The first step is to find a chapter and visit and see what we are all about. Words don't describe the energy you will find at your BNI meeting.

Once you submit your application, it will be reviewed by the membership committee; the committee will let you know the status of your application by the next meeting.

Networking requires commitment. The most successful chapters of BNI are comprised of participants who are sincerely committed to helping one another through networking. They are a team. As a participant in BNI, you are responsible for complying with the policies and guidelines of the organization. In the event that BNI's general rules could potentially violate a profession's ethical code, BNI's rules are superceded by the dictates of the professional's ethics code.

A partial list of the policies of BNI are listed below:

• Only one person from each professional specialty is permitted to join a chapter of BNI.
• All participants should represent their primary occupation, not a part-time business.
• Attendance is critical. If you cannot attend a meeting, you may send a substitute. This will not count as an absence.
• Participation in the chapters is key to the success of the chapter. Members can participate by bringing bona-fide referrals and/or visitors to their chapter of BNI.