Don't remember this organization being mentioned here before. You owe it to yourself to check it out. www.bni.com. I have attended two meetings as a guest, and have finally found a chapter with an opening for me. A chapter is composed of 20-50 members, professionals, but only one per field, so you have no "competitors" in your chapter. You refer business to each other like crazy. You get to give a 45-60 second "spiel" every week, and a 10-minute spiel every so often (two are given per meeting). Meetings are weekly, usually early morning around here. I spoke to one gentleman who said that approximately 80% of his business last year was as a result of BNI--either direct referrals, or referrals from those referrals.

And a word to the wise based on my experience. Don't try to go through the executive director. Contact the chapter presidents in your area directly. Our executive director told me there were no openings in my area, but I found three contacting the chapters via email. - joebedford | Date: 11/3/05 10:28 PM | Number: 136


BNI looks interesting. I am not looking for a job, but sometimes I know other people who are.

I belong to two active networks for professional investment people: 1. The CFA Institute: http://www.cfaInstitute.org, and the Applied Security Analysis Program: http://www.uwasap.org. These are not "free" networks, membership is required.

Kahuna,CFA