Member Policies

Welcome to BNI®
This information is important reading for all members of BNI. You are urged to
review this material closely and required to read the policy section.
BNI’s Philosophy
Success in BNI means you need to be a positive and supportive member of an
organization based upon mutual support. This requires commitment to your fellow
members as well as to the philosophy of Givers Gain: By giving business to others,
you will get business in return.
Mission Statement
Our mission is to help members increase their business through a structured,
positive, and professional referral marketing program that enables them to develop
long-term, meaningful relationships with quality business professionals.
Code of Ethics
1. I will provide the quality of service at the price that I have quoted.
2. I will be truthful with the members and their referrals.
3. I will build goodwill and trust among members and their referrals.
4. I will take responsibility for following up on the referrals I receive.
5. I will display a positive and supportive attitude.
6. I will live up to the ethical standards of my profession.
General Policies
1. Only one person from each professional classification is permitted to join a
chapter of BNI. Membership committees of each chapter have final authority
related to classification conflicts.
2. Members must represent their primary occupation, not a part-time business.
3. The weekly meetings last for 90 minutes. Members need to arrive on time and
stay for the entire meeting.
4. An individual member cannot be in a second BNI chapter, nor in any other
group that allows only one person per profession and whose primary purpose
 is to pass referrals to one another because it substantially reduce their
commitment to the chapter members. Membership committees must
enforce this policy.
5. Attendance is critical to the group. If a member cannot attend, they may
send a substitute (not a member of your chapter) to the meeting. This will not
count as an absence. A member is allowed three absences every rolling six
months. More than this and the member’s classification is subject to being
opened by the chapter’s Membership Committee.
6. Members are required to bring bona-fide referrals and/or visitors to their
chapter of BNI. Chapters may establish a minimum number of referrals and/or
visitors that is acceptable to maintain membership.
7. Visitors may attend chapter meetings up to two times.
8. Speakers must bring a door prize. Only members bringing a visitor or a
referral are eligible for the door prize.
9. There are no leaves of absence except for medical leaves. A member may
take up to eight weeks medical leave with the Membership Committee’s prior
approval if their fees are pre-paid for that period of time and they attempt to
have someone “fill in” during their leave.
10. It is the member’s responsibility to file a concern with the Membership
Committee of their chapter if a visitor “who submits an application in any
way conflicts with their classification.” This should be done before the visitor
is approved from the Membership committee for that classification. If there
are not complaints, the Membership Committee will “assume their consent.”
11. Members who wish to change their classification must submit a new
membership application and get approval from the Memberships Committee
for that classification change.
12. In case of problems with a member, Membership committee may, at their
sole discretion, put a member on probation relating to the member’s business
practices or commitment to the chapter.
13. A member’s classification may be opened for failure to comply with the
policies and/ or the code of ethics of BNI. Membership Committees of any
chapter may open classifications. In the absence of a Membership committee,
the Leadership Team may fulfill that responsibility.
14. If the leadership Team fulfills all responsibilities throughout their term, they
will receive as consideration an exemption of dues during their tenure as a
leadership Team Member. The Leadership Team must agree to the terms
 outlined in the Leadership Team Agreement in order to hold a position and
must go through training before participating.
15. In the absence of a Membership committee, the Leadership Team may act as
an ad hoc Membership Committee until one is established.
16. All BNI membership lists are for the purpose of ‘giving’ referrals and not for
soliciting (via e-mail, direct mail, or other means) BNI members or Directors
without their prior approval.
17. All new members must attend Members Success Program(MSP) training in
their region within their first 60 days of their induction. Only after attending
the MSP training may the new member be added to the “speaker rotation” for
the chapter. Any new members not attending the MSP training within the first
60 days after being inducted into the chapter will be subject to having their
classification opened by the Membership committee.
18. Policies are subjects to change. All proposed policy changes need to be
reviewed first by the Board of Advisors.
19. Other than normal BNI printed materials, members may not use the BNI
intellectual property (e.g. logos, trademarks, names, slogans, copyrighted
materials, etc.) to manufacture, distribute, sell, market, or promote any
product or service, or otherwise use the BNI Intellectual Property without
obtaining the prior written consent of BNI HQ or the appropriate National
Office. Members must agree to abide by the BNI branding Standards for any
permitted use.
Administrative Policies
1. There is an initial registration fee. Fees are paid annually or biennially.
Contact the local Secretary/Treasurer for amounts. Fees may be paid with
VISA, MASTERARD, DISCOVER, OR AMERICAN EXRESS, CASH or
CHECK.
2. BNI may establish chapters in every city or community with people
interested in developing a referral-based business. In addition, BNI reserves
the right to open more than one chapter per community or city where
demand of BNI’s service are requested.
3. Membership fees are payable 30 days prior to the due date. Members not
paid by the first day of the month they are due, are considered late and will
be assessed a late charge. If fees are not paid within 15 days, the member
will be officially dropped by BNI.
 4. Fees are non-refundable. A certificate of credit will be given, upon request,
to members in good standing for the unused portion of their time.
5. Fees cannot be transferred from one person to another unless the fees are
from the same company.
6. BNI has a strict policy on returned checks. A member has three working
days in which to contact their Regional BNI office and resolve the matter.
Any returned checks not resolved within this period will be turned over to
collections. All returned checks will be assessed a minimum 25$ returned
check fee. If a member passes a second NSF check, that member will be
subject to immediate termination.
7. BNI is a marketing service provided by BNI Global, LLC. BNI or any of its
franchisees reserve the right to discontinue a member’s participation in this
program.
8. A member requesting a transfer from their current chapter to a new chapter
will be required to submit a completed new member application to the
Membership Committee of the new chapter. In addition, if the member has
less than 12 months of paid membership credit, not additional investment in
required. Upon acceptance into the new chapter, the credit from their
previous chapter will be added to their membership in the new chapter as
well as the renewal time, of applicable.

