Article contributed by Fiona Harrop.
The following steps have been taken in support of our members in Christchurch – effective immediately.
Firstly as of tomorrow, all chapters in Christchurch will be put into a Fee Suspended state for the following 3 months. This means that memberships are in effect frozen as is, and will not age for the next 3 months. This will give members and chapters alike time to reassess where to from here, whilst still allowing the chapter to meet and access members details and record stats.
Secondly we have negotiated with New Zealand Finance & Loans that any member currently paying off their fees via the Finance option, will have a moratorium for 3 months before they need to make another payment..
Thirdly Sue & Graham the NZ BNI National Directors will meet $1 for $1 any donations made to the BNI Red Cross site up to $5,000.
Fourthly we have reactivated the BNI Christchurch Earthquake group on BNIOnline and are listing all offers of help on this site. We have offers of accommodation, use of offices etc. coming in as well as fellow BNI chapters wanting to support other BNI members. We are driving everyone to this site and would ask you all to make contact directly and also to pass this information on to other BNI members who may not yet have email or internet access. The Direct link is: http://www.bnionline.co.nz/group/christchurchearthquakebnisupport or Click Here
Know that we are all thinking of you and hope these steps will in some small way help as we believe that the support offered by your BNI groups in the coming months may be a very important aspect of doing business and supporting each other.
Fiona Harrop
BNI New Zealand – Operations Manager
