About
Lynx 2 Business doesn’t really see itself as a networking group in the traditional sense. The more familiar social and exchanging cards mentality, on its own, doesn’t really work in generating business opportunities, which we see as the aim of networking with potential business partners.
Instead, our meetings have a clear structure with the opportunity for members to tell us: ‘What, Why and How’ – What a member is looking for, Why they are looking for that kind of business and How the other members can find that for them, with the aim of helping everyone else to find that business for you, weekly.
Member presentations, one-to-ones and regular guest speakers, are regular features of the group, together with support for a local charity, which demonstrates a commitment to the local business community as a whole.
Meetings take place every Tuesday at Yeovil Golf Club between 7:00 am and 8:30 am, with a full English breakfast (or alternative options) – visitors can enjoy a free breakfast and are able to visit twice, before deciding if they’d like to be a part of the group.
----------------------------------------
Lynx 2 Business - Constitution — January 2016
1. Name
The name of the group shall be Lynx 2 Business
2. Aims
The aims of Lynx 2 Business:
• To bring together a group of like minded local businesses on a regular basis to share the knowledge and experiences of their own trade with fellow members.
• To provide a friendly and professional environment where businesses can learn, network and discuss business opportunities with each other.
• To create an environment which enables realistic business opportunities to be passed between members of the group.
3. Membership
Membership is open to anyone who:-
• Is aged over 16 and
• lives within 20 Miles of Yeovil and
• agrees to support and promote the business activities of other members in the group and
• agrees to pay the annual and monthly fees
Subject to:-
• there being no existing member in the group already working in your business category
• all existing members of the group being happy that the applicant is suitable for the group
as long as they agree to:-
• attend all weekly meetings, or a substitute attendee notified to the committee in advance
• aim to provide viable business opportunities to fellow members
• aim to build goodwill and trust with fellow members and always act in an honest and a respectful way.
Membership will begin as soon as the membership form and first annual payment has been received and the group has accepted you as a member.
There will be an annual membership fee (currently £100 per annum) which will be agreed at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and will be payable by all members before their existing membership expires.
There will also be a monthly fee (currently £40.00) which will be agreed at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) or by the Committee in the interim period if deemed necessary.
Members will be reminded that their membership is due for renewal 6 weeks before the expiry and at each anniversary the member will be required to sign a renewal application form.
A list of all members will be kept by the membership secretary.
Ceasing to be a member
Members may resign at any time in writing to the secretary although no proportion of the annual fees will be reimbursed.
Any member who has not paid either their monthly or annual membership fee after their expiry date will be contacted by the committee, who will then decide whether that member is deemed to have resigned.
If a member fails to attend weekly meetings, that member will be contacted by the Committee who will then decide whether that member is deemed to have resigned.
If a member fails to comply in any other way with the Constitution of the group, the Committee will decide whether that member should be asked to leave the group. In such instances, no proportion of the annual fees will be reimbursed.
Any offensive behavior, including racist, sexist or inflammatory remarks, will not be permitted. Anyone behaving in an offensive way or breaking the equal opportunities policy may be asked not to attend further meetings or to resign from the group if an apology is not given or the behavior is repeated. The individual concerned shall have the right to be heard by the management committee, accompanied by a friend, before a final decision is made.
4. Equal Opportunities
Lynx 2 Business will not discriminate on the grounds of gender, race, colour, ethnic or national origin, sexuality, disability, religious or political belief, marital status or age.
5. Officers and Committee
The business of the group will be carried out by a Committee elected at the Annual General Meeting. The Committee will meet as necessary as required and not less than four times a year.
The Committee will consist of 5 members, and be composed of 3 officers and 2 group members.
Up to 2 additional members may be co-opted onto the committee at the discretion of the committee. The officers' roles are as follows:
• Joint Chair, who shall chair both general and committee meetings
• Membership Secretary, who shall be responsible for keeping records of members
Additionally a Treasurer may attend.
In the event of an office standing down during the year a replacement will be elected at the next general Meeting of members.
Any committee member not attending a meeting without apology will be contacted by another committee member, in the same way as a standard member of the group, and asked if they wish to resign.
The committee meetings will be open to any member of Lynx 2 Business wishing to attend, who may speak but not vote.
6. Meetings
6.1 Annual General Meetings
An annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held within fifteen month of the previous AGM.
All members will be notified in writing at least 3 weeks before the date if the meeting, giving the venue, date and time
Nominations for the committee may be made to the Membership Co-Coordinator before the meeting, or at the meeting
The quorum for the AGM will be 10% of the membership of 5 members, whichever is the greater number.
At the AGM:-
· The Committee will present a report of the work of Lynx 2 Business over the year.
· The Committee will present the accounts of Lynx 2 Business for the previous year.
· The officers and Committee for the next year will be elected.
· Any proposals given to the membership coordinator at least 7 days in advance of the meeting will be discussed.
6.2 Special General Meetings
The membership Coordinator will call a Special General Meeting at the requires of the majority of the committee or at least eight other members giving a written request to the chair or Membership Coordinator stating the reason for their request.
The meeting will take place within 21 days of the request.
All members will be given two weeks’ notice of such a meeting including the time, place and date.
The quorum for the special meeting will be 10% of the membership or 5 members, whichever is the greater number.
6.3 General Meetings (also known as weekly meetings)
Each member is required to attend general meetings which are held every Tuesday at Yeovil Golf Club commencing at 7.00am. All members are encouraged to be at the venue at least 15 minutes prior to the start time at 6.45am.
The quorum for a general meeting shall be 75% of the membership or 10 members, whichever is the greater number.
7. Rules of Procedure for Meetings
All questions that arise at the meeting will be discussed openly and the meeting will seek to find general agreement that everyone present can agree to.
If a consensus cannot be reached a vote will be taken and a decision will be made by a simple majority of members present, If the number of votes cast on each side is equal, the chair of the meeting shall have an additional casting vote.
In the event that the subject matter is deemed to be of a sensitive nature, the vote may be undertaken in a private manner, i.e. email or Survey Monkey.
8. Finances
An account will be maintained on behalf of the group at a bank agreed by the committee. Three cheque signatories will be nominated by the committee (one to be the treasurer).
Records of income and expenditure will be maintained by the treasurer and a financial statement given at each Annual General Meeting and committee meeting.
All money raised by or on behalf of Lynx 2 Business is only to be used to further the aims of the group as specified in item 2 of this constitution.
9. Amendments to the Constitution
Amendments to the constitution may only be made at the AGM or a Special General Meeting.
Any proposals to amend the constitution must be given to the membership coordinator in writing. The proposal must then be circulated with the notice of the meeting.
Any proposal to amend the constitution will require a two thirds majority of those present and entitled to vote.
10. Dissolution
If a meeting, by simple majority, decides that it is necessary to close down the group it may call a Special general Meeting to do so. The sole business of this meeting will be to dissolve the group.
If it is agreed to dissolve the group all remaining money and other assets, once outstanding debts have been paid, will be donated to a local charitable organization. The organization to be agreed at the meeting which agrees the dissolution.
The constitution was agreed at the inaugural General Meeting of Lynx 2 Business.
