The month of June was once again full of exciting new developments. 
Events that stand out were the launching of new chapters in Levin and Wellington, bringing the total  total chapter count in New Zealand to 55. 

We were in recruitment mode in June, and now have two new Assistant Directors on the Auckland Regional Team - namely Lance Spearman and Fiona Powell.

Finally congratulations to BNI members Ann Loudon (pictured above right), Lynnette Flowers (pictured above left with Graham Southwell) and Lindsey Wood on receiving awards at the HerBusiness Woman of the Year Awards held recently at the Carlton Hotel in Auckland.

The awards are in celebration of the achievements of women in business throughout New Zealand.  Of the seven categories awarded, it is great to see that three BNI members were highly commended: Ann Loudon for Most Inspirational Role Model, Lynnette Flowers for HerBusiness Networker and Lindsey Wood for Best New Microbusiness.

BNI New Zealand has formally aligned itself with a charity - Hospice New Zealand, to which it will donate five per cent of all profits each year.
Chapter Presidents were recently asked to invite their members to support National Hospice Week by way of a gold coin donation, which was forwarded to their local hospices or Hospice New Zealand head office.
Many chapters collected between $50-$100.  We realise that a good number of members already give their time and support to other charities, and we do not want anyone to feel compelled or obligated to contribute to this annual appeal.
After the overwhelming support of the NZ Red Cross Flood Relief appeal this year, where BNI raised over $11,000, we felt that we should formally align ourselves with a charity.
BNI will in effect be donating part of everyones membership dues to Hospice NZ. BNI will also continue to be receptive to approaches to support one-off national emergencies or causes.  BNI's philosophy is 'givers-gain'.
We know that by this annual donation, deserving charities will definitely gain.

 

Last month the Hamilton chapter had a fantastic meeting, where everyone traded places. The result was a meeting filled with lots of hilarity and a few 'oddly' dressed members.
Everyone had drawn a name out of a hat, a week prior to this meeting and were requested to have a 'dance' with that member so they could represent them for their 60-second presentation the following week.
Some members went to outlandish extremes in presenting the 60-second presentations.
Sheryl Oliver of Oliver Hair Design dressed as a man including masculine makeup and a  streaking cap to represent the 'balding' of our risk management specialist, Tony Randell, whom she was representing.
Chapter president Brett Hansen who portrayed Annette Eksteen of the Old Villa Dental Centre - props included gloves, face mask and a huge toothbrush.
The idea was a great way to introduce a bit of light heartedness to the meeting, although extra time was required to allow for the jibes and bantering!
Encouraging members to dance with one another is very important - so that when you are referring a member to an associate - you actually know about them and their business.
So everyone, who are you going to be next week.....

Keith Jones of Mortgage Choice, Titirangi recently picked up the Mortgage Choice Rising Star Award for 'the most significant growth' over the past year.
Vice President of the Titirangi/New Lynn chapter, Keith has always believed in the philosophy - "what goes around, comes around" and knew that BNI would work for him.
After 12 months with the chapter Keith believes that BNI has generated 40% percent extra business for Mortgage Choice.
The synergy of the group has played a part with Keith's success.
The group's Real Estate agent has referred clients his way, as has the insurance agent, accountant and solicitor. Keith finds that a lead of his can then be referred back to the group for conveyancing, insurance and accounting work.

Relationships have developed over time and a group of the members now produce a combined newsletter which they send out to their clients, thus increasing their 'networking power' via the other members databases.
Keith has helped Mortgage Choice grow to be one of the top three brokers in the country - with an annual turnover of $1 billion.
Keith says that BNI has played a huge part in his firm's recent success.

Pat Davis of Pat Davis Drapes belongs to the Hamilton Chapter and is a great believer in 'repitition'.
Every meeting Pat stands up with his slogan "1000 samples to your door, call 855-0444!
and every week Pat asks the group to recite his slogan "1000 samples to your door, call 855-0444! Pat won't sit down until everyone has recited his slogan.
So imagine our surprise when one day - Karin Downs of Coaching Works who was representing Pat Davis Drapes presented us with this ditty she had written for Pat.

