Learn More About Connections Groups
Connections Groups Guidelines
Purpose: To generate business opportunities for Chesterfield Chamber members through building and strengthening professional relationships in a non-competitive and mutually supportive environment.
Member Qualifications
Only one person from any given professional category or classification is permitted to join a CONNECTIONS group. To represent a category in a CONNECTIONS Group, the member must be listed under that category with the Chamber.
Be an official representative of a business/organization which is an active and current CONNECTED or higher-level member in good standing of the Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce.
A representative of a Chamber member company may only join one group. However, a member company may have up to two (2) representatives sitting in different groups at one time.
Attendance Expectations
During each 12-month period, a member is only allowed 4 absences and no more than 2 absences consecutively.
Lead and Co-Leads should arrive 10 minutes early or assign a Delegate from the group in their place. All other Connections members should arrive 5 minutes before the start time of each event. Be punctual, as respecting the group’s time will establish credibility. Be prepared to briefly introduce yourself and your business/organization and share what is a good referral for you.
Officers
Officers shall be elected by the respective groups before the last meeting of the year and begin serving for a one-year term the first of the month. The election process should begin no later than the first week of October. To be considered for an elected officer, the CONNECTIONS member must have been an active part of the group for at least 6 months. At some point you are expected to be in a leader’s role.
Guests
Prospective Chamber Members may attend one (1) meeting of a CONNECTIONS group. Chamber Members may attend a given group’s meeting up to two times. Guests need to contact the Lead or Co-Lead of the group at least 48 hours prior to the meeting date.
Visiting Groups
Members visiting other CONNECTIONS groups should announce that they are from another group the beginning of the meeting. Before visiting another group, the visiting member should contact the Lead of that CONNECTIONS group. A visiting member should visit on the same basis as a regular visitor, i.e. no more than twice in a six-month period. Member visitors need to contact the Lead or Co-Lead of the group at least 48 hours prior to the meeting date.
Communications/Contact Information
Group emails may only be sent for the purposes of the group. No solicitation emails to group members are permitted.
Inclement Weather
Chamber CONNECTIONS groups will follow the inclement weather policy of Chesterfield Public Schools. If school is closed for the day, the CONNECTIONS meeting is cancelled for the day. If school is delayed past the time of the CONNECTIONS meeting time, the meeting is cancelled. If school is delayed and the meeting is later in the day, contact the Lead or Co-Lead to confirm.
Code of Conduct
CHAMBER expects CONNECTIONS participants to communicate professionally and constructively, whether in person or virtually, handling dissent or disagreement with courtesy, dignity and an open mind, being respectful when providing feedback, and being respectful of alternate points of view. Likewise, when sharing information about the organization or any participants via public communication channels, CHAMBER expects participants to share responsibly and clearly distinguish individual opinion from fact.
Disclaimer
Any leads and/or referrals exchanged among the group in or out of meetings are not the views and/or opinions of the Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber cannot recommend any product or service but can provide a list of current Chamber members that provide specific products and/or services. Members must commit to non-disclosure of information that might be construed as derogatory in any nature to other Chamber members. Information at meetings should be understood as neither coming from the Chamber nor substantiated by the Chamber.