Rules and Regulations
	Name: The name of the club is "The Tipsters." Purpose: The Tipsters is an organization of business persons dedicated to the ideals of bettering their respective careers through the interchange of social and professional contacts. Each member represents one occupation, and conflicts of interest are not allowed. Tipster Commitment: Always have a fellow member satisfy my business or personal needs whenever possible. Recruit one new applicant who becomes a member of the club per year. If my alternate or I miss 4 meetings in a calendar quarter, excused or not, then the membership will be subject to forfeiture. Report any breach of ethics to the Ethics Committee. Provide a minimum of two tips per month to any club member. Membership fees are non-refundable. I/We agree not to "Recruit" fellow members, or anyone who a fellow member refers as a tip to me, to join an MLM company, or become part of a "down line." Membership: The active membership of this club shall consist of men and women of good character and community standing, residing or having other community interest within the area of this club and each having one vote. Members are businesspersons who have all necessary licenses and permits required for their business including a business license if required by the city. Members have a storefront, business office or home office in Sonoma County. If operating under a fictitious name, a permit and business checking account under that name is required. Due to the nature of the Tipsters, Network Marketing or Multi Level Marketing companies cannot become members. However, individuals can sell MLM products in their businesses as long as they: A: Do not use the name of the parent MLM company on their badge, but market themselves under their own name, or their personal company name, and only under one approved general business category. And B: Do not "recruit" fellow members, or anyone who a fellow member refers as a tip to them, to join the parent MLM company, or become part of a "down line." Alternate: A member may allow an alternate to attend meetings and to vote on his or her behalf. An approved alternate must be either related to, or directly involved with, the member's business. Example: An employee, or spouse could come and vote in place of the business owner. The approved alternate may speak for, and vote for the member; however, the member themselves must attend the meetings a minimum of twice per month, in order to retain membership. Individual Membership: is nontransferable and cannot be sold. The individual or company that pays the initial membership fee shall own the membership. If the individual or company leaves the club, rights to the membership are forfeited. If the individual member changes the company or category that he represents and owns the membership, the Board of Directors shall have the right to approve or disapprove the new company or category. New Members: Prospective members must attend two consecutive meetings, submit an application to the Inspector and set up a time to have the Inspector interview them at their place of business. Prospective members will not attend the third meeting. A written membership vote will be taken at the third meeting. There will be no voting by proxy. Three votes shall be sufficient to deny an applicant membership. Conflicts of Interest: Occasionally, a slight overlap of occupations will occur and conflicts of interest become apparent. In case of a conflict, the proposed member must write a letter outlining how he will represent the club and submit it for approval by the Board of Directors. Exception: When a member is involved with another leads group, that individual's category stays open for one additional member of the same category. In other words, if you belong to another leads group, your category becomes open for another person of the same occupation to come in and share the category with you. Speak Off: If two people apply for the same category within a two-week interval, a speak-off will occur the third week. A five-minute presentation by each person will be required at that meeting. Ballots will be passed and the person receiving the majority of written votes will become the member. Inspections and membership checks must be completed prior to the speak-off. The Board of Directors: The Board of Directors will meet at the end of the Wednesday morning meeting as needed. The Board of Directors is made up of the following Officers: President: The President shall serve as the executive officer of the club, preside at all meetings of the membership, exercise general supervision over affairs of the club. The President is to perform other duties as are ordinarily incumbent upon a President and report to the Board of Directors. Vice President: The Vice President shall perform such duties that are ordinarily incumbent upon the Vice President ant such other duties as may be assigned by the President or the Board of Directors. Duties Include: Fill in for the President when he/she is absent. Take attendance. Collect business cards from Guests and oversee the passing around of business cards each week. Keep the President and the Board of Directors updated as to the attendance of the various members of the club. Any other duties assigned by the President. Treasurer: The Treasurer shall keep and maintain records of all financial actions of the club, which shall include all records of membership initiation fees, dues, fines, and all money collected and disbursed. The Treasurer shall prepare quarterly and annual statements for the club and generally perform such duties that are ordinarily incumbent upon a Treasurer. Duties include: Collect membership fee of $100 from new members. Provide new members with a Tipsters business card caddie for business referrals. Collect weekly breakfast bill money from members and settle