Playbook for a Successful BIA Membership

Coach Foster here. I’ve got my chalkboard, my chalk and my playbook so you need to listen up and pay attention. The other team – competition, economic uncertainties, lack of visibility, limited marketing expenses, the whole gamut of brutes that stand between you and your goal line – is a tough bunch but you can utterly vanquish them if you stick with this BIA membership game plan!

First, Get off the sidelines! Never, ever, not even once has anyone scored from the bench. The game is played on the field, so you have to get in the game as a new member. When you joined BIASC, you joined all of its Chapters, too, so there’s no excuse. Making your BIA membership successful starts with attending events, and we offer events of all sorts at all times of day so don’t let your busy calendar be an excuse. No matter what your business is, not matter what your niche, your membership offers multiple opportunities every month for you to cross that line between being on the bench and being in the game.

Second, leave shyness on the bench! Sure, BIA events and even BIA committees can look big and intimidating so that first step forward can be tough. But BIA members are a friendly bunch that want to get to know you. They like doing business with other BIA members and they want your membership to be a key to your success. So put a smile on your face and start saying “Hi!” to people. Engage!

Third, join committees. Our committees are the path to advancing up the BIA ladder, and better still, they give you the opportunity to have like-minded people see how great you are at what you do. You’ll want to start with Chapterlevel committees, like Membership or Events, so identify the ones you’re most interested in, and in no time you will be working elbow to elbow with the folks who can refer you or use our products or services.

Craig Foster Chief Operating Officer/ Executive Vice President

Fourth, join a Council. A Council is like a little BIASC where there’s a diversity of members businesses but a single focus. Just find the Council that parallels your interests or business plan and join in – BIA has the Council on SAGE (formerly the 55+ Housing Council), the Customer Service Builders Council, the Greater Sales and Marketing Council, the Union Contractors Council, and the Safety Alliance.

Fifth, help make BIA financially strong. Buying tickets to all the many events you will be attending as an active BIA member is a great start, but to make the BIA All Star Team, you’ll want to be an event sponsor, too. If your budget is small, don’t worry because there are affordable sponsorship levels. And if you don’t even have two nickels to rub together, you can still be an All Star by encouraging other companies to be event sponsors.

Sixth, find a mentor. You might not be comfortable asking someone who is in senior management at a building company or in a position of leadership at a BIA chapter to be your mentor, but you can be comfortable asking them for advice and insights. It’s the same thing, after all. They will be eager to help and what follows will probably be the beginning of one of the most valuable relationships you will make as a BIA member. Contact our membership team for more details.

And finally, mingle and have some fun! Your BIA membership is like knowing the doorman at the most popular club in town – now you’re in! And it’s not just you; membership is for everyone who works for your company, too. So, look like a winner, think like a winner, and walk into the club – or to keep with the Coach Foster metaphor, step onto the field – and have a great time while making the most of your BIA membership. 

Orange County Chapter Builder Remedy Seminar