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A Year End "Thank You!" From The President
First of all, thank you to the Leadership Team. Without your support, professionalism, creative ideas, and unique ability to delegate and communicate, this year would not have been the success that it was. What a great job each of one of you have done for our chapter.
A very big thank you is also in order for our Marketing Power Team. What outstanding ideas you have brought forth and implemented for the growth, branding, and recognition of our chapter and our chapter members' businesses.
I also have a very special thank to all of you that have thanked me for the job I've done. Really it is all of you who deserve the credit -- because we have all worked together as a chapter for the greater good of the chapter, it truly has been a team effort.
A special thanks also goes to Dr. Dee for her strength as a leader and the groundwork she laid during her term last year. I truly, truly appreciated the support and input she provided, not only in the beginning, but throughout my term. She has been selfless, and provided me help and guidance whenever I needed it.
The biggest thank you today goes to all of our current and past members.
I have enjoyed watching the growth of our chapter this last year. The wonderful personality, the warm and welcoming feel of our chapter is a reflection of every member past and present, and makes an impression on visitors and other chapter members. I love this chapter because we are fun, yet we are serious about the growth of our own business and the businesses of our fellow members. We put the Givers Gain philosophy to work and our numbers reflect that.
October will be my two-year anniversary with BNI in our Business Power Network, so I also have a big thank you to BNI and BPN for my own personal and professional growth. I would never have envisioned myself comfortably speaking in front of a room full of business professionals for my 60 second infomercial, let alone conducting the entire meeting every week. BNI has allowed me to make some wonderful business connections, make great friends for a lifetime, and to give and receive referrals. I feel honored and blessed to be a part of such a great group!
I look forward to all of us working together with our new leaders to take our chapter to the next level in the coming year! Thank you!
Cary Prater
Jenkins & Associates |
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We are actively seeking dynamic individuals from these professions:
- Business Coach
- Lawn Care / Landscaping
- Personal Injury Attorney
- Photographer
If you are in one of these professions, and would like to attend a meeting, contact our Visitor Host, Jeff Johnson, at 417-837-8054. |
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Our Education Coordinator Lays Out The Benefits of BPN
 The benefits of being involved with BNI seem endless, but let's focus on some of the "sure things" a new member has to look forward to.
- An immediate increase in your exposure to lots of new people and new businesses.
- Resources at your fingertips to help you grow as a networker. Help yourself to books in our chapter library, listen to the new member CD, enjoy the various BNI websites, Dr. Misner's blog and make use of training opportunities like the Member Success Program, all of which are included in your membership.
- A great mentoring program to help you focus on your networking skills, BNI infomercials to improve your public speaking skills, and leadership opportunities sure to fit one of your strengths or talents.
- Good, quality referrals offer the opportunity to do business with someone who is in the market to buy your product or service. Although not a guaranteed sale, a good referral is an open door to discuss your business with someone who has already shown interest in what you do or sell. Each member knows many other people, forming an extended network that is a rich database of potential business available to members of BNI.
- Most importantly, a structured environment for the development and exchange of quality business referrals. Based on a survey conducted by Dr. Ivan R. Misner, each member of BNI passes an average of over $15,660 worth of potential business to other members in one years' time.
If you have never been to a meeting, what are you waiting for? If you have visited us in the past, know that we would love to have you back again. If you're not sure if BNI is right for you, call one of our chapter members -- we all have unique testimonials of how our businesses and our networking skills have exploded with BNI.
Brittany Helton
Liberty Mutual Insurance |
Congratulations to our Monthly Chapter Leaders for August 2009:
Referrals Given: Cary Prater, Jean Stoops & Mary Warner - 7
Visitors Brought: Cary Prater, Jenkins & Associates - 7
Total 1-2-1's: Cary Prater (again), Jenkins & Associates - 36
Sales Generated: Jennifer Patinsky, Bank of America - $127,900.00!
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To Lead or Not To Lead... That Is The Question!
As we approach the upcoming transition to a new leadership team, it seems a good time to talk about leadership within the BNI structure and how all chapter members are needed to be part of the "leadership" of the chapter. You see, when you join a BNI chapter, you are not just a member, you are an owner/investor of the chapter!
That means that it's up to each of us to take ownership of our chapter and lead. It's very easy to leave all the work and responsibility for running a chapter to the Leadership Team and others in key positions, but that's not how it should work. Do you really want only a few people to make decisions about a "company" that you are invested in and partially own?