with the Restaurant. Provide change for members to use during the meeting. Give a brief financial report quarterly to the members. Write checks as directed by the President and Board of Directors. Balance bank Statement. Settle any returned checks or member financial responsibilities. Provide the Board of Directors with a quarterly balance sheet. Provide the Board of Directors with a yearly financial statement. Perform any duties assigned by the President and/or Board of Directors. Program Director: The Program Director schedules all of the greeters and speakers for weekly meetings. He/She reminds the members of their obligation to speak or to greet. Program Director introduces the speaker at the weekly club meetings and any other duties assigned by the President or Board of Directors. Tip Master: The Tip Master keeps track of all tips given. Monthly and quarterly reports to be provided showing leads given and leads received. Tip Master to monitor the number of leads and to research if a member is continually providing "bogus" leads. If member is not present for a lead that is given to them, then the Tip Master is to pass that lead onto the receiver of the lead or tip that week. If Tip Master is unable to reach member for lead, then lead is given the following week. The Tip Master is to read the definition of a "tip." Tip Master to perform any duties requested by the President or Board of Directors. The Inspector: The Inspector will speak weekly on "how to become a member" and will visit the place of business of each prospective member following their first breakfast meeting with The Tipsters. A credit report will be run on the individual representing the company or firm. If their credit is below the sub par level, (below the level of most lending institutions), the prospective member can be denied membership. The Inspector determines if the category that the prospective member is interested in is available. The inspector determines if there is a conflict of interest. If so, the inspector follows the rules and regulations of the club and goes to the Board of Directors, which will convene shortly after the next meeting to make a decision. All decisions for the Board are Final. The Inspector is to perform any duties assigned by the President or Board of Directors. Membership Development/Ethics Chairperson: The Membership Development Chairperson will provide encouragement and tips for bringing in new members. He or She will actively work towards increasing the quantity and quality of new members in The Tipsters. The Membership Development Chairperson will also serve as the Chairman of the Ethics committee, and will also perform any duties assigned by the President or Board of Directors. Sergeant at Arms: Sergeant at Arms is responsible for maintaining the conduct of the members at the club meetings. Sergeant at Arms is to arrive before each meeting and to confirm that the layout of the table is adequate and that the necessary materials are present for the weekly meeting. The Sergeant at Arm is to monitor the time of the speaker at the weekly meetings. The Speaker is not to exceed 10 minutes for the speech and an additional 5 minutes for questions. The Sergeant at Arms is to perform any duties assigned by the President or the Board of Directors. Social Director: The Social Director is to plan quarterly social events or mixers to enhance the opportunities to bring prospective guest and to build greater friendship and confidence amongst the members. The Social Director is to perform any duties assigned by the President or the Board of Directors. Members at Large: The Members at Large are two individuals who sit on the Board of Directors as voting members. Their responsibility is to support all of the other members of the Board of Directors in their duties and to participate in all club activities and to be a "Good Member" through example. Members at large are to perform any duties assigned by the President or the Board of Directors. Meetings: The Tipsters shall hold a weekly breakfast meeting starting at 7:30 AM every Wednesday. Members are to arrive at 7:15 AM at the designated place of the meeting in order to greet the guests and other members of the club. The Fifth Wednesday of every month that has 5 Wednesdays will be a dark day and the club will not hold it's regularly scheduled meeting. Tangibles: The club will provide every new member of the club a card caddie to store the business cards of the other members of the club. The club will also provide a "Tipster Pin" with the members name and classification. The Tipsters will also provide the "Tip Slips" to the members every week. Other handouts and brochures will be provided on an "as needed" basis. Membership Fees: There is a one-time fee of $100 that is collected at the time the new member is adopted into the club after the usual inspections, review of membership categories, and a vote has been taken. There could potentially be an additional fee in the future if the Board of Directors chooses to levy and additional fee. Such a levy would require a 2/3 vote of the general membership of the club. Dues: Dues are to be paid for the whole year in advance in the first week of February, at the rate of $75 per fiscal year (February 1^st to the last week in January). New members will pay a pro-rated fee when they join. Breakfast Meeting Contributions: Each Tipster member will pay $5 per meeting, paid in advance, per quarter. This $5 minimum can be used towards their breakfast (subtract $5 from their total for breakfast, tax and tip). If the member does not care to have breakfast, or does not show up on a particular Wednesday, this $5 will be used as their contribution to the Tipsters, and the meeting room. Since we meet for the first four Wednesdays of the month, this comes to $20 a month, or $60 for a quarter. $60 will be due at the