International Board of Advisors

An International Board of Advisor exists to address policy issues relating to
BNI.
The International Board of Advisor is made up of regular members (like
yourself) from various chapters throughout BNI.
The Board’s purpose is to ensure that there is open communication between the
membership and BNI headquarters. If you have an issue or concern that you would
like addressed by the International Board of Advisor, contact your regional or
Executive Director for more information.
Program Guidelines
Program Guidelines are not policies, but are recommended practices that allow
chapters to run more smoothly and effectively.
Visiting Chapter
- Member visiting other chapters should announce that they are from another
chapter.
- Visiting members must not do or say anything that competes with a member
of that chapter.
- The chapter should be cautious in giving referrals to individuals they don’t
know, including visiting members.
- Visiting members should pay for their own meal.
- Before visiting another chapter, the visiting member should call that
chapter’s President first.
- Visiting members follow the same visiting policies as non-members, no
more than two visits.
Absence and Tardiness
- Absence and tardiness mean less business for members; therefore, the
Membership Committee may give warnings to members who are
consistently late or leave early. If the problem continues, the member’s
classification may be subject to being reopened.

Substitute Program

- Potential substitutes include: customers, friends, family, and/or employees.

- The Primary purpose for a substitute is to represent a BNI member. BNI
recommends minimal use of substitutes. However, a member may use
substitute up to three time in a six-month period.
- Member should alert the chapter of a substitute so that the Visitor Host can
be there to agree him/her.
 Business Representation
- Members agree to only represent the business classification approved by the
Membership Committee.
- Members of BNI who represent multi-level marketing organizations should
represent their products and services in BNI and not the business opportunity
element of their business.

Where the Money Goes

- An annual membership in BNI costs the same as a very small advertisement
in a small newspaper only once. So, other than weekly meetings with a
qualified referral network, what do you get and how does BNI support the
people in serves? The fees collected by BNI are distributed approximately as
follows:
Chapter Marketing
- Brochures & Invitation Cards, Visitor Information Sheets, Visitor Packets,
New Article Reprints, Trade Shows, www.bni.com ( BNI member and
chapter links), First Class Mail Advertising to local business (postage,
sample letter, and confirmation sheet included), periodic Press Releases and
Public Relations Support.

Chapter Support

- Orientation Audio CDs, Vinyl Card Holders, Badges, Unlimited Referral

Slips, Leadership Team Manuals and Training Materials, Membership
Application, Regional/Executive Director’s Assistance, Free Workshops,
Award, Certificates, Pins, Member Policies Brochures, Member orientation
Guide, HQ Support, SuccessNet Online, MSP Manual and Training, and
www.bni.com.

Administrative Expense
- Office expense such as telephone, website, copier computer supplies,
stationery, shipping, etc.
 Staff Expenses

- Compensation for office staff to handle phone inquiries, respond to chapter

request, prepare press releases, etc.
Note: The chapter Leadership Team does not pay fees as compensation for
their work in the chapter. Thus, for every 500 chapters of BNI, 1500 people
would be part of the Leadership Team and, therefore, pay no membership
participation fees.

BNI Chapter Meeting Agenda

1. Open Networking
2. Welcome Visitors and Introduce Leadership Team, Membership Committee,
Visitor Hosts, Education Coordinator and Event Coordinator
3. Purpose and Overview of BNI
4. Networking Education
5. Announce BNI Network Leaders
6. Pass Business Card Box
7. Welcome New and/or Renewing Members to the Organization
8. Members Introduce Themselves and Give a Weekly presentation
9. Welcome Visitors to BNI, and Have Member Introduce Them
10. Vice President’s Report
11. Membership Committee Report
12. Secretary/Treasurer Announces Speaker Rotation
13. Speaker(s) Give Feature Presentation, Including Questions and Answers
14. Referrals & Testimonials
15. Referrals Reality Check
16. Secretary/Treasurer’s Report
17. President Thanks Visitors
18. BNI Announcements, Reminders, and Special Reports
19. Door Prize Drawing(s), for Members Bringing Visitors or Referrals
20. Close Meeting