My BNI Story
Hope through Personal and Professional Adversity

I joined BNI in 2002 and thoroughly enjoyed meeting new business people in my area and growing my business successfully. I left in 2003 due to being re-diagnosed with cancer. I am now happily fully recovered, so I rejoined BNI in 2005. I received a warm welcome, and more referral businesses followed.

In July 2006, the largest fire in Colchester history burned our premises (a florist business) along with 73 other businesses. We received many supportive calls from BNI friends. Due to hard work and perseverance, we kept working and delivered for all our wedding and commercial clients. We moved into our new building at the end of September. Recently, we were chosen to be the "Master Florist" in our area for a new florist directory. This is a lift for us, as only the best florists are chosen.

BNI has been great for us at business level, and also a great support when we needed it!

Anne Goldschmidt, Colchester Castle Chapter

Praise for Advanced Training

I'd like to thank both David Holzer and Weston Lyon for the outstanding Advanced Trainings that I've attended over the last few months. As a relatively new BNI member, I've found the Advanced Trainings to be invaluable.

Advanced Training is exceptional because:

• It is a fantastic opportunity to network with other BNI members who really understand the value of getting the education necessary to become Professional Networkers.
• Its structure and agenda are well crafted and provide members the information they need in as little as an hour and a half.
• Sessions are happening every week, at a variety of times, and in a number of locations.
• It is geared towards the adult learner. Training is interactive, motivational, focused, and relevant.
• It helps members set goals for making BNI a highly effective part of their company's marketing plan.
• It offers members a world-class education on how to become a Professional Networker from trainers who have successful BNI businesses.

Edward Lackman, Network Connections Chapter, Hampton Township, PA
Submitted by Deanna Tucci Schmitt, Executive Director, Western Pennsylvania


Yahoo for BNI-Yahoo! Group

I've been watching the BNI-Yahoo! Group postings for over a week now, and I'm very excited to be part of this group. Being the new president of a growing chapter, I love the ideas being shared in this BNI-Yahoo! chat group.

When I joined my BNI chapter, I'd been working for Old Republic Title & Escrow as an Escrow Officer for about two months. Business was slow, as I was opening a brand new territory for the company. My BNI chapter introduced me to people whom I would not have been able to meet on my own, which has led to some phenomenal growth. We now have three people and a great location in our local community. I'm very grateful for the person who introduced me to BNI, and I look forward to continuing to grow with the chapter.

Tamara Stoebe, Road Runner Chapter, Palmdale, California
The BNI-Yahoo Group was highlighted in the Sept/Oct edition of SuccessNet. To learn more about the group, including how to join, click here.


From Outcast to Outgoing

BNI membership sometimes brings unexpected results. I've always been afraid of people. In my business, I deal with absolutes: zeros and ones. I'm a computer network engineer, and my whole business life revolves around cause and effect—but no people.

This fear has been debilitating to the point that I've become almost a social outcast, and in the business world this just can't happen. Without the ability to comfortably interact with others, one's business just can't survive. The result has been six years of mediocre success, even though I'm both a talented and knowledgeable engineer with certifications from both Novell and Microsoft.

Needless-to-say, my first BNI meeting was terrifying. But since my first chapter meeting, I've made many new friends and am comfortable in a large room. The real test of my new newfound confidence occurred recently when many chapters visited ours. Unlike previously, I easily moved among the crowd and felt at ease. Commitment to BNI and its purposes has given me unexpected self-assurance.

Submitted by John Lisle, Executive Director BNI California Central Valley on behalf of this newly confident, but anonymous BNI member.


A BNI Legacy

The sad part of this story is that Brenda Wyatt, one of the members of the Thursday Breakfast Chapter in Hagerstown, MD, recently lost her battle with cancer. She was one of the bravest and most cheerful women I have ever met. She cheered us up at meetings and continued to participate almost to the end.

The sweet part of this story is that the reception at the funeral home was like a regional meeting for BNI. We happily told stories about Brenda as we walked through the line to see the gallery of photos. It really was joyous and a nice time of fellowship. Our emotions were tested when we saw, attached to the frame, Brenda's BNI badge from which her Membership Committee and MSP ribbons hung. Her family must have known that BNI was a part of who she was when they assembled those photos.