beginning of each quarter (first Wednesdays in: February, May, August, and November). New members will pay a pro-rated fee when they join. Fiscal Year: The Fiscal year of the Club goes from the first Wednesday of February to the last Wednesday of January of the following year. During the month of January, a new Board of Directors will be nominated and voted into office. Fines: Fines will be levied for the following: $1 for not having a tip each week. $1 for arriving to the weekly meeting after 7:30, or after the meeting begins. $10 if a member fails to show up as a greeter or speaker when scheduled. $1 for interrupting with chatter, at the discretion of the Sergeant of Arms. At the Presidents discretion. Membership-Building Incentives: On the first meeting of the month, we will honor each member who has brought one or more guests in the previous month with five Tipster Bucks, which can be used for their dues, fines or breakfast. Any member whose guest becomes a full member will receive an additional $20 Tipster Bucks and is honored as a "Golden Tipster." Membership Termination for Non-Participation: At the discretion of the Board of Directors, any active member who fails to attend 3 out of 4 monthly meetings without excuse shall, at the directions of a majority vote of the Board of Directors (quorum required) be terminated and shall be notified in writing by the club. If, over a two-month period, the member submits "too many" excused absences, the same process, outlined above, may be applied. The Board of Directors may review the individual's active membership of this club based on the following criteria: regular attendance at club meetings, which is vital to the successful functioning of the club, and individual membership involvement and participation in club activities. The Code of Ethics, and causes for a Member's Suspension: The Board of Directors is authorized, as herein provided, to suspend from membership, for a period of not more than one year, any member of this club for "Good Cause." The suspended member loses all voting and other rights during the term of his suspension. The definition of Good Cause: Any conduct that brings the club into public disrepute or violates the purpose for which this club is formed. Any willful failure or refusal to abide by the rules and regulation of this club. Any willful failure or refusal to pay any assessments levied pursuant to the provisions of these bylaws. Any willful failure or refusal to abide by the code of ethics and the refusal to use a fellow member to satisfy my business or personal needs whenever possible. Conviction of any felony or any crime involving moral turpitude. The filing of any voluntary petition in bankruptcy or making any assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the doing or performing of any act constituting bankruptcy or insolvency, if such act or petition or thing is not cleared up and released within 30 days. Any conduct that causes any member to come into public dispute. Any conduct unbecoming of a professional person, or which causes severe embarrassment, either personally or in the business community, to any other member. Any conduct in violation or in breach of the code of ethics of this club of such a serious nature as to render his continued presence as a member of the club personally or professionally obnoxious or detrimental to the other members of the club. Any willful failure or refusal to pay any just debt which is validly due and owing by such member. The Procedure for a Member's Permanent Expulsion: Any and all alleged violations of the "Good Cause" provisions of the rules and regulations, shall be in writing, addressed to the Chairman of the Ethics committee, unless the chairman is the alleged violator, in which case the writing shall be addressed to the President. The Chairman of the Ethics Committee shall forward a copy of the writing to the President, immediately upon its receipt. The Ethics Committee shall abide by and be bound by the rules and regulations of The Tipsters, with reference to the manner of conducting their investigation. A copy of the rules and regulations shall be made available to each committee member and to the alleged violator. The result of the committee's investigation of the alleged violation and alleged violator shall be submitted to the President, in writing, not later than ten days after the completion of their investigation. Upon receipt of the committee's investigation report, the President shall immediately call a meeting of the Board of Directors of the club. The board meeting as called (Quorum required) shall be conducted in accordance with the rules and regulations of The Tipsters. Each member of the Board of Directors, and the alleged violator, shall be given a complete and up to date copy of the rules and regulations of The Tipsters. The vote of the Board of Directors shall be final and binding. An expelled member's membership in this club is immediately and conclusively terminated and they shall not be eligible for readmission to the club. All rights of the subject member in the club shall cease on his/her expulsion Acceptance of these Rules and Regulations: Any person who is proposed and accepted for membership in the Tipster Club shall be deemed to have accepted these rules and regulations and subsequent changes, and shall be bound by them in all respects. Amendments to these Rules and Regulations: Any amendments to these rules and regulations may be adopted by two-thirds vote of the active members present at any meeting to this club, a quorum being present. Written notice of the proposed amendment shall have been given the members at least two weeks prior to the meeting. Rules and Regulations adopted 3/3/99, amended and updated 7/11/2001 and 1/29/2003 and 10/15/2003 and May 25, 2005.
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