Membership Policies and Procedures

As private membership organizations, chambers must have written membership standards and qualifications – both for individual behaviors and for business/organizational activities - either in their by-laws or a policy statement. In a written policy, a chamber can clearly state expectations of privacy, admittance to membership, termination of membership, non-payment consequences, and use of copyrighted material or website policies. Some chambers have had to make difficult decisions regarding denial of membership or termination of membership. If by-laws or process documents do not have written membership eligibility qualification (and disqualification) statements, a membership challenge will likely lead the chamber to seek legal counsel to set a course of action and resolution.

Samples

---

See all Bylaws Samples

See the U.S. Chamber Best Practices collection, including policies, bylaws, and other plans.

---

• Bylaws - Bandon-By-The-Sea Chamber of Commerce (Ore.) - States that their board of directors shall have the right to deny membership to any person or organization.
• Board Approved Policies 2017 - Billings Chamber of Commerce (Mont.) - Includes membership policies, fiscal policies, and other policies such as mailing list agreement, conference center usage, and conflict of interest.
• Membership Policy - Cecil County Chamber of Commerce (Md.) - Policy statements for membership terms, admission, termination of membership, non-payment of dues, privacy, and logo use.
• Membership Policy - Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce (N.Y.)
• Membership Policy - Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce (Fla.) - Includes a provision for membership transfer and removal.
• Membership Application and Terms & Conditions - Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce - Includes terms and conditions in their membership application.
• Bylaws of the Michigan West Coast Chamber of Commerce - Address membership policies.

Articles

• Are Member Ethics Chamber Business? - Chamber Professionals Community
• Excluding Businesses from Chamber Membership - Chamber Professionals Community
• Grant County Chamber of Commerce posts about marijuana issues - Grant County Chamber of Commerce (N.M.) published a post about the use of marijuana that pertains to Silver City and New Mexico. (August 2016)

Chamberpedia Home | Membership Management | Membership Policies and Procedures

Last Updated: 6/13/2018