GLMV Connect Networking Group
ARTICLES OF OPERATION

ARTICLE I – ORGANIZATION:

GLMV Connect Networking Group (hereinafter referred to as the Organization) operates as a committee of “GLMV Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry” and functions under those by-laws and these specific articles. In the event of a conflict between those by-laws and these articles, the by-laws of the GLMV Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry shall govern.

ARTICLE II – OBJECTIVES:

The objective of this organization is to develop new, additional, profitable business for its Members through transactions between Members and referrals or recommendations by Members to each other.

ARTICLES III – MEMBERSHIP:

To be eligible for Membership in GLMV Connect Networking Group a Company must:

• a) Be a Member in good standing of the GLMV Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
• b) Not be in competition with any other Member Company in the GLMV Connect networking group.
• c) Not be a Member Company of another GLMV networking group.

ARTICLES IV – MEMBER/REPRESENTATION:

The Representative to the organization must:

• a) Be the person who will be regularly attending meetings
• b) Be able to vote and to act for and in the name of the Member Company
• c) Designate an Associate to attend all meetings in their absence, who will be empowered to act on behalf of the Member Company without further action.

ARTICLE V – OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBER:

The obligations of the GLMV Connect Networking Group members are as follows.

• a) Members are expected to enthusiastically furnish valid business referrals and leads on a continuing basis to other Member Companies.
• b) Member firms shall be represented at all bi-weekly network meetings either by their Primary Representative or their designated alternatives. A member firm that is not represented at either two consecutive meetings or four meetings within a calendar year shall be referred to the Board of Directors for further action.
• c) Members are expected to participate in presenting a “Craft Talk” about their business, to help other Members learn more about them and their Company.
• d) Members are expected to pay their dues on time. Dues will be used for promotional and charitable purposes.
• e) Members are expected to arrive promptly for commencement of bi-weekly meetings.

Failure to fulfill any of the obligations imposed under this Article may result in revocation of membership privileges in the organization, by authority of the Board of Directors as set forth in Article IX.

If, due to extenuating circumstances, a member company finds it cannot fulfill its Meeting attendance responsibilities, a request for temporary leave of absence can be made of the Board of Directors. Such a request must be in writing and detail the circumstances. A leave of absence, if granted, cannot exceed 90 days. During the leave of absence the organization will not actively recruit a replacement in the member’s category. All other member responsibilities shall continue during member’s leave of absence from meeting attendance; including, but not limited to referrals and transactions given and membership dues. Membership dues will be assessed at ½ the normal rate during leave of absence.

ARTICLE VI – SELECTION OF MEMBERS:

• a) Current members are encouraged to invite prospective members to a meeting.
• b) Applications for membership shall be submitted to the Membership Director together with all additional information pertaining to the prospective Member. Membership Director shall inform the Board of Directors of all applications immediately. It shall be the responsibility of the Membership Director to secure all additional information that might be desirable or which will aid the Board of Directors in voting on the applicant.
• c) If there is a conflict in question, the name of the applicant shall be announced at the next Network Meeting prior to the submission of the name to the Board of Directors, giving information about the firm in question.
• d) If any member desires to object to the applicant, such objections shall be made to the Membership Director in writing detailing the reasons for such objection.
• e) After all the information has been secured by the Membership Director and the name of the applicant has been announced giving the information about the firm in question as stated above, the Membership Director shall submit the application, together with all available information, to the Board of Directors.
• f) If two (2) or more negative votes are cast by the Board of Directors present at the meeting, a quorum being present and voting, the application shall be dropped from further consideration. Lacking two (2) ethical or legal negative votes, the applicant will be accepted for membership.

ARTICLE VII – MEETINGS:

Meetings shall be scheduled as such:

• a) Regular Meetings of the membership shall be held on the  first and third Tuesday of each month starting with breakfast and social gathering at 7:15 a.m. and networking official Meeting is to begin promptly at 7:30 a.m.
• b) The members will be considered tardy if not present by 7:30 a.m.
• c) Special Meetings of the Members may be called by the President or the by the Advisors or by written request of the majority of Members directing the President to call a special meeting.
• d) The meeting place will be designated by the Directors as necessary, but will not be outside the GLMV area.

ARTICLE VIII – MEMBERSHIP FEES AND DUES:

The dues shall be as follows:

• a) Each member shall pay dues quarterly as agreed upon by the membership together with any charges for extra meals or special assessments.
• b) Dues will be charged quarterly in advance and are due the first meeting of each calendar quarter.
• c) Dues are not refundable.
• d) New members will be charged the balance of the quarter's dues, prorated, based on the month they join.
• e) Members whose dues are past due for two months in a given quarter shall be referred to the Board.

ARTICLE IX – Board of Directors

• a) The governing body of this organization is its 6-member Board of Directors – selected by the vote of the members of GLMV Connect networking group. From this Board of Directors, the selection of officers will be made each year. The positions of President, Vice-President, Secretary, Program Director, Treasurer and two Member Directors will be ‘nominated’ by the Board of Directors for ratification by the GLMV Connect networking group.
• b) The business affairs of the organization shall be managed by it’s Board of Directors, which shall provide for expenditures of the organization, act upon nominations and applications for membership and adopt rules as may be necessary for the conduct of affairs of GLMV Connect networking group within the framework of the GLMV Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry and these Articles.
• c) The term of office of the Board of Directors members shall be one year. An officer can be elected and serve in a different office as long it is not in excess of two terms in the same office.
• d) Each officer shall hold office until his successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, or until his death, resignation, or removal in the manner hereinafter provided.
• e) Removal – Any office elected or appointed may be removed by vote of the Board of Directors when in the best interest of the Organization will be served thereby. A Director or Officer whose business ceases to be a Member of the Network or the Chamber, or who ceases to be the Representative of the Member business shall automatically without further action be removed as an Officer or Director and such position shall be automatically vacant.
• f) Vacancies – A vacancy in any office, caused by death, resignation, removal or otherwise, may be filled by appointment of the Board of Directors for the unexpired portion of the vacated term.
• g) Advisory Board of Directors Meeting – Monthly or as needed by a majority vote.

