BNI Greater San Diego Chapter

Ours is worth about $16,200 per member over the last 52 weeks. Our 30 members share qualified referrals with one another, take the time to learn about each others’ business and then report back to the group what business has transpired in the previous week. We keep diligent track of all of that and the result is that in the rolling 52 weeks, our group has generated $485,675 in business for each other.

When we have more members, we can generate MORE referrals and more business for one another. We are always looking for a florist, a plumber and a pest control person. So, is it worth it to meet at 7:00 a.m.? We think so!

Our BNI group has numerous members who can benefit from having comments posted on Yelp and other review sites.

About half the group got together at Karen Dehart’s house on the evening of July 13th for a little food (we always have food) and to have a “group compute” and post comments on Yelp in support of each others’ businesses.

Yelp creates an opportunity for businesses to claim the comments we’re all making about the businesses in our lives. Having a variety of comments on our Yelp pages makes it easier for more people to find our sites and businesses.

The Greater San Diego BNI group “Yelped” comments about the experiences we have had, added photos of their experiences with each others’ businesses and had just one more great get-together getting to know and trust each other.

Our kids played together in the pool and spouses were welcomed to the party.

It’s not about the food (but that always makes it even better!).

Advanced Training – 1 to 1 Dance Cards; Carlsbad

What’s Advanced Training?  Glad you asked!  It’s a terrific benefit of BNI membership to attend workshops to improve your skills as a presenter, how to ask for exactly the referrals you need to grow your business, and how to be an excellent referrer.  Why would I want to be a good referrer?  So others will want to refer to *you*.

The next Advanced Training will be held in Carlsbad on Monday, July 14th to train on efficient and product 1-to-1 member meetings (aka “Dance Cards”). Click on the link above to go right to the event registration. Classes are only $20.

Our dear President and friend, Sharon Mabrey has made the difficult decision to leave the chapter so she can tend to a family matter out of state.

The Greater San Diego BNI Chapter wishes you well, Sharon.  We know it will be several months before you can resume life as normal and we’ll miss you and your enthusiasm terribly until you can come back.

Best wishes to you and your family, Sharon.

What a great group we are!  We like each other so much that we want to get together on Thursdays AND even on Summer Saturdays.  On Saturday, June 26th the group is getting together at a Sunset Cliffs beach house for a little business, a little putter golf and a little beer.

“The most important thing is that we make the time to really get to know each other,” said chapter Vice President, Michelle Balke.  “Every time we invest a little more into each other, learning each other’s interests and skills, we have another connecting point upon which we can make a meaningful and profitable referral.  Isn’t that what we’re all here for?”

Every member at some point asks for a referral to a property manager.  We now have our own Property Manager!  We welcome Jim Staron of Peerless Management as our new member.  Jim represents residential property owners and helps them place renters in annual or monthly leases.  Let’s do some good business together, Jim!

It’s been a long road for him to get to initiation, but Clay Chadima is finally our chapter’s new Mortgage Broker.  Clay was referred by our realtor, Barbara Tackett.  Clay held on through a tough series of stack days, competing with a variety of brokers and in-house mortgage consultants.

Clay is with San Diego Home Funding, serving all of San Diego County and based in Mission Valley.  We wish you well in our chapter, Clay!

April, the beginning of Spring and the beginning of the new BNI term.  Either way, it’s a time of delights and new perspectives.  This term the Greater San Diego BNI Chapter welcomes:

• Sharon Mabrey, President
• Michelle Balke, Vice President
• Melissa Tanaka, Secretary/Treasurer

All the fun you could want in a BNI meeting, and good weather, too.  Welcome Leadership Team.  Until October!

For the past six weeks, VP Melissa Tanaka and member Sharon Mabrey have been organizing a parade of Stack Days to bring visitors to the group.  When new visitors come to the group, they always have new perspectives and contacts and needs that the group can benefit from.  And it is a surefire way to get new members, which helps the group thrive with new referrals and resources.

This last meeting of Stack Days is focused on bringing in multiple businesspeople in the Payroll and Auto Detailing professions.  If you are a Family Law attorney, Title Representative or Home Inspector, the meeting on March 25th would be an ideal meeting to attend, meet the group and see if it is a good way for you to grow your business.

And if you can’t make it, please give us the name of a colleague who does want to grow their business!

The chapter’s new Leadership Team for the April 1 – Sept. 30 session were announced today:

• President-Elect: Sharon Mabrey, Domestic Assistant
• Vice-President-Elect: Michelle Balke, Marriage & Family Therapist
• Secretary/Treasurer-Elect: Michael Stowers, Mortgage Broker

As a chapter, we welcome them and look forward to building business with their ideas.  Congratulations.