Washtenaw Referral Network, Inc. Membership Policies

A person can be a guest twice before they will be required to apply for membership.

At the end of the guest's second meeting, if they are interested in joining they will need to provide a resume. The resume should identify or target the focused area on which the applicant is basing their application to the group. References shall be identified in the resume.

Upon receipt of the resume, the membership committee will conduct and complete an investigation within one week by:

• Reviewing the resume
• Upon successful review of the resume, conduct a reference check, if necessary
• Vote as to the acceptance of the applicant with a simple majority determining
• Acceptance or nonacceptance
• Providing notification to the applicant of the investigation/vote (by telephone and/or written correspondence)

The investigation/vote is based the review of the membership committee who will have sole discretion to accept or deny the application.

There shall be no right to appeal of the membership committee decision.

The membership committee will only provide the applicant and/or other Washtenaw Referral Network, Inc. members with the decision of membership committee, as opposed to the providing details of the results of the vote, reference check, etc.

The membership committee will only approve one business or individual per focused area. Members will only be allowed to promote their focus area as opposed to any other goods or services that they may provide.

Once a member is approved the two hundred dollar annual membership dues must be paid, as well as the monthly fees for the current quarter of the year. Annual dues will be required of all members and will be for the period of January 1 through December 31 of each year. The executive board (e.g., President, Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer) has the exclusive authority to establish or modify the amount of the annual dues. Annual dues for new members will be prorated to the closest quarter of the year. Monthly fees will be prorated based upon the week of the month. Monthly fees are currently $40/month and will be set in an amount determined solely by the executive board. Annual dues will be used to cover the overhead costs of the group (e.g., web page design, guest speakers, membership drives, etc.). Monthly fees will be used to cover the charges for room rental and continental breakfast for the weekly meeting.

If there is more than one person representing the same focus area/industry or profession or sharing the same seat (e.g., State Farm Insurance), the first member will pay full annual membership dues and each additional member will pay 50% of the annual dues with the understanding that each would pay the quarterly fees. Employees of a member and substitutes for a member will not have to pay an additional annual due.

Any member who is more then 2 weeks delinquent in the payment of annual dues or monthly fees shall be suspended from membership until the dues/fees are brought current. During the suspension of any member, that member's seat is open and can be filled by an applicant who satisfactorily completes the application process and pays dues, or the suspended member paying dues, whichever occurs first.

Once a member is accepted into the group they will be on probation for six weeks. At the end of the first two weeks of probation the new member will be required to submit a photograph, written "sixty second introduction", "tag line", website address (If the member's business has a website) and logo to be used in the promotional/marketing brochure and/or web page. At the conclusion of the six-week probationary period the member will no longer be on probation unless the membership committee notifies the new member that probation is being extended or membership is being revoked.

The Treasurer will maintain and distribute a list of those members who are not current with annual dues or monthly fees.

Attendance Policies: A member is allowed two un-excused absences per quarter. The membership committee will review all absences. An excused absence is by definition an unexpected event (e.g., sick child, car accident, etc.) that causes you to miss the meeting and is unexcused because a telephone call has been made to one of the officers prior to the meeting letting them know that you will not be present and the reason. An unexcused absence is an absence due a planned event (e.g., office meeting, vacation, etc.) or an excused absence that was not communicated to an officer prior to the meeting.

The key is to make sure that when you have a planned absence (e.g., office meeting, vacation, etc.) to get a substitute. Your substitute can be a family member, friend, business associate, someone in a totally different business, etc. All that is needed is to have someone there to receive referrals so that the referrals are being timely handled and so that the referrer does not need to take time out of their business day trying to track down individuals who were not there to receive referrals. It is the responsibility of each member to find a substitute when they will be absent.

If a member exceeds the number of allowed absences, they will not be allowed to attend meetings for 1/4 of a year and their seat will be open. The membership committee will be strictly enforcing the attendance policy. At the end of the suspension, members who are interested in returning to the group will need to re-apply to the membership committee and provide a corrective action plan to ensure compliance with the attendance requirements.

Guests: Each member is obligated to bring two guests in a six-month (26 week) period.

Late Arrival / Early Departure: Three late arrivals (e.g., arrival after 7:15 a.m.) or early departures (e.g., leaving before 8:30 a.m.) count as one absence.

Discipline / Expulsion: The membership committee will have, in their sole discretion, the ability to take any disciplinary actions, including, but not limited to expulsions, in regards to any violations of these policies.

Ethics Clause: If a member is accused of any act involving moral or ethical issues under any law, or any act which casts an unfavorable light upon the association with Washtenaw Referral Network (hereby known as WRN), is accused of performing or committing any act which would could adversely impact services or reputation, the Washtenaw Referral Network, shall have the right to terminate said membership in WRN. The determination of whether and to what extent the offense is cured shall be made by Washtenaw Referral Network, acting through the membership committee, at its sole discretion.

Adopted 4/26/02
Rev'd 3/19/10