February 2014 | BNI Vermont | www.BNIVermont.com Volume 1, Issue 1

Givers Gain®

Monthly

From the Executive Director

Welcome to February, and with it, the cold, snow and beautiful landscape that makes Vermont such a destination!

This month finds BNI Vermont chapters all over the state gearing up for Visitors’ Days in April. Visitors’ Day Committees met earlier this month in Richmond to talk through how to run a successful Visitors’ Day. With their hard work and your support, your chapter will see amazing growth. We look forward to awarding another BNI Vermont member with a trip this October to New Orleans through the BNI Membership Extravaganza taking place from April 1st to May 31st!

Your Regional Office is also working hard on some new events coming to Vermont, including the 1st Annual BNI Vermont Award Banquet and our 2nd Advanced MSP. We look forward to seeing you at these events!

Happy February and Happy Networking!

Contents

Continuing Education

Monthly Networking Tip . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

BNI Podcasts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

SuccessNet – BNI HQ e-newsletter . . . . 2

BNI Events

Visitors’ Days . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Member Success Program . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

1st Annual BNI Vermont Awards . . . . . . 3

Advanced MSP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Member Recognition

Perfect Attendance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Monthly Member Traffic Lights Report . .1

New and Renewing Members . . . . . . . . . 1

Without vision, we are blind to opportunity.

Changing the Way the World Does Business®

Vickie WacekBNI Vermont Executive Director

2 Continuing Education

Monthly Networking Tip:Open and Honest Communication

We all have something to give one other. At first thought you may consider your strength to be that field in which you practice and work, but this month’s tip urges you to consider the power of your insight regarding your fellow members. Through our relationships with one another, we slowly see and learn things about one another that, if shared, would greatly benefit one another’s personal and professional growth. And as we climb the “Referral Reality Curve” and build credibility and trust with one another, we feel more comfortable sharing these perspectives and ideas with one another. Have you ever been to a meeting and thought something criticizing about some-one in the room? We have been taught to keep our thoughts to ourselves, but this month’s tip urges you to share your ideas with those that you have built relationships with so as to help them grow. Open and Honest Communication is a significant obstacle or opportunity depending on how you choose to use it. Conversation Starter: “If I knew something that could help your business, would you want to know?”

BNI PodcastsEach Wednesday, BNI Founder, Dr. Ivan Misner puts out a 8-15 minute Podcast featuring tips and information on Word-Of-Mouth Networking. For BNI members, these podcasts help provide insight on how to utilize their membership to gain personal and professional development and financial success.

January 22: Episode 340: 25 Years of BNI (Classic Podcast) (13:05)January 29: Episode 341: International Networking Week 2014 (10:31)February 5: Episode 342: Thank a Referral Source (Get Connected–Stay Connected Part 5)

SuccessNet – BNI e-NewsletterBNI’s monthly e-newsletter features first hand perspective from some of the world’s most renowned networkers, leaders and public speakers, as well as networking stories from BNI members, ambassadors and directors from around the world. This month’s newsletter covers topics on:

From the Founder: What Dog Sled Teams Can Teach Us About Leadership by Dr. Ivan Misner

Words of Wisdom: 7 Disciplines for High Performance Do and repeat until automatic by Brian Tracy

Art of Networking: “Um… What’s Your Name?” Tips so you’ll never forget a name by Jenny Locklin, BNI Biltmore Power Chapter, Phoenix, AZ

To the Next Level: Turn a One-Way Elevator Speech into a Two-Way Elevator Connection - Focusing on “we” instead of “me.” by Sam Horn, author of POP! and the E.Y.E.B.R.O.W. TEST

“If I knew something that could help your business, would you want to know?

Quick Links

BNIVermont.com

BNI.com

BNIPodcast.com

SuccessNet

BNI Profiles of the Month

Mary Ann Ficociello: Wealth Builders BNI

Brian Lalime: Champlain Connections BNI

Alan Kinney: Prestige BNI

Mike Wrobel: Crossroads BNI

3BNI Events

BNI Visitors’ DaysEach year, BNI regions throughout the United States host Visitors’ Days in hundreds of chapters in support of the Membership Extravaganza. This big event works to award chapters that receive six New Member Applications between March 31 – May 30 of 2014. For every 4 chapters that meet this requirement, one BNI member and their guest will be awarded a 4-day, 3-night trip to somewhere in the US. This year’s award is a trip to New Orleans! To qualify, your chapter must induct 6 new members, and you personally must sponsor one or more of those new members. (A BNI Visitors’ Day is not required to participate in this event.) *See your chapter Leadership Team and/or Director for more information.

