Across the Globe - Africa/Middle East
Zimbabwe
BNI Member Saved My Son

A recent meeting of the Cresta Chapter in Harare was an emotional one.

After motivational speaker Milton Kamwendo, who was visiting the Cresta Chapter, had finished his ten-minute presentation on "Vision," another visitor, Mr. Ndlovu, stood up and said that it was no coincidence that he met Milton on that day.

His son had just come out of prison, where he had served a four-year sentence for attempted armed robbery. When the young man was released his father expected the worst. How was he going to fit into society? Would he have learned even more criminal ways in prison? Was there any hope of redemption?

To the father's surprise, however, his son was even more pleasant and positive when he came home. He had plans for things he wanted to do and had put his criminal past behind him.

"How did you manage to spend four years in prison and come out such an improved man?" the father asked his son.

"I read books by Milton Kamwendo," said his son.

There were gasps from the other business people at the table. A realization came over us: people benefit from the things we do every day—and we may never know. As Ken Annandale has said, "If the brave do not lead, the timid will not follow. Be brave." Milton Kamwendo is a motivational speaker and success coach. His three books are available from Innov8 Bookshop, innov8@zol.co.zw


Israel
Doing Business Under Fire

With war in Israel, we have forced all of our chapters in the North to shut down temporarily. However, members took the initiative and visited chapters in the central part of Israel. Members in the central region opened their hearts and homes to accommodate families who were evacuated from the North; the level of support and the camaraderie was exceptional. Visiting members were given the red carpet treatment, and new strategic alliances were formed. As one of our northern members stated, "This was the first time I realized that BNI is an extended family. The true value of an organization is apparent in times such as these."

Now as things are getting back to normal, members are finding they need to bridge a gap of two months with no income or new clients. That is where BNI becomes a resource and tremendous help to our members. On Monday, August 28 we held a well-attended meeting and a workshop in Nahariya, a city significantly affected by the war. The workshop was "Word of Mouth Marketing Reality and not a Myth: How to Work on the Business and Not in the Business."

On August 31 we also launched our 23rd chapter, which opened in Tel Aviv, where a core of 15 new members, led by our Ambasador Yona Kirschenbaum, managed to bring in over 60 guests. Yarden Noy and Sam Schwartz the Co-National Directors conducted the ceremony. As a result of this event they are expecting to have even more new members.

BNI Israel continues to grow and be a catalyst in our members' business in all times—both good and bad—and is a point of stability in chaotic times.

Submitted by Sam Schwartz, Executive Director, BNI-Northern Virginia
National Director, BNI-Israel, BNI-Hungary, BNI-Romania