Monday, November 19, 2012
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Upcoming Speakers: 10-Minute Presentations
Nov. 22: Thanksgiving; no meeting
Nov. 29: Tim Cowan and Lou Palladino
Dec. 6: Susan Omran and Viv Tracy
Dec. 13: Joanne Shwed and Tala Stephens
Dec. 20: Holiday party; no speakers
Dec. 27 and Jan. 3: Holiday break; no meetings
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Sharp Park Restaurant
The Sharp Park Restaurant can be hard to find using on-line resources - so here's a map to help you find the place! You want to go to Pointer A.
Most Wanted Professions
We are always happy to welcome top-notch professionals to join our chapter. Right now, the professions we would most like to see join are:
- Carpet cleaner
- Caterer / chef
- Cleaning service (green)
- Dentist
- Estate planning attorney
- Esthetician
- Event planner
- Financial planner
- Flooring contractor
- Florist
- Hair stylist (eco-friendly)
- Home health care service
- Home inspector
- Landscaper
- Optometrist
- Pest/termite company
- Photographer
- Physical therapist
- Printer
- Property manager
- Real estate attorney
- Restaurant
- Roofing contractor
- Title company
- Vet
- Web designer
- Writer
- Carpet cleaner
- Caterer / chef
- Cleaning service (green)
- Dentist
- Estate planning attorney
- Esthetician
- Event planner
- Financial planner
- Flooring contractor
- Florist
- Hair stylist (eco-friendly)
- Home health care service
- Home inspector
- Landscaper
- Optometrist
- Pest/termite company
- Photographer
- Physical therapist
- Printer
- Property manager
- Real estate attorney
- Restaurant
- Roofing contractor
- Title company
- Vet
- Web designer
- Writer
Leadership Team
President: Karen Paver
The president runs the meeting, selects the rest of the leadership team, and runs the monthly leadership team meetings.
Vice President: Mike Stephens
The VP keeps track of the statistics: attendance, referrals, visitors, etc. The VP also chairs the membership committee and fills on the the president when needed.
Treasurer: Susan Omran
The treasurer collects the chapter dues and pays the bills — and keeps us on budget.
Secretary: tbd
We've split off this part of the standard Secretary/Treasurer role. The secretary maintains the speaker rotation. New members will be scheduled as soon as possible after they complete MSP (Member Success Program) training, so the secretary needs to know when you are scheduled to take this training.
Membership Committee: Linda Fahey and Ian Gunderman
The membership committee reviews all applications (new and renewal) and decides whether or not to accept each application. They also handle complaints about members if these cannot be resolved by the members themselves.
Education Coordinator: Viv Tracy
The education coordinator is responsible for the educational segment of the weekly meeting.
Mentorship Coordination: Sandra Whatmore
The mentor coordinator ensures all new members have a mentor to assist them in learning the BNI processes. The mentors also answer the new members' questions and provide guidance and feedback on their infomercials and 10-minute talks.
Visitor Hosts: Erica Sofrina and Larry Anderson
The visitor hosts welcome all visitors, collect their visitor fees, and make sure they get introduced to other members. (But we all have a part in making visitors feel welcome!) The visitor hosts also handle the room set-up (referral slips and such) and clean-up.
Power Team Coordinator: Christine Stahl
Timer Coordinator (and Editor): Joanne Shwed
The timer coordinator ensures someone is timing the agenda items to keep the meeting on track.
Website and Mailing List Owner: tbd
This person updates this website and maintains the chapter mailing list.
The president runs the meeting, selects the rest of the leadership team, and runs the monthly leadership team meetings.
Vice President: Mike Stephens
The VP keeps track of the statistics: attendance, referrals, visitors, etc. The VP also chairs the membership committee and fills on the the president when needed.
Treasurer: Susan Omran
The treasurer collects the chapter dues and pays the bills — and keeps us on budget.
Secretary: tbd
We've split off this part of the standard Secretary/Treasurer role. The secretary maintains the speaker rotation. New members will be scheduled as soon as possible after they complete MSP (Member Success Program) training, so the secretary needs to know when you are scheduled to take this training.
Membership Committee: Linda Fahey and Ian Gunderman
The membership committee reviews all applications (new and renewal) and decides whether or not to accept each application. They also handle complaints about members if these cannot be resolved by the members themselves.
Education Coordinator: Viv Tracy
The education coordinator is responsible for the educational segment of the weekly meeting.
Mentorship Coordination: Sandra Whatmore
The mentor coordinator ensures all new members have a mentor to assist them in learning the BNI processes. The mentors also answer the new members' questions and provide guidance and feedback on their infomercials and 10-minute talks.
Visitor Hosts: Erica Sofrina and Larry Anderson
The visitor hosts welcome all visitors, collect their visitor fees, and make sure they get introduced to other members. (But we all have a part in making visitors feel welcome!) The visitor hosts also handle the room set-up (referral slips and such) and clean-up.
