NETWORK AND BUILD CONNECTIONS

The BWFC provides women entrepreneurs and community leaders with a valuable local platform. As a member, you can leverage the strength of an established community of networkers and givers. Every month, we host events where our members can share information about their businesses. Our Connects, Spotlights, and Gatherings provide opportunities to grow your professional network.

PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS

As a BWFC member, you will have exclusive access to host a Spotlight event. This is an opportunity for you to showcase your business to other members, guests, and visitors. In addition, members can utilize our Facebook group to promote their business events to the BWFC community.

IMPROVE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

The BWFC engages quality speakers and thought leaders to share their expertise during our Connects. These events offer an opportunity to enhance your knowledge in a variety of areas, such as:

• Leadership
• Entrepreneurship
• Women’s health
• Finance

As a member, you will also have an opportunity to develop entrepreneurial skills within a supportive setting. We offer avenues for you to hone the following skills:

• Clear communication
• Making sales pitches
• Persuasion
• Social media marketing
• Project management
• Budgeting
• Event planning

GIVE BACK FOR A BETTER COMMUNITY

It is the mission of the BWFC to give back for a better community. We do this by partnering with local organizations and awarding grant funding with monies raised from our annual gala. As a member, you will have the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution toward the betterment of our community.

INCREASE LOCAL VISIBILITY

Joining a BWFC event committee offers leadership opportunities and increases your visibility. Interacting with committee members and community volunteers provides opportunities to enhance communication skills. Likewise, interacting with sponsors provides you with a chance to develop and refine persuasive skills. Acquiring and refining each of these skills will enhance your entrepreneurial abilities. Moreover, sponsoring our events can generate positive publicity for your business in the local media.

GAIN RECOGNITION

Each year, the BWFC presents the Business Woman of the Year award to a member who has demonstrated the following qualities:

• Leadership
• Integrity
• Congeniality

Additionally, the member has been actively involved in both the BWFC and the local community over the past year. This distinguished recognition serves to acknowledge the qualities of an outstanding BWFC member.

BUILD LIFELONG FRIENDSHIPS

Joining the BWFC will give you an opportunity to develop meaningful professional relationships. Being actively involved in the community can also help you build personal connections that can lead to lifelong friendships.

MEMBERSHIP ELIGIBILITY

Membership in the Business Women of Fayette & Coweta is a valued privilege. Candidates for membership shall meet the requirements set forth in the Bylaws.

Membership is eligible to women in business within Fayette and/or Coweta counties, both profit and non-profit, as owners and/or leaders who have demonstrated good character, integrity, and leadership; who have a good reputation in their business, profession, and community; and who are willing to serve in their community. In addition, any woman in business wishing to join the BWFC not meeting any of the requirements set forth above, may be granted special dispensation by the Executive Board.

Residents of Fayette or Coweta counties may also be eligible for membership if the business is not within the boundaries of these counties.

Membership Fees & Dues

All membership fees and dues shall be determined periodically by the Executive Board of Directors based on predicted expenses and pragmatic economic principles. Membership dues are payable April 1st of each calendar year. Invoices will be sent via email to each member in March under the supervision of the Treasurer. Invoices are payable online via debit or credit card.

In the event that a member does not pay their annual dues within the 30-day grace period from the renewal day, the member will no longer be deemed in good standing with the BWFC. Subsequently, the member shall be removed from the membership roster and will lose access to membership benefits and privileges until such time that their membership is reactivated via submission of a new member application.

Only members in good standing shall be eligible to vote and participate in any BWFC related activities (including serving in leadership positions).

Membership Code of Conduct

The Code of Conduct is a means of guiding all members in making ethical decisions. The Code of Conduct statements listed below are general in nature and not expected to cover all situations that may arise:

• Members will serve as goodwill ambassadors for the Business Women of Fayette & Coweta;
• Members will be fair and respectful towards each other, visitors, vendors, and cause representatives, demonstrating integrity, responsibility, kindness, and sincerity;
• Members will strive for excellence in their professions by maintaining and enhancing their business knowledge and skills, and by encouraging the professional development of other members;
• Members will not allow their personal, or political beliefs and convictions to interfere with the representation of the Business Women of Fayette & Coweta mission;
• Members will not use their personal or professional power, Executive Board position, or membership standing to advance any personal and/or professional interests that may conflict with the mission of the BWFC; and
• Members will maintain compliance with Business Women of Fayette & Coweta Bylaws when attending BWFC meetings or events, or when representing the BWFC

Business Meetings

Business meetings, also referred to as BWFC meetings, will occur bi-monthly in February, April, June, August, October, and December.

