|
Q: What is BNI?
A: BNI is the
largest business and professional networking organization
in the world, whose primary purpose is to exchange qualified
business referrals. The organization currently has over 2,600
chapters throughout 12 countries with over 52,000 members
worldwide. Last year, members of BNI passed over 2.1 million
referrals, which generated more than 727 million dollars of
business for its members.
Q: What is a chapter?
A: A chapter
is made up of a diverse group of individuals that represent
local businesses through out the surrounding community.
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 focused 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
superceded by the dictates of the professional’s ethics’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.
If you have any other question or comments, please contact
by filling out this form here.
|
