Why BNI?

Our BNI Members enjoy unparalleled business growth. 

BNI provides a positive, supportive, and structured environment for the development and exchange of quality business referrals. 

Would you like more information? Contact us!  

Benefits of BNI

There are countless benefits to joining BNI.

• Increase Business Prospects: As you build trusted relationships with fellow members you'll stand to substantially increase your business through referrals.
• Professional Development: You'll have access to our exclusive training programs and ongoing opportunities to sharpen your presentation and business skills.
• Great Networking Opportunities: Your active role participation in up to 52 networking meetings per year will increase your exposure to many other business professionals in your community.
• Exclusive Member Resources: You'll have access to a wide range of tools and educational materials on networking, public speaking and business best-practices.

What To Expect

To help you get the most out of your first BNI meeting, here are some things to know before you go:

• Be Prepared: Visit a chapter prepared to talk about your business. Members are interested in getting to know how connections with visitors can be mutually beneficial. Don't forget to bring your business cards!
• Meetings: As a visitor, you can attend a chapter meeting twice. Remember to use this time to get know the chapter personality and its members, not to promote your business. Meetings are high energy and run according to a structured agenda. They last approximately 90 minutes with time for additional networking before and after each meeting. Plan to arrive about 15 minutes early so you don't miss out on any opportunities for networking, and be sure to sign in as a visitor.
• You're the Expert: Only one person from each professional specialty is allowed to join a chapter of BNI, eliminating the possibility of competition among our members. When you join a chapter, you are the sole representative of your specialized field and can develop relationships with others in the chapter as the go-to person for your services.
• Respect Your Craft: The businesses our members represent are their primary occupations, ensuring they are able to position themselves as resources and experts in their field.

Applying is Easy

1. Visit a Chapter: Attend up to two meetings as a visitor to get a feel for the group and see how it operates.
2. Apply: Submit your membership application and payment on the Chapter Website. All chapter websites follow the format: www.bnialberta.ca/bni[chapter name].
3. Interview: After you apply, the Chapter Membership Committee will schedule an interview to get to know you better.
4. Stay Engaged: Continue attending meetings regularly. This helps you build relationships and demonstrates your commitment to becoming a BNI member.
5. Decision: The Membership Committee will review your application and interview, then inform you whether you are accepted or not.
6. Acceptance: If accepted, the Chapter President will announce your membership at a chapter meeting. You will then need to attend the BNI Member Success Program to get started.

Applying is easy and the first step toward finding great referral partners!  Find a chapter to visit here

Membership Options (Starting September 1, 2024)

What to Expect

To help you get the most out of your first BNI meeting, here are some things to know before you go:

• Be Prepared: Visit a chapter prepared to talk about your business. Members are interested in getting to know how connections with visitors can be mutually beneficial. Don't forget to bring your business cards!
• Meetings: As a visitor, you can attend a chapter meeting twice. Remember to use this time to get to know the chapter personality and its members, not to promote your business. Meetings are high energy and run according to a structured agenda. They last 90 minutes with time for additional networking before and after each meeting. Plan to arrive about 15 minutes early so you don't miss any opportunities for networking.
• You're the Expert: Only one person from each professional specialty is allowed to join a chapter of BNI, eliminating the possibility of competition among our members. When you join a chapter, you are the sole representative of your specialized field and can develop relationships with others in the chapter as the go-to person for your services.
• Respect Your Craft: The businesses our members represent are their primary occupations, ensuring they can position themselves as resources and experts in their field.

Member Policies

Membership Committees of each chapter have final authority related to BNI® General Policies. Membership Committees may put a BNI® Member on probation or open a Member’s classification for failure to comply with the Member Policies, the Code of Ethics, or BNI® Core Values.

1. Only one person from each BNI classification can join a chapter of BNI. Each Member can only hold one BNI classification in a BNI Chapter.
2. BNI Members must represent their primary professional focus.
3. BNI Members must arrive on time and stay for the entire published meeting time.
4. An individual can only be a Member of one BNI Chapter. A Member cannot be in any other program that holds Members accountable to pass referrals.
5. A BNI Member is allowed three absences within a continuous six-month period. If a Member cannot attend, they may send a substitute; this will not count as an absence.
6. Members are expected to be engaged in the BNI Chapter by bringing qualified referrals and/or visitors.
7. Visitors may attend BNI Chapter meetings up to two times.
8. Only BNI Members who have completed the Member Success Program, and BNI  Directors/Director Consultants can do Feature Presentations during the BNI Meetings.
9. Leaves of absence are possible for certain extenuating circumstances (e.g., extended medical issue that prevents members from working) at the discretion of the Membership Committee.
10. Members who wish to change their BNI classification must submit a new membership application for approval. No additional fees are due at this time.
11. All BNI membership lists are for the purpose of giving referrals only. Before sending any marketing or business solicitation communications to BNI Members outside your chapter or  Director/Director Consultants, the recipient must give their consent. Consent must be freely given, specific, informed, and unambiguous.

Policies are subject to change. All proposed policy changes need to be reviewed first by the  International Board of Advisors.

Our Core Values

BNI is built on a set of guiding principles which form the foundation on which our members interact, conduct themselves and fulfill their goals.

The BNI Core Values are a part of everything that we do

• Givers Gain®: Givers Gain is the underlying philosophy of BNI. We exemplify that by giving business to others; you will get business in return
• Lifelong Learning: We believe in the continuous improvement of personal and professional skills. BNI provides a variety of opportunities to support lifelong learning
• Traditions + Innovation: Tradition in an organization tells us where we come from and lays the foundation of who we are, but we must always be looking for ways to innovate
• Positive Attitude: BNI provides an environment that enables you to surround yourself with people who want to help you succeed
• Building Relationships: Networking is more about farming connections with new contacts than hunting for them. People want to do business with people they know and trust. It’s about cultivating those relationships
• Accountability: If you want to have a powerful personal network, you must have accountability. Otherwise, it becomes a social group
• Recognition: It’s important to recognize those who are contributing