Past Events
Chapter To Celebrate 6th Anniversary in 2006
On April 14, the Wilbraham Chapter of BNI will celebrate "Six Years of Successful Networking" with a buffet breakfast at the Villa Rose Restaurant in Ludlow. The Wilbraham Chapter chartered on April 15, 2000 and has grown to 37 members.
Chapter Receives Founder's Award for 2nd Time!
On January 6, 2006, Don Boisvert, Executive Director for BNI Western Mass, presented our chapter with the 2005 BNI Founder's Award. This prestigious award is given to chapters who represent the top 10% in the organization in terms of attitude, performance and commitment. They must have a minimum of 20 members, be nominated by the local BNI Executive Director and approved by the Founder. This is the 2nd time the BNI Wilbraham Chapter has received this recognition. Our first Founder's Award was given to us in June of 2003.
Chapter Holiday Get Together
The Wilbraham Chapter of BNI will hold their annual holiday get together at the Villa Rose Restaurant on Wednesday, January 18, 2006. Chapter members and their guests are invited to network and share in holiday cheer. Cost is $15 per person. Please give your checks to Tom Carhart. Mark your calendars.
BNI Wilbraham Takes Part in Festival of Trees
to Benefit the Springfield Boys & Girls Club
The Wilbraham Chapter of BNI (Business Network Int'l) is participating in the Festival of Trees to benefit the Springfield Boys & Girls Club. The Chapter purchased the tree and ornaments, also gift certificates to hang on the tree were donated by chapter members. The tree was assembled & decorated by chapter members for the Festival with the knowledge that their efforts and donations were to help area youths. The 5th annual Festival of Trees which is being held at Tower Square in downtown Springfield started on 11/25/05 and concludes on 12/11/05. Those who attend will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite tree and also take part in the raffle to win a tree.
The Wilbraham Chapter of BNI meets each Friday morning from 7 - 8:30 AM at the Howard Johnson's on Boston Road in Springfield to network and pass qualified referrals. Visitors are always welcome. The chapter announces that they will not hold meetings on Dec 23 or Dec 30 due to the holidays and wishes everyone a very happy holiday season!
The Wilbraham BNI Tree won 2nd place for the most beautiful tree! Congratulations to all who donated their time and effort!
Wilbraham BNI Hosts Visitor's Day - July 22, 2005
Area businesses are cordially invited to learn how BNI (Business Network Int'l) may help you to increase your business profitability through word-of-mouth marketing. The Wilbraham BNI chapter is holding a Visitor's Day Breakfast Meeting, Friday, July 22, 2005 from 7:00 to 8:30 A.M. at the Howard Johnson Express, 1356 Boston Rd, Springfield. Plan to arrive early for networking with our chapter members and other visitors. Remember to bring plenty of business cards.
Belonging to the Wilbraham BNI Chapter is like having 35 sales representatives marketing your business on a daily basis. Come and see for yourself how this proven system may benefit you and your bottom line. The unique aspect of BNI is that only one person per professional classification is eligible to join a chapter. Once you join a chapter, your competition cannot become a member of the same chapter. To learn more about the Wilbraham BNI chapter and our members, please visit our website at http://bniwilbraham.com.
There are 3,800 BNI chapters in 23 countries with 76,000 members of which 70% are in the United States. BNI members passed 3.3 million referrals last year generating $1.5 billion in revenues for each other. To learn more about BNI, please check out: http://bni.com.
We hope to see many of the area businesses at our meeting on July 22. So that we can be sure to have enough seating for our guests, your RSVP is greatly appreciated. Please contact Elaine Williamson at (413) 256-8204 or ewilliamson@iglide.net if you plan to attend.
Invitation to BNI Social
On Wednesday, May 18, 2005, the Wilbraham, After 5 and Quabbin Region Chapters are hosting a BNI Social gathering at the Villa Rose Restaurant, 1428 Center Street, Ludlow from 6:00 - 8:00 PM. Advance registration is $10 per person. Tickets at the door will be $15. Please contact one of the Secretary/Treasurers to purchase a ticket, Tom Carhart - 525-6298, Dawn Bloom - 596-2040, or Sandy Miko - 323-0700. There will be music provided by DJ Dave Lash (member of the Quabbin Region Chapter). Please plan to join us for good food and networking. A cash bar will be also be available.
