Please feel free to forward this email to your friends!
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Events
MSP:
Thurs., Apr. 25th - Stamford
Visitors' Day:
Fri., Apr. 12th - Membership Success BNI (Brookfield)
Fri., Apr. 19th - River Delta BNI
Thurs., Apr. 25th - Charter Chapter BNI
Fri., Apr. 26th - Midstate BNI
Tues., Apr. 30th - Stamford BNI
Wed., May 1st - Lighthouse BNI
Wed., May 1st - Torrington BNI
Thurs., May 2nd - Thames Network BNI
Wed., May 8th - Quiet Corner BNI
Thurs., May 9th - Fairfield Elite BNI
Thurs., May 9th - New Canaan
Wed., May 15th - RiverEast
Wed., Apr. 17th - Trumbull
Webinar:
Wed., Apr. 10th - Social Media
Thurs., Apr. 11th - Increasing VCP
Mon., Apr. 22nd - Member Tools & Reports
Tues., Apr. 23rd - Online Slips Referral Tracking
New Chapter Informational Meeting:
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BNI Connect Tips
Top 10 Things BNI Members Do
1. They understand that trust takes time (Refer to the Referral Curve)
2. Stand and be heard!
3. Don't say....Anyone, Anybody, Someone, Somebody, Everyone, Everybody, Full-service, or Try (just do it!).
4. Ask for what you want
5. Stand and say "I Have...."
6. Get and Train Your Substitutes
7. Follow Up: If you provide great follow-up service to your Tier 1 and Tier 2 referrals, the Tier 3 referrals will come easy!
8. Give Feedback to your Referral Sources
9. Invite
10. One-to-One Dance Cards
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From Dr. Misner...
Do you know what to pack for your business trip?
Dr. Misner's got a few pointers for you:
I travel several months a year, speaking to business professionals about networking. When traveling (especially internationally) I try very hard not to forget important items I need for meetings or speaking to groups of people...but I am only human and - as often as I try to get it perfect - I admit it's hard to remember everything all the time.
A few months ago, I was invited to speak with a reporter working on an article for an international magazine on this very topic. The reporter asked me, "What should business people think about taking with them on business trips that they might not normally think about?" As I began forming the list, I found myself adding more and more things that are vital to ensure a successful business trip.
And here are some of the less obvious things you don't want to forget when heading out of town on business.
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BNI Connecticut Success Stories!
Connections, caring and communications -- that sums up what BNI means to me. BNI = success and thousands of successful business professionals have proven that the principles of BNI work, including myself.
BNI has certainly helped my career with Welcome Wagon soar over the past three years. Our company's motto is "We help people find their way" and BNI has certainly helped me find my way.
BNI has taught me how to network effectively, give great referrals, polish my public speaking skills and trained me to be a confident leader. I have attended Member Success Program and Leadership Training several times. Each time I have learned something new. More than anything, BNI has brought out the best in me and created new opportunities for learning.
When I first joined Welcome Wagon three years ago as a Community Marketing Executive in Fairfield County, I was not a member of a BNI Group. However, I had always heard of this powerful networking organization. In late 2010, I was invited to my first chapter meeting in Shelton - a life-changing decision.
Once I was accepted as a member, I quickly became involved as Publicity Chair. Six months later, I was asked to lead the group as President. I truly believe it is important to get involved and give back to others.
Cara Mocarski
Welcome Wagon
The Westport BNI
We are always in search of success stories from all BNI Chapters and members. Did your chapter hold a great event recently? Tell us what BNI has done for your and your business! Please submit your success story to Jim O'Shea at:
joshea@bnict.com
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Ask Alice...
What would you like to ask your Executive Director, Alice Ostrower? Here is your opportunity for an open discussion - no agenda.
Alice taught at the Entrepreneurial Center in Hartford for 10 years. She recently completed an extensive, train-the-trainer program with Jack Canfield (author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series) on success and goal achievement. She loves teaching, training, consulting, and business development.
In order to meet members in a more casual setting, Alice, owner of BNICT for over 20 years, is hosting a get-together for BNI members. Whether you've been a member for 20 years or have just joined BNI, you are welcome to come and meet Alice and pose any questions related to business, business practices and development, personal development and your participation in BNI.
Alice is committed to the continuous development of her BNI region and its members.
