Our Constitution
Committee Members
Chairman's Report
Treasurers Report
Accounts (year ending December 06)

The name of the group shall be the Cambridge Businesswoman’s network, to be known as CBN.

OBJECTIVES AND MEMBERS SERVICES

1. To maintain a network of business women enabling them to meet regularly for informal networking, and develop credible professional and social contacts.
2. To ensure that women in the Cambridge area have the opportunity to influence and make a vital contribution to the business community.
3. To acknowledge the benefits that diversity brings in terms of culture, ethnicity, race, nationality, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, education, experiences, opinions and beliefs. To be committed to creating an inclusive environment at events and through communications, where everyone is valued, treated with respect and able to contribute.
4. To host meetings and events including networking lunches and dinners, feature presentations, informal sessions and workshops (minimum per annum 9). A charge will be made for most of these meetings, dependent on the cost to CBN of the catering, room hire and other facilities provided.
5. To choose a variety of topics to reflect the varying needs and tastes of the membership.
6. To hold events with other business and social groups at least once a year (eg Business Link, Chamber of Commerce, FSB, AWISE, CIM and Rotary).
7. To maintain a website for online bookings of events and paying annual subscriptions, as well as a directory of members accessible by all and a notice board for members exclusive use.
8. To produce quarterly the newsletter Grapevine either on the website or in a printed format, with input mainly from members to include current topics, member profiles career and business news and special offers.
9. To offer corporate membership to the larger businesses in and around Cambridge.
10. All notification of meetings and events will be by email unless the member requests otherwise.

ADMINSTRATION AND ORGANISATION

1. The affairs of the CBN to be run by a Team (committee) to consist of a chairman, treasurer, secretary and membership secretary. In addition the Team may have up to six more fully paid up members of which two may be co-opted on to the committee during the year.
2. All Team members shall be elected from time to time by members in general meetings.
3. The chairman, treasurer and secretary should not remain on the team in post for more than three consecutive years unless a replacement cannot be found and there are no objections to their continuing from members.
4. The Team may set up sub committees of not more that four members from time to time to delegate specific tasks such as events, Grapevine and marketing. Each sub committee should have a least one member from the team who will report back to the main team meetings.
5. There should be at least four Team meetings a year hosted by a team member if appropriate.
6. As recognition of the time and effort the event organizer puts in she may attend such event free of charge.
7. All Team members are entitled to reasonable reimbursement of expenses for hosting meetings, plus postage, stationery and communications. These expenses to be supported by vouchers/invoices where possible. Where other costs are incurred these should be with prior approval of at least two other team members.
8. The secretary to produce accurate minutes of such meetings which may be seen by any CBN members if they wish.
9. The membership secretary shall maintain a list of members on the website.
10. All members must inform the membership secretary of any changes to their private and/or business address and email address.
11. The annual membership fees for the year ending 31 December 2007 are £50 renewable annually from the date of joining. Any annual increases shall be agreed at a team meeting. These may be paid by cheque, online or by standing order and an up to date list shall be maintained by the treasurer. Corporate membership is dealt with below.
12. The treasurer shall maintain the CBN bank accounts currently with Barclays Bank plc, Chesterton branch, Cambridge and keep proper books of account to enable her to present to the members or at any other time if required by the Team an accurate report of the income and expenses of CBN.
13. All cheques must have two signatories being any two of the chairman, secretary or treasurer.
14. Any expenditure between £101 and £500 should have the prior approval of two of the Team members excluding the treasurer. Any expenditure in excess of £500 requires approval at a Team meeting and should be minuted accordingly.
15. The treasurer shall maintain registration of CBN under the Data Protection Act and also Public Liability Insurance.
16. Annual accounts should be made up to 31 December and be verified by an independent accountant at a reasonable cost prior to being posted on the website.

CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP PACKAGE

FOR AN ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP FEE OF £300 A CORPORATE BODY

a) may elect for any five women (staff, partners etc) to become members of CBN for one year
b) will be entitled to discounted entry fee to a range of networking events as detailed under membership services.
c) have access to the CBN website for company news and notices
d) may send any five women to any event.
e) may bring one client guest free of charge to any evening event.
f) may publish articles in Grapevine
g) may place banner adverts on the website
h) may gain speaker opportunities
i) sponsor relevant events
j) have a corporate business entry with logo on the website and in the printed directory as well as personal business listings in both.