CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA
BUSINESS ASSOCIATES

ORGANIZATION BY-LAWS

ARTICLE I – OBJECTIVES

SECTION I
The organization shall be called CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA BUSINESS ASSOCIATES and is located in metropolitan Harrisburg, PA.

SECTION II
The objectives of CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA BUSINESS ASSOCIATES shall be to:

(a) Provide a means of communicating business information to it members

(b) Promote and further the mutual business interests of its members.

(c) Share valid tips bi-monthly.

ARTICLE II – MEMBERSHIP

SECTION I
Any person whose primary business activity is not in competition with the primary business activity or profession of another member is eligible for membership in this organization. An application for membership shall not be denied by reason of any conflict between the primary business activity of such applicant and an incidental activity of an existing member.

SECTION II
Should a member add to or change its’ line of goods or services, thereby coming into conflict with another member firm, it must abide by the decision of the infringed upon member and the Board of Directors, regarding membership status.

SECTION III
A prospective member’s name may be proposed by an active member in good standing.

(a) A prospective member should be approved by membership prior to attending a meeting. The said prospect will be a guest of CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA BUSINESS ASSOCIATES for the first meeting.

(b) Any objection to the individual or firm as a prospective member must be filed in writing with the Secretary by the next meeting.

(c) If no objections are filed by the next meeting, a firm or individual, after having been approved for membership by the Board of Directors, shall be submitted for approval to all members at the next meeting.

(d) There shall be only one membership allowed for each business classification, and no member shall apply for, or hold more than one classification without the approval of the Board of Directors.

SECTION IV
Members are to bring useful and valid business tips to each meeting, in the format prescribed by the Board of Directors. A valid business tip is defined as:

(a) New business building, locating to the area

(b) Existing business moving, doing renovations or additions.

(c) Change of business ownership.

(d) Bankruptcy or slow pay of a business.

Which must include, but not be limited to, name of the business, contact name, phone number, address, pertinent comments and must be submitted via the web site before 8:00AM on the day of the meeting. Any member not submitting ten (10) valid tips per quarter will be fined $2.00 for every tip less than ten (10). The fine(s) will be added to the next quarterly billing.

SECTION V
Cell phones and beepers should be turned off or on a silent mode during the meetings.

ARTICLE III – CANCELLATION

SECTION II
Should the ownership of any member firm change hands in whole or in part, membership eligibility will be reconsidered by the Board of Directors.

SECTION III
After missing four (4) meetings in any one (1) quarter, without the approval of the Board of Directors, the member’s classification shall be vacated. Exceptions to this are prolonged illness or other circumstances approved by the Board of Directors. To validate any absence a member MUST call or email the president or another board member, prior to the meeting. Any communication concerning an absence, unless done prior to a meeting, will be considered an unexcused absence.

SECTION IV
Any member whose dues become delinquent for one quarter without the permission of the Board of directors, the member’s classification shall be vacated.

SECTION V
All members are required to submit a minimum of ten (10) valid tips per quarter, if the member submits less than ten (10) tips a warning letter will be sent advising the member that their classification is subject to review.

SECTION VI
Whenever the Board of Directors deems it best for the interest of the organization to cancel a membership and declare the classification held by the member vacant, it shall have the authority to do so by a majority vote

SECTION VII
Before a membership is cancelled, the Board shall inform the member in writing, of the contemplated action and allow the member 2 weeks to appeal.

SECTION VIII
Upon cancellation of membership, all privileges of that member shall automatically cease and their classification declared vacant.

SECTION IX
Membership is entered into with the understanding that CENTRAL PENNYLVANIA BUSINESS ASSOCIATES is not responsible for any type of business loss incurred during membership. No member shall have any right or action against CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA BUSINESS ASSOCIATES, members or officers in consequence of any suspension, termination or expulsion in consequence of any acts solely and essentially an organization activity.

ARTICLE IV – ADMINISTRATION

SECTION I
The Officers of the CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA BUSINESS ASSOCIATES shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The Board of Directors shall consist of the Officers, four members at-large and the Chairman of the Board of Directors, being the immediate Past President.

SECTION II
Nominations will be taken the last Thursday in October. Elections of Officers and Board of Directors shall be held the first Thursday in November. Term of office shall be January 1 to December 31st.

SECTION III
No member holding the office of President shall be eligible to succeed themselves after two consecutive terms.

SECTION IV
The Board of Directors shall meet monthly or at the discretion of the President.

SECTION V
Meetings shall be held the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month at 12:00 noon, at the WSCC, unless otherwise notified.

SECTION VI
Dues are determined by the Board of Directors and billed quarterly, payable in advance. Dues include the luncheon meal and are payable whether or not the member attends the meetings. Any surplus funds may be used for periodic networking or social functions.

A. Invoices are due in 30 days. If not paid in full 10 days into the second month of that quarter, members must relinquish their membership.

SECTION VII
When the regular representative of a firm cannot attend a meeting, only the actual principal or an employee of the firm may take his/her place. A member may bring a non-competitive, non-prospective member as a guest to a meeting. Guest/prospective member do not receive tip information. Lunch fees for prospective members are waived for the first visit. Lunch fees will be charged for anyone other than a prospective member(except for their first visit).

ARTICLE V – AMENDMENTS

SECTION I
The By-Laws of CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA BUSINESS ASSOCIATES shall be reviewed at least annually at the first board meeting of the new calendar year. (These By-Laws approved September 2005.)

SECTION II
These By-Laws may be amended by a majority vote of the Board of Directors and a subsequent majority vote of the quorum of the general membership.

SECTION III
A quorum is defined for the Board of Directors as at least 5 persons and defined for the general membership as 60 % of the active members.

OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025

OFFICERS		BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President	Matt Benner	Colleen Ensinger
Vice President	Bill Brightbill	Kyle Stuckey
Secretary	Michele Kuhn	Don Yost
Treasurer	George W. Lane, CPA	Mike Cherweka
PAST PRESIDENT	George Tyson

Printer Friendly Version