BNI is much more than business and referrals. I see that every day.

Jackie Lamothe, Area Director, BNI Maryland


The Show Goes On—Thanks to BNI

In early April, I was on my way to Beaumont, TX, where my band was scheduled to play. I was a previous member of the Woodbridge BNI chapter, but had left my job, my BNI group, and most would say my "good sense" to go on the road with my band in a broken down RV some 2500 miles from home.

Well, as luck would have it, we had a mechanical malfunction that required some welding. We had very little money and not a lot of time to get to our destination. But we had a laptop computer and were at a truck stop that had wireless connection. Since the mechanics at the truck stop wanted a minimum of $250.00, which we didn't have, I did a search of BNI in South/Central Texas and found a member that came out and got us back on the road and would only accept $20.00 for gas.

I learned from that experience that when you are in need of ANYTHING, always check the local BNI site - you will never be disappointed. I also decided to come home, resume my job at the Lodi Chamber of Commerce, and become the president of the best BNI chapter in our region!

Ray Crow, President, BNI Woodbridge Chapter


A Chance BNI Encounter in Disneyland

A few weeks ago, a woman from New Zealand, who was vacationing at Disneyland, saw our sign that said "BNI - Registration." She went to the front desk and found one of our members, said she is a BNI member in New Zealand, and asked to join us.

It was a fun experience to have a surprise international BNI visitor. It reinforced that the BNI format and structure is almost identical in all chapters throughout the world! I actually now mention that in our meetings to let guests know how large the organization BNI is and how successful the BNI structure is. I'm really glad she joined us!

Jason Johnson, Liaisons Chapter, Anaheim, California

SuccessNet contacted the visitor, Kathy Buchanan, a chartered accountant and member of Waikato Metro BNI Chapter in New Zealand. Kathy told SN, "I found the Liaisons Chapter really friendly, and I felt totally welcome. It was great to see how their meeting was so much like our meeting. It added a real dimension to my holiday and will be something I will always remember."


$100-Worth of Generosity

Recently, at our BNI Rose Quarter Chapter meeting, Director Christine Green gave an eloquent eight-minute presentation on the importance of inviting guests and how each member benefits. One member suggested that you simply buy your guest’s $5 ticket. As you know, BNI members have various size budgets. For some businesspeople, buying a guest ticket is no big deal, but for others it is a consideration.

At the end of the referral portion of our meeting Eric Eaton, owner of Eaton General Construction, reached into his pocket and handed our president $100 and requested that the first 20 guests get free tickets. Certainly Eric did not do this for any sort of recognition. But I know his generosity will benefit us all in many ways in the weeks to come!

Holly Duckworth Horning, Event & Meeting Solutions, BNI Rose Quarter Chapter
Submitted by Robin Schuckmann, Executive Director, BNI Oregon & SW Washington


BNI—A Shelter During War

I don't wish to exaggerate that being a member of BNI was the key influence in my coping with the recent war in Israel. But I think that some universal elements in coping with sudden disaster were alleviated by being a BNI member.

Networking
Many members contacted me via phone and Internet while we were in bomb shelters, providing me with moral support as well as practical advice. They gave ideas on how to turn the negative crises into opportunities for business growth.

Mutual Help
BNI touts that “the helper ultimately helps himself.” I saw this play out at as I helped out in disaster centers as a resident dentist. Having good work to do in the midst of a difficult situation gave me strength daily—and ultimately gave me new clients.

The majority of us in the city of Nahariya were lucky and did not suffer much. My BNI membership was invaluable to me during this difficult time.

Dr. Charles Caplan, Member, BNI Israel


Dream Client Come True
Prior to joining BNI, I was a reluctant attendee of networking events. What attracted me to BNI was the “Givers Gain” philosophy, and I am now a firm believer in networking. As a result of my BNI experience, I tend to look more deeply for those things that people have in common.

BNI has, in fact, contributed to one of my successful international networking initiatives by which I secured Zuffa LLC, the owner of the ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP (UFC) brand that originated in the U.S., as a client. This is a dream client for a patent & trademark attorney like myself.

Angela Dahlke, BNI Brisbane