|
Can anyone join Valley Voices BNI?
We only take one person per professional specialty. Applicants are
screened by the membership committee and a recommendation is made to
the Vice President who chairs the membership committee.
Do I have to attend every week?
You join Valley Voices BNI to get referrals. We allow you to join
so that we will get referrals from you. If you do not attend each week
or send a substitute, you are not fulfilling your obligation to the
group. Referrals come from relationships, not just membership. In a
sense, we are paying each of the other members in our group to be part
of our sales force. If you had a sales person who consistently missed
work, arrived late or left early ... would you continue to keep
that person on your payroll?
Our obligation to you is to pass referrals that help you grow your
business. When you consistently miss meetings, arrive late or leave
early you are sending a message of unreliability, lack of commitment
or respect and it becomes increasing difficult to refer you to our
valued customers.
How much does it cost?
Annual BNI dues are $480.00 cdn plus a one time registration fee
for new members of $130. HST is applicable.
"Breakfast" dues are additional and are currently at $17 per
week payable to our chapter at the beginning of each month. These dues
pay for the facility rental, staff and food.
Both BNI and Breakfast Dues are mandatory.
Why do I need training? - I know how to run
my business.
Education is one of the core competencies of this organization. It
is one of the things that sets BNI aside from other networking
organizations. And it is an important element in your success in our
chapter.
BNI works when people know the system and understand how to
implement it. Training is provided to help you and all the members of
your chapter become a "networking team" dedicated to
supporting one another through your contact spheres and power teams.
I have a concern about a fellow member -
what should I do?
If you have attempted to resolve a conflict with another member of
your chapter and have been unsuccessful, it is recommended that you
speak with a someone on the membership committee. Publicly expressing
your dissatisfaction at regular meetings does not solve your problem
and may drive referrals away from both the person you have a problem
with and yourself. People are naturally reluctant to involve
themselves with either party in a dispute. There are BNI
protocols in place to address member complaints.
Membership Committees may, at their sole discretion, put a member
on probation relating to the member's business practices or commitment
to the Chapter. Please remember that you can always speak with anyone from the
leadership or membership committee regarding any questions or disputes.
Membership committee members are required to sign and uphold a
confidentiality agreement.
What responsibilities does the executive and
leadership team have?
President: chairs our meetings and oversees our Chapter
Vice-President: maintains attendance and referral records,
chairs the Membership Committee and oversees the "health" of
our Chapter
Secretary-Treasurer: collects application and renewal fees and
monthly dues, is in charge of Speaker Rotation
Membership Committee: screens new membership applications,
ensures no category conflicts, evaluates participation and attendance
of members, evaluates complaints about members
Education Co-ordinator: presents weekly networking tips to members
Mentors: helps orient new members in the chapter, help all
members increase benefits from the Chapter, assist in reviewing the
value of BNI investment for a member
Visitor Hosts: greet guests and help to make them comfortable
and answer their questions. They are the "face" of our
Chapter and provide a critical component our growth
Event Co-ordinators: Plan and arrange for holiday events and
social outings for our Chapter.
See our list of members indicating the
current Executive and Teams
|
