What is BNI?

Started in January 1985 by Dr. Ivan R. Misner, Founder & Chairman of BNI. BNI provides a positive, supportive, and structured environment for men and women to further their business through word-of-mouth marketing.

Networking requires commitment. The most successful chapters of BNI are comprised of participants who are sincerely committed to helping one another through networking. They are a team. As a participant in BNI, you are responsible for complying with the policies and guidelines of the organization*. A partial list of the policies of BNI

are listed below:

(*) Note: In the event that BNI’s general rules could potentially violate a professional’s ethical code, the professional’s ethics code shall govern.

• Only one person from each professional specialty is permitted to join a chapter of BNI.

• All participants should represent their primary occupation, not a part-time business.
• Attendance is critical. If you cannot attend a meeting, you may send a substitute. This will not count as an absence.
• Participation in the chapter by members is a key to the success of a group.  Members can participate by bringing bona-fide referrals and/or visitors to their BNI chapter.

There are one year and two year participation options. See the Secretary/Treasurer of the chapter you visit for prices. If you apply to participate in BNI, your application will be reviewed by the chapter’s Membership Committee, and you will be notified of the status before the next meeting.

Increased exposure to many other people and businesses.

• Substantially increased referrals.
• Tools to network more effectively, including an orientation CD giving the “Formula for Success” in BNI, a badge, a vinyl card holder to carry members’ business cards, referral slips, marketing materials for your chapter and much, much more.
• Participation in up to 52 networking meetings per year.
• Bi-monthly newsletters with educational material on networking, public speaking, and business.
• Participation in business tradeshows (where you’ll have an opportunity to market your chapter and your business).
• Free periodic workshops on networking.
• And much, much more!!!

Q: Can anyone join a chapter?

A: We only take one person per professional specialty. So if you are a residential real estate person and we already have one, we can refer you to another chapter, or allow you to open another chapter.  Of course, if you are a commercial real estate person, you could be eligible to join this chapter.

Q: How do you know new members are reputable?

A: The application asks for references and we have a membership committee that checks them. It’s word of mouth, so before they even come to a meeting they have to have spoken to someone or been invited by someone in the group. Everyone has to have a sponsor, or one is assigned to them, and they interview them.

Q: What if a member gets a referral and does poor work?

A: We have an ethics committee and it is imperative that anyone who gives a lead and finds out it was not satisfactorily handled must report that to the membership committee, who will investigate.

Q: What occupations benefit the most from networking?

A: It is not the occupation, it is the individual. The occupation can be anything. If you’re focussed and you have a dream and you’re willing to make a sacrifice, you are the person we want in the group.

Q: Are members supposed to bring visitors?

A: You’re encouraged to bring visitors for those occupations that are open, after the visitor has been prescreened, if they’re a viable candidate. It’s pretty much a closed meeting except for potential members.

Q: Do ethical rules for certain professions prohibit participation in BNI?

A: BNI understands the importance of the ethical concerns governing certain professions and acknowledges that rules can differ by location.  As such, BNI therefore requires its members to uphold the rules of its profession so as not to violate the professional’s ethical obligations.  In the event that BNI’s general rules could potentially violate a professional’s ethical code, BNI’s rules are superseded by the dictates of the professional’s ethics’ code.  Significantly, a primary objective of BNI is to educate its membership in ways to market and grow business.   It is BNI’s intent to ensure that this is permitted.

Q: If I specialize in a field within my profession, am I expected to be an expert in all aspects of my profession?

A: BNI understands that many professions are broad and that people often specialize within their profession.  BNI does not expect, nor does it encourage, any professional to participate in an area in which the professional does not have expertise.  On the contrary, BNI prohibits professionals from acting outside of the scope of their abilities.

Q: My profession does not let me directly solicit business.  Is BNI still right for me?

A: BNI’s primary objective is to assist its members in ways to improve their business and to educate them concerning how they can effectively network.  Business people get business when their expertise is known and others reach a comfort level with them.  BNI provides a forum that allows members to meet other business peers who need to know effective and efficient business people.