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. [ top ]
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. [ top
]
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. [ top
]
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.
[ top ]
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. [ top ]
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rules are superceded by the dictates of the professional’s ethics’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. [ top ]
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. [ top ]
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. [ top
]
