A chapter of one of the largest business networking organizations in the world has set up shop in Innisfil.

BNI (Business Network International) Innisfil BusinessWorks held its public debut last Sunday at the YMCA.

A mini-trade show was held highlighting the member business people who have already come on board. A Chinese auction and a grand prize draw were also held in support of the YMCA.

Chapter president Michelle Main said it took “about a year” to set the wheels in motion to form the local BNI group.

“Lisa Graham (Alcona Wellness Spa) started the work,” Main says. “I had heard a lot about BNI’s track record and knew it was very successful. We held a number of information sessions to get our membership up to 15, which is the minimum number you need to form a chapter. There was also a lot of groundwork and projects done in the past year.”

The group held its first official meeting on Tuesday at the Innisfil Lions Hall on Innisfil Beach Road. Weekly luncheon meetings will start at 12 noon and run until 1:30 p.m. There are more than 250 chapters across Canada and the organization was founded in California in 1985.

Main says what sets BNI apart is that it’s a “word-of-mouth referral program. We try to help each other’s businesses. We talk to our clients and if we hear about a need, we refer them to one of our members.”

Business card exchanges and sharing information and leads are integral components of the BNI meetings, too.

Lunch is $12 per person to cover meal and meeting room costs. Main invites prospective members to drop in and see firsthand what the group has to offer.

For more information, call Main at 794-6246, or visit www.bni.com