Code of Ethics, General Policies, Disclaimers and Other Conditions

Upon Acceptance to BNI, I agree to Abide by the code of ethics, general policies, disclaimer and other conditions mentioned herein below:

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 prices 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. This means that a Member belonging to a profession that has a more stringent standard must adhere to that higher standard.

General Policies

1. Only one person from each professional classification, preferred practice or specialty, is permitted to join a BNI™ Chapter. Membership Committees of each Chapter have final authority related to classification conflicts.
2. Members must represent the business where they spend most of their time and attention.
3. The Chapter meetings last for 90 minutes. Members need to arrive on-time and stay for the entire meeting.
4. An individual Member cannot be a Member of a second BNI™ Chapter, nor in any other group that allows only one person per profession and whose primary purpose is to create business opportunities for one another because it substantially reduces their commitment to the Chapter Members.
5. If a Member cannot attend a Chapter meeting, they may send a Substitute (not another Member of the same Chapter) to the meeting. This will not count as an absence. Upon the fourth absence within a rolling six-month period, the Member’s classification will be opened by the Chapter’s Membership Committee.
6. Members are expected to bring qualified Opportunities and/or Visitors to their Chapter. Chapters may establish minimum standards to maintain membership.
7. Visitors may attend up to two Chapter meetings.
8. There are no leaves of absence except for medical leaves or military duty out of the local area. Members may take up to eight weeks of qualifying leave with the Membership Committee’s prior approval if their fees are pre-paid for that period and they attempt to have someone fill in during their leave. Membership time is still deducted during leave status.
9. Members are responsible for filing a concern with the Membership Committee of their Chapter if a Visitor submits an application that conflicts with their classification.This must be done before the Visitor is approved for membership. If no concerns are filed, the Membership Committee will “assume” Member consent.
10. Members who wish to change their classification must submit a Request for Classification Change form and get approval from the Chapter’s Membership Committee.
11. Name change or category change will be considered a brand new membership application and fee and will be subject to approval.
12. Membership Committees may, with written approval from the Support Director Consultant, terminate an individual’s membership with a Chapter for failure to comply with the policies and/or the BNI™ Code of Ethics.
13. In the absence of a Membership Committee, the Leadership Team or Support Director Consultant may act as an ad hoc Membership Committee until one is established.
14. A Member must agree to the terms outlined in the Leadership Team Agreement in order to hold a Leadership Team position and must go through training before assuming such position, regardless of having attended a previous training.
15. All BNI™ Member lists are for the purpose of passing Opportunities and not for soliciting (via e-mail, direct mail, or other means) Members or Support Director Consultants without their prior approval. National Privacy Laws govern within each country.
16. All New Members must complete the MSP within their first 90 days of their induction. Only after completing the Member Success Program may the Member be added to the speaker rotation for the Chapter. Any Members not completing the Member Onboarding Program within the first 120 days after being inducted into the Chapter will be subject to having their classification opened by the Membership Committee.
17. BNI Meetings may be conducted offline or online via a virtual meeting platform recognized by BNI.
18. Additional meeting fees will be incurred towards meeting and chapter expenses where applicable, please contact chapter secretary treasurer for details.
19. Members may not use BNI™ Intellectual Property (e.g. logos, trademarks, names, slogans, copyrighted materials, etc.) to manufacture, distribute, sell, market or promote any products or services, or otherwise use the BNI™ Intellectual Property without obtaining the prior written consent from BNI Global LLC.
20. BNI Membership fees are subject to change. A Training and Technology fee will apply to all new and renewing members.
21. Policies are subject to change.

