacher, Assistant Director - BNI Western Pennsylvania
United StatesThe Gold Coast Generates Big Bucks
 |
The Gold Coast Chapter of BNI is one of 21 chapters in Ventura County. The chapter currently has 38 very excited members and has been a BNI chapter for over eight years.
Submitted by Shawn & Linda McCarthy, Executive Directors - BNI of Ventura County, Santa Clarita & Antelope Valleys