Episode 973: The BNI Foundation and Ambassador Program

Synopsis Shirley Towne returns to the podcast to introduce the BNI Foundation Ambassadors program. Ambassadors are BNI members who represent the BNI Foundation in their chapters and in their regions. By visiting other chapters as a Foundation Ambassador, you grow your own business by helping the BNI Foundation. Ambassadors also help bring more nonprofits into BNI through Givers Gain Grants and other initiatives that support nonprofits. To become a BNI Foundation Ambassador, register to join the next informational call at bit.ly/FoundationAmbassador (https://bit.ly/FoundationAmbassador?f...) . Upcoming calls are also announced on the BNI Foundation Facebook page (  / bnifoundation  ) . Links • Visit the BNI Foundation website (https://www.bnifoundation.org) and the BNI Foundation Facebook page (  / bnifoundation  ) . • Listen to Episode 395: Business Voices (https://www.bnipodcast.com/2015/02/25...) . • Listen to Episode 571: The BNI Foundation–What’s in It for Me? (https://www.bnipodcast.com/2018/08/15...) • Listen to Episode 730: Time and Money (https://www.bnipodcast.com/2021/10/27...) . • Listen to Episode 781: Make a Difference in the World (https://www.bnipodcast.com/2022/10/26...) . • Listen to Episode 784: Nonprofits in BNI? (https://www.bnipodcast.com/2022/11/16...) (https://www.misneraudioprograms.com) The Official BNI Podcast is sponsored by Misner Audio Programs. Complete Transcript of Episode 973 Priscilla: Hello everybody, and welcome back to the Official BNI Podcast. I’m Priscilla Rice, and I’m coming to you from Live Oak Recording Studio in Berkeley, California, and I’m joined on the phone today by the Founder and the Chief Visionary Officer of BNI, Dr. Ivan Misner. Hello Ivan, how are you and where are you? Ivan: I am at home in Austin, Texas today. [It’s] the sweltering heat of August for Austin, and I’m just thankful that the deity of your choice made swimming pools and air conditioning. Priscilla: (chuckling) Oh, that’s great! And who do you have on as a guest today? Ivan: I have somebody who’s been on the podcast now five times. Five times, Shirley Towne. Shirley has done many different podcasts for the BNI Podcast, including one of my favorites, podcast number 730 (https://www.bnipodcast.com/2021/10/27...) . And let’s put a link in the podcast for it. I love it because Shirley talked about the fact that she used to pay, as I recall — Shirley, correct me if I’m wrong, it was $5,000 a month for yellow page advertising. Shirley: That is so correct. Ivan: Yeah, and the Gen Z people are going to go, “What’s the yellow pages?” But just advertising, and the BNI membership ended up, you know, making more money than the advertising, and so the whole point of that podcast is: if BNI cost you $5,000 a month, would you treat it differently? And I just love that concept. It’s one of my favorite podcasts. Go listen to it, episode number 730, done five years ago. Welcome back, Shirley. This is your sixth visit to BNI Podcast. Shirley: Honored to be here. Ivan: Yeah, you’re such a great Director. You joined BNI in 2013. You represented ADT Home Services, and you brought a lot of passion, obviously, to building your chapter. In 2017, you stepped into the role of [BNI] Executive Director, and I’m so glad you did. You’re the Executive Director for BNI SC Midlands [South Carolina, USA], where you really quickly made a significant impact. In your first year, you grew the region from 269 members, and over the last eight years, it’s got an impressive 761+ members. So, your leadership and your results have driven an approach that have earned you recognition as the Executive Director of the Year, three consecutive years in the organization, and the honored, prestigious CEO Award by Mary Kennedy Thompson, and it’s just such a pleasure to have you as part of the organization. And you’re now… condolences or congratulations are in order… Shirley: (laughing) Ivan: You’re now the Chairperson for the BNI Foundation, and that fits because you’re known for your heart for service and commitment to growth. And so, welcome back to the BNI Podcast. Shirley: Thank you so much. I told somebody today that I always said that when I retired, I wanted to help nonprofits raise money. And to be able to do that now through BNI is just a dream come true. So to be able to have an impact through the Foundation and all of our nonprofits, I’m just honored to be able to d...