The December meeting is the designated Annual General Meeting (“AGM”). The AGM agenda will include the induction of the incoming Executive Board, the presentation of the Woman of the Year award, as well as a celebration of year-end. The incoming Executive Board will be given an opportunity to speak at the AGM and may share the annual calendar and goals for the following year with the BWFC members. The first meeting of the calendar year (February) will include a review of the annual calendar and goals with the BWFC members.

Unless otherwise specified, the AGM and the BWFC meetings are held in the evenings on the fourth Tuesday of the designated month.

Membership Quorum

For membership meetings in which a vote is to be taken, including the Annual General Meeting, a quorum is twenty percent (20%) of the members in good standing. Visitors and other meeting attendees are not eligible to cast a vote.

Executive Board Officers

The Executive Board shall consist of six member elected officers, plus the Chair of the Board of Advisors. The member elected officers are as follows: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Director, and one Member at Large (for up to 100 members).

The term for each member elected Executive Board officer is one year, and each officer may serve up to three (3) consecutive one-year terms.

The seven officers of the Executive Board shall also comprise the Executive Committee. The organization may, at the discretion of the Executive Board, request participation by one or more committee head(s). The Executive Board may meet separately from the general members.

Executive Board Code of Ethics

The Business Women of Fayette & Coweta Executive Board shall:

• Represent the BWFC in the local community
• Manage the operations of the organization
• Hear reports, budgets, proposals, presentations, suggestions, and similar courses of action presented by committees or individual members, and approve, modify, or disprove same based on the organization’s mission and purpose
• Provide leadership and guidance to the BWFC while maintaining a democratic process
• Consider the benefits, goals, and mission of the organization as a whole over the benefits, goals, and mission of any single individual or faction of individuals
• Convene on a published schedule, available to the general membership
• Convene special meetings, as necessary, at their discretion, provided all Executive Board members are advised of such meetings
• Hold no undocumented meetings
• Form standing and ad hoc committees, and appoint committee chairs when: a) The proposed committee duties cannot be performed by an existing committee  b) The proposed duties represent a real need  c) Committee formation will be beneficial to the organization as a whole
• Executive Board members are urged to participate in fundraiser activities by actively seeking sponsorships, looking for silent auction items, and donating their time and/or finances to the BWFC annual causes

Executive Board Meetings

Executive Board Meetings are to be held monthly, with the location and time to be determined by the Executive Board President.

Executive Board Quorum

A quorum must be present to secure any vote. A quorum at an Executive Board meeting is four (4) officers.

Executive Board Offices & General Responsibilities

President

• Serves as the elected leader of the Executive Board and of the organization
• Serves as the “face” of the organization both in the community and amongst the general membership
• Attends and presides over Executive Board meetings and BWFC meetings, or delegates another Executive Board member to do so in her absence
• Participates in Executive Board votes Email: Info@bwfcc.org

See the BWFC Operations Manual for the full job description of this position.

Vice President

• Serves as an elected member of the Executive Board
• Attends Executive Board meetings and BWFC meetings
• Presides over Executive Board meetings and BWFC meetings in the absence of the President
• Ensures adherence to the Executive Board and BWFC meeting agendas
• Participates in Executive Board votes Email: BWFCVP@gmail.com

See the BWFC Operations Manual for the full job description of this position.

Secretary

• Serves as an elected member of the Executive Board
• Attends Executive Board meetings and BWFC meetings
• Participates in Executive Board votes
• Maintains and distributes all official communications to the organization

Email: secretary@bwfcc.org

See the BWFC Operations Manual for the full job description of this position.