PS: Bring plenty of business cards with you, along with a notebook.
Feel free to email your questions to alice@bnict.com. You do not have to give your name or chapter name unless you prefer to. If you have additional questions to answers posted, please email me.
Thank you for your questions.
Alice Ostrower
Executive Director, BNICT
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Hello BNI Members!
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April 2013
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We hope that everyone had a nice Easter/Passover celebration last month and that winter stays behind with the month of March. Hopefully with Earth Day later this month, Spring will have finally arrived here in Connecticut! I think we've all had enough of the white stuff.
I would like to thank everyone who participated and entered last month's St. Patrick's Day Pig Hunting Contest. The St. Patrick's Day Pig was located at the end of Mary Stager's Success Story.
The top 3 winners are:
1. Angela Mercer - River Delta BNI (Old Saybrook)
2. Marsha Hillman- Silver Cities BNI (Wallingford)
3. Steven Grant - Waterbury BNI (Waterbury)
The 5 consolation prize winners are:
1. Carleen Limmer -Building Alliances BNI (Farmington)
2. Kimberly Spanier -The Sound BNI (Branford)
3. Michelle Kijewski -Silver Cities BNI (Wallingford)
4. Michael Duffy -Riverside BNI (Essex)
5. Don Chandler -Professional's Group Alliance BNI (Newington)
Congratulations to all of the winners!
The winners will receive their prizes from their respective Director Consultants and will be handed out to you the next time he/she visits your chapter after this month's Director Consultant meeting held on 4/8/2013.
This month, the first 25 people to email me, Dirina, at dirina@bnict.com, Subject: Earth Day Frog, and tell me where you found the icon below, will be placed in a drawing for some cool prizes. We will again have 3 top prizes and 5 consolations prizes!
For this month's contest, you will be looking for this hidden icon hidden somewhere in this newsletter:
Good luck everyone!
(Employees and Directors are not eligible, only one entry per person per month, members must enter for themselves, you may only win once in a six month period.)
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BNI Podcast Alert
What do you do if you pass a referral to a chapter member, and they never follow up on it? Who do you go to, and what do you say? In this week's podcast, Dr. Misner gives insight into this scenario, and shares helpful advice on the best method to approach this touchy, but necessary subject.
Episode 298: "Following Up on Referrals"
Want to catch up on past episodes of the BNI Podcast? Now there's a simple way to download any of the BNI Podcast episodes from the very first episode in 2007 to the most current episode!
Download BNI Podcast episodes individually or in bundles of 10 by clicking here!
After you have listened to the podcast, please take a few moments to post a comment. BNI would love to see your comment posted!
www.bnipodcast.com
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3 + 1 = Member Success
A formula for transforming your chapter.
What is the one secret to success in BNI?
In order for members to be successful in BNI there are four things that a member and chapter need to focus on (three core concepts and one theme that applies to each of the three core concepts).
For members, these elements are:
1. Embrace Quality
2. Add Members
3. Seek Engagement
+1 Share Stories
CLICK HERE for the full article, "3 + 1 = Member Success: A Formula for Transforming Your Chapter" written by BNI's Founder Ivan Misner which explains in detail how the 3 + 1 formula works and how it can change your BNI group in amazing ways.
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Novel Approach to Visitors' Day at Candlewood
Left to right, top to bottom:
David Tuomala, City of Danbury
Guest and Kurt Sabbagh, Big Brush Painting
Candlewood President Chris Raines, Raines and Gargan CPAs
Kristen Papucci, Mutual of Omaha
Jeannie Rowan, United Processing Corporation and guest
Grace Abbadessa, Candlewood Payroll Services and Kevin Russell, PR Electrical
"This past March, Candlewood BNI tried a novel approach to Visitors' Day, by hosting a function the night before at the law offices of one of their members." - Vice President Anthony Yorio.
Secretary Treasurer, Jeannie Rowan, had this to say about the chapter's thought process. "Having a Visitors' Gala enabled our visitors to get to know the members and other visitors in a very informal setting. This made them much more relaxed and amenable to attending our meeting the following morning".
Bruce Tuomala, Director of Economic Development for the City of Danbury, who had attended a chapter meeting a week before, gave an interesting presentation about new businesses coming into the Greater Danbury area, and the impact that this would have on small businesses. He also encouraged members and guests to be as active in the community as they could.
