Blairstown Business Association

· Further business and civic standards in the Township of Blairstown and neighboring communities by enhancing the profitability of its members and improving the economic base of the neighboring communities.

· Promote the general welfare of our members through our interaction with fellow members, the community, county and state government.

Our goals are:

· To create a cooperative environment between the members of this association and the community, and to discover better business methods for our members through personal networking and outside guest speakers.

· To promote the economic interest of all members of the association.

· To mentor students who wish to further their knowledge in a local business environment, and to develop a stronger scholarship program to assist students to further their business education.

Membership

Membership shall be available to any individual who lives in, or owns or operates a business in the Township of Blairstown or a neighboring community. The member categories are:

· Regular Business Member

· Non Profit Business Member

· Non Business Individual Member

· Affiliate Member – Business not meeting above criteria

· Honorary Member – Voted by the Board of Directors

Membership is based on the calendar year Jan 1^st till December 31^st. Dues must be paid in order to be a member in good standing. Membership is available to for Blairstown and surrounding area business owners and property owners, civic groups, local residents, and those interested in supporting the Blairstown Business Association.

Dues

Any changes to the membership dues shall be determined by the Board Members at the November Board Meeting. The association shall send dues notices in December of each year.

· Regular Business Member - $100.00 – After July 1^st - $50.00

· Non Profit Business Member - $75.00 – After July 1^st - $37.50

· Non Business Individual Member - $50.00 – After July 1^{st -} $25.00

· Affiliate Member - $150.00 – After July 1^{st -} $75.00

· Honorary Members are invited by Board approval at no cost to that Member

Yearly dues are to be paid in full by January 31^st of each year, or a 10% penalty will be applied, which will be donated to the Scholarship Fund. Renewing members that pay their dues before January 31^st can take a $5.00 discount. Dues must be paid in full before being announced as a member and being added to the BBA website. Any member not in good standing will be maintained on the membership roster, but will be deleted from the membership directory, website, or from receiving other member benefits.

Officers

· The officers of the board shall consist of a Chairperson, 1^st and 2^nd Vice Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer and Directors nominated by the Board.

· Elected officers will serve a term of two (2) years.

· (a)The Chairperson shall preside at all Board meetings, appoint committee members, and perform other duties as associated with the office. (b)The 1^st Vice President shall assume the duties of the Chairperson in case of their absence. (c)The Secretary shall be responsible for the minutes of the Board, keep all approved minutes in a minute book, and send out copies of minutes to all. (d) The Treasurer shall keep record of the organization’s budget and prepare financial reports as needed. (e) The Director(s) will be responsible for the duties assigned to them.

Elections

· In November, members in good standing will be asked by the Board if they want to run for office.

· At the December Board Meeting, the Board will vote on Officers and notify the membership of the new officers for the next fiscal term.

Committees - The Board may appoint standing and ad hoc committees as needed.

Meetings

· Regular meetings shall be held on the 4^th Thursday of each month.

· Social meeting will be held the 3^rd month of every quarter. The date is flexible based on the member that will be the host. When possible, they should also be the 4^th Thursday of the month.

· Board Meetings shall be held on the 2^nd Thursday of each month.

· Special meetings may be held at any time when called for by the Chairperson or a majority of Board members.

· Agendas for all meetings should be provided at least one day in advance.

· Notification of meetings and/or changes will be done via email and also posted on our website.

Voting

· A majority of board members constitutes a quorum. (b) In absence of a quorum, no formal action shall be taken except to adjourn the meeting to a subsequent date.

· Passage of a motion requires a simple majority (i.e., one more than half the members present).

· Voting via e-mail requires a unanimous decision.

Conflict of Interest - Any member of the board who has a financial, personal, or official interest in, or conflict (or appearance of a conflict) with any matter pending before the Board, of such nature that it prevents or may prevent that member from acting on the matter in an impartial manner, will offer to the Board to voluntarily excuse him/herself and will vacate his seat and refrain from discussion and voting on said item.

Fiscal Policies - The fiscal year of the board shall commence January 1^st through December 31^st.

Amendments - These by-laws may be amended by a two-third vote of Board members present at any meeting, provided a quorum is present and provide a copy of the proposed amendment(s) are provided to each Board member at least one week prior to said meeting.