#	Question & Answer
1.	WHAT is BNI? A business-marketing program that allows one person from each profession to join a chapter. The sole purpose of the chapter is to increase business through a structured system of giving referrals.
2.	WHERE does BNI meet? In many established chapters throughout the Kansas City Region and additional core groups that are developing into new chapters on a continual basis.  Our chapter, Parkville I Chapter of Business Network International presently meets at Nick & Jake's Restaurant in Parkville, Missouri.  If you desire another location, please consult our Leadership Team to ensure the best option is identified.
3.	WHEN does BNI meet? Every week, so that members maintain contact and exchange regular referrals. In fact, many of members participate in additional meetings, with each other, throughout the week.  We call these meetings, "Dance Cards".  They represent opportunities for each of our members to really get to know each other's abilities and often lead to referrals.
4.	WHY visit and join BNI? Because "what goes around comes around!"  People that GIVE business referrals GET business referrals!  Where the "Giver's Gain" credo lives.  Visit a chapter meeting and see BNI in action!
5.	HOW do you benefit from BNI? In many ways: By allowing members the opportunity to present and promote their business to all members in their chapter, exclusively, and without competing professionals.  In other words, each profession has only one representative per chapter.   By an increased awareness of your profession from other networking members who will use and recommend your services once they know and trust you. By substantially increasing and expanding your business through referrals.  By exposing your service and knowledge to businesses and success oriented people throughout the community.   By gaining knowledge from information about other networking members´ professions. By using a professionally designed forum to promote yourself and your business efficiently, effectively and economically. By routinely meeting with other focused, motivated business professionals.
6.	Can anyone join a chapter? A unique feature of BNI is that only one person per professional classification is eligible to join a chapter.  For example, if you are a residential real estate person and the chapter has already filled your category, we can refer you to another chapter, or assist you in opening another chapter.  Of course, if you are a commercial real estate person, you could be eligible to join this chapter.
7.	What occupations benefit the most from networking? All occupations benefit from networking; it is dependant on the individual.  Every profession can prosper from BNI if they take the time to learn how to target their market and teach fellow members how to find their ideal referrals.
8.	How many members are in a "typical" BNI chapter? A good mature BNI chapter typically has between 20 and 30 members. Some BNI chapters have as many as 45 members and more!
9.	Are there any other events besides the weekly chapter meetings? Yes.  Member Success Programs, Visitor's Day, advanced training and from time-to-time, regional workshops and other educational events.  Some regions have golf outings and awards banquets as well.  Contact the local director or chapter President for more information or check out our calendar in this site.
10.	Are members supposed to bring visitors? Members are encouraged to bring visitors for those occupations that are not represented in the chapter.   After the visitor has been prescreened and joins, their competition is locked out of the chapter.  BNI is primarily an invitation-only organization and members invite visitors who are interested in growing their business by joining BNI to increase their qualified referrals.
11.	If all current chapters have someone in my profession, what do I do? There are two differents options for this questions.  First, we highly encouraged people to visit a BNI chapter of their chosing.  Once there, talk to the person who best fits your category to see how BNI is working for them.  Secondly, identify the BNI chapter's officers and ask if they know of any chapters in which you could gain membership.  They will be able to supply you with the contact information for the other BNI chapter or the local BNI director. If you happen to be looking for a chapter in the Kansas City, Missouri metroploitan area, you may contact BNI director Steve Wiegert at 816.916.3927 and he will then give you the guidance and information on how to start your own BNI chapter.
12.	How do I go about starting a new BNI chapter? First visit a chapter to see if you like BNI.  Next you will need to contact your local Director and let them know you want to start your own chapter.  Finally, you will need to find 12 or more people in different professions who are willing to start the chapter with you.  Your Director will then take you through the education process of forming your new powerful word-of-mouth team!
13.	How do you know new members are reputable? The application asks for references and we have a membership committee that checks them.  Its word of mouth, so before they even come to a meeting they have to have spoken to someone or been invited by someone in the group. Everyone has to have a sponsor, or one is assigned to them, and they interview them.
14.	What if a member gets a referral and does poor work? Our initial hope is the work is done right or made right.  However, we have an membership committee.  A member who gives a referral and finds out it was not satisfactorily handled can report that to the membership committee, who will investigate and follow-up with all parties.
15.	How much does it cost to join BNI? The true investment in considering BNI is not money, but your time.  You are expected to attend the meetings, meet and develop relationships with your fellow members outside of the meeting and this all takes a time commitment on your part.  BNI is a networking organization and you are responsible to work your new network.  The annual monetary investment is less than $1 per day.
16.	Are there any other fees involved with membership in BNI? Each chapter has a different answer for this question.  As for the Parkville I Chapter of BNI, we do have additional monthly fees which helps cover our chapter's expenses.  Money from our monthly dues also helps cover meeting space and fund our social events. Some social events are exclusively for  our membership, while others are in conjunction with other BNI chapters. Presently, our dues are $22 per month with $12 of it going to our meeting space and beverage service during our weekly meeting.
17.	Do ethical rules for certain professions prohibit participation in BNI? BNI understands the importance of the ethical concerns governing certain professions and acknowledges that rules can differ by location.  BNI requires its members to uphold the rules of their profession and never violate the professional’s ethical obligations.  In the event that BNI´s general rules could potentially violate a professional’s ethical code, BNI´s rules are superseded by the dictates of the professional’s ethics code.  Significantly, a primary objective of BNI is to educate its membership in ways to market and grow business.   It is BNI´s intent to ensure that this is permitted.
18.	If I specialize in a field within my profession, am I expected to be an expert in all aspects of my profession? BNI understands that many professions are broad and that people often specialize within their profession.  BNI does not expect, nor does it encourage, any professional to participate in an area in which the professional does not have expertise.  On the contrary, BNI prohibits professionals from acting outside of the scope of their abilities.
19.	My profession does not let me directly solicit business. Is BNI still right for me? BNI´s primary objective is to assist its members in ways to improve their business and to educate them concerning how they can effectively network.  Business people get business when their expertise is known and others reach a comfort level with them.  BNI provides a forum that allows members to meet other business peers who need to know effective and efficient business people.