Wilbraham Chapter of BNI Celebrates 5th Anniversary
On April 15, 2005, the Wilbraham BNI Chapter celebrated our 5th anniversary with a breakfast meeting at the Villa Rose in Ludlow. Elaine Williamson, chapter president, opened the meeting congratulating the members on belonging to this successful chapter - a Silver BNI Chapter (30 or more members) and a chapter that generates a great deal of business for it's members. Chapter business was discussed and reports given. Members gave their 45 second commercials letting all in attendance know what types of referrals they were looking for, visitors were then asked to tell the members about their businesses. All in attendance enjoyed a delicious breakfast buffet provided by Tony Tavares and the Villa Rose staff. Following breakfast, referrals and closed business slips were passed and testimonials about members were given. The meeting ended at 8:30, but many stayed afterwards to network, pass business and follow up on past referrals.
The Wilbraham Chapter formed in 2000 holding a kick-off meeting on April 14, 2000. The chapter became a Silver Chapter in February 2003 with 30 members and received the BNI Founders Award (recipients represent the top 10% of the organization in terms of attitude, performance, and commitment) in June 2003. A number of our members have received the "Best of Springfield" awards and various BNI awards. This chapter has 3 members who are Assistant Directors for BNI and our members are very active in the chapter. These are all things that make the Wilbraham BNI Chapter such a success!
We invite local business professionals who are interested in joining this dynamic organization, to attend a meeting. The Wilbraham Chapter meets on Friday mornings from 7 - 8:30 AM. Currently meetings are held at Howard Johnson's 1356 Boston Road Springfield.
Wilbraham Chapter Members Donate $550 to American Cancer Society
June 18, 2004 - BNI Wilbraham recently joined in the fight against cancer by making a donation to the American Cancer Society.
On Friday, June 18, 2004, the BNI Wilbraham Chapter presented a check for $550 to Tom Porter, Area Director of Income Development at the American Cancer Society. The chapter members made this donation in memory of 2 members who lost their battles with cancer: Francine Girard and Donald Kubera. The donation will help fund the American Cancer Society’s programs of research, education, advocacy, and patient service. The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer through research, education, advocacy, and service.
For cancer information 24 hours a day, seven days a week, contact the American Cancer Society at 1.800.ACS.2345 or www.cancer.org.
Wilbraham Chapter of BNI Celebrates 4th Anniversary on May 21, 2004
The Wilbraham Chapter of Business Network Int'l (BNI), a networking organization specializing in business referrals among members, is celebrating its fourth anniversary. This group's kickoff meeting 
was held on April 14, 2000 and has grown to 32 members. The chapter is extending an open invitation for local business owners and key business people to join them in celebrating 4 years of successful networking! The Open House takes place on Friday, May 21, 2004 in the Howard Johnson's Inn Conference Room, 1356 Boston Road, Springfield, MA. The meeting will begin at 7:00 AM. All are encouraged to arrive between 6:45 and 7:00 AM to network with chapter members and other visitors.
BNI was founded in 1985 by Dr. Ivan Misner, and is now the world's largest referral organization with over 60,000 members in over 3,000 chapters worldwide. In 2003, BNI members passed 2.8 million 
referrals generating $1.2 billion worth of business to each other. There are currently 14 chapters in Western Massachusetts with 4 more groups forming. For more information, visit our chapter website at http://www.bniwilbraham.com and the regional website at http://www.bniwmass.com.
For more information or to reserve a seat at our Open House, please contact one of our Leadership Team members, Chapter President, Tom Carhart at (413) 525-6298, Chapter Vice-President, Don Edwards at (413) 596-0000 or Chapter Secretary-Treasurer, Linda Lankowski at (866) 813-3421. There is no charge to attend and a continental breakfast will be served. Remember to bring plenty of business cards with you.
If you would like to increase your business, plan to attend our Open House.
All proceeds from the raffle held on May 21, plus money donated by our members will be donated to the American Cancer Society in memory of 2 members who lost their battles with cancer: Francine Girard and Don Kubera.
BNI Wilbraham Chapter Holds Visitor's Day
Margo Chevers of Northeast Leadership Enterprise to be Guest Speaker
The BNI Wilbraham Chapter is proud to announce receiving the 2003 Founder’s Award from BNI. Founder's Awards are issued to BNI Chapters that represent the top 10% of the organization in terms of attitude, performance, and commitment. They must have a minimum of 20 members and must be nominated by the local BNI Director and approved by the Founder.
To celebrate receiving this award, the chapter is holding a visitor’s day on Friday September 5, 2003 from 7 to 8:30 A.M. at Howard Johnson Express Inn Conference Room, 1356 Boston Road, Springfield, MA 01119. Guest speaker will be Margo Chevers, President of Northeast Leadership Enterprise. Ms Chever’s topic will be "Is Your Attitude Worth Catching?".
