Across the Globe

Scotland
Scots Set for Epic Kilt-wearing Harley Ride

BNI members across America, be warned: "We're Scots, we're wearing crash helmets and kilts, and we're coming to your town very soon!"

So says Colin Read, a member of Mussleburgh's Fisherraw Chapter, to prepare his Yankee counterparts for some unusual sights this summer when he and Iain Whyte, BNI Executive Director for South & East Scotland, embark on an epic 3,230-mile coast-to-coast fund-raising trip.

To ensure their 10-day road trip in June does not go unnoticed, the duo has pledged to wear kilts while riding Harley Davidson motor bikes across 12 states from Washington DC to BNI's world headquarters in Los Angeles, California.

The journey is close to Colin's heart, as the money they raise will be going to the Moebius Research Trust, a charity set up by Colin and his wife after their son was born with Moebius, a rare congenital disorder.

Colin said: "Being Scots, we wanted to take this journey to a tougher level, so we'll be wearing traditional kilts throughout the trip to get noticed. But maybe we'll also pack some long johns, in case our legs suffer from too much exposure!"

In addition to trying to raise £200,000, Iain and Colin will meet up with BNI members and directors throughout their journey, assisting with a series of high-profile networking events.

You can help out by going to their web site, www.kiltsacrossamerica.co.uk, and sponsoring them. But what they are really after is corporate sponsorship. They'll be generating massive amounts of PR for whichever company supports them, both in the UK and in America.

Colin welcomes offers of sponsorship and other assistance. Email him at: CDRA9@aol.com.


United Kingdom
Cheers to Churchill Chapter's Success

Members of Bromley's Churchill Chapter kicked off 2008 in spectacular style after notching up business worth a cool seven-figure sum!

The 35-strong south London group, which meets at the Bickley Manor Hotel, hit its landmark target in January. The members celebrated with a lavish champagne breakfast after taking barely 15 months to pass referrals worth a staggering £1 million pounds.

Chapter Director Leighton Wilcox said, "I'm delighted we have hit our million pound target during my time in the chair and, having since referred a further £100,000 of new business, we're well on the way to achieving our next million."

BNI Regional Director Valerie Apps put Churchill's success into even sharper focus. She said, "This was a brilliant start to 2008. There are 26 thriving BNI chapters in the Kent area, but only four others—Canterbury, Brands Hatch, Ashford, and Whitstable—have reached their million pound target in the last 12 months. You can see what a tremendous achievement this is."


United Kingdom
Big Bed Challenge

Carl Walsh was quite happy with the way his established bed retailing business was going. His firm, The Divan Centre, was well known, and he had a steady stream of customers who would visit his Eastgate showroom in Leeds.

Curious, BNI's Yorkshire Director Niri Patel asked him, "Why are you seeking referrals from your chapter colleagues that result in you selling just one bed at a time, when you could get referrals to sell hundreds instead?"

As an enthusiastic long-term member of Leeds Network Central Chapter, Carl felt slightly aggrieved that his way of doing business had been questioned.

"To be honest, I'd never considered this approach before, so I felt justified in saying that I wasn't able to cater to big orders," said Carl. "But Niri's assertive attitude got me thinking, and I spoke to my manufacturers and suppliers, started to source potential big order customers, and obtained a bulk disposal license."

Happy that he could now cope with bigger contracts, Carl turned back to his BNI colleagues for referrals. As it turned out, UK's leading student dormitory supply company, Liberty Living, needed a 'few' replacement mattresses. Carl soon discovered a 'few' was more than 500.

"I was then asked if we could supply to anywhere in the UK—this time I immediately said yes! I'm very grateful to Niri for challenging me to think differently!"


New Zealand
BNI NZ Launches Blog

BNI NZ is pleased to announce their new blog, www.bniblog.co.nz.

You are invited to read postings such as, "How to use well-loved stories to make your audience wake up," posted on March 14 by Sean DSouza:

Let's face it. When you're the twentieth person to stand up and do your BNI presentation, you're the twentieth. Unless you say something extremely interesting, your message will pass like a ship in the night. So how do you use stories to create drama? And how do you link the stories back to what you do for a living?

Read the posting and then be sure to check out other posts as well.


Malaysia
SuccessNet in Print

Several countries produce their own print versions of SuccessNet. Malaysia produces an excellent example.

The April 2008 edition is full of information about KL'08—the upcoming International BNI Member event to be held in Kuala Lumpar—plus articles about presentation props, success stories from the "BNI Hall of Millionaires," and their "Givers Gallery" of outstanding performers.

Click here to read Malaysia's SuccessNet.


Italy
Suggestions and Focus in Italy

Cuneo, a little city in Northwest Italy, held a training day on March 11, 2008. The event was presided over by Paolo Mariola, National Director of BNI Italy, with special guests Laura Hurren and James Sanderson, Executive Directors of BNI in the UK.

