Across the Globe

France
Wine Tasting and Networking

On Tuesday, September 18, 2008, about 30 BNI members and guests met at the restaurant Le Vin Qui Chante, which means "The Singing Wine." For these wine enthusiasts, it was an opportunity to develop professionally as well as experience a wine-tasting and French buffet.

Twenty-five French wines were presented by Rodolphe and Gilles, two young sommeliers. Rodolphe, who is not yet a BNI member, said that he was impressed because it was the first time he had been asked to offer wine tasting at a networking event.

During the course of the evening, Clémence Dias De Almeida, who organized this event with the support of BNI, rang the bell at 20-minute intervals. This signalled the time for everyone to change groups to sample different wines and meet the other participants.

Who said we cannot do business in a festive atmosphere? Everyone participated fully in what was a dynamic and enjoyable evening.

Submitted by Kissline Bun, Communications Assistant - BNI France


New Zealand
BNI NZ on TV



We received some great exposure for BNI in New Zealand. TVNZ produced a short feature on BNI for their NZI Breakfast Business program that aired on October 7, 2008.

Click here to view the TVNZ video.

Submitted by Graham Southwell, National Director - BNI New Zealand


United Kingdom
BNI Elmbridge Is #1

Chapter Director Antonio Falco receives the plaque from Robert French with members of the BNI Elmbridge chapter.

BNI Elmbridge is pleased to announce that in August 2008, for the first time in its history, it has been named the top BNI chapter in the country.

In presenting a commemorative plaque to Antonio Falco, Chapter Director of BNI Elmbridge, BNI National Director Robert French said, "The most successful chapters of BNI are comprised of participants who are sincerely committed to helping one another through networking."

Antonio Falco said, "It's fantastic for the Elmbridge chapter to be recognized, as all the members have worked hard to create a thriving business environment for local business people to find new business opportunities—as well as enjoy a support network and have fun!"

BNI Elmbridge's longest standing member, local accountant and auditor, Alan James of Alan James and Co. said, "Being a member of BNI Elmbridge makes excellent commercial sense to me. As an accountant, time is my most scarce resource, so I minimize wasted time.

"As a business we do minimal advertising—we don't need to do more since I continue to receive good quality leads through BNI. I also enjoy the company of every member within the chapter."

Fellow member and owner of Mail Boxes Etc., in Esher and Weybridge, Peter Petersons said, "Being active in BNI is like having up to 35 sales people working for you, without you having to pay them. Word-of-mouth marketing is the best form of promotion."

Visit the chapter website at www.bni-elmbridge.co.uk.

Submitted by Antonio Falco, BNI Elmbridge Chapter Director


United Kingdom
Cheltenham Gold Cup Members Go Nuts!

Little did they expect when they met at Cheltenham's Gold Cup BNI chapter that Rob Thomas, Becky Hoyle, and Rob's breakfast guest Andrew Cope would go on to forge a business relationship that would turn them all nuts.

Rob had a dream about his father dying suddenly, without saying goodbye. Around that time one of his close friends actually had died, leaving his friend's widow coping with their financial affairs and desperate to find a personal message or diary amongst his things.

Rob began thinking about somewhere safe online to store official documents and leave a living will to help those left coping after a loved one's illness or accident.

The project started as a website where you could record your last wishes and store financial and legal details; it has grown into YourNutshell.com, a place to store everything important, securely, in a virtual filing cabinet.

Now, Your Year (a private diary), Your Life (a memory bank), Your Wishes and Your Money in a Nutshell add up to the four services being offered, fully encrypted and with add-ons, including an interactive budgeting tool, a set-yourself reminders function and the ability to upload pictures, video, sound and documents to illustrate all files, which can be shared individually, by invitation, in total security.

Trusted BNI colleagues tested the site for three months in complete confidentiality. As a thank you, they're offering discounted membership to any BNI member worldwide using the code YOURNUTSHELLBNI when prompted.

Contact Rob.Thomas@yournutshell.com for more information.

Submitted by Becky Hoyle, Cheltenham Gold Cup Chapter


Sweden
BNI Business Networker of the Year 2008

To strengthen the BNI brand and further enhance positive attitudes toward business networking, BNI Sweden recently founded its prestigious award "The Business Networker of the Year." The prize ceremony was held at a Friday night gala in Stockholm on October 17, 2008, in connection with the yearly Members Conference.