The Leadership Team (President, Vice President, & Secretary/Treasurer) are here to guide our chapter, oversee the mechanics of running the chapter according to BNI policies, listen to what the owner/investors of the chapter want, and then help us implement. That is why we encourage all chapter members to attend the monthly Regional Leadership Team meeting, and we encourage all chapter Leadership Teams to include each chapter member in planning and guiding the chapter.
If our chapter is to grow and help us build our businesses by referral, then it is up to each of us TO LEAD by example and get involved in "running the company" aka Business Power Network. So, at the next meeting, ask how you can help lead; participate and take ownership of this company that you've paid to be part of. We will be installing a new set of officers and "department heads" on October 1st, but it will take all of us to make our chapter a success!
This is my last article as your chapter Mentor, but I will be continuing in my role as a BNI Ambassador. Please welcome the new chapter Mentor, and of course the "big stick" that officially goes with the position!
With Gratitude,
Dee Telting, Ph.D.
Health Source, Inc.
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| Upcoming Events:
BNI Member Success Program - Thursday, October 11, 5:00 - 8:00pm
BNI Leadership Team Meeting - Friday, October 12, 7:30 - 9:00am
BPN Social Hour - Power Team Bowling in October (Date TBD)
FBNCC Back Talk Radio Show - Thursdays, KWTO 560 AM, 3:00-4:00pm |
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Visitors, It's All About You!
Thank you for reading, and if you are a past guest of our chapter, thank you for attending. We would love to see you again! If you are new to BNI, you should put a Business Power Network meeting on your schedule ASAP! And please feel free to forward this newsletter on to any of your friends or associates who might be interested in learning more about how BNI, and our chapter in particular, can help your business grow in ways that no other professional networking organization can match. Until next month...
Business Power Network
A Chapter of BNI
Springfield, Missouri
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Featured Member
Jennifer Gatten
Send Out Cards
"Changing people's lives... one card at a time" is how Jennifer Gatten with Send Out Cards best sums up her work.
More often than not, gone are the days of nice mail correspondence. Birthday cards have been replaced by dancing gerbils and singing flowers sent via email, Christmas cards have become impersonal at best, and Thank You cards are a thing of the past. But NOT with Send Out Cards.
The company philosophy is simple: Send Out Cards is a concept and service that is changing people's lives by allowing businesses and individuals to stay in touch with their friends, family and client base.
"I began working with Send Out Cards in October, 2008," Jennifer said. "They really personified what I felt was important -- staying in touch. I am someone who has always done that, sent cards out to all of my friends and family. This company makes it easy for other people to do that, too."
Shortly after starting with Send Out Cards, Jennifer joined Business Power Network. Within the group and with a strong set of referrals, she has helped numerous companies change the way that they do business.
A perfect referral for Jennifer is a person or business that enjoys sending cards and showing appreciation, and one who would like to improve their personal AND business relationships, and of course anyone like her three best customers: Realtors, Insurance Agents and Financial Planners. Three professions she would like to see join Business Power Network include Promotional Products, Photographer and Interior Decorator.
"Business Power Network has introduced me to a professional group of people and has gotten me out of my comfort zone," Jennifer said. "It has not only helped me in my business, I hope that my business has helped others be more successful in theirs!"
Just as staying in touch is important for Jennifer and her clients through Send Out Cards, staying on the lookout for strong referrals for Jennifer should be a top priority this month for her fellow Business Power Network members! |
| Next Month's
Featured Member:
 Jamie Auten
Balancing Kneads |
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Contact Us
Visitor Host: Jeff Johnson
Phone: 417-837-8054
Next Meeting: Sept. 29, 2009
Time: 11:30am - 1:00pm
Place: Dining By Design
5021 South National
Springfield, MO 65810
For more information, visit
us on the web at:
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Would you like to be a Guest Columnist in a future issue? Click here to let us know! |
Newsletter feedback? Click here to e-mail the Marketing Power Team. |
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Who's Blogging What...
...will return next month! |
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Newsletter Credits:
Reporter-at-Large:
Melissa Miller-Young
Sunrise Media Group
Editor-in-Chief:
Martin Sansom
...and the rest of the BPN Marketing Team! | |
