The Great Barrington Chapter of BNI (Business Networking International), a world wide leader, word of mouth, business referral organization has organized a series of seminars for local businesses.
The next free seminar is scheduled for The Berkshire South Regional Community Center, 15 Crissey Road In Great Barrington, Thursday, November 2 @ 7:15AM.
The free seminar is called:
“SMALL BUSINESS INSURANCE - ARE YOU COVERED?â€
The seminar will be led by Teresa Keefner, a leading Small Business Insurance Consultant, based in Great Barrington, MA.
According to Ms. Keefner, "Small business owners are building something with all their heart and soul. The smart small business person takes action to protect what they have built".
The free seminar will cover topics such as:
* What insurance coverage should be considered when running your small business or reviewing your insurance coverage. '
* A detailed overview of property, liability, workers compensation, and business automobile coverage.
Bob O'Haver, President of the local BNI chapter is excited about the seminar series.
"In BNI, we have a saying, 'Givers Gain'. And this free seminar is the second of many seminars we intend to hold for the local business community. Its our way of giving back," said Mr. O'Haver, a computer technology consultant and owner of O'Haver and Company.
How BNI works.
We allow one person per profession to join our chapters. "We have one graphic designer, one electrician, one photographer, and so on," says membership chair Andreas Schmid of Seacoast Mortgage. "Being a member of BNI creates a sales team for me that I wouldn’t have otherwise."
"Last year our chapter generated over $500,000 in business. This year we will have generated almost 1 million dollars," says President Bob O'Haver. "We all carry each other’s business cards. We establish direct contact between our members and those who need their services."
BNI was started over 20 years ago and has grown rapidly into the largest networking organization of its type. Members keep an eye open for new business contacts that might benefit the membership, and those new contacts are invited to attend a meeting. Meetings are held weekly, and referrals are exchanged in a very structured manner.
To reserve a seat for the free business development seminar, or or more information on how to join our chapter, or to just visit a meeting, please contact President Bob O'Haver at 413-528-6386 or email bob@ohaver.net
Meetings are held every Thursday morning at 7:15 A.M. at the Berkshire South Regional Community Center, 15 Crissey Road, Great Barrington.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
Lanesborough Town Meeting to Vote Budget, Bylaws & Vehicle Purchases
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Tuesday's annual town meeting includes a $14 million operating budget, new short-term rentals, accessory dwelling units and sign bylaws, and free cash article appropriations.
Voters will gather at Lanesborough Elementary School on June 9 at 6 p.m. to decide on 20 warrant articles.
The fiscal 2027 budget is up a little over 10 percent. Some of the main increases are the Mount Greylock Regional School District and McCann Technical School: the McCann assessment is up more than 30 percent based on factors including enrollment and the school renovation project, and Mount Greylock's is up 11 percent.
Article 11 is for the town to vote to approve from free cash the sum of $16,298.48 for the McCann Technical School roof and window replacement project so as not to impact the budget. Article 3 is appropriate $7,586,284 for Mount Greylock Regional School assessment.
Another notable increase was in life and health insurance, showing an increase of about 26 percent.
Ambulance Director Jen Weber is planning 24-hour coverage, which means more staff and a hike in her budget. One of the articles asks the town to appropriate $234,100 to operate the Ambulance Enterprise Fund for salaries and expenses.
Many town departments are looking for new vehicles. The Fire Department is looking to replace its outdated 1996 fire engine. There are two articles related to the truck at a total of $813,366. Article 12 would transfer $225,000 from free cash into the Fire Truck Stabilization Fund; Article 13 would transfer $605,000 from the fund and authorize the borrowing of $208,366.08.
The total includes a $100,000 contingency cost to cover any additional costs if a 2026 model-year chassis cannot be secured before new emissions standards go into effect in 2027.
The board at its last meeting moved the $225,000 transfer to come before the borrowing article, changing the stabilization number. If the $225,000 is not voted on, then they will amend the next article's number on the floor, subtracting the $225,000. This shows the borrowing number significantly lower.
Article 17 asks for the transfer of $80,000 from free cash to replace a police cruiser.
Police Chief Rob Derksen's aim is to replace one vehicle every other year, meaning the oldest vehicle gets replaced about every 10 years.
He stressed that if delayed this year, the town may have to double up in a future year to get back on schedule, and that paying later usually costs more. The article will ask for $80,000 from free cash, the vehicles used to be funded by the BHRD.
Lastly, the Highway Department is looking to replace a 2014 International dump truck that will be a total of $330,000 and will take two to three years to receive.
Money will be used from last year's approval of $250,000 from free cash for the replacement of a 2012 highway front-end loader that was underspent $49,261. Town meeting is being asked to approve a transfer of $53,274.85 from free cash and the use of $227,464 from funds from the Sale of Town Real Estate to fund the balance.
Other free cash proposals include $1,200 to purchase software to support tracking and ongoing maintenance schedules of town-owned vehicles; $42,000 for the replacement of the Highway Department's storage shed roof, $200,000 to reduce the tax levy.
Cassidy Flynn scattered five hits in a complete-game effort in the circle as Lenox upset top-seeded Hoosac Valley, 3-2, in the quarter-finals of the Division 5 State Tournament. click for more
Brayden Durant struck out seven and walked one in a complete-game effort on the mound Saturday to pitch the Drury baseball team to a 6-0 win over Keefe Tech in the quarter-finals of the Division 5 State Tournament at Joe Wolfe Field. click for more
Jason Codey struck out 13, walked two and allowed just an infield single as the Generals earned a 7-1 win over Wahconah to claim their third straight regional title. click for more
Gracelyn Wright struck out eight, and Genevieve Lagess went 3-for-5 with four runs batted in as the Hurricanes beat Monson, 17-3, to claim their first Western Mass title in four years. click for more
For the boys, Ward Bianchi helped lead the way with a win in the shot put and a second place in the javelin as the Mounties finished 16 points ahead of runner-up Pittsfield (pending the results of the pole vault, which were unavailable at 11 p.m. Friday night). click for more
