Episode Summary – BNI 850: Can a Member Speak About a Different Business When Visiting?

Podcast: BNI & The Power of One
Host: Tim Roberts
Date: August 20, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, host Tim Roberts addresses a nuanced question submitted by Wendy Curley, Executive Director for BNI Sydney: Can a BNI member promote a different business when visiting other chapters than the one they represent in their home chapter? Tim explores the underlying policies, potential pitfalls, and the importance of protecting chapter integrity, while also honoring the entrepreneurial flexibility of BNI members.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Listener’s Question and Context

[00:45]

• Wendy Curley’s Role: Executive Director in Sydney, Australia.
• Question: If a member with an approved category in their home chapter owns another business, can they promote their other business when visiting different chapters?

2. Policy Clarity: What’s Allowed?

[02:12]

• Tim’s Simple Answer:
  • “It’s perfectly fine when somebody’s visiting a chapter, as long as they are not speaking on something that's in competition with a member of that chapter.”
  • There’s “no rule, policy, or issue with them representing any of their business” as a visitor, provided they don’t compete with an existing member.
  • Key Point: Members, when visiting, are not restricted to only representing their main BNI seat business.

    Quote: “They own two businesses, five businesses, whatever, because they’re just a visitor in that situation who happens to be another BNI member.” (Tim Roberts, [02:25])

3. Important Caveats and Restrictions

[03:15]

• Chapter Membership Exclusivity:
  • A person can only be a member of one chapter for one business.

    “You can only be in one BNI chapter for one of those businesses, period.”

  • You cannot join multiple BNI chapters representing different businesses.
• Potential for Abuse:
  • Some members “overdo it” by visiting other chapters repeatedly to promote a second business. This is problematic and “ineffective for everybody involved.”

4. Visitor Policy: Frequency Limit

[05:50]

• Visitor Rule:
  • Any visitor (including BNI members visiting other chapters) is allowed to visit the same chapter only two times, ever.

    Quote: “It doesn’t say two times in a year, it doesn’t say two times in a month ... it says two times. Period.” ([06:30])

• Intent of the Rule:
  • To prevent individuals from “taking advantage” of a chapter by frequenting meetings without committing as members.

5. Real-life Pitfalls and Chapter Impact

[08:30]

• Negative Impact of Over-Visiting:
  • Repeatedly visiting and promoting a secondary business can prevent chapters from recruiting a genuinely committed member for that seat.

    “They will actually negatively impact that chapter... it holds them from ever getting a member who's truly committed, who does that profession.” ([09:05])

• Educational Moment to Chapters:
  • Chapters inadvertently allow this by welcoming frequent visitors or the same substitutes, undermining the chapter’s exclusivity and accountability.
• Story Example:
  • “We had a guy who was a member of chapter A who was visiting chapter B so often that when he didn't show up for three weeks, they sent him a removal letter.” ([13:20])
  • This shows how over-visiting warps the perception of membership commitment.

6. Why Policies Exist: Protecting Value and Integrity

[11:35]

• No-Referral-to-Visitor Guideline:
  • Advises against giving referrals to frequent visitors, as it rewards non-commitment;

    “You're giving them the business with no return expectation of commitment at all. So yeah, this is why we, we don't advise you give referrals to visitors because you're basically teaching him: ‘Hey, just show up whenever you want, we’ll have business for you.’” ([12:10])

• Attendance and Substitute Policies:
  • Misuse by former members or frequent substitutes reflects similar issues; these individuals gain, yet contribute less to the group’s success.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Chapter Integrity:

  “If you're free to substitute, you're free to be here. You're looking to take advantage of the situation.” (Tim Roberts, [11:00])

• On the Visitor Policy’s Importance:

  “The limit is to help prevent people from taking advantage of your chapter.” ([07:30])

• On Committed Membership:

  “Members just kind of forget about and don't even think about inviting somebody for that profession who would actually be committed to the chapter.” ([14:10])

• Humorous Anecdote:

  “The chapter he's not a member of sent him a letter removing him from the chapter because he was there so often.” ([13:20])

Key Timestamps

• [00:45] – Wendy Curley's question and background
• [02:12] – Tim’s primary answer: It’s fine as long as there’s no competition
• [03:15] – Clarification of exclusive seat/membership rules
• [05:50] – Visitor policy and limits explained
• [08:30] – Problems caused by over-visiting and chapter health
• [11:00] – Substitute policy and similar loopholes
• [13:20] – Story: non-member "expelled" due to over-visiting
• [14:10] – Effect of frequent non-committed participants on recruiting

Conclusion & Takeaways

• Visiting BNI members can share about different businesses as long as they are not taking a seat's exclusivity from an existing member and adhere to the two-visit rule per chapter.
• Over-visiting is not allowed and is harmful to the chapter’s health and growth.
• Policies are designed to prevent system abuse and to promote genuine, committed membership.

Host’s Closing:
Tim congratulates Wendy’s region for hosting the International Global Conference, reiterates the importance of these policies, and encourages feedback from listeners.