Referral Group Bylaws
Referral Groups
Referral Groups Bylaws
MILLARD BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
REFERRAL GROUP BY-LAWS
REVISED DECEMBER 8, 2009
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ARTICLE 1 – NAME
The name of the organization will be the REFERRAL GROUP ___________ which will meet: Day: ___________ Time ______ Place: _________________
ARTICLE II – PURPOSE
The Millard Business Association has been organized to develop business networking opportunities among its members. The______________________ is a Millard Business Association referral group that allows only one representative from each profession to join. The purpose of __________________________ is to generate good business referrals through networking with other professionals.
Being a member of ________________ is like having numerous salespeople working for you. Members carry a card file with everyone’s business card in them. When members speak with a client, associate or friend who mentions a need that is represented by the group, members can provide a referral to fill that need.
“Word of mouth” is the most cost-effective form of advertising. People get their best business through referrals. _________________________________ provides a structured environment for the development and exchange of good business referrals.
It is important to develop personal relationships in order to increase and maintain one’s word-of-mouth based business. It is through this relational process that we learn more about each other’s businesses and feel comfortable referring one another.
As a business professional, we all need an edge over our competition. How many people are doing what you do? As a _______________________ member, you have an edge over your competitors because you are building respect, relationships and referrals.
The organization is neither a civic nor a social organization, but may undertake civic or social activities upon approval by a majority of active members.
ARTICLE III – FEES
$50 every six months. There is no initiation fee.
The semi-annual dues are $50.00 and are used for the following expenses: visitor brochures, membership packets, referral forms, business card holders, and name tag lanyards, sponsorship of business opportunities, guest lunches and group socials.
Meal Expense:
In addition to the regular dues, each member may incur an expense that will be used to cover the cost of the member’s weekly meals. Members are responsible for the cost of all meals, even for those for meetings they can’t attend.
ARTICLE IV MEMBERSHIP
Qualifications for Referral Group Membership
Company and member must be in good standing with the Millard Business Association.
Only one member per business or professional category is allowed.
In order to protect the MBA, all Referral Groups are required to have checking accounts with a bank designated by the MBA.
The Millard Business Association recommends that its members belong to only one MBA Referral Group at a time.
The membership shall be comprised of no more than thirty-five members and not fewer than ten.
If one member representing a business or profession changes said profession to one which is represented by another member, such member may not stay in the group but may transfer to another Chamber group if his/her new business category is not represented in that group.
The replacement for the resigning member will not automatically come from the resigning member’s company. A proposed replacement member from the resigning member’s company will be treated as a new membership applicant.
A member or MBA representative may sponsor a prospective member and present him or her to the group as a guest at any weekly meeting.
Prospective new members, if they are in good standing with the MBA, may apply for membership in an MBA Referral Group. The prospective member must be voted in by the existing members of the Referral Group before he/she can be considered a member of the Referral Group. In the case of multiple prospects from the same industry applying for membership in the same Referral Group at the same time, the Referral Group shall vote on the one who best fits the needs of the Referral Group.
ARTICLE V – ATTENDANCE
Active participation of all members is the KEY to SUCCESS of the Group. Absences should be avoided whenever possible. Attendance records will be kept by the Group’s secretary.
Attendance requirements:
Members are expected to demonstrate their commitment through consistent attendance. Within every six months, each member is allowed a total of three absences. If unable to attend, members are encouraged to have someone attend in their place. If a member fails to meet these requirements in any two quarters of any four quarter period, the person will be dropped from membership in the group.
When an absence is unavoidable, send a substitute!
Substitute Program: The person you send can be anyone you feel would be appropriate:
Associate
Office staff
Client
Friend
Family member
Prospective member
* Remember, sending a substitute is not counted as an absence!
* First time offenders of the attendance requirements, will be sent a letter (“Too Many Absences”) telling them they are not in compliance.
MEETING CANCELATIONS: MBA referral group meetings shall be canceled when Millard Public Schools closes school due to weather related issues.
ARTICLE VI – DELINQUENT MEMBERS
A member whose dues are more than 45 days delinquent shall be contacted by the Millard Business Association for immediate payment. If the delinquent dues are not paid on or before the weekly meeting following such contact, the delinquent member shall be dropped from the membership roster and his or her business category shall be reopened.
After a three month waiting period, a member who has been dropped from membership for non-attendance may request reinstatement if that member’s business category has not been filled. A former member may reapply for membership and such application shall be considered in the same manner as an application for new members.
