ARTICLE I – ORGANIZATION

The name of the organization shall be Collegeville Business Networking Group.

All newly formed “Business Networking Groups (BNG)” will be under the umbrella of the Collegeville Business Networking Group and bound by these bylaws. This article pertains to the Collegeville Business Networking Group “CBNG”, “chapters” or “the organization” for the purpose of this document.

The Collegeville Business Networking Group retains the EIN# that all groups shall function under.

Formation of new BNG chapters are subject to approval by

Emerita; Founder, Barbara Ayling.

Procedure to form a new BNG chapter.
The organizer of the newly forming chapter must:

• Visit a minimum of 2 other chapters
• Agree to abide to these bylaws
• Complete “New Formation” procedure form

All chapters will be involved as one group for two events per year

• Holiday Party
• Summer Picnic

Each chapter will be responsible for a portion of the funding for each event. The total amount of funding will be determined by the joint social planning committee.

ARTICLE II – PURPOSE

The following is the purpose for which this organization has been organized: To network and promote each other’s businesses and participate in local philanthropy.

BNG Mission Statement
Mission of the Business Networking Groups:

Networking is the activity that engages persons to build relationships and generate business opportunities at the same time. BNG’s shall facilitate a meeting environment where local business can share and learn from each other by pursuing a discipline of simple presentations. The objective is efficient group education, which leads to knowledge and confidence, the natural result is an exchange of referrals.

ARTICLE III –BOARD

Each chapter shall have a Board consisting of the following officers:

President

Vice President

Treasurer

Secretary

Committee Director

ARTICLE IV – MEMBERSHIP

Membership in this organization shall be open to all who want to promote their businesses, and are willing to abide by these bylaws.

Member privileges are extended to those who maintain a “Member-In-Good-Standing” status. “Member-In-Good-Standing” is defined as attending 2 meetings per month or an average of 6 meetings per quarter.

Each Chapter’s board will review attendance quarterly. The president will notify those in danger of losing membership privileges by phone. The member will then be given the opportunity to re-establish the 2 per month average, within the current month. If the member achieves this 2 meeting goal, his/her status will be restored to “Member-In-Good-Standing”. If the 2 meeting goal is not achieved, membership will be cancelled.

Each Chapter’s Board may reserve the right to extend Member-In-Good-Standing status due to extenuating circumstances (e.g. extended travel, business obligations, family circumstances, etc.) with prior notification.

If member status is lost, membership may be regained by rejoining the group at the current full new member rate.

ARTICLE V – MEETINGS

Regular meetings of this organization shall be held weekly and each meeting will last for one hour.

Meetings are to be held every week with the exception of:

• Major Holidays
• Inclement weather –based on local school district cancelations
• The week between the Christmas & New Year Holidays.
• The date, time, frequency and location of the member meetings will be determined by the board no later than January 1 of the year. The membership will be notified by the board of these meeting details via e-mail no later than January 5 of the year.
• In the event of cancellation and/or change in time, date, or location of a meeting all members will be notified via e-mail no later than 1 week in advance. If this is not possible, it will be within the Boards’ discretion to call all Members-In-Good-Standing.

Board meetings shall be held once per month at a time and location decided by the board members.

Board meetings are open to all members-in-good-standing and will be announced at the weekly meeting & in email via meeting minutes at least one-week prior to meeting date.

ARTICLE VI – VOTING

Those interested in running for office must submit their names to the Vice President 60 days before the election is to take place. The Vice President will provide to the membership, the preliminary ballot to be voted upon 30 days before the election (1^st week in November) and will accept new nominations up to one week before the election. Elections will take place during the first meeting in December. Members-In-Good-Standing must be in attendance to be eligible to vote. There will be no vote by proxy or absentee ballot. Ballots will be written and secret. Officers will be determined by a majority of the vote.

At any regular or special meeting, if a majority so requires, any question may be voted upon in the manner and style provided for election of officers. All Members-In-Good-Standing will be notified of meetings wherein a vote will take place, no later than 10 days prior to such meeting. Such notification will be made via e-mail and shall state the subject matter of the vote

At all votes by ballot, the President of such meeting shall prior to the commencement of balloting, appoint a committee of two people, who shall act as “Inspectors of Election”. At the conclusion of such balloting, the Inspectors of Election will certify in writing to the President the results of the vote.

No Inspector of Election shall be an officer, a candidate for office, or shall be personally interested in the question voted upon.

In the case of a tie, the President will be the deciding vote. In the case where the President is personally interested in the vote, the Vice President shall make the decision on ties.

ARTICLE VI I– ORDER OF BUSINESS

1. Introduction, President:
   1. Explain the purpose of the group
   2. Introduce the board members
   3. Explain how the meeting will go (30 second commercials and 10 min speakers)
   4. Talk about requirements of membership
   5. Make sure everyone signed in
   6. Silence phones
2. Introduction of Speakers, Speaker Committee
3. Schedule Up-coming Speakers, Speaker Committee
4. 30-second Commercials and Business Card Exchange, Vice President
5. Notes for the Good of the Group, Vice President
6. Testimonials, Vice President
7. Closing, President

ARTICLE VIII – OFFICERS

Each chapter shall have the following officers of the organization:

President:

Vice President:

Secretary:

Treasurer:

Committee Director:

All Board Officers shall maintain “Member-In-Good-Standing” status for the duration of the term of office.