Treasurer

• Serves as an elected member of the Executive Board
• Attends Executive Board meetings and BWFC meetings
• Participates in Executive Board votes
• Maintains complete and accurate accounts of BWFC finances, showing receipts, disbursements, balances, and locations of bank accounts, etc.
• Provides monthly financial statements and verbal reports to the Executive Board Email: Treasurer@bwfcc.org

See the BWFC Operations Manual for the full job description of this position.

Membership Director

• Serves as an elected member of the Executive Board
• Attends Executive Board meetings and BWFC meetings
• Participates in Executive Board votes
• Maintains the Membership Master List
• Assists in new member enrollment

Email: Membership@bwfcc.org

See the BWFC Operations Manual for the full job description of this position.

Member at Large

• Serves as an elected member of the Executive Board
• Attends Executive Board meetings and BWFC meetings
• Participates in Executive Board votes
• At the discretion of the Executive Board, preference for this position may be given to the immediate past president

Email: BWFCmemberatlarge@gmail.com

See the BWFC Operations Manual for the full job description of this position.

Board of Advisors

The Board of Advisors shall consist of past presidents, who are members in good standing with the organization, active in the organization, and who are available and willing to serve.

The Board of Advisors will serve as the Nomination Committee and the Election Committee. If a member of the Board of Advisors decides to run for office, they will be removed from the election committee process.

The Board of Advisors may be called upon by the current Executive Board to assist with extenuating circumstances and issues that require intervention and guidance. If needed, the Board of Advisors may reverse Executive Board decisions that are not in line with the mission and purpose of the organization.

While the Board of Advisors is for advisement purposes only and generally does not have voting authority, the Chair of the Board of Advisors will be granted voting rights as part of the Executive Board.

Chair Positions

Chair positions are voluntary or appointed by the Executive Board. In October of each year, the President will convene the Executive Board to identify qualified and willing candidates to serve in Chair positions. While Chair positions do not have the voting rights of the Executive Board officers, they may be designated by an Executive Board officer to vote in their absence.

The Chairs are as follows:

• Marketing & Social Media Chair
• Website Chair
• Cause Selection Committee Chair
• Fundraising Chair(s)

See the BWFC Operations Manual for the full job description of this position.

Executive Board Nominations & Election Process

Qualifications and Requirements

Members seeking to be elected to the Executive Board must be a member in good standing for at least one year. Additionally, nominees for President must have served on the Executive Board for a year prior to nomination. The Executive Board, along with the

Advisory Board, has the discretion to appoint an Executive Board member if one has not been nominated.

Nomination Guidelines

A nomination submission form will be emailed to each member as well as posted in the Members Only Facebook Group. Individuals may self-nominate, or nominate another individual by submitting their nomination form on or before the due date. Any individual nominated by another party will have the right to refuse the nomination.

Individuals may be nominated for only one position per election, except for those running for the (“titled”) positions of Vice President, Treasurer, or Secretary. If qualified, they may run concurrently for the position(s) of Member at Large. If the nominated person is elected for a titled position, their Member at Large votes will be canceled out.

The Executive Board may, at its discretion, request that nominated individuals run for alternate positions, based on the needs of the organization.

Nominations Process

The Executive Board will set a Nominations Period of at least ten (10) days.

The Board of Advisors, serving as the Nomination Committee, will collect all nominations and vet candidates based on the qualifications and requirements set forth above.

Upon completion of the Nominations Period, if more than one candidate is vying for a specific position on the Executive Board, the Election Committee will create a ballot that sets forth all qualified candidates for each position.

The Executive Board must approve the ballot before it is presented to the general membership.

Elections Process

The BWFC membership will vote on the Executive Board using a democratic process. Each member in good standing, including the officers of the existing Executive Board, may cast one (1) vote.

The Board of Advisors, serving as the Election Committee, will set an Elections Period of five

(5) days and will provide notification of an upcoming elections process via email to the membership at least ten (10) days before the beginning of the elections period.

Ballots will be sent to the membership via email and members will have a five (5) day voting period in which to cast their votes.

The Election Committee will collect and count all votes and present the results to the Executive Board at the October Executive Board meeting.

Votes will be counted using a top-down strategy. Those running concurrently for a titled office and Member at Large will be counted first for the titled office. If the titled office is won, the nominee will be removed from the nominee pool for the Member at Large office(s). Tie votes will be decided by the Executive Board at the October Board Meeting.