ARTICLE X – DUTIES OF OFFICERS:

President: The President of the Board of Directors shall preside over the meetings of the Board of Directors. In the absence of the Vice-President and Secretary, he or she shall preside at meetings of the Members. The President shall be the principal Executive Officer of the organization and shall in general supervise and control all of the business and affairs of the Organization, except meetings of the Members. The President will report to, and be liaison, the GLMV Board of Directors.

Vice-President: The Vice President shall preside at all meetings of the Members, and shall perform such duties as may be assigned to him or her by the President, and in general shall assist the President in every way to promote the objectives of the Organization. In the absence of the President, he or she shall preside at meetings of the Board of Directors.

Secretary: The Secretary records the referrals given and received by each member. He/she compiles a report card that gives an accounting of the referrals and the prospective members that have been brought to the meetings. He/she is also responsible for recording the minutes of each meeting.

Treasurer: The Treasurer is responsible for the collection of dues, bookkeeping and managing funds. A treasury report will be presented monthly at the last meeting of each month.

Program Director: The Program Director shall be in charge of and have the duties of arranging for the weekly craft talks of Members, and organizing such other activities as are approved by the Board of Directors. In the absence of the President and Vice-President, the Program Director will preside at meetings of the Board of Directors. In the absence of the Vice-President, he or she will preside at meetings of the Members.

Membership Director: The Membership Director will be responsible for presenting applications for membership to the Board of Directors for their consideration. He or she will secure all information necessary to properly consider an applicant and will direct the Secretary to ‘post’ or announce the candidate’s name and Company to the membership in the weekly bulletin for two (2) consecutive weeks prior to submitting the name to the Board of Directors for their consideration at their next regular meeting.

Salaries: No member of the Organization shall receive compensation for his or her services.

ARTICLES XI – CONTRACTS, LOANS, CHECKS AND DEPOSITS:

Contracts: The Board of Directors may recommend an officer or officers, agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Organization, and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances, subject in all cases to approval by the President of the GLMV Connect networking group and the president of the GLMV Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Loans: No loans shall be contracted on behalf of the Organization.

ARTICLE XII – WAIVER OF NOTICE:

Whenever any notice whatever is required to be given under the provisions of these articles or under the provisions of the articles of incorporation or under the provisions of the General Not-for-profit Corporation Act of the State of Illinois, waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice.

ARTICLE XIII – AMENDMENTS:

These articles may be altered, amended or repealed and new articles may be adopted at a regular or special meeting of the GLMV Connect networking group by a majority vote, a quorum being present.

The GLMV Connect Networking Group Mission Statement

The purpose of the GLMV Connect Networking Group is to promote professionalism of its members, and networking growth through education, development, encouragement and mentoring.

Board of Directors – POLICIES & PROCEDURES:

• 1. Nominations of officers shall be made on the first meeting day in November of each year. Elections shall be held on the first meeting day in December of each year. Newly elected officers shall assume their offices on the first day of the following year.
• 2. The initial year (2001), the existing officers will declare in October, their intent to continue to serve an additional year or relinquish their office. Those positions vacated will be filled by the vote as described above in #1. This will establish the offices to be filled on alternate years.
• 3. Members arriving late to the Members meeting will be subject to fines. After three late arrivals, they will be subject to a $1.00 late arrival charge each time they are late. Meetings begin promptly at 8:30. Exceptions will be made for emergencies as the Board of Directors sees fit.
• 4. If dues are unpaid for a quarter, the membership shall be dropped. Former members will be considered for reinstatement if back dues are paid in full when application for membership reinstatement is submitted.
• 5. A quorum for voting purposes is a simple majority of the members and/or board present.
• 6. The determination for rejection for membership is limited to the conflict with an existing members primary business.
• 7. The Board of Directors shall meet monthly. These meetings shall be held immediately following the 4th Tuesday of each month’s Members meeting.
• 8. If members are unable to fulfill their obligation of the ‘Craft Talk’, it is their responsibility to contact another member of the group to switch times with them. The member presenting their 'craft talk’ shall supply the breakfast food for the meeting. They should arrive before 7:15 a.m. to prepare for the rest of the member’s arrival. If unable to contact another member, contact the Program Director.
• 9. All business affairs shall follow Robert’s Rule of Order.

Amendments to the Policies & Procedures:

• 1. Effective Septemberr 28, 2004 the starting time for our Tuesday meetings will be changed to 7:30am. Breakfast will begin at 7:30am. Meetings to begin promptly at 7:30am. Late fees are in due for arrivals after 7:30am.
• 2. If a member of the GLMV Connect Networking Group feels another member of the group has violated in any way the Articles of Operation of the GLMV Connect Networking Group, the procedures to follow are such:

Discuss the situation with the other member and clarify or resolve privately. If unable to do so, put in writing the nature of the violation. Submit this objection (in writing) to the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors will review and take any action it feels appropriate.

2007 Officers

Walter Jones
President
847-922-7357

Florene Darr
Secretary
847-949-7100

Rich Haas
Treasurer
847-566-0902

John D. Forker
Membership Director
847-338-3462

Stephanie Smith-Howard
PR Director
847-949-8106

Dennis Manzardo
Program Director
847-247-0011