About BNI
BNI Benefits
FAQ's
BNI by the Bay Members
BNI by the Bay Members
Chapter Openings
Available Subs
Givers Gain
Contact Us

You refer people you know, like and trust. 

The best way to get to know, like and trust each other is to work side by side.  BNI By The Bay has combined this principle with another powerful tenet of the BNI organization: Givers Gain.  We have chosen to work side by side while giving back to our communities.   Our aim is to enhance group cohesion, thus increasing not only the number of referrals, but the quality of those referrals.  Below are some of our results:

 

Homeward Bound of Marin



December 20th
BNI By The Bay hosted several families from Homeward Bound of Marin for ice skating at the Embarcadero Center in San Francisco, followed by a holiday dinner in Strawberry at The Pleasure is Mine Restaurant, Harbor Point Tennis Club, complete with decorated tree, sumptuous table decorations, and family photographs for all.

In the spirit of the organization's motto "Givers Gain" the chapter, which meets weekly on Thursday mornings at the Pleasure is Mine, decided this year to help families in need by donating time, money, gifts, decorations, and photography in order to provide them with a fun and festive holiday event. Members donated gifts, toiletries, wrapping paper, transportation, decorations, and food -- including many donations from friends and family.  
 
Two different groups within Homeward Bound benefited from the chapter's generosity, thirteen families from the Family Emergency Center in San Rafael, which received the ice skating and the holiday dinner, and ten families from the new Fireside permanent housing community in Hamilton, which received all of the wrapped presents.

Says chapter president, Tom Herndon, "The entire day was extraordinary, from making sure twenty-five kids got their skates and onto the rink (there was a very long line), to returning to The Pleasure is Mine for a beautiful Christmas dinner! Newest member, Chef and owner of The Pleasure is Mine, Cheryl Jones, donated seven turkeys and much of the food costs and labor, as part of a lavish buffet and a heartwarming evening.  Thanks to everyone for all of the good work you did to have our Holiday Project be successful.  The families loved it!"


Habitat for Humanity



January 30

Three members of the Health and Wellness Power Group put in a healthy eight hours working on site for Habitat for Humanity on a Novato home construction project, hammering nails, cutting wood, troubleshooting plumbing issues and painting. Members (L to R) Claudia Six, Michael Westgate and Anne Cabrinha worked together all day on Saturday to benefit the family who will be chosen to buy the house with a 30-year loan and no interest.

 


March 17

The Build and Repair Power Group volunteered at Habitat for Humanity on March 17th.

Kiva



Kiva (www.kiva.org) empowers individuals to lend to an entrepreneur across the globe. By combining microfinance with the internet, Kiva is creating a global community of people connected through lending.  By having the minimum donation be $25, more and more people can participate.

 

BNI By The Bay kicked off our monthly donations campaign with $125, and we plan to add $30-$50+ each month.  We have chosen to donate to groups rather than individuals because groups represent many industries. As the funds are repaid, we recycle the money towards new loans, thus leveraging the original dollars to bring value to many more entrepreneurs.

 

The dollars come from our weekly opportunity drawing.  Members and guests purchase tickets before each meeting starts. A winning number is called and half the gross goes to Kiva and half goes to the winner, who then has the option to donate their winnings back to Kiva.  Each month one Power Group mans the guest-greeting table and gets a one-minute infomercial (as opposed to a regular 30-second) at the end of their month.  During their month this Power Group will also be conducting the opportunity drawing.

 

Ongoing

Another larger whole-chapter event is planned for the Summer.  Meanwhile, the Power Groups will continue their own volunteering throughout the term.  The Lifestyles Power Group will be managing the next whole-chapter event.  Plans are a one-day outting to Golden Gate Park with the families, enjoying a box lunch and playing old-fashioned picnic games like a water balloon toss and the egg-in-spoon race.
 
Home - BNI by the Bay