Across the Globe

United Kingdom
BNI Inspires New Enterprise

When Liza Richards joined the Hastings Chapter last June, she was working for a company dedicated to getting long-term unemployed people back to work. But after only a few weeks of watching the chapter's entrepreneurs working together, she knew she had to have a business of her own.

As a result, she created Bright Home Moving Solutions, a consultancy that takes the stress out of finding, buying, or renting a new home. Just six months later, Liza says it was the best move she's ever made.

"I'd never have had the courage to start my own company without the inspiration of my BNI colleagues," she said. "They helped me every step of the way, and I used the services of eight members to help me get the business off the ground." Liza's transformation to full-time entrepreneur became complete last month, when she took over as president of the Hastings group—the largest chapter in Sussex.

If you are wondering, Liza's old company did not miss out either—promptly placing a new member into the chapter to take up her old place.

Submitted by Andrew Hall, Executive Director - BNI Sussex


Kenya
BNI Launches 39th Country - Kenya

Amidst the political instability that rocked Kenya earlier this year, BNI has launched its first chapter in Nairobi, Kenya.

National directors for BNI Kenya, E. Muraguri and Bijay Shah, began preparing to launch BNI in this East African nation in December of 2007. But the elections would bring the economy to a standstill.

In January, 2008, Kenya witnessed the worst political crisis since its independence. Investors pulled out in droves. Muraguri and Bijay saw this as an opportunity for BNI. After all, what better time for business people to see the need to get together and support each other in true Givers Gain style?

The BNI Biashara Bora Chapter, which means "Booming Business" in Swahili, launched on April 22 in Nairobi with 15 core group members. Over 150 visitors from the business community turned up as early as 6:15 a.m. The meeting was an overwhelming success with over 50 applications received that day.

The Biashara Bora Chapter will kick off its first proper meeting with over 30 members. Two more chapters are now in the making.

BNI is truly changing the way the world does business!

Submitted by Bijay Rajnikantt Shah, National Director - BNI Middle East and BNI Kenya


Korea
Korea Kicks Off

On April 22, just hours before the launch of Kenya, BNI launched the first chapter in South Korea—making Korea the 38th nation in the BNI family.

Haewon Choi, the national director for Korea, presented the BNI opportunity to an intensely interested audience of 50 visitors. The visitors enjoyed presenting their businesses to the gathering. As a result, 32 new applications for membership were received. Some lock-outs will form the core of the second chapter, to be started by Assistant Director Je Kim. Clearly, Haewon has done a great job.

Congratulations on a strong start for a new BNI country coming into the BNI family!

Submitted by Robert French, Joint National Director - BNI Korea


Barbados
BNI Bridgetown Chapter Celebrates 6 Years!

BNI Director Curtis Belgrave sharing in the celebration

After a vibrant chapter meeting on Wednesday, February 20, 2008, it was time for a double celebration with cake & wine. BNI Bridgetown along with BNI Barbados members celebrated the 6th anniversary of its chapter. Six years ago, this chapter—the first BNI chapter in Barbados—was launched. Business people on the island started doing business in a new way using Givers Gain.

From its launch, this chapter has passed over 7,500 referrals, which translates into over $4,799,000 of business.

Submitted by Marva Belgrave, Co-National Director - BNI Barbados.


Scotland
Face-to-Face Networking Is Vital

In April we launched Scotland's first lunchtime chapter in Dundee, Scotland.

An article appeared in The Scotsman newspaper on April 22nd, the day of the launch, about the importance of face-to-face networking.

Click here to read the article.

Submitted by Margaret Nicoll, Assistant Director - BNI Scotland North


Netherlands
Launching Tweede

"De Ondernemer," a Wegener-owned regional business newspaper, recently featured an article about the launch of the second BNI chapter in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands.

Click here to read the article.

Submitted by Aart Pastoor, BNI Netherlands


Canada
French Paper Features BNI

BNI Montreal collaborated on a feature article about networking, which definitely placed BNI in the forefront of networking and improved our visibility. The article was published on April 26, 2008, in the French-language newspaper La Presse, a major daily paper of Montreal with over half a million papers in circulation. It was featured in the special Career & Opportunities section.

The article highlights how BNI is leading the way with both high-level business networking and intercultural networking.

For those who don't speak French, the article is titled "Business Networking the BNI Way: We Have Breakfast and Exchange Cards!"

Click here to read the article.

Submitted by François Garon, Referral Institute - BNI Montreal


Canada
New Promotional Video from BNI Canada

This short video, produced by BNI member Victor Vrsnik of SPIRE Public Relations, is a great tool to help promote BNI and your BNI Chapter.

Click here to view the video.




United States
Central Indiana Chapters Restock Food Bank's Shelves

Photo courtesy of Spectrum Photography

"It was one of the largest food drives we've ever held, and I couldn't have done it without BNI," says Victoria Petersen, Fast Trackers chapter president and major gifts officer for Gleaners Food Bank in Indianapolis.

Traditionally BNI has been viewed as a tool to grow profits within a business, but Petersen saw it as an opportunity to feed the hungry in Indianapolis. It wasn't difficult to get BNI members on board—after all, they abide by Givers Gain. It wasn't long before the Central Indiana members became mini ambassadors for the food bank.

Fellow member and Fletcher Communications President Theresia Whitfield says Central Indiana BNI members are used to supporting local nonprofits, but this was an opportunity to help a fellow member while helping the community at large.

Petersen's Fast Trackers earned bragging rights for collecting 1,845 pounds of food and nearly $800 in cash.

In addition to providing food and money for the organization, Peterson says her BNI network has also chipped in goods and services from their respective companies.

Other notable mentions should go to Networking Masters who placed second in the competition, collecting 970 pounds of food and $50, and Excellence in Networking, which placed third by collecting 531 pounds of food and $20.

Submitted by Jill Bode, Head PR Chick - BNI Central Indiana


United States
Meeting with the Spouses

The idea for having a special evening BNI meeting with spouses/significant others originated when my wife, Linda, asked me if I had a printer in my chapter. I reminded her that my good friend, Gregg MacMillan, a BNI area director, was the owner of TechneGraphics and had been in the printing business for over 20 years.

The idea then hit me: We could double our BNI sales force if we could enlist our members' spouses/significant others to be on the lookout for business opportunities for our members.

I thought it would be great to invite them to one of our meetings, but I knew that the likelihood of getting them to a 7:00 AM meeting was close to zero.

After mentioning the idea of a special evening meeting/social event to several members and gaining popular approval, one of our members reserved a country club room for us on a Tuesday evening. Appetizers and a cash bar were provided for our open networking session. We wanted our spouses to have the opportunity to see a real BNI meeting, so the event, with very few exceptions, followed the BNI format.

The spouses introduced themselves as the members did their 60-second presentations. All of the spouses were given their own set of our members' business cards. Instead of one of the members giving the 10-minute presentation, Geof Scanlon, the executive director for our region, gave a brief overview and history of BNI.

Not only was it a fun social event but it as also led to a number of referrals generated by the spouses. The feedback I received was extremely favorable and many expressed the desire to have these special meetings on a somewhat regular basis.

Word quickly spread about our event and several other chapters in the Cincinnati area have also sponsored meetings with the spouses. I have since become Area Director and transferred to the Building Business Chapter in West Chester, OH. We plan to schedule these special meetings on a regular basis throughout the year.

Submitted by Jim Weghorst, BNI Area Director - SW OH/ N KY