Visitors and Chapter Members attending this event will learn: how to develop a positive attitude, how to create more positive results, how to influence others in a more positive manner, and how to empower yourself.
Business Network Int'l (BNI) is a networking organization specializing in business referrals among members. Members experience business growth by duplicating their marketing efforts through word-of-mouth. BNI is especially powerful and successful because each chapter has only one member from each profession or business.
The Wilbraham group meets every Friday morning at the Howard Johnson's Express Inn Conference Room. Visitors are welcome! There is no charge to attend this special meeting, however reservations are required. For more information, and to reserve your seat, please contact Jim Somppi, Chapter President, at 413-543-6782 or Patty Shaw, Chapter Vice President, at 413-599-0399.
Wilbraham Chapter of BNI Celebrates 3rd Anniversary
The Wilbraham Chapter of Business Network Int'l (BNI), a networking organization specializing in business referrals among members, is celebrating its third anniversary. This group's kickoff meeting was held on April 14, 2000 and has grown to 30 members. The chapter is extending an open invitation for local business owners and key business people to join them in celebrating 3 years of successful networking! The Open House takes place on June 6, 2003 in the Howard Johnson's Inn Conference Room, 1356 Boston Road, Springfield, MA. The meeting will begin at 7:15 AM. All are encouraged to arrive between 6:45 and 7:00 AM to network with chapter members and other visitors.
BNI was founded in 1985 by Dr. Ivan Misner, and is now the world's largest referral organization with over 52,000 members in over 2600 groups worldwide. In 2002, BNI members passed 2.5 million referrals generating $856,000,000 worth of business to each other. There are currently 11 chapters in Western Massachusetts with 6 more groups forming. Visit http://www.bniwmass.com for more information.
A unique aspect of BNI is that only one member of a business category can join a chapter. Once you have become a member, your competition cannot join the same chapter. Those whose businesses are already represented are referred to another group or are assisted in forming their own group.
For more information or to reserve a seat at our Open House, please contact one of our Leadership Team members, Chapter President, Jim Somppi at (413) 543-6782, Chapter Vice-President, Patty Shaw at (413) 599-0399 or Chapter Secretary-Treasurer, Tom Carhart at (413) 525-6298. There is no charge to attend and a continental breakfast will be served. Remember to bring plenty of business cards with you.
If you would like to increase your business, attend our Open House and fill out an application for membership.
BNI Wilbraham opens up for Visitor's Day
Celebrates 2nd Birthday on May 31, 2002
The Wilbraham Chapter of BNI (Business Network International) is celebrating its Second Anniversary with an open invitation for local business owners and key business people to join them. The Open House takes place on May 31, 2002 in the new Conference Room of the Howard Johnson's Motor Hotel on Boston Road. The meeting will begin at 7:15 AM and guests and members are encouraged to arrive between 6:30 AM and 7 AM to meet with member business people and to network with other visitors.
BNI is a networking phenomenon that was founded in 1985, and since then has been sweeping the nation. It is proving to be one of the most significant business support groups in America with over 44,500 members in over 2325 groups across the US. Last year BNI members referred more than $720,000,000 worth of business to each other. Just in the Greater Springfield area there are now 8 groups with 2 new groups forming up.
BNI is unique in that it brings diverse business people together with the sole purpose of helping each other to grow each other's businesses through word-of-mouth referrals. A seat is granted to only one member of a business category so that there are no competing businesses in any one group. For those whose businesses are already represented, they are referred to another group or are assisted to form their own group.
Members meet on a weekly basis to present their business to the membership and to learn more about the businesses of their group partners. The idea is that each member has from 20 to 40 other member business people promoting their business whenever the opportunity arises. Some have increased their business by as much as 30 to 50 % through BNI.
Please contact chapter president, Paul Provencher, at (413) 596-0000 to let us know if you will be attending.
BNI Wilbraham invites you to our Visitor's Day - Friday, May 3, 2002
The Wilbraham Chapter of BNI (Business Network International) is holding an open house for local business owners and key business people. The Open House takes place on May 3, 2002 in the new Conference Room of the Howard Johnson's 1356 Boston Road, Springfield MA. The meeting will begin at 7:15 AM and guests and members are encouraged to arrive between 6:30 AM and 7 AM to meet with member business people and to network with other visitors. For additional information and directions, please visit the Chapter website at www.bniwilbraham.com.
