I have been a member of the Business Network International (BNI) Chapter in Camberley for over a year now and have attended other Chapters around and about in the area. I would like to share with you what a typical meeting is like and to hopefully persuade you to ‘give it a go’.
Informal networking begins as soon as there are two members present and we all try and be at Camberley Heath Golf Club before 0645. Our Secretary/Treasurer will be seated at a table outside the meeting room and will ask you to sign in and to pay a small subscription fee – which covers the cost of the room hire and of the breakfast. You will receive a receipt and will be introduced to one of our Visitor Hosts who will take you in to the room and help get a cup of coffee or tea. Your host will find you somewhere to sit and leave your coat and bags etc. This is where the benefits of BNI start as you will get your first opportunity to start talking to members of the Chapter or to other visitors.
You will notice the room filling up and at 0700 a bell will ring which is the call to start queuing for breakfast. This is another great opportunity to strike up conversations with members and to learn about their businesses.
Each Chapter has a Committee that runs not only the meeting but the Chapter outside of the meetings. The Chapter Director acts as the chair of the meeting and at 0715 will introduce themselves, explain what BNI is all about then introduce the other members of the Committee and their supporting members. These are the Secretary/Treasurer, the Membership Coordinator, the Visitor Hosts, The Education Coordinator, the Events Organiser and the Power Team Coordinator. Next the Education Coordinator will give a short presentation on some aspect of BNI or perhaps an aspect of business that would help members, this is the Education Slot.
What follows next is one of the important parts of the meeting where each member of the Chapter gives a 60 second talk explaining what their business does, and what sort of introductions they are seeking. In our Chapter these presentations are in the order of arrival to the meeting.
As the talks are being given, the Business Card box is circulated. This contains business cards from every Member of the Chapter. Members and visitors alike are encouraged to take cards out of the box. As a visitor you can circulate your cards as well but please don’t add them to the Business Card box.
As a visitor you will probably be called upon to speak after all the Members but this does give you time to collect your thoughts and recognise that Chapter Members are nervous too about presenting. This is your moment, so take your time and it is OK to read your 60 seconds about you and your business.
At our Chapter the Secretary/Treasurer will give a brief report at about 0750 on membership dues that are expected, on forthcoming speakers and will then introduce the next speaker. This is the opportunity for one Member to give a longer presentation lasting 10 minutes to explain about themselves and their business to help all the other Members to understand how they could refer business.
There will usually be time for a questions and answers section after the presentation and then we move onto the Referrals and Testimonials section at about 0815.
Everyone at the meeting is asked to stand up in turn and give any referrals for business, to give Thank-You for business cards, talk about any 1-2-1 meetings and to give testimonials about other members (these should be written rather than spoken) and perhaps to thank the speaker for their presentation. This is your second speaking opportunity and you can thank a Member for your invite or even give out referrals and if you are very lucky you may even get business referrals yourself.
The Membership Coordinator will then give a brief update about the amount of business passed in the Chapter, numbers of referrals and will check on progress on some of the existing referrals. A simple prize draw takes place from the referrals passed in that day’s meeting and the winner receives a small prize from the speaker of the day.
There will be an opportunity for the Events Coordinator to speak about upcoming social events and then the Chapter Director will close the meeting by 0830 to allow anyone who has to leave immediately to get to work by the start of the normal working day. Those who do not have to rush away will normally stay behind for more informal networking. You will also get the opportunity to speak to the Membership Coordinator about joining the Chapter at this time.
Here’s a simple check-list for you before the meeting
1) Bring a subscription fee, at our Chapter this is (currently) £10 for visitors
2) Prepare or write down a 60 second talk about you and your business
3) Bring at least 30 business cards with you
Please do look at our Chapter’s website and speak with the Chapter Director about attending – details here.
Our Chapter meets at Camberley Heath Golf Club, Golf Drive, Camberley, GU15 1JG every Thursday at (or before) 0645