I recently had an interesting experience with the BNI. I actually visited several sessions, handed in my paperwork and then decided to withdraw my Application after several sessions when I realized it didn't quite suit me.
I have known quite a few people to really benefit from the BNI overtime, however I think it really depends on YOU as a person and also the type of industry you are in. I realized it certainly doesn't suit me - as much as I probably don't suit them.
BNI have a very "Militarized" style about them at at least in this Group I was in, only in a few sessions there were extreme levels of pressure applied in bringing people along (to fill certain types of categories).
The problem I found personally, was that I got a certain level of "Performance Anxiety" where I felt like my own focus was being pulled off my own business and being put into growing the BNI.
Don't get me wrong, I believe in contributing (as well as getting) - but it was really extreme in that I felt like I was being enlisted in BNI's Goals and my own interests (which I was planning to pay $1000 per year for) were really second place.
Where I was probably pushed over the line was that the BNI Director threated us verbally and also via email that if we didn't bring "X" visitors, between "Y" timeframe - we would be asked to leave.
That was a bit much for me - i.e. my only second meeting and I was really being pressured. Nothing wrong with pressure, but what it was doing to my psychologically in this case was taking out "The Fun" of Networking and making me "Fear" it. Fear often leads to resentment down the track and the way I was being treated was impacting my ability to recrepricate positive feelings to the group.
Ironically enough we were told to be "Positive About Things". I think that's it's very hard to be Positive about something when you are treated Negatively.
Still, the Group isn't for me and I am moving in the 4Networking Direction - they seem to be more suited to my relaxed and friendly style.
I think BNI is more suited to people that like the pressure and being held accountable (as again, I have had friends previously do quite well with it, so I know my reaction is me as much as them).
You should check out a few meetings! Then you will know for sure
Best of Luck!
Edward Zia "The Proud Coach:
www.lamepositivethinking.com 
Re: Thoughts on BNI 