Guest speaker Scott Gonello is a nationally renowned speaker who is known for his business-training program, climbing the Food Chain, which is offered nationwide by himself and trained franchise members of his organization. For anyone who would like additional information prior to the meeting, please visit his website at www.climbingthefoodchain.com. Book early by contacting Paul Provencher, Chapter President, at 596-0000 or by email paul@provencherfinancialservices.com. You will be asked for the name(s) of those attending, your business name and your phone number, in case of a change prior to the meeting. We expect a good showing and at some point will have to limit the number of visitors.
BNI is a networking phenomenon that was founded in 1985, and since then has been sweeping the nation. It is proving to be one of the most significant business support groups in America with over 44,500 members in over 2325 groups across the US. Last year BNI members referred more than $720,000,000 worth of business to each other. Just in the Greater Springfield area there are now 7 groups with 2 new groups forming up.
BNI is unique in that it brings diverse business people together with the sole purpose of helping each other to grow each other's businesses through word-of-mouth referrals. A seat is granted to only one member of a business category so that there are no competing businesses in any one group. For those whose businesses are already represented, they are referred to another group or are assisted to form their own group.
Members meet on a weekly basis to present their business to the membership and to learn more about the businesses of their group partners. The idea is that each member has from 20 to 40 other member business people promoting their business whenever the opportunity arises. Some have increased their business by as much as 30 to 50 percent.
It will be several months before this opportunity will be presented again and Paul Gonello is a speaker who will not disappoint you.
Visitor's Day - February 1, 2002
Bad weather prevented our guest speaker from attending our meeting. Blain Athorne will reschedule with our chapter to give his "memory presentation" at a later date. Please check our news page for 
updates.
Tom Carhart of Carhart Associates substituted as speaker and gave the members and guests tax tips. Visit Tom's website at www.tomcarhart.com for more information about his services. We thank Tom for filling in and providing us with valuable information which was very timely!
Thank you to Jeff DeMarey who brought his digital camera to Visitor's Day.
BNI Wilbraham's Visitor's Day - May 11, 2001
Business Woman of the Year Shares Top Networking Rules at BNI Wilbraham Visitor's Day
Sasha ZeBryk, President of SashaSpeaks Seminars and Business Woman of the Year 2000 of the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts, will speak before the Wilbraham Chapter of BNI on Friday, May 11 at 7 to 8:30 A.M. at Howard Johnson Express Inn, 1356 Boston Rd., Springfield, MA 01119. ZeBryk's topic will be "The Six Savvy Rules of Networking".
"Studies show that in the first 7 seconds, people make judgments about us that are difficult, if not impossible, to change," said ZeBryk. "Knowing how to put your best foot and face forward, immediately creates an opportunity for positive recall."
Participants in this visitor's day workshop will learn: why selling is a 'sin' at networking events; how to qualify the people they meet and put them into three categories; how to introduce themselves that starts conversations and gets them remembered, recalled and referred.
Business Network International (BNI) is a networking organization specializing in business referrals among members. Because BNI trains members weekly at meetings, members experience business growth by duplicating their marketing efforts through word-of-mouth. BNI is especially powerful and successful because each chapter has only one member from each profession or business. ZeBryk's upcoming presentation is part of the on-going training given to each BNI member.
The Wilbraham group meets every Friday morning at the Howard Johnson's Express Inn Conference Room. Visitors are welcome! There is no charge to attend this special meeting, however reservations are required. For more information, and to reserve your seat, send email to our chapter president.
INTERNATIONAL REFERRAL ORGANIZATION
CELEBRATES FIRST ANNIVERSARY
Press Release - May 4, 2001
The Wilbraham Chapter of Business Network International (BNI), a networking organization specializing in business referrals among members, celebrated it's first anniversary. This group's kickoff meeting was held on April 14, 2000 and now has 22 members. "The Business Network International is a great way for businesses to experience growth by duplicating their marketing efforts through word-of-mouth" says Frank J. Purnell. Frank was instrumental in starting this chapter of BNI one year ago.
The Business Network was founded in 1985 by Ivan R. Misner, Ph.D. author of The World's Best Know Marketing Secret. "Our style of networking is based on the philosophy 'givers gain'; if I help you, then you'll help me and we'll all do better business," says Misner.
The Wilbraham Chapter of BNI meets from 7-8:30 AM each Friday morning at Howard Johnson Express Inn Conference Room, 1356 Boston Road, Springfield, MA. Anyone interested in attending a meeting is welcome. For more information about BNI and/or joining the Wilbraham Chapter, visit our website.
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