Todd Dyer invited me to his chapter of BNI (Business Networking International) which meets each Thursday morning at 7:30 a.m. After that meeting on May 5th, their meeting place has changed to Five Seasons Fitnness Center near the Wilmington exit of I-675.

I was immediately welcomed. I also noticed another associate, Tammy Brown of TL Brown Photography. Tammy and I are both on the board of PPSO (Professional Photographers of SW Ohio).

After someone introduced the concept of BNI which is a givers gain philosophy where if you help others find business, then they will help you find business the meeting proceeded. Each BNI chapter keeps track of each referral given along with one on one meetings among members and closed business. Before referrals are passed about the room, a sheet was given out that listed all the members names, phone numbers, and the type of business they represent. At this point, everyone stands up in turn and shares what referral they are looking for this week. The sheet that was handed out has a handy blank place next to each member’s name where you can take notes of they who they would like to meet this week. So, it is like have 20-30 sales reps working for you if everyone works the program. If everyone looks of referrals for everyone else each week, then everyone gets referrals sent their way too.

After everyone shares about themselves and the referral they are looking for, Tammy Brown was introduced as the business of the week. Each week a different member  shares more in depth about their business so that the other members get a better understanding of what they do and the clients they are looking for. Tammy did a great job explaining that she loves to photograph families and help capture their love and relationships in artistic portraits that each family will cherish for many years to come.

This is Todd Dyer, the friend who invited me to the meeting. When it was time to pass the referrals, several in the group explained how delighted they were with Tammy’s work. Several had purchased family sessions from her from within the group.

At one point there was a break for about 10 minutes to chat and go get more coffee or whatever. Immediately people started into to conversations throughout the room. This seems like a strong group with lots of good people and good relationships.

When the meeting is closed by the president someone’s name is drawn and a door prize was awarded to someone in the group. Each week the featured business  provides the door prize for the group.

After the meeting one person expressed some interest in finding out more about my business, advertising sales with REACH Magazine. I plan to visit the group again to get a better feel for whether or not it is a group that I want to join. It seemed that everyone their was working this networking system diligently with scheduled one on one meetings, referrals passed and sales completed announced at the meeting.

For more information about BNI in Dayton and in Ohio click on this Link : BNI Ohio

Peter DeMott • REACH Magazine • 937-478-6222 • peter@photosbypdemott.com