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BNI^® Application Process

1. Prospective members must have a sponsor. Prospective members must complete this application and submit it to the Membership Committee for review.
2. The Membership Committee will review your application and inform you of your acceptance or non-acceptance.
3. The Membership Committee notifies the President.
4. The President announces new members at the chapter meeting following acceptance by the Membership Committee and receipt of payment.
5. Upon acceptance, you are required to attend the BNI Member Success Program.

BNI^® Code of Ethics

Upon acceptance to BNI, I agree to abide by the following Code of Ethics during the tenure of my participation in the organization.

1. I will provide the quality of services at the price that I have quoted.
2. I will be truthful with the members and their referrals.
3. I will build goodwill and trust among members and their referrals.
4. I will take responsibility for following up on the referrals I receive.
5. I will display a positive and supportive attitude.
6. I will live up to the ethical standards of my profession.

Professional standards outlined in a formal code of conduct for any profession supersede the above standards.

BNI^® General Policies

Membership Committees of each Chapter have final authority related to enforcement of the BNI Policies. Membership Committees may put a BNI member on probation or open a member’s classification for failure to comply with the Member Policies, the Code of Ethics or BNI Core Values.

1. Only one person from each BNI classification can join a Chapter of BNI. Each Member can only hold one BNI classification in a BNI Chapter.
2. BNI Members must only represent the professional classification approved by the Membership Committee.
3. BNI Members must arrive on time and stay for the entire published meeting time.
4. An individual can only be a Member of one BNI Chapter. A Member cannot be in any other program that allows only one person per profession and / or where referral generation is a goal of membership.
5. A BNI Member is allowed three absences within a continuous six-month period. If a Member cannot attend, they may send a substitute; this will not count as an absence.
6. Members are expected to be engaged in the BNI Chapter by bringing qualified referrals and/or Visitors.
7. Visitors may attend BNI Chapter meetings up to two times.
8. Only BNI Members who have completed the Member Success Program, and BNI Directors/Director Consultants can do Feature Presentations during the BNI Meetings.
9. Leaves of absence are possible for certain extenuating circumstances (e.g., extended medical issue that prevents member from working) at the discretion of the Membership Committee.
10. Members who wish to change their BNI classification must submit a new membership application for approval.
11. All BNI membership lists are for the purpose of giving referrals and building relationships only. Before sending any marketing or business solicitation communications to BNI members outside your Chapter or Director/Director Consultants, the recipient must give their consent. Consent must be freely given, specific, informed and unambiguous.
12. Membership renewal is subject to approval by the Chapter Membership Committee.

Policies are subject to change. All proposed policy changes need to be reviewed first by the International Board of Advisors.

BNI^® Administrative Policies

1. There is an initial application fee. Participation fees are paid annually or biennially. Some regions may offer a 5-year Membership as well. Contact the local Secretary/Treasurer for amounts and payment instructions.
2. BNI may establish Chapters in every city or community with people interested in developing a referral-based business. In addition, BNI reserves the right to open more than one Chapter per community or city where demand of BNI’s services is requested.
3. Membership fees are payable 30 days prior to the due date. Members not paid by the first day of the month they are due, are considered late and will be assessed a late charge. If fees are not paid within 15 days, the Member will be officially dropped by BNI.
4. Fees are non-refundable. A Certificate of Credit will be given, upon request, to Members in good standing for the unused portion of their time. This certificate of credit will be valid for a duration of 2 years from the issue date.
5. Fees cannot be transferred from one person to another unless the fees are from the same company.
6. BNI has a strict policy on returned checks. A Member has three working days in which to contact their Regional BNI office and resolve the matter. Any returned checks not resolved within this period will be turned over to collections. All returned checks will be assessed a minimum $25 returned check fee. If a Member passes a second NSF check, that Member will be subject to immediate termination.
7. BNI is a marketing service provided by BNI Global, LLC. BNI or any of its franchisees reserve the right to discontinue a Member’s participation in this program.
8. A Member requesting a transfer from their current Chapter to a new Chapter will be required to submit a completed new Member application to the Membership Committee of the new Chapter. In addition, if the Member has less than 6 months of paid membership credit, they must submit a renewal payment. For a transfer to a Chapter in the BNI Tampa Bay region, a Member with more than six (6) months of paid membership credit will be charged a $299 Membership Application fee to apply to the new Chapter for consideration by its Membership Committee. Payment of this fee does not guarantee acceptance. Upon acceptance into the new Chapter, the credit from their previous Chapter will be added to their membership in the new Chapter as well as the renewal time, if applicable.

Non-Discrimination Policy

BNI Global requires that Chapters review and select persons for membership in all classifications based on qualifications without regard to actual or perceived race (including hair texture and natural hair styles), color, gender, gender identity or expression, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and religious grooming), national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, age or physical or mental disability, legally protected medical condition or information as defined by local or state law, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking, enrollment is a public assistance program, or any other classification protected by applicable law (referred to as “protected characteristics”). BNI will support no Chapter’s action when in violation of this non-discrimination statement.