Notwithstanding the above, a member may obtain a leave of absence from active participation in the organization for any reasonable cause upon approval of the majority of the group.
ARTICLE VII – MEETINGS
Meetings will be held each Day: ______Time: _____ Place: __________
Meetings will start promptly at ______ and end by _________________
The meetings will be conducted by the President of the group or by a Group officer in the President’s absence.
Guests are welcome at any meeting with a maximum of two visits per person.
Name tags and place cards will be provided by the Referral Group.
Members should state their name and company before giving their leads.
Tips
Leads given are to be noteworthy and viable accounts of happenings that hopefully will result in new business to one or more members of the organization.
Each member should remember to state, if applicable, that he or she does not wish to be referenced as the course of contact.
Also, during the referral session, members shall acknowledge any leads that resulted in new business for that member.
Suggested Meeting Agenda
Suggested Times
1.) President: Welcome/MBA Updates 10 minutes
2.) Guest Introductions
3.). Member Introductions 20 minutes
(1 minute each)
4.). Guest Speaker 10 minutes
5.) Q&A for the speaker 5 minutes
6.). Leads Exchange 10 minutes
7.) Drawing 5 minutes
NOTE: The speaker may bring a door prize (value of $20-25.00) to give at the end of the meeting. Members who bring a referral of a visitor are eligible for the door prize.
8.) President: Adjournment
SPEAKER PRESENTATION:
Each week, a different member receives the opportunity to make an extended presentation of his or her business. The purpose of the presentation is to educate fellow members, build professional respect, and generate more referrals. The presentation should be 10 minutes in length and should include handouts, literature, samples etc.
ARTICLE VIII. – GROUP OFFICERS
The officers of the group shall be the President, Vice President and Treasurer.
The election of the President, Vice President and Treasurer will be for six month terms running from January 1st to June 30th and from July 1st to December 31st.
Election will be made by secret ballot. A simple majority will determine the winners.
Any vacancy in the officers shall be voted on by the members. A simple majority will determine the winner.
Any officer may be removed upon motion made in writing signed by at least five (5) members and a majority vote of the membership.
Duties of the Officers shall be as follows:
Each officer shall be responsible for the performance of his or her duties at each meeting, and is authorized to assign his or her duties to another as a substitute during absences or another officer must handle the absent officers responsibilities.
President: The President shall preside at the weekly meetings, provide follow-up on visitors, maintain speaker rotation, maintain all forms and supplies and provide follow-up on absent members. . The President shall also be responsible for welcoming and supervising the induction of each new member into the organization.
Vice President: Shall act for the President in the President’s absences. His or her duties shall also include providing a monthly referral report, maintain membership roster, provide weekly (or as necessary) updates on the MBA web site, assist in the follow-up on absent members and provide weekly MBA updates.
Treasurer: Will collect semi-annual dues (annual MBA dues are paid directly to the Association), collect quarterly meal payments, pay restaurant expenses, and maintain an accurate checkbook ledger, deposit funds and request checks from the MBA.
If all 3 officers are absent either a past officer or another member will be appointed to handle officer’s responsibilities.
G. In cases where an officer is no longer employed by the company
that paid for the membership, the replacement shall be treated as
a new member and the group shall vote on their membership to
the group. A special election shall be held to replace the officer’s
position.
H. A member must be a member of the group for at least 3 months to
run for an officer position.
.
ARTICLE IX. – REFERRAL GROUP BANK ACCOUNT
1. The bank account of the Referral Group must be at the
same bank as the accounts of the Millard Business
Association.
2. The bank statement for the account must be sent to the
Treasurer of the MBA by the bank. A copy of the
Statement will then be sent to the Treasurer of the
Referral Group.
ARTICLE IX. – MBA RESPONSIBILITIES
Staff person to give occasional updates on upcoming Millard Business Association activities.
Help in obtaining new members.
Maintain “wait list” for the group that will be updated on the Millard Business Association’s web site.
Help resolve business category conflicts.
Maintain group roster on the Millard Business Association web site. It is therefore imperative that all Referral Groups maintain current and accurate roster information.
ARTICLE XI -CODE OF ETHICS
I will be truthful with the members and their referrals.
I will build good will and trust among members and their referrals.
I will take responsibility for following up on the referrals I receive. I will live up to the ethical standards of my profession.
I will be positive and supportive toward the members of the Referral Group.
I will keep any sensitive information within the confines of the Referral Group.
The Referral Group By-Laws may be amended by affirmation vote of the MBA Board of Directors. The MBA reserves the right to alter these By-Laws at any time.
