Chapter Directors – Do you know what your new members are being told?

23/11/08

All new members are reminded by their Chapter Directors, once inducted into their chapter, that they need to attend Member Success (Orientation) training within 60 days of joining, otherwise they may be subject to having their category opened by the Membership Committee. In addition, after attending this workshop the new member will be added to the 10 minute speaker list.

But, Chapter Directors, when was the last time that you went to Member Success training? And, do you know what your new members are being taught?

I believe that it is vitally important for the Chapter Director to know what new members are being told; I also, believe that it is as important for the Membership Co-ordinator and Education Co-ordinator to know as well.

So, if you are a Chapter Director, and you have not been to Member Success training within the past year, please may I recommend that you go as soon as possible? Not only will you be helping your chapter, you will also be helping those new members, and you never know you might just be reminded of something that you have forgotten.

It's good to talk!

15/11/08

A member asked me recently what they should do because someone in their chapter had talked about something they themselves did in a 60 seconds presentation.

Although the service could have been provided by either member, the service concerned was plainly covered by the aggrieved member's category and not by the other member. So, there was a conflict of category.

The member had already talked to the Chapter Director and had been advised to put the matter in writing and hand it into the Membership Co-ordinator for the Membership Committee to consider. Not only was this the correct procedure but also the member's right.

However, I suggested to the member that it might be better to email the Membership Co-ordinator their concerns, but to say that they, the member, would talk to the person concerned first and see what could be done. My feeling was that once official, something that may have been just an innocent mistake, would develop into something more major with the full committee involved.
Whereas a simple chat might resolve the matter without anyone else having to be involved.

The next day the member rang me to say how glad they were that they took my advice. They had met with the other member, who had realised as soon as the words were spoken that it was not their area of work to talk about and, by talking, had agreed on the boundaries to which they should keep.

But, the best part. They discovered more about each other's businesses and will now be working on a project together!

I do!

1/11/08

When a new member joins their BNI chapter, having been accepted by the Membership Committee, they are inducted into the group by the Chapter Director.

This normally requires the new member to join the Chapter Director centre stage to be welcomed into the group and to agree to the BNI Code of Ethics. Chapter Directors and BNI Directors treat this induction in many different ways, from just a straight reading of the code to having a bit of fun: raise your right hand, roll up your left trouser leg.... Just a joke to settle the nerves - I’ve never seen it done!

Whichever method is chosen, the new member will need to say ‘I will’ or ‘I do’ in acceptance of the Code of Ethics and this usually results in a few witticisms - ‘It’s okay, you're not getting married!’ being a favourite.

Well, this week the new member turned the tables on the Chapter Director. The lady concerned was asked to join the Chapter Director at the head of the meeting and as she made her way to the front she slipped a tiara on to her head and produced a bouquet of flowers to hold! All the way through the Code of Ethics she stood and gazed sweetly at the Chapter Director and then said ‘I will’ when required.


She brought the house down and without doubt her attitude will make her a great new member of her chapter.