Disclaimer and Other Conditions

1. The member by signing this Agreement, understands that the membership is conditional and that he/she agrees and accepts to 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 the member has the opportunity to review on www.bni- india.in or has received. The member also acknowledges that breach of the terms, conditions, and policies shall be ground to terminate the membership. Personal Data jointly controlled by BNI Worldwide Development Ltd, BNI India Enterprises Pvt Ltd & the local BNI Franchisee & governed by GDPR & Privacy Shield. pp.bni.com
2. The member understands and agrees that the BNI / Bishop Venture LLP and / or its agents or servants or any other person/s firm/s appointed or nominated by them shall not be liable for loss, damage or theft at the venue of the meeting and that BNI / Bishop Venture LLP and / or its agents or servants or any other person/s firm/s appointed or nominated by them reserves its right to terminate this Agreement if the member is found to misbehaving or create any hinderance in functioning or convening of the meeting/s of BNI. The member agrees to abide by the all rules and regulations of the BNI, as the same may be amended from time to time at the BNI’s / Bishop Venture LLP’s / Bishop Event Services LLP’s discretion. Any member who, in the determination of BNI/ Bishop Venture LLP / Bishop Event Services LLP, violates BNI’s rules or regulations, or is loud, offensive, uses profanity, harasses, is bothersome to other members or employees or otherwise behaves in an inappropriate or unbecoming manner, may be suspended or terminated by BNI. BNI reserves the right to stop any member from attending the meeting if he/she is found not to be in good health or at their discretion.
3. The member agrees that he/she is made aware about Bishop Event Services LLP being appointed by Bishop Venture LLP for convening, organising, arranging the meetings of BNI including deciding the venue of the meetings, food to be served at the meetings and other incidental services such as but not limited to providing parking facilities.
4. The member agrees not to raise any objection or dispute regarding the venue of the meeting, the food to be served and other facilities / services as may be decided by Bishop Event Services LLP and that the decision of Bishop Event Services LLP in this regards shall be final and nonjusticiable and shall not be questioned at any point of time by the member.
5. The member has been made aware and agrees that cost / charges that may be decided by Bishop Event Services LLP for the meetings also includes the cost of printing chapter rosters, for Audio Visual arrangements and other costs required for running the chapters which shall be payable by the members to Bishop Venture LLP and / or Bishop Event Services LLP without any objection.
6. The member agrees that the fees / charges collected by Bishop Venture LLP and / or Bishop Event Services LLP for each meeting is inclusive of taxes including GST which shall be paid by Bishop Event Services LLP. The member further agrees to provide their GST number to the LLP for this purpose upon obtaining a membership.
7. The member agrees that upon renewal or new membership or at the time of the first meeting fee transaction the member must pay one month’s meeting fees in advance. This will be considered a deposit and will be returned upon termination of the membership due to whatever reason after settling any outstanding amount.
8. The member agrees that if he/she has an outstanding meeting fee due of over 2 weeks, they will be given a warning. If the outstanding is not cleared before 4 weeks since the due date their membership will be terminated and their classification opened.
9. The member agrees that payments made towards the meeting fees are non - refundable and non- transferrable.
10. The member agrees that payments made towards meeting fees are deducted for the meeting even in the case of an absence or substitution of the member in any meeting without any exceptions.
11. The Meeting fees are currently set at INR 775+gst or 775+gst Or 690+gst per week per member and are payable in advance. These are subject to change and will increase at a minimum increment of 5% every year.
12. The member agrees that Bishop Venture LLP and / or Bishop Event Services LLP shall have all rights for the convening and organizing of BNI chapter meetings and that the members shall not raise any objection or dispute regarding such appointments or nomination by the Company.
13. The member agrees that the cost / charges for convening the meetings including the charges for the venue, food and other services shall be fixed by Bishop Event Services LLP and the member shall pay the said charges / cost to Bishop Event Services LLP without any demur or objection.

Terms, Conditions and Certifications

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

Arbitration.

All disputes arising out of/related to this Agreement or the Member's participation in BNI shall be resolved by binding arbitration by a panel of three arbitrators, wherein each party shall appoint one arbitrator and the two arbitrators so appointed shall appoint the third arbitrator, in accordance with the laws of India. The arbitrations proceedings shall be conducted in Ahmedabad and shall be as per the provisions of the Arbitration and conciliation Act of 1996. The language of Arbitration shall be English and the cost of arbitration shall borne by the party against whom ab award Is passed. The arbitration award made shall be final and binding on the parties and the parties agree to be bound thereby and to act accordingly. The clause encompasses any and all disputes involving BNI , its franchisee, and their officers , directors and agents and representatives, as well as members , provided that the dispute pertain to the membership or participation in BNI. The agreement shall be governed by and constructed in accordance with the laws of Republic of India. In any case, for supervisory, injunctive relief or relief of specific performance, this Agreement and any dispute arising out of this Agreement shall be subject to jurisdiction of courts in city of Ahmedabad, Republic of India.

Limitations on Liability.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Application, any liability to you involving BNI, its franchisee, and their officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives for any cause whatsoever arising out of or related to this Application and/or membership or participation in BNI, and regardless of the form of the action, will at all times be limited to the amount of yearly dues paid by you for the membership in BNI. Except in jurisdictions where such provisions are restricted, in no event will there be any liability to you or any third person for any indirect, consequential, exemplary, incidental, special or punitive damages. 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 1st and the 15th of the month shall begin their term on the 1st of that month. Applications dated after the 15th of the month shall begin their term on the 1st of the following month. Terms run for (1)year from the date the term begins.

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. I acknowledge that a breach of these terms, conditions, and policies shall be grounds to terminate my membership. Personal Data jointly controlled by BNI Worldwide Development Ltd, BNI India Enterprises Pvt Ltd. & your local BNI Franchisee & governed by GDPR & Privacy Shield. pp.bni.com

I understand and agree that UPON ACCEPTANCE, ALL FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE WITHOUT EXCEPTION.