Power Team Coordinator: Christine Stahl
Timer Coordinator (and Editor): Joanne Shwed
The timer coordinator ensures someone is timing the agenda items to keep the meeting on track.
Website and Mailing List Owner: tbd
This person updates this website and maintains the chapter mailing list.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Health and Wellness Blog
Many of our chapter members specialize in health and wellness. Read more from these members on the Coastside Health and Wellness blog.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
16 Quick Tips for New Members
1. Show up!
You are allowed 3 absences without a substitute each term (April-September and October-March); being late (past 11:40) or leaving early (before 1:00) counts as 1/2 absence. If you need to miss a meeting, a good substitute is anyone who does not work in a field which competes with a chapter member. Non-BNI members with a business can only substitute twice; anything else would be unfair to those who pay for membership. Your business may have other people who can take your place; friends, family or clients could all be good subs.
But don't overuse substitutes, as this won't help you build relationships - and BNI is all about relationships.
BNI also allows for medical leaves for surgery and such, so if this ever applies to you please let the leadership team know.
2. Show up on time.
The meeting starts at 11:30 with 15 minutes of open networking. This is a great time to meet visitors and network with individual chapter members. And please get your food during this time, so you can be seated when the president announces the start of the more formal part of the meeting and give all the speakers your full attention.
3. Do Dance Cards (also known as 1 to 1's).
A dance card is when you meet with another member for an hour or so to get to know each other better. Over time, you may want to have a series of dance cards with some members.
4. Train members to serve as your sales force.
Certainly we are all happy when a member chooses to buy our product or service. But what you are really trying to do (in your 30-second infomercials, 10 minute presentation, and dance cards) is train other members to be your sales force. So give them information they can use!
Stories are good. Telling the chapter what exactly would be a good referral for you is good. Focusing on a different aspect of your business each week is good. Using the same infomercial every week is NOT good.
5. Always say something positive (and nothing negative) during the referral portion of the meeting.
Some chapters call this the "I have" portion of the meeting. Talk about what you have, not what you don't have. If you don't have a referral, don't mention that - rather, tell us about the "thank you" you have for someone who sent you business, or the testimonial you have for someone, or the dance card request you have, etc.
6. Prepare your referral slips ahead of time.
You keep the yellow copy. The person handling the basket will take care of the white copy (which goes to the person getting the referral) and the pink copy (which goes to the VP for tabulating the chapter referral statistics).
There are no special forms for dance card requests. You can turn in a request for a dance card on a referral slip - but if you do that, just turn in the white copy. You can also write the request on any other sheet of paper, or just announce it (and then call the person to schedule).
7. Stay within the time limits.
We are a large chapter; if we don't stay within the limits, we can't end promptly at 1:00.
You have 30 seconds for your infomercial; if you get the signal that your time is up, say no more than two more words and sit down. If you practice your infomercial, you should know if you fit within the time limit.
Also please be brief during the referral portion of the meeting. We don't need to hear the whole story behind each referral; saying,"I have one for Christine and one for Kevin" is plenty. And please give no more than one testimonial; it saves time, and it also has more impact.
8. Keep a number of your business cards in the business card box at all times.
Don't let your section get empty!
You can also put any literature you have in the box designed for that, on the back table.
9. Pay your chapter dues on time.
Chapter dues of $55/month are due at the first meeting of each month. This covers the cost of our room and food and a few other incidental expenses.
10. Turn in your green "thank you for closed business" slips each week.
Did you earn money this week that comes from a referral from a chapter member? Turn in a "thank you" slip with that member's name and the amount of money you earned. This information goes to our VP for compilation into our chapter statistics. (Also note your name, just in case there are questions.)
Remember that if a BNI member refers you to someone who in turn refers you to someone else, that's also money you'd want to turn in a "thank you" slip for.
11. Sign up for MSP training when you get the information. (MSP = Member Success Program)
And let the secretary-treasurer know you are signed up; that's the person who schedules the 10-minute presentations, and you can't give one until you attend MSP training.
12. Suggestion Only: Take people up on their free offers.
Some members (such as Susan Bishop and Patricia Westerfield) offer free sessions. This is a great way to better understand the services they offer.
13. Suggestion Only: Volunteer for a leadership position.
Every six months we change our leadership team. Consider volunteering for a role - there are many slots to fill. Our chapter is strong partly because of the efforts of the leadership team; help keep it strong! Plus it's another great way to get to know members better, and to gain their respect. There are plenty of roles that a new member can fill just fine.
14. Realize that referrals build over time.
Every time someone gives you a referral, that person is putting his or her reputation on the line. Therefore, members may not feel comfortable giving you referrals until they get a chance to know you. We all like to business with people we know, like, and trust - and trust isn't an instant thing.
15. Confused? Ask for help.
If you are confused about anything, please ask any member of the Education Committee for help. They'll be glad to answer your questions.
If the meeting itself is confusing, you might pick up one of the laminated agendas sitting out on the tables, and follow along. It won't be confusing for long!
