On Tuesday 19th February 80+ BNI members and guests gathered at The Silks Lounge, Awapuni Raceway in Palmerston North for a Big Breakfast.
The main speakers were Peter Dixon and Pitsch Leiser from Internal Affairs who spoke about the connection between business and charities. They were very effective in relaying their message of creating strategic alliances with charities, and how both parties benefited. Peter was clear in his message to align yourself with a charity that had similar values and market demographics to create a strategic plan with the charity. As he often says to charities, ‘It’s about creating a long term relationship, and not about getting into bed on the first date!’. He said businesses were sometimes wary of creating these relationships for fear that if and when they can no longer provide what was agreed, then the relationship can turn sour.
Several audience members commented on Peter’s message, and how it would change their attitude to creating these relationships.
BNI National Director, Graham Southwell, spoke about what makes a strong chapter and how it really comes down to the members themselves. While leadership teams and numbers are important, if a chapter has members who are enthusiastic and doing what is expected of them as BNI members, then a chapter will be strong.
The event was organised by the Regional Director Niki Gunning.
