What is Business Networking International (BNI)?

BNI, or Business Network International, is a networking organisation which works by encouraging members of each chapter (group) to refer work from other business contacts to the revelant member of their BNI chapter. BNI Cookson is one of these chapters.

BNI's founding

BNI was founded in 1985 by Dr Ivan Misner. The BNI Cookson chapter was founded only recently, but is enjoying steady growth in membership

How BNI works

BNI draws a distinction between a "referral" and a "lead". A lead is contact information for a prospect for a member's business, while a referral occurs only when the prospect has already expressed interest in the business in question, and is ready to be contacted by the referred BNI member. Referrals are about farming rather than hunting, and are only effective if the referrer has credibility in the community.

From Wikipedia, emphasis own.