The new Executive Board will be announced and inducted at the December Annual General Meeting and will take office on January 1 of the following year.

The Executive Board Elect shall attend all Executive Board meetings occurring between the announcement of the election results and the formal office taking, but shall have no voting rights or other privileges of the office until January 1.

Ballot and Elections Timetable

• Notification of election and nomination forms will be sent via email to members on the first Tuesday following the September Executive Board meeting
• Nominations will be due ten (10) days later
• Ballots will be sent to members via email on September 20th
• All Ballots must be received no later than September 25th to be counted as a viable vote
• Votes are presented and verified by the Election Committee, and presented to the Executive Board at the October Executive Board meeting
• The new Executive Board will be notified of the results in October and will: a) Attend the November and December Board meetings; and  b) Work with the outgoing Board member to transition into their position
• The New Executive Board will be announced by the Elections Committee at the December Annual General Meeting

Terms of Office & Term Limitations

Terms of Office

All terms of office shall be for the period of one (1) year, running from January 1 through December 31.

Term Limitations

No Executive Board member shall hold the same position for more than three (3) consecutive terms.

No individual shall hold any Executive Board position for more than five (5) consecutive terms.

An exception will be made if an officer, who has reached her term limit, is willing to serve again and no other qualified nominees are so willing.

Officer Removal & Replacement

Officer Removal

Executive Board members may be removed from their office if:

• The officer wishes to voluntarily step down for any reason, personal or otherwise
• The officer fails to attend, or demonstrates an inability to attend: a) Three (3) consecutive Executive Board meetings; or  b) Fifty percent (50%) of Executive Board meetings within six months  c) Two (2) consecutive BWFC meetings  d) Fifty percent (50%) of BWFC meetings in six months
• Their presence on the Executive Board is deemed to be counter-productive to the organization as a whole, as per a unanimous vote of all other currently-serving Executive Board members
• The officer commits any illegal act; or engages in gross misconduct while representing the BWFC
• Their removal is requested, in writing, by 4/5 of the general membership in good standing
• Their removal is requested by an Executive or Advisory Board member, or by any member of the general membership, provided such general member has obtained a written request signed by 4/5 of the general membership, as provided above

Removed officers may not run for office in the future unless:

• They receive a special dispensation from the Executive Board currently in office at the time of the future election; or
• 60% of the general membership in good standing approves the nomination

The Board of Advisors will have the authority to intervene if necessary.

Officer Replacement

If an officer is removed (including voluntary removal) before April 1 of any year, the Executive Board will implement a special election for the officer’s replacement.

If an officer is removed (including voluntary removal) after April 1, but before the next year’s elections, the Executive Board will appoint a replacement for the position. In such a case, the Executive Board may move an existing Executive Board member into the vacated position and appoint an officer to the newly empty office.

If an officer is removed (including voluntary removal) after the following year’s elections, the Executive Board will appoint an officer pro-tem, either from the Executive Board or from the general membership, or shall vote to leave the office open for the remainder of the year.

Fundraising

The BWFC agrees to hold fundraising events annually to raise funds for non-profit causes selected by a Cause Selection Committee. Selection is based on a grant application process. The process followed for cause selection and fundraising guidelines can be found in the BWFC Operations Manual.

Executive Board and Member Inspection Rights

The Executive Board has the responsibility to inspect, review, and reconcile financial reports and file with the Secretary of State, as required by law, and present a report to the membership annually.

Tax Provisions

The organization will meet all nonprofit filing and reporting requirements with the Georgia Secretary of State and the Internal Revenue Service, if/as required by law.

Amendments

Once approved and in effect, these bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the membership at a regular meeting of the organization, an annual general meeting, or via vote by email at which all the officers and a quorum of at least 20% of members in good standing are in attendance.

Dissolution

Following an Executive Board and Board of Advisors proposal to dissolve the Organization, a majority of members at a properly called meeting may approve the proposed dissolution action. The corporation must then file with appropriate state and IRS authorities within thirty (30) days after the adoption to dissolve the corporation with a distribution of assets to 501(c)(3) charitable organizations as approved by the Executive Board.