1,000 samples - maybe more
   all delivered to your door
see all the samples you'll adore
   Call 855 0444
Whatever you need those curtains for
   Your house at home or the one by the shore
Neighbours have new? - then settle the score
   Phone 855 0444
Chilled to the bone or froze to the core?
   Make your drapes reach the floor
They'll protect from frost for sure
   Call 855 0444
Velvets or sheers - things you adore
   All these colours and ideas galore
Retro - to remind you of things that you wore
   Phone 855 0444
Your friends'll be jealous - they'll be so sore
   When they see those drapes now reaching the floor
Perfectly matched to your dŽcor
   Call 855 0444
I promise my selection will never bore
   Better than any you saw before
Some so good - you'll drop your jaw
   Phone 855 0444
Silks and satins by the score
   Colours and textures to make your heart soar
Don't just check out any old store
   Call 855 0444
So to replace those curtains of yore
   Call Pat Davis to your door
With 1,000 samples - maybe more
   Phone 855 0444

Pat was delighted! Karin had risen at 4am the meeting morning and wrote the ditty about his business, but more importantly - Karin had remembered his slogan and phone number.
Pat Davis Drapes premises are under review, so Pat's checked out new phone numbers that he could possibly use -  "Call 843-1758 - a 1000 samples delivered to your gate!" or "Phone 843 6952 quality drapes delivered to you". He's decided that if he shifts premises - it is worth the investment of diverting the old number of 855-0444 to his new premises - as he has had that number since before the introduction of 7-digit telephone numbers and feels it is part of his branding and promotion philosophy.
So members, remember - repetition is the key to people knowing who you are, where you are situated and more importantly - your phone number!

Frank Grear of Skillnet Recruitment Ltd recently attended a Membership Success Programme in Auckland held by Graham Southwell.
Graham mentioned that when asking for a referral - be specific. Don't just ask "who do you know building a house" - ask for the specific person you wish to onsell your services to i.e. the architect, the builder, or plumber.
Frank, a member of the Ellerslie Penrose chapter, went to his next meeting with a list of three businesses that he wanted referrals for.
During his networking before breakfast, another member mentioned one of Frank's target referrals. She had recently completed a project for them and was willing to work on opening the door for Frank.
During his 60-second presentation, Frank asked for his two other target referrals - and received a great response.
After the meeting, Frank was relating the story to a business acquaintance, who laughed and said he was very good friends with the MD of one of his three targets and would only be too happy to seek an opportunity for Frank to meet with his contact.
Frank was a mite skeptical about BNI, but is becoming rapidly convinced of the networking opportunities and is appreciative of the information imparted at the Member Success Programme.

When the new leadership team of the Tauranga chapter came on board they decided to approach the task as if it were a new business and they planned accordingly.
Prior to taking over, the team got together to decide upon their main goals and what they wanted to achieve during their leadership tenure.
One goal was to grow the chapter from its fluctuating 15-20 members to 30.
Another was to encourage members to complete dances with other members.
They also wanted meetings to be stimulating by adding variety.
A 'business plan' was drawn up setting out what had to be done to encourage members to help the team achieve their goals.
Ideas included: Brainstorming as to whom and what profession each member would like as part of the group to help grow their business.
Where these people may be found and who may know them etc. From this a comprehensive list of "potential" new members was drawn up.
A date for was set for visitors, a month out invitations were mailed, and followed up with calls. The response was amazing.
After the visitors day all potential new members were asked to join. The team had managed to grow the chapter by 75%.
By the end of the current leadership teams term they had 28 members -  not quite the 30 they were hoping for, but definitely better numbers than they had started with.
Tauranga, and the Bay of Plenty is one of the fastest growing regions in New Zealand, but the chapter has always struggled to recruit and retain members.
Everyone found they had been so busy over the last few years and that people have not had to look hard to find business.
The current members of the Tauranga chapter are all good strong people that can look past being busy and know how to plan and expand!
Well done.

A few weeks ago the First, Best and Always chapter in Christchurch had a brief change of routine for their weekly meeting. Instead of meeting at our usual venue, tasty and comfortable though that is, we struck out and enjoyed the hospitality of the New Zealand Blood Service.
We paid for our breakfast in blood and ears! The blood guys did us proud, no sausages or cholestrol wrapped fry-up today, plenty of healthy fresh fruit and whole grains from this establishment.
To get this free treat though we let them have the ten minute presentation slot, and many of the group, who were eligible, also gave blood after the meeting.
We learned a lot: for instance only 4% of New Zealanders give blood and yet 80% of us are all likely to need blood or blood products during our life time.
So in Christchurch less than 13,000 people are providing all of our blood needs; every little bit obviously helps! A single donation can save the life of up to three people! That's efficient use of our pint or warm red stuff.
Whilst there were no immediate referrals, the chapter came to the rescue as always; a few weeks after the meeting Clare got her whole law practice behind the idea and the blood service managed to get more than 75 units of blood during the day that they took a mobile unit into Cavell Leitch Pringle and Boyle. Who says you can't get blood from a stone? These generous lawyers proved us wrong.
Adrian Ashmore-Price