We’re three months into the Chapter of the Month competition and it’s been fantastic seeing 3 different winners. July’s winner is Venture Chapter – Venture’s winning formula has everyone working as a team, attending training, plenty of visitors and new members. Well done to all at Venture Chapter.

This month’s story comes from Thomas Chalmers of Ideal Life International, BNI Enterprise. Thomas says…

Dear Iain,

I just wanted to let you know that after seven or eight months as a member of the Enterprise Chapter, I had received very few referrals but was still determined to build relationships within the Chapter. After eight months I received an excellent referral from one of my fellow members for a global shipping company with an office based in Glasgow.

I have had them as a client for almost a year now and they have recently referred me to their Liverpool office which has seven times more staff than the Glasgow office. Moreover they are also now referring me on to their own clients and recently introduced me to Gleneagles Hotel.

When I joined BNI, I thought I'd give it a year and see how it went. However, this one referral has paid for my membership several times over and I now intend to be a life long member of BNI.

Welcome to our new members who’ve joined in the last month or so! Book a 121 this month with your new colleagues to find out how you can help each other.

Black Diamond
Alan Grandison Bank of Scotland
Colin Hope Safe and Secure 24

Festival
James Sutherland Marchmont Gallery Ltd

Carron
Tom Barr DMB Flooring & Timber
Richard Clason FDS Developments
Scott Livingston Graham & Sibbald
Charles McGourty Accountant
Jim Nichol JMN Contractors
James Stewart/Photo Agency

Castle
Adrian Black A Black Assoc
Malcolm Gibson MGM Data Solutions
Willie Hunter Hunters Estate Agents

Dunedin
Penny Dawe HSBC Bank
Alex Hazlewood RG Computing Services

Enterprise
Scott Kennedy Plans & Drawings
Damien Miller Onig Solutions Ltd

TGI
Andrew Nelson GB Liners Ltd

Fairways
Heather Mortimer N&L Properties
Duncan Reid Walker Fraser Steele
Atilla Sabir Seahorse Signs

Venture
Emily McGowan Amber marketing Solutions
Fiona O’May Brae Carpets
Elizabeth Pope Remax Property Professionals
Lisa Rockett Colour Me Beautiful

2 new Assistant Directors join the team:
Murray Wilkinson and Grant Thorburn.

Murray and Grant are on board to develop BNI in and around West Lothian where they are opening two new chapters.

If anyone would like more information on becoming an assistant director please contact iain@bniscotland.co.uk

Each month, we’ll be bringing you a few tips to get the most out of your membership. This month’s magic methods are:

Be Specific
Ask for the person within the organisation you want to target – you never know who knows them.

Bring a Prop
People remember 60 secs with a difference – bring a prop to help get your message across.

Top up Business Cards Box
Visitors can’t take your card if there ain’t any! Ensure your colleagues always have plenty to hand out.