FAQ from Visitors

Q: What is the Cost of Membership?
A: All applicants, to include replacement members, pay a
registration fee of $199. They then choose a membership
option. The options are:
One Year----$499
Two Years---$900


Q: Members Must Bring In Referrals, And The Chapter
Keeps Track Of How Many They've Contributed. Isn't That A
Lot Of Pressure On Your Members?
A: BNI Chapters work like a team. Each team member needs to
make an effort for the team to be successful. We will teach
you the skills you need. The only way to fail is to not try.


Q: How Often Do You Expel Somebody For Not Coming Up
With Enough Referrals?
A: It's rare. This is not rocket science. Everyone can
learn this process. All we need to do is teach them how. We
have training we will give you. All you need is a good
attitude and be willing to learn.


Q: Who owns the membership in BNI, the member or the
company that employs them?
A: The member owns the membership. If that member departs
the company but stays in the same profession, the Chapter
Membership Committee can decide to retain the current member
or allow the company to send another applicant for that
category. If the Membership Committee decides to retain the
current member that member must reimburse their former
employer for any unused portion of their dues, if the
company paid for the membership.


Q: What If A Member Gets A Referral And Does Poor Work?
A: First, you should speak to the member who did the work.
This usually resolves the situation quickly. Members are
human. They can drop the ball when they get real busy, but
they usually go to great lengths to correct a problem that
is brought to their attention. On the rare occasion when
this does not work, you can take your concerns to the
membership committee. They go through formal training on how
to deal with problems.


Q: Are Members Supposed To Bring Visitors?
A: Visitors and Referrals are equally important to a
chapter. You are encouraged to bring visitors for those
occupations that are open. After the visitor has been
prescreened they become a viable candidate for membership.
It's pretty much a closed meeting except for potential
members.


Q: What If Someone Comes In And Has Nothing To Say?
A: They can't. The meeting is a process. Everyone needs to
stand during the meeting and say something. You are required
to stand. It's a part of the meeting agenda. The first time
is your 30-second commercial. You treat the group as your
sales team. We will teach you how to do everything required.
You will discover that it is not difficult, and it is fun!


Q: What If You Are Afraid Of Speaking In Public?
A: Speaking at a BNI Chapter meeting is similar to speaking
at a family dinner. Everyone there will care about you and
give you whatever help you may need. We encourage new
members to write down, and read their 30-second commercial
at the meetings. This helps to overcome any initial
nervousness. We have many long-time members that do this
every week. The hidden message this sends to other members
is, this person took time to prepare for the meeting.


Q: Can Anyone Apply For Membership?
A: We only take one person from each field in a chapter. If
you are a residential real estate person and we already have
one, we can refer you to another chapter, or refer you to
our Director to explore the feasibility of opening a new
chapter.

The profession we do not allow are business opportunities,
illicit businesses, and barter groups.

Illicit businesses, and barter groups are are not even
welcome as visitors. There is a barter group that has caused
a lot of complaints by deceiving people into believing that
they were us.

There is another group of reputable businesses that are
allowed to be members, but we try to politely discourage
them. They are businesses that need a very large volume of
low priced sales to make a profit. There is not much chance
that we will be able to significantly help these people. We
do not want to take their money and leave them dissatisfied.


Q: How Do You Know New Members Are Reputable?
A: It's word-of-mouth. Before they even come to a meeting
they 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 the sponsor or visitor host interviews
them. The application asks for references and we have a
membership committee that checks them.


Q: What Occupations Benefit The Most From Networking?
A: Success in BNI is more about the individual and their
attitude, not their occupation. If you're focused, have a
dream, and you're willing to make a sacrifice, you are the
person we want in the group.


Q: Are You Heavy On Any One Occupation?
A: Attorney is the most common profession in BNI. Most
chapters have at least two attorneys, each representing
different areas of expertise. (We no longer have a category
for general practice attorney. Each must designate an area
of specialization.)

The Insurance and Financial Industry categories are almost
always filled. It's very rare to find an opening in a
current chapter. Residential Real Estate and Mortgages are a
close second. We rarely have an opening.

If you are in a profession where it is difficult to find an
opening you should contact the Area Director in your county
for information about applying in a chapter that will soon
be forming.


Q: What Are The Attendance Requirements?
A: You can miss up to three meetings each six-month period.
You can send a substitute to a meeting when you cannot
attend, and this counts as an attendance provided you do not
abuse this privilege. (Being there, arriving on time, and
staying for the entire meeting is the single biggest
relationship maker in a chapter. Not being there, arriving
late, or leaving early is the single biggest relationship
breaker in a chapter.)


Q: Can I Get My Money Back If I Decide This Is Not For
Me?
A: Members departing in good standing can apply for a
letter-of-credit for any unused portion of their dues. This
letter can be used the same as money if you decide to re-
apply for membership. Our policies do not allow for a
monetary refund. This policy is to protect chapters from
someone that may try to get as much as they can, and leave.
We call these people “networking hunters”.

Q: How Big Are Your Chapters?
A: They vary in size from 15 to 60 members. Lunch groups
tend to be larger on average than breakfast groups. The size
of a chapter depends more on the recruiting efforts of the
members. Chapters that maintain an average size of 30 or
more members will pass three times as many referrals as a
smaller chapter, and produce at least four times the
referral value. Additionally, these chapters tend to be the
chapters passing the million dollar referrals. It all gets
easier, better, and more fun when you work at growing your
chapter.


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. In no case
can these professional standards be less stringent than the
BNI Code of Ethics and Policies. Strict ethical standards
are the foundation of the trust building process.


Q: If I Specialize In A Field Within My Profession, Am I
Expected To Be An Expert In All Aspects Of My Profession?
A: No! 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. 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.


Q: Can I Offer A Monetary Reward To Members Who Give Me
A Referral?
A: NO! Giving referrals to each other is what we do. If a
member gives you a really great referral you can invite them
out for a one-on-one meeting at a nice restaurant. (You can
pick up the check, to show your appreciation, if you feel it
is appropriate.) Spending your valuable time with another
member is a large part of the relationship building process.
BNI encourages one-on-one meetings with members as a means
of learning about each other, building trust, respect, and
hopefully a commitment to helping each other. This one-on-
one will help both members learn how to better help each
other give and receive more referrals.


Q: Are smoking or alcoholic beverages permitted at any
BNI meetings or training events?
A: No!