The guests were pleasantly surprised to find the Cuneo chapter with more than 30 members, all looking for new chances to improve their businesses.

The event included a discussion that focused on the British guests and their BNI experiences, including ways to improve the Italian chapter's skill set. The visitors emphasized that it is every BNI member's responsibility to search for new business for the members of their chapter. With Givers Gain, you actually receive more by putting in more effort.

We are very thankful for Hurren and Sanderson's suggestions and the effort that they have made. The members of the Cuneo chapter hope that they will again have the chance to have British guests stay in Italy for a new opportunity to exchange ideas and skills in the future.

Submitted by Alessandra Scheidler, Assistant Director - BNI Italy


Canada
BNI Director Contributes to Book

BNI Saskatchewan is proud to announce that BNI Executive Director Gina Bell is a contributing author to the brand new book The Power of Mentorship for the Home Based Business.

Gina is one of 13 contributing authors to this book, accompanied by some heavy hitters such as Bob Proctor, Dr. John Demartini, and Brian Tracy.

To order a copy of the book visit Gina's personal web page at http://www.daringdivapreneur.com/power_of_mentorship or http://www.thenetworkingmasters.com/products.

BNI members will also receive a special educational audio CD as a thank you gift for ordering the book.

Submitted by Stephen Bell, Executive Director - BNI Saskatchewan


United States
Networkers of the Northwoods

BNI Minnesota's newest chapter, Northwoods Networkers, launched in Pequot Lakes, a town of 1,800 residents located two hours north of Minneapolis. The core group of 24 fully embraced the BNI training they were given to help make their March kick-off a success.

They sent out over 2000 letters and had 47 visitors, resulting in 35 applications submitted—9 of them overlapping. Of those, many will be able to find homes in chapters in the nearby town of Brainerd. They expect to charter with over 50 members.

Congratulations to Assistant Director Kari Barnes and Area Director Tom Schmoll for launching Minnesota's newest Hall of Fame Chapter!

Submitted by Beth M. Anderson, BNI Minnesota


United States
Watching Out for the BNI Family

On a cold October morning, Minnesota BNI member Jamie Becker called into work because his furnace wouldn't start. Kari Barnes, a BNI assistant director, pulled out her card file and gave Jamie Becker the name and phone number of the HVAC company in her chapter, Mid-State Refrigeration, Heating and Air Conditioning.

They dispatched a service tech. The tech located huge cracks and holes in the heat exchanger. If this furnace would have started for any reason, this story would have a deadly ending. Instead, Jamie and Julie Becker and their two children, Cody, 2, and Dylan, 8 weeks, are all fine.

Through our great BNI referral structure and our Givers Gain philosophy this story has a positive outcome. That is what BNI is about … one family taking care of another.

Submitted by Beth M. Anderson, BNI Minnesota


United States
15 Years of Givers Gain

Laguna Hills BNI in California recently marked their 15 year anniversary.

The chapter is also celebrating those members who have stuck with the chapter since its beginning: Members Brigitte Archer (featured in My BNI Story), Ed Ban (middle row, 2nd from left), Dave Grant, (front row, 2nd from left), and Tom MacKinnon, DDS (back row, 4th from left).

All chapter members are working hard on an Anniversary Visitors Day to be held during the Membership Extravaganza.

Submitted by Sue Mills, Executive Director - BNI Southern California


United States
Givers Gain Impacts Education

Elisabeth Misner (center) presents a Big Check for $1000 to Mrs. Patti Salwak's class at Oakmont Elementary School

BNI, the world's largest business referral organization, recently awarded a mini-grant to both the David Douglas High School Children's Development Center in Portland, OR, and Oakmont Elementary School in Claremont, CA, through the BNI-Misner Foundation. BNI's corporate philosophy, Givers Gain, was put into practice when BNI founder Ivan Misner and his wife, Elisabeth, started their charitable foundation.

"The BNI-Misner Foundation has a single-minded focus—we want to make a difference in the business world of tomorrow through education today," says Dr. Misner, BNI's chairman. "BNI members are small- to medium-sized business owners who understand how important education is today in order to have a thriving business market tomorrow."

BNI members all around the world contribute to the general fund of the foundation, which accepts applications for $1000 mini-grants by referral only. "Our entire company is based on referrals from business to business, so we wanted to model the foundation after the same example," foundation administrator and co-founder of the foundation, Elisabeth Misner explained.

The Givers Gain philosophy doesn't stop in the United States. The Foundation has global effects.

DDHS Board Chair Annette Mattson (left) accepts the Big Check from BNI Executive Director Robin Schuckmann and Communications Coordinator Lori Chance (far right), both representing BNI Oregon & SW Washington.

"The BNI Foundation only awards grants in countries where we have BNI chapters," says Dr. Misner. "With chapters in over 37 countries, that gives the Foundation a far-reaching impact."

Mrs. Misner states, "We are always happy when non-profits that provide education to children can benefit from our philosophy that Givers Gain."