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Many Weekly Presentations Are Done "Weakly"!
Many people who are in networking groups that meet every week have a tendency to say the same old thing, time after time. Oftentimes, many weekly presentations are done *weakly*. If you don't vary your presentations, many people will tune you out when you speak because they've already heard your message several times. Your best bet is to give a brief overview, then concentrate on just one element of your business for the rest of your presentation.
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The Westport Jumps from 40 to 50 in Six Months!
We have had quite a growth spurt here at the Westport BNI, going from 40 to over 50 members in six months. "How did you do it?" we've been asked.
"It hasn't been any one thing", said Karen Hagen, President of the chapter, "but a series of efforts across the chapter." The chapter has focused on growing smartly. Growth coordinator Jennifer Huisking has focused on invigorating industry-spheres to foster more engagement between members outside the meetings and to help target the new-member professions that would help existing members the most. "Jennifer's efforts have really made a difference for both established and newer members" indicated Robert Clark, Vice President. "Her hand off to Mark Moeller and the membership committee (Cate Tiefenthaler and Daren Marvin) has been flawless."
"Energy; there is so much positive energy in the room - we hear that all the time from visitors" said Monica Chusid, Secretary Treasurer. Visitors quickly sense the energy and sense of camaraderie at a Westport BNI meeting. "That is a tribute to the caliber of professionals that the Membership Committee is bringing into the chapter", Monica added.
"With so many new members, it is important to reiterate the fundamentals", said Karen Hagen. "We make it a point to review the basics in our Educational segments on a regular basis. Leigh Overland and Felicia Watson do a fabulous job, and it serves as a great refresher for the other members, too."
"We've also focused a lot on how we handle visitors", added Robert Clark. "Ernie Addario is our point man to greet and engage visitors, along with Brian Higgins. Dale Minske shepherds the guests into a visitors-only session at the conclusion of each meeting and the follow up has been great."
"As you can see, it's a team effort", concluded Karen Hagen. "We've taken the pages right from the BNI playbook. And when everyone pulls together, the effect is powerful."
Karen Hagen, President, The Westport
Arbonne International
"This chapter demonstrates amazing drive and potential for even more growth. In this short time frame, they've created a tight knit, energetic team that is committed to passing qualified referrals."
Melanie Szlucha, BNI CT Director Consultant
Red Inc. LLC
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Cell Phone Return Program
The BNI Foundation is announcing the beginning of our official Cell Phone Recycling Drive! Each phone which is recycled (postage prepaid for your shipping ease and convenience) will result in a donation to the Givers Gain® Grant program for teachers!
If you are in a BNI chapter that has a cell phone recycling business member, please use your BNI chapter member for this service.
Please click on the link below to print your prepaid postage for your shipping convenience.
bnifoundationphonedrive.com
Recycling your old cell phones will create a source of funds for the BNI Foundation to continue to support teachers and education around the world.
bnifoundation.org
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Top 5 Benefits of Conducting a Visitors' Day
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Infusion of new energy into the chapter from the event itself and from the new contacts that are developed.
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Focuses members over 6-8 weeks on inviting, which leads to an increased flow of visitors both prior to and after the event.
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Builds teamwork and flexes the LT's and chapter's muscles for planning events.
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Focuses members over 6-8 weeks on the top open classifications in the chapter. This helps members see growth not as a numbers game but as an opportunity to fill key positions that will both bring value to the chapter and gain value from the chapter.
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Allows the chapter to be more selective when there is more than one applicant to choose from for key positions.
Remember, the most successful chapters across Connecticut and the entire US conduct at least one if not two Visitors' Days each year. They understand that benefits of conducting visitor days keep the chapter vibrant, bring new blood, and increase the value all members derive from BNI.
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Chapters With April Anniversaries
The following chapters have anniversaries in April:
Windham BNI - 20 years
Stamford Friday BNI - 13 years
Rose City BNI (Norwich) - 6 years
9 Alive BNI (Stamford) - 6 years
Quiet Corner BNI (Plainfield) - 5 years
Building Alliances BNI (Farmington) - 3 years
The Westport BNI - 2 years
Crescent Beach BNI (Niantic) - 2 years
Elm City BNI (New Haven) - 1 year
Congratulations!
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