Among the nominees for this distinguished networking recognition were the U.S. Ambassador to Sweden, Michael Wood, the former Prime Minister, Carl Bildt, and Ingvar Kamprad, founder of the world-renowned Swedish furniture company IKEA. Another 30 people from various companies and organizations—small business entrepreneurs as well as large corporate CEO's—were nominated.

Anyone could nominate their favorite networker. The criteria are simple: Who do you know who's a well-known and respected business networker and who sees referral marketing as part of his or her marketing strategy?

A jury chaired by BNI Sweden National Director Gunnar Selheden chose the recipient of the 2008 award: Peter Wallentin, a 26-year old student at the University of Gothenburg School of Business, Economics, and Law. Working in the spirit of "Givers Gain," Peter has already built a strong network. He is currently helping carmaker Volvo launch its new XC60 on the global market.

The award drew attention from Sweden's top business journal, Dagens Industri, which published an article about BNI and its nomination of Ambassador Wood. We have noticed that this kind of publicity always creates buzz and increases the general interest for our local chapters.

Check out the nominees at www.affarsnatverkare.se. The final decision was made by a jury chaired by BNI Sweden National Director Gunnar Selheden. This year's Members Conference is sure to get a great boost from the new award, and working in that spirit keeps us from participating in any kind of recession.

May the best business networker give—and gain!

Submitted by Rasmus Carlsson, Assistant Director - BNI Sweden


United States
Northern Illinois-Chicagoland Hosts Fund-Raising Golf Outing

Fifty-four golfers tried to get a Hole in One to win the Porsche donated by Loeber Porsche at the first BNI Golf Outing and Fundraising Raffle in Northern Illinois-Chicagoland.

U.S. National Regional Director Woody Woodcock could not resist participating. And while he did not take the car home, he enjoyed posing for a photo opportunity with Alana McKinney and Don Giorgi.

Immediately after golfing, a fundraising raffle was held to help the Ronald MacDonald House Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana. We thank all those who participated in the event. The Misner Foundation will be presenting the RMHC with a grant of $1000.

We also appreciate Assistant Director Don Giorgi for all his hours of preparation. The term "annual" was mentioned several times to him over the course of the day.

To see highlights of the day's activities, please go to: www.digiproofs.com. The password is bnigolf.

Submitted by Alana McKinney, Executive Director, BNI Marketing


United States
Central Ohio Mixes It Up at Golf Outing

For the last couple of years, we—along with a few other chapters—have hosted a golf outing. The outing allows us to meet the other BNI members and to invite prospective members. The guests golf with those who invited them, but have a great opportunity to meet business owners who have made the commitment to BNI to grow their business.

We started a couple of years ago with two chapters getting together. This year we invited all Central Ohio chapters. We had 60 golfers, and several chapter members (non-golfers) assisted in a variety of other roles this year.

We had so many donated items to promote each other's businesses you would not guess the economy is tough.

But more importantly we mixed up our groups (members from various chapters in a foursome) and brought guests who are not BNI members. My group was able to land two applications as a result of taking the time to get to know someone a little better.

We care about each other being successful—and it showed!

Carrie Stanley-Davis has been the organizer for this event since we started, and she is a member of the Greater Columbus chapter. Next year we will increase it to 100 golfers (BNI members and more guests).

Submitted by Bill Porter, President, Business Generators BNI Chapter, Hilliard, OH


United States
1st International Networking Conference: Get Connected 2009

The first-ever International Networking Week Three-Day Conference is coming in 2009! It will be a conference for networkers worldwide, held in St. Petersburg Beach, Florida, February 6-8, 2009.

The goal of Get Connected 09 is to connect business professionals who believe in word-of-mouth marketing. This conference will feature world-renowned experts in networking and referral marketing. Additionally, it will highlight International Networking Week to the world, and promote the BNI philosophy around the globe.

Inspired by BNI Europe who hosted two member conferences in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, over the past three years, BNI Minnesota Directors LuAnn Buechler and Beth Anderson created Get Connected 09.

This conference is open to all networking professionals, as well as BNI members, so everyone will have a chance to "get connected." Members and non-members will enjoy a weekend of networking, education, and relationship building. Sponsorship opportunities are available for people interested in showcasing their business to the world of networking professionals.

The keynote address will be delivered by BNI's Founder & Chairman, Dr. Ivan Misner. Other featured speakers include BNI Executive Directors Frank DeRaffele and Jeff Stay. For a complete list of speakers and activities visit the event site www.GetConnected09.com.

For more information or to register, go to http://www.GetConnected09.com.

Submitted by LuAnn Buechler, Assistant Director - BNI Minnesota