Successful BNI Networking

After meeting Dr. Ivan Misner and seeing his "Networking Like Pro" presentation. I returned home with a burning desire to start a successful BNI chapter in North Alabama. I clearly remember Dr. Ivan Misner asking me a question. Michael, do you know what the secret to success is? He than answered his own question, "Hard work, that's why it's a secret".

Dr. Ivan Misner recommended I get in contact with the North Alabama BNI Executive Director, Meaghan Chitwood http://www.bnialabama.com/ he also indicated that Meaghan is a great Director for BNI and I totally agree. Meaghan owns the North Alabama BNI Franchise and she became the youngest BNI Executive Director in the nation in 2004. When I emailed Meaghan, she quickly responded to my email, welcomed me onboard, gave me her blessings and invited me to attend a BNI Chapter meeting.

I attended my first BNI Chapter meeting Wednesday March 31st, 2010. The Business Builders BNI Chapter is one of twenty-four BNI Chapters in the North Alabama Region. The Business Builders BNI Chapter meets every Wednesday at the Station in Bridge Street Town Center at 11:30am. Kim Oliver http://www.anpac.com/ is the Business Builders BNI Chapter president. My first BNI meeting gave me several ideas of the unlimited potential of a well run BNI Chapter. The Business Builders BNI Chapter annual goal is to generate $750,000 of referral business for its members. I understand that starting a successful BNI Chapter is a lot of hard work, but the benefits are enormous.

Meaghan also introduced to me to Mary Wimbs http://www.decaturtransit.com/ a North Alabama BNI Region Ambassador. Mary is an awesome BNI Ambassador, she immediately begin to coach me own how to develop a successful BNI Chapter. Mary is high energy, highly motivated and very knowledgeable on the BNI culture. She brings value and inspiration to anyone who desires to join or start a BNI Chapter. Mary is instrumental in getting the Givers Gains4Life core group up and running.

Quickly after holding only two meetings, we could no longer hold interest meetings in my office http://www.battsandassoc.com/ because our conference room could not hold all the people interested in visiting our group. Mary generously offered us a much larger meeting room in her company building to hold our interest meetings. I continue to believe if our core group invite quality people to our meetings, share our givers gain philosophy and asked them join the world largest networking organzition we will build a successful BNI Chapter.