In the instance of a board member losing “Member-In-Good-Standing” status a substitute will be appointed by the board until the next general election.

Duties of Officers:

President:

• In charge of running the meeting
• Oversees the group and all committees
• Resolves any disputes or problems
• Responsible to contact members in accordance to “member-in-good-standing” status issues.
• Oversees Committee Director position if position is vacant.

Vice- President:

• Runs the meeting in the absence of the President
• Times the 30 second commercials during the meetings
• Oversees and acts as a member of the Membership Committee when needed.

Secretary:

• Takes notes at weekly meetings and distributes to chapter members
• Takes notes at board meetings and distributes to board members
• Maintains a master copy of the CBNG bylaws

Treasurer:

• Maintains attendance records
• Takes care of all financial affairs
• Deposits money and writes checks
• Involved in all money matters
• Ensures that holdings cannot exceed $2000
• In the case that holdings exceed $2000, the board will decide on how to spend the excess amount
• Shall report current holdings including a weekly activity summary at every board meeting
• Submit calendar year treasury report to Collegeville Business Networking Group Original Founder.

Committee Director:

Oversees all committees and ensures the committees are in place and functioning. Conveys reports to the Executive Board.

The Director shall attend committee meetings at his discretion, but is responsible for gathering a committee report from the chairman of each committee after each committee meeting and prior to the next Executive Board meeting. As an ad hoc member of each committee, the Director may take notes, contribute his expertise and opinion, and has the right to vote on committee business.

There shall be two types of committees: Standing Committees and Special Committees. Each committee is charged with determining the best methods to execute their responsibilities. A Standing Committee is a permanent ongoing committee. A Special Committee is formed for a specific purpose and is dissolved after said purpose is achieved.

Although the initial Chairman of a committee may be a volunteer, as each committee begins functioning with more than one member, the committee shall vote to fill the position of chairman. The Chairman is responsible to report on the committee’s business and progress to the Committee Director prior to the next CBNG Executive Board meeting and to the general membership at weekly meetings as requested by the Presdient. Each Committee Chairman is not a member of the Executive Board and will only attend those meetings upon invitation.

Standing Committees:

• Membership
  • Responsible for increasing and maintaining the membership of CBNG
    • Maintaining current membership list
    • Maintaining attendance
    • Business Card Exchanges
    • Facilitate contact with former guests and members not currently involved in the organization.
    • Membership drives

• Promoting Guest Attendance
• Guest Day
• Contests

• • • Event booth (such as with the Chambers of Commerce)
    • Other events and projects as the committee or Executive Board determines

• Marketing
  • Responsible for the written, graphic and visual promotion of CBNG
    • Brochure
    • Poster
    • Press releases
    • Website
    • Promotions to aid the Membership Committee
    • Other projects as the committee or Executive Board determines

Special Committees:

• Social
  • Responsible for a December social event to include members, spouses and guests
  • May be established as a sub-committee of the Membership Committee
  • Organizes and plans mixers and other organization growth events.
• By-Laws
  • Responsible for developing an organizational constitution and by-laws document
  • Consisting of the organization founder, current and past board members
• Audit
  • Responsible for an audit of the financial books

Other committees may be added as necessary.

Terms:

• 2 year terms, elections occurring in even years: Vice President, Secretary, and Committee Director
• 2 year terms, election occurring in odd years: President and Treasurer

Officers shall by virtue of their office be members of the Board of Directors. The founder of this group, Barbara Ayling, will always have a permanent seat on the board, regardless of her position as an officer.

All terms begin on January 1^st and end on December 31^st. All officers elect shall be entitled to attend the December Board meeting before the beginning of their term. All outgoing officers shall be required to attend the January board meeting after the end of their term.

No officers shall for reason of his office be entitled to receive any salary, but nothing herein shall be construed to prevent an officer or director for receiving any compensation from the organization for duties other than as a director or officer when such compensation and/or service does not create a conflict of interest contrary to the interests of the group. All members of the board shall be exempt from annual renewal fees while in term.

ARTICLE IX – COMMITTEES

The Committee Director, with the approval of the President shall determine committees.

ARTICLE X – DUES AND MEMBERSHIP

The dues of this organization shall be determined by each chapter.

New members shall be required to pay a $50 membership application fee.

All members shall be required to pay a $20 annual renewal fee on the month of their anniversary of membership.

Members-in-good-standing may join additional chapters for the current annual renewal rate.

ARTICLE XI – EMERTIA STATUS

Barbara Ayling, as founder of the organization, shall herein retain the status of Emerita Status. Thus maintaining the ability to:

• Receive notification and record of each chapters monthly board meeting
• Attend board meetings at her discretion
• Receive notifications of promotions, disputes and changes occurring in each chapter.

ARTICLE XII –By-Laws

These By-Laws may be altered, amended, repealed, or added to by an affirmative vote by the majority of the board members.

There will be an annual meeting of all chapter Presidents, Founders & Emerita(Barbara Ayling) to assess, review & amend the organizations By-Laws.

__________________________________ __________________________________

President Date Vice President Date

__________________________________ __________________________________

Secretary Date Treasurer Date

__________________________________

Committee Directory Date