Business Exchange Network
The Wait List
Once a BEN group reaches the maximum number of members, any person wishing to enter that BEN must have his/her name on a wait list kept at the Chamber office.
When assigning new members and replacements to the BEN groups priority is given to those on the waiting list.
Only North Texas GLBT Chamber members "in good standing" can be placed on the waiting list.
"Priority" means that people on the waiting list are given first choice over everyone else in their section of network groups. Therefore, if, when the new semester begins, someone on the waiting list wants to join a particular group, the BEN member who was in that spot the previous semester must relinquish their place. The only exception to this rule is in the case of members who are returning to a group in a leadership position; in that case they have priority over anyone else.
The Chamber shall begin accepting checks from people on the waiting list eight weeks before the beginning of the new semester.
Once everyone on the waiting list who can join BEN in a given semester has been assigned to a group, membership in individual groups will be made available to anyone interested on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Spaces will not be "reserved" for anyone. One is considered to be a member of a group ONLY after the Chamber has received their participation fee.
BEN members who join AFTER the halfway point of the semester have priority over those members of the groups who joined BEFORE the halfway point (i.e., members who join after March 15 or September 15 will be treated as having equal priority with those on the waiting list).
The fee for joining a Business Exchange Network group is $250 per five month semester. The BEN Fee includes meal costs for all 10 meetings PLUS one Power Networking Luncheon. Fees are not refundable, in whole or in part. Fees will be collected at the first meeting of the semester or upon joining. Failure to pay fees within two weeks will result in the loss of member’s position in the BEN for two semesters from the date of removal.