16. Learn more.
You can read (and sign up for) SuccessNet, a monthly online newsletter.
You can listen to BNI podcasts.
There are BNI CDs and books you can borrow; the chapter has some and Jeri has some. Or you can buy your own.
You are allowed 3 absences without a substitute each term (April-September and October-March); being late (past 11:40) or leaving early (before 1:00) counts as 1/2 absence. If you need to miss a meeting, a good substitute is anyone who does not work in a field which competes with a chapter member. Non-BNI members with a business can only substitute twice; anything else would be unfair to those who pay for membership. Your business may have other people who can take your place; friends, family or clients could all be good subs.
But don't overuse substitutes, as this won't help you build relationships - and BNI is all about relationships.
BNI also allows for medical leaves for surgery and such, so if this ever applies to you please let the leadership team know.
2. Show up on time.
The meeting starts at 11:30 with 15 minutes of open networking. This is a great time to meet visitors and network with individual chapter members. And please get your food during this time, so you can be seated when the president announces the start of the more formal part of the meeting and give all the speakers your full attention.
3. Do Dance Cards (also known as 1 to 1's).
A dance card is when you meet with another member for an hour or so to get to know each other better. Over time, you may want to have a series of dance cards with some members.
4. Train members to serve as your sales force.
Certainly we are all happy when a member chooses to buy our product or service. But what you are really trying to do (in your 30-second infomercials, 10 minute presentation, and dance cards) is train other members to be your sales force. So give them information they can use!
Stories are good. Telling the chapter what exactly would be a good referral for you is good. Focusing on a different aspect of your business each week is good. Using the same infomercial every week is NOT good.
5. Always say something positive (and nothing negative) during the referral portion of the meeting.
Some chapters call this the "I have" portion of the meeting. Talk about what you have, not what you don't have. If you don't have a referral, don't mention that - rather, tell us about the "thank you" you have for someone who sent you business, or the testimonial you have for someone, or the dance card request you have, etc.
6. Prepare your referral slips ahead of time.
You keep the yellow copy. The person handling the basket will take care of the white copy (which goes to the person getting the referral) and the pink copy (which goes to the VP for tabulating the chapter referral statistics).
There are no special forms for dance card requests. You can turn in a request for a dance card on a referral slip - but if you do that, just turn in the white copy. You can also write the request on any other sheet of paper, or just announce it (and then call the person to schedule).
7. Stay within the time limits.
We are a large chapter; if we don't stay within the limits, we can't end promptly at 1:00.
You have 30 seconds for your infomercial; if you get the signal that your time is up, say no more than two more words and sit down. If you practice your infomercial, you should know if you fit within the time limit.
Also please be brief during the referral portion of the meeting. We don't need to hear the whole story behind each referral; saying,"I have one for Christine and one for Kevin" is plenty. And please give no more than one testimonial; it saves time, and it also has more impact.
8. Keep a number of your business cards in the business card box at all times.
Don't let your section get empty!
You can also put any literature you have in the box designed for that, on the back table.
9. Pay your chapter dues on time.
Chapter dues of $55/month are due at the first meeting of each month. This covers the cost of our room and food and a few other incidental expenses.
10. Turn in your green "thank you for closed business" slips each week.
Did you earn money this week that comes from a referral from a chapter member? Turn in a "thank you" slip with that member's name and the amount of money you earned. This information goes to our VP for compilation into our chapter statistics. (Also note your name, just in case there are questions.)
Remember that if a BNI member refers you to someone who in turn refers you to someone else, that's also money you'd want to turn in a "thank you" slip for.
11. Sign up for MSP training when you get the information. (MSP = Member Success Program)
And let the secretary-treasurer know you are signed up; that's the person who schedules the 10-minute presentations, and you can't give one until you attend MSP training.
12. Suggestion Only: Take people up on their free offers.
Some members (such as Susan Bishop and Patricia Westerfield) offer free sessions. This is a great way to better understand the services they offer.
13. Suggestion Only: Volunteer for a leadership position.
Every six months we change our leadership team. Consider volunteering for a role - there are many slots to fill. Our chapter is strong partly because of the efforts of the leadership team; help keep it strong! Plus it's another great way to get to know members better, and to gain their respect. There are plenty of roles that a new member can fill just fine.
14. Realize that referrals build over time.
Every time someone gives you a referral, that person is putting his or her reputation on the line. Therefore, members may not feel comfortable giving you referrals until they get a chance to know you. We all like to business with people we know, like, and trust - and trust isn't an instant thing.
15. Confused? Ask for help.
If you are confused about anything, please ask any member of the Education Committee for help. They'll be glad to answer your questions.
If the meeting itself is confusing, you might pick up one of the laminated agendas sitting out on the tables, and follow along. It won't be confusing for long!
16. Learn more.
You can read (and sign up for) SuccessNet, a monthly online newsletter.
You can listen to BNI podcasts.
There are BNI CDs and books you can borrow; the chapter has some and Jeri has some. Or you can buy your own.
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