Will your chapter qualify in 2014 for the Membership Extravaganza trip to New Orleans?

Member Success ProgramWe would like to welcome this month, BNI Vermont Ambassador, David Beckett as the new Vermont MSP trainer! David Beckett is a founding mem-ber of the Champlain Valley BNI chapter located in South Burlington and just celebrated his 10 year anniversary in BNI. Join David in the months to come to brush up on your Networking Skills! Next Scheduled MSP:

Thursday, March 13, 2014, 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm Hickok & Boardman Building, 346 Shelburne Road, Burlington

First Annual BNI Vermont Awards BanquetYou know how hard you work for your clients and your BNI members, and it’s time that we celebrate that! Monday, April 28th, BNI Vermont members from across the state will gather for a night of celebration, food and dancing! This formal event will cost $25 per person and include a cocktail hour starting at 5:30 pm, cash bar, buffet dinner and evening dancing late into the night.

Don’t forget to submit your survey to have your voice heard on the many awards being presented, and be in attendance to assure you receive your award! Come celebrate! Come network!

Advanced Member Success ProgramThe Advanced MSP is a relatively new course available to BNI Vermont members, but not to BNI. This all-day course features 5 workshops covering:

1. How to compel others to WANT to refer to you2. Strengthening your referral relationships3. Building a referral network that refers to you all day, every day4. Getting more business in 60 seconds or less5. Creating presentations that matter

The course has limited seating, early registration is recommended. The course fee is $125.00 and includes training materials and lunch. Attendees must have attended a regular MSP within the last two years and have been a BNI member for a minimum of 6 months.

Calendar of Events

February2/19 8:00 am – 9:30 am Manchester Center BNI Information Meeting REGISTER

March3/10 Leadership Team Round Table

3/20 Crossroads BNI Visitors’ Day

3/27 – 3/29 Certified Networker Certification Course. $550 per member (+ room and food), New Bedford, MA. REGISTER: Vickie@BNIVermont.com

April4/3 The Masters BNI Visitors’ Day

4/17 Prosperity BNI Visitors’ Day

4/28 First Annual BNI Vermont Awards Banquet. REGISTER

May5/28 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Advanced Member Success Program, Colchester. REGISTER

Register Here

Register Here

Register Here

NEW TIME

4 Member Recognition

Monthly Member Traffic Lights Report PERFECT SCORES OF 100!

Megan Waite Take Shape for Life, Prosperity BNIAnne Cameron Living Essentials, Prosperity BNI

Chip Patullo Above & Beyond Energy, Champlain Valley BNIDavid Beckett Chenette Realty, Champlain Valley BNISteve Ertle BTV Creative, Champlain Valley BNIRebecca Manchester Rebecca Manchester Design & Illustration, Champlain Connections BNIRichard Fox Law Office of Richard Fox, Champlain Connections BNIJay Vallieres People’s United, Champlain Connections BNIPatti Gervais Main Street Flooring, The Masters BNILisa Cruser Allstate Insurance, The Masters BNIRyan LaCroix Edward Jones, Crossroads BNIBarb DuPere A Woman’s Whim, Crossroads BNI

New Members – January 2014Kyle Murdock ShredEx, Crossroads BNIBrian Bonk Champlain Chevrolet, Prestige BNIJimmy Matas Handy Buick GMC Chevrolet, Prestige BNIJohn Trahan Syntek Global, Prestige BNIDavid Winchester Winchester Design & Contracting, Prestige BNIMatthew Clear Clear Family Chiropractic, Prestige BNIWilliam Blair Blair Auto Repair, Prestige BNIPaul Carroll Senesac Septic & Sewer, Prestige BNIShawn Cheney Shawn Cheney Realty, Prestige BNIDragan Jagar A&I Cleaning Service, Inc., Prosperity BNIKit Antinozzi The Vermont Agency, Prosperity BNIRobert Tourangeau Foster Motors, Wealth Builders BNI

Renewed Members – January 2014Jean Parker Dove Chocolate Discoveries, Champlain Valley BNISue Gosselin WIZN-WBTZ-WJOY-Hall Communications, Inc. The Masters BNIGordon Watson Gordon’s Building Service, The Masters BNIMark Perkell Mark Perkell Esq., Wealth Builders BNI

BNI Vermont

PO Box 64737 Burlington, VT 05406

Phone: 802-557-0111 Vickie@BNIVermont.com

Find us on the Web: www.BNIVermont.com

Changing the Way the World Does Business®

6 Months Perfect Attendance