As a networking group, attendance is one of the major factors in the overall success and health of the group. Attending the weekly meeting is not mandatory, as a group we understand there are circumstances that will arise preventing you from being present at the meetings. This is why we allow for subs when you cannot attend. A sub is someone who represents you and your company at the meetings when you are unable to attend. A sub could be a co-worker, client, family member, or friend.

Even though attendance is not mandatory, we do take weekly attendance. What has made MOBB successful is the commitment of our members to come to meetings and participate. Your weekly participation, referrals, one-to-ones, testimonials, and thanking people for closed business are an expectation of membership. Excessive absences are detrimental to the overall success and health of the group. Membership has its privileges. One of those privileges is MOBB only allows one company from each business category to join. If your absences prove to be excessive (9 within a calendar year), you open yourself and your company to the possibility MOBB will look for someone to take your place in your business category at the time of your membership renewal. If your absences surpass excessive (10 within a calendar year), MOBB’s Membership Approval Committee will decide what actions to take regarding your membership, up to and including termination from the group at any time.

Generally, being late or leaving the meeting early does not count against your attendance record. However, the value that you bring to the group is through the referrals you are able to give to others. In order to give quality referrals to other members, you must be present to hear what they are looking for and/or offer. To that end, if your late arrival or early departure causes you to miss any member’s 60-second commercial, that arrival/departure will count as an absence.

As a group, we do not have meetings the week of New Year’s Eve, Christmas, Thanksgiving, July 4th, Easter, and one week of the President’s choosing. In the winter months, meetings are also canceled when Clear Fork Schools are canceled. Based on the 45 weekly meetings in a calendar year, we consider 9 absences without a sub to be excessive.

As a new member, attendance is even more crucial, as you work to establish relationships within the group; therefore, your acceptance into the group comes with a probationary period. You must be present (sending a suitable sub constitutes being present) during the first six meetings after your initial membership acceptance; otherwise, your membership may be rescinded and your membership fee may not be returned.