FAQs Archive - BNI Michiana

Q: If I Specialize in a Field Within My Profession, am I Expected to be an Expert in All Aspects of My Profession?

BNI does not expect any member to be an expert in all aspects of their profession. On the contrary, being a subject-matter expert in your field and primary area of focus can help the rest of the chapter better learn what you do and how to best refer you.

Q: Are Members Encouraged to Bring Visitors?

Of course! Visiting a BNI meeting is the best way for someone to decide if they are interested in becoming a member, and inviting someone to visit your chapter can be instrumental in helping your membership grow. Members are also welcome to invite others from their profession to visit, while they cannot be in the same chapter, the visitor may be interested in joining another chapter in the area.

Q: Do New Members Need to be Sponsored to Join?

No, being sponsored is not a requirement to join. Upon joining a BNI Michiana, a new member may be assigned a mentor within the chapter, who will help coach them in developing relationships and in growing professionally and personally using BNI resources.

Q: How Do I Join BNI Michiana?

Visiting a chapter is the first step in finding your new referral partners. Once you have visited a chapter that you believe will be a good fit for you, you can apply for membership with the Membership Committee of the chapter. This process involves filling out an application and an interview with the Committee.