No Harassment Policy

BNI does not tolerate harassment of our Franchisees, regional teams, leadership teams or Members at the hand of another. Any form of harassment on the basis of race, creed, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, religion, marital status, disability, military service or veteran status, genetic information or any other classification protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws and ordinances is prohibited and will be treated as a disciplinary matter. BNI is committed to freedom from harassment within our network.

In addition, as BNI is a global organization with a diverse Membership. It is the responsibility of all Members, Directors, Franchisees, regional teams, and leadership teams to promote mindfulness of and sensitivity to cultural differences. Doing so ensures BNI is best able to serve its Members by creating a welcoming environment.

BNI^® Program Guidelines

Program Guidelines are not policies but recommended practices that allow Chapters to run more smoothly and effectively.

Visiting Chapters

• Before visiting another Chapter, the visiting Member should call that Chapter’s President first.
• Members visiting other Chapters should announce that they are from another Chapter.
• Visiting Members must not do or say anything that competes with a Member of that Chapter.
• Visiting Members should pay for their own meal (if applicable).
• Visiting Members follow the same visiting policies as non-members; no more than two visits allowed.

Absences and Tardiness

• Absences and tardiness mean less business for Members; therefore, the Membership Committee may give warnings to Members who are consistently late or leave early. If the problem continues, the Member’s classification may be subject to being re-opened.

Substitute Program

• Potential substitutes include customers, friends, family, BNI Members from other Chapters and/or employees.
• The primary purpose for a substitute is to represent a BNI Member. BNI recommends minimal use of a substitute.
• Members should alert the Chapter of a substitute so that the Visitor Host can be there to greet him/her.

Business Representation

• Members agree to only represent the professional classification approved by the Membership Committee.
• Members of BNI who represent multi-level marketing organizations should represent their products and services in BNI and not the business opportunity element of their business.

BNI^® Terms and Certifications

By submitting this Application, you agree to receive communications from or relating to BNI, and further agree that BNI may share your information and any other information and material you provide with other BNI members, affiliates, vendors, and third parties in order to provide you services as a BNI member. See BNI’s Privacy Policy for more information at https://bnitos.com/privacy/.

You agree that membership in BNI is purely voluntary and does not imply nor create a partnership, agency, or employment relationship between you and BNI of any nature. BNI is not responsible in any manner for any transactions between members regardless of whether such transaction has directly or indirectly resulted from a referral received during the BNI membership term. You agree that BNI does not guarantee any results from membership in BNI and/or from transactions with other members. In no event will BNI be held responsible for member performance. You further agree to indemnify and hold BNI harmless from any claims, damages, or losses arising out of transactions or disputes between members, except where such claims result directly from BNI’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.

Arbitration

All disputes arising out of or related to this Agreement or the member’s participation in BNI shall be resolved by binding arbitration in accordance with the laws of the state where the applicant's BNI Chapter is located. The Arbitration shall be subject to the Expedited Procedures of the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association, regardless of the amount in controversy. This clause encompasses any and all disputes involving BNI, its franchisees, or their respective officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives, as well as members, provided that the disputes pertain to membership or participation in BNI.

THE PARTIES AGREE THAT ALL PROCEEDINGS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE MEMBER’S PARTICIPATION IN BNI WILL BE CONDUCTED ON AN INDIVIDUAL, NOT A CLASS-WIDE BASIS, AND MAY NOT BE CONSOLIDATED WITH ANY OTHER PROCEEDING BETWEEN BNI AND ANY OTHER THIRD PARTY.

Limitations of Liability

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, any liability owed to you by BNI, its franchisees, or their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives, and members for any cause whatsoever arising out of or related to this Agreement and/or your membership or participation in BNI, regardless of the form of the action, will at all times be limited to the amount of the most recent annual membership fee paid by you for membership in BNI. Except in jurisdictions where such provisions are restricted, in no event will BNI, its franchisees, or their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives, and members be liable to you or any third person for any indirect, consequential, exemplary, incidental, special, punitive, or treble damages.

The foregoing limitation of liability provisions shall not apply to any causes of actions brought against a member arising out of or related to private business transactions between members, such as the provisions of goods or services among members, even if that transaction was the result of a business referral through BNI.

No actions hereunder may be commenced unless brought within one (1) year of accrual.

Term

All term fees are measured from the application date. Applications dated between the 1st and the 15th of the month shall begin their term on the 1st of the month. Applications dated after the 15th of the month shall begin their term on the 1st of the following month. Terms run one (1) year from the date the term begins, unless different term is specified in the Application.

Certification

I hereby declare and certify that all statements contained in this Application and any accompanying documents are true and correct, and that any misrepresentation or false statement may be grounds for rejecting my application or, if discovered after my application has been accepted, subject me to immediate termination at franchisee’s or BNI’s discretion without any reimbursement. I further understand that my membership is conditional and I agree, accept and will abide by all the terms and conditions set forth herein and those contained within the BNI Member Policies, Guidelines and Code of Ethics, all of which I have had the opportunity to review upon request or received upon induction. I acknowledge that breach of these terms, conditions, and policies shall be grounds to terminate my membership. I understand and agree that UPON ACCEPTANCE, FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE WITHOUT EXCEPTION.