LAFAYETTE BUSINESS TO BUSINESS
BYLAWS
Lafayette Business to Business
is a not for profit organization.
1.
Goals and Objectives
To promote and
strengthen member businesses through an organized system of networking and the
giving and receiving of business leads.
To share information,
tips, and strategies so that members may benefit from the experiences of their
peers.
2.
Meeting Location and Time
Meetings will be held
weekly at a time and place to be designated by the board of directors. About
forty-five (45) meetings per year will be scheduled. The board of directors
will determine which weeks will be designated as “off weeks.”
3.
Membership Requirements/Restrictions
Membership in Lafayette
Business to Business is a privilege. One business per classification may join.
The board of directors will decide questions about classification. Our goal is
to assemble the “best and brightest” that Lafayette has to offer. The board of
directors reserves the right to deny membership.
At the first meeting
after an application is received, the general membership will be informed of the
applicant’s request for membership. Comments and objections should be directed
to a board member within four (4) days so that the board of directors can be
polled two days before the next meeting and the prospect can be notified in time
to plan to attend as a new member.
Prospective members must
be approved by a vote of six of eight members of the board of directors. The
membership application must be accompanied by a check for half the yearly dues.
Checks will be held until the membership is approved, and will be returned if
the application is denied. If the application is approved, the treasurer will
compute the meeting fees and send an invoice to the new member.
If any member business
requests that a new representative attend the Lafayette Business to Business
meetings, this individual must be approved as a new member. Dues paid by the
member business are transferable if the membership is approved. If the
membership is denied, paid dues are refundable on a pro rata basis.
Member businesses will
designate one representative to attend the Lafayette Business to Business
meetings. An alternate representative may also be designated. If both
representatives attend the same meeting more than three (3) times per term, that
member business will be billed a $6 meeting fee for each additional meeting
attended together. These billings are to be assessed on a monthly basis or at
the convenience of the treasurer.
At least one designated
representative of each member business must be an owner, a key decision-maker,
or possess strong entrepreneurial skills.
4.
Duties of Member Businesses
Member
businesses are obligated to be represented at each meeting, either by the
designated representative or, if necessary, by another member of the
business. Members are expected to attend. Attendance at a level below
seventy-five (75) percent is grounds for canceling a membership. However,
before a membership is canceled, it is the responsibility of the board of
directors to determine the reason for a member business’ poor attendance.
Extenuating circumstances are to be discussed by the board of directors. The
board of directors may cancel a membership with six of eight votes.
Members
are encouraged to bring at least three guests per term, and to bring at least
one lead, business tip, helpful hint, or interesting article to each meeting.
If a member business does not make an effort to fulfill its obligation to the
group, the board of directors may cancel the membership with six of eight votes,
and open the classification
5.
Structure of the Organization
An eight-member board of
directors will be elected by the membership for a term of six months.
The board will then be
responsible for the election of the president-elect, and will also elect its
secretary and treasurer, and will assign other duties to directors as may be
required.
Any member of Lafayette
Business to Business may be nominated for a board position, with the following
exceptions:
1) Current past president,
2) Current president,
3) Vice president/president-elect, and
4) Any current board member having served three (3)
consecutive terms.
The board of directors
will solicit nominations in a fair, inclusive, and democratic manner.
Following his/her term,
the president will automatically become a member of the board of directors for
the following term.
Elections will be held
about two meetings prior to the start of the term (two weeks before January 1
and July 1).
The board of directors
will meet monthly, unless the president deems the meeting unnecessary. Part of
the weekly meeting following a board meeting will be devoted to a discussion of
any relevant business.
6.
Dues
Dues will be established
by a six of eight vote of the board of directors. Dues and meetings fees can be
paid yearly or every six months.
Dues and meeting fees
will be payable by the 15th day of the first month of the term. An
additional 15-day grace period is allowed, and if not paid, the board may cancel
membership. Semi-annual dues will not be prorated. However, when a member’s
application is accepted, meeting fees will be calculated for the remaining weeks
in the term, and assessed accordingly.
During his or her term
as president (6 mo.) membership dues will be waived.
7.
Guest and Guest Fees
The ideal guest is
someone whose business is eligible for membership. Guests must be sponsored by
a current member.
Guests are welcome to
attend meetings, but a guest may attend only two meetings unless an application
for membership is submitted and pending. While membership is pending, the
applicant is welcome to attend additional meetings.
8.
Changes to the Bylaws
These
bylaws can be changed in the following manner:
1) six of eight board members must vote to approve the
change.