Introduce Yourself!

[Cys Bronner]

This is where we get to meet you and everyone else who is getting to know the BNI Misner Foundation and its fans.

I'll start, I'm Cys Bronner, Executive Director of BNI in the Greater Los Angeles area. I'm also a volunteer here. Why? Not just because I have a love of online communities, but because I honestly feel that as business leaders in the community we have a responsibility to give back. What better way to give back than through the very same organization that helped make me a business leader?

Now its your turn, pull up a seat and say hello.

[Raymond Baranak]

I’m Ray Baranak a Cruise Planners franchise business owner in the Greater Chicago Illinois area. I have a passionate desire to build and develop programs for creating a better world, so people may have the enhanced opportunity to develop depth and meaning in their lives to live independently and creatively.

I’m a former radio talk show host and executive producer of the “Citizens Lobby” radio broadcast in Chicago. A live infotainment broadcast providing in-depth analyzes of today’s news headlines. The program’s mission was to determine the truth behind today’s burning issues and the search for solutions for the betterment of society. I interviewed many of the nation’s leading authorities in these discussions.

I’m the Founder and former Chairman of Government Accountability Information Network a (501(C)3 tax exempt non-profit: The mission is to educate society on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

I’m presently the Illinois State Director of a (501(C)3 tax exempt non-profit called Liberty Day.
Liberty Day is a non-partisan effort to educate the youth of American about the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.

I’m an idealist able to envision the “not visible” or the “not yet” and the possibilities waiting to be realized by seeing the future in the present.

Enterprising. Always on the go, developing a plan, following a plan, reworking the plan until it fits in the pursuit of the highest leverage opportunity available.

Authentic, Enthusiastic and Disciplined.

Inspirational leader naturally drawn to working with people.

Highly ethical and hold myself to a strict standard of personal integrity.

Rapport builder by delivering emotional strength to a relationship to generate trust and loyalties.

Driven to “win” with flair

I too share with other BNI Members the passion for supporting the next generation of business owners through strong educational programs.

[Will Ferguson]

Will Ferguson - I'm currently organizing California Business Venture 2009, which is a hands-on business experience for high school students. It is a summer camp held on a local university's campus. Students live in the dorms, and operate mock companies through the use of a computer simulation. They are also exposed to business leaders from the local community, who provide insightful keynote addresses throughout the program - topics include...ethics, personal finance, professional finance, environmental issues, HR issues, entrepreneurship, etc. Lots of fun!

Thanks for having me

[Dave Rittenhouse]

Dave Rittenhouse, MSP Training Director and Assistant Director for Beverly Hills and Century City Areas of the Greater Los Angeles area. I've jumped in here to lend a hand in outreach to those that are in need and request help. BNI has been very good to me and this gives me one more venue to give back.

[Marcus 4Real]

I appreciate the good work you guys are doing to remeber the underprevelege people in our society pls keep the good work going and I believe if everyone can have thesame as you do we make the world to be a better place to be in matter of no time.

As a young Man from Nigeria trying to grow up a business in Nigeria is not easy to start up especialy when there is no one to surport your good ideal be phsical or finacial any aspect yet I always encourage my coleaque and the younger ones to put on their strength to fight there rite in all manners but pls I love to organise something like this in Nigeria a free talk from you and other strong member from your country pls how can you help me?

[Cys Bronner]

Welcome Ray, Will and Dave!

What a diverse group we have happening here. It's very exciting to see the depth of individuals and the commonality of passion for supporting the next generation of business owners through strong educational programs.

[Marcus 4Real]

Hi Bronner, I appreciate the good work you guys are doing to remeber the underprevelege people in our society pls keep the good work going and I believe if everyone can have thesame as you do we make the world to be a better place to be in matter of no time.

As a young Man from Nigeria trying to grow up a business in Nigeria is not easy to start up especialy when there is no one to surport your good ideal be phsical or finacial any aspect yet I always encourage my coleaque and the younger ones to put on their strength to fight there rite in all manners but pls I love to organise something like this in Nigeria a free talk from you and other strong member from your country pls how can you help me?

[Cys Bronner]

Marcus, the beauty of the internet is that you _can_ start something very global from a local position. All it takes is passion and dedication, which it sounds like you have.
May I ask, how did you find out about the BNI Misner Foundation and its online community?

[Marcus 4Real]

I was looking for how I can contribute to better life in my environment and my country like foreigner like you do in your country that is more reasons for my research through the google.com to give me more details infomation about Business Networking in Europe, then I got BNI Europe which seduced my attention of being a member so as to benefit from your experience, "exprience they say is the best teacher" pls just put me through on how I can achieve my dream of being the best in all areas of life by giving back to the society as young aspirants business Man.

Best Regard.

[Elisabeth Misner]

I should definitely also introduced myself as the co-founder of the BNI Foundation. I'm Beth Misner, and together with my husband, Ivan Misner, we operate the Foundation as well as BNI. I became a BNI member in 1986 and married Ivan, the founder of BNI, in 1989. We started the foundation in 1998 as a way to give back to the various communities in which BNI was operating.

I feel that education is critical...not just any old education, but a GOOD education. We value the upcoming generation of BNI members and hope that our Givers Gain Grants will assist them in preparing for the successful future that lies ahead of them.

Ivan and I live in Claremont, CA with our son, Trey (age 16), and daughters, Cassandra (age 18) and Ashley (age 23). I have a bachelor's degree in theology and have just started a masters degree in the graduate school of theology at Northwest Nazarine University. I have a personal website you are welcome to view: www.bethmisner.com.