Member Bi-Laws

The Jefa Society
Purpose: To build a trusted, inclusive community of women professionals who collaborate, refer business to one another exclusively, grow meaningful relationships, and uphold high standards of ethics and accountability.

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Name & Purpose

Core Values and Commitments

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  • Collaboration: Members share knowledge, opportunities, and support to help each other succeed.

  • Inclusive Environment: Members foster belonging and psychological safety for all, regardless of race, ethnicity, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, socioeconomic status, or family status.

  • Relationship-Building: Members actively get to know one another through regular meetings, one-on-ones, and thoughtful engagement.

  • Accountability: Members hold themselves and each other to professional standards and follow these bylaws consistently.

Membership Eligibility

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  • Members are women (including cis and trans women) and nonbinary people comfortable in a women-centered space, over 18, who own or are employed by legitimate businesses.

  • Members agree to the exclusive referral commitment and all policies in these bylaws.

  • Signed Jefa Membership Agreement & Signed Member Bylaws

  • No criminal indictments or convictions for Jefa Society Members, their business partners or employees.

Exclusive Referral Commitment

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  • Primary Commitment: Members agree to refer business within the group exclusively, whenever a suitable member exists who meets the client’s needs and quality standards.

  • Client Interest First: If no suitable member exists, or the referral would not serve the client’s best interest, the member may refer externally and should disclose this exception to the group leadership.

  • Conflicts of Interest: Members must disclose any conflicts and avoid referrals where impartiality is compromised.

  • Quality: Members agree to deliver professional, ethical services and honor commitments made in referral contexts.

Referral Tracking

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Definitions:
- Referral: A direct introduction or recommendation resulting in a business conversation.
- Closed Business: A paid engagement resulting from a referral.
Process:
Members log referrals and outcomes monthly in the group’s tracking system (e.g., shared spreadsheet or CRM).
- Metrics tracked include number of referrals given/received, conversion rates, and closed business.
Transparency:
- Leadership shares aggregate referral metrics with the group monthly.
- Recognition:
- The group may recognize top referrers and celebrate impactful wins.

Inclusion and Conduct

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  • Respectful Behavior: Members communicate professionally, listen actively, and avoid discriminatory, harassing, or hostile conduct to members, group members and community members,

  • Accessibility: The group strives to make meetings and materials accessible (e.g., clear agendas, hybrid options where possible).

  • Diversity of Thought: Members welcome different viewpoints and constructive feedback.

Reporting Malicious Behavior or Bad Business Practices

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Reportable Issues: Fraud, misrepresentation, harassment, discrimination, confidentiality breaches, unsafe or illegal practices, or consistent failure to deliver promised services.We do not get involved in pricing disputes. If a member is removed for any of the listed offenses, this will be made publicly known via our social channels and member directory. If a member is removed for any of the offenses, the member is not eligible to rejoin under any circumstance, under any other brands and all affiliated memberships for team members and partners are revoked immediately.


Reporting Channel: Members AND Consumers may report concerns to leadership via email and may request confidentiality.

  • Process:
    Leadership acknowledges receipt within 5 business days.
    Leadership conducts a fair review, may gather statements, and determines next steps.
    Outcomes:
    Coaching/warning, probation, restitution (where appropriate), suspension, or termination of membership.
    Non-Retaliation: Retaliation against anyone who raises a concern in good faith is prohibited.

Accountability Framework

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Expectations:
Attend meetings consistently, participate in one-on-ones, give and receive referrals, and uphold professional standards at all times with consumers, Facebook group members and fellow members.
Progressive Steps:
Informal coaching → Written warning → Probation → Suspension → Revocation of Membership.
Appeals:
Members may submit a written appeal to leadership within 14 days of a decision; leadership responds within 21 days.

Meetings and Participation

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Cadence: weekly meetings with agendas, hard start and finish times.

  • Attendance:
    - Minimum attendance requirement: [e.g., 75% per quarter].
    - Notify leadership of absences; repeated unexcused absences may trigger accountability steps.
    - Relationship-Building: Members complete at least [2] one-on-one meetings per month with different members.

  • Tardines is 5 minutes after meeting time and counts as an absence.

  • 2 absences in one month equals revocation of membership

  • One sub allowed per month, must be a business owner. One person may sub once a calendar year only.

Invitation & Growth

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Member Recruitment: This is your club- it is not quantity based, it is quality based, invitation only. Invite those you want to elevate with and those you know will elevate YOU. It is that simple.
Members actively invite like-minded women who align with the group’s values and quality standards.

Onboarding:
Effective March 1, 2026: New members receive an orientation, bylaws, referral-training, and access to tracking tools.

Privacy and Confidentiality

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Confidential Information:
Members protect club, client and member information, proposals, pricing, and any non-public data
Referral Data:
Referral logs are used for group performance and recognition; share only aggregate data unless consent is provided.

Legal Compliance

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  • Members comply with all applicable laws, including advertising, licensing, data protection, anti-bribery, and fair competition.

  • Fair Competition Note:
    Exclusive referral expectations should not be used to fix prices, restrict markets, or limit client choice. Members act independently and prioritize client needs

Leadership & Governance

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Roles:
Leadership may include a Chair, Membership Lead, Referral/Tracking Lead, Inclusion Lead, and Ethics/Accountability Lead.

Decisions:
Routine decisions by simple majority; bylaw amendments require a two-thirds vote.

Disclosure:

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Members disclose financial interests or relationships that could affect impartiality.
Recusal: Leadership members recuse from decisions where they have a conflict.

Applying while members of other networking groups constitutes fraud and deems your membership revoked and funds nonrefundable.

Fees & Resources

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Dues: Members pay dues annually, which fund some meeting costs, tools, and member programming. All dues are nonrefundable for any reason. Dues may be reviewed annually for increases, notices will be sent 3o days in advance. Dues are per chapter. Once a membership is purchased the niche, member or company name cannot be changed or updated, new company, new name or new niche means new membership, new fees. Multi-hyphenate owners may only represent and advertise one brand for the sake of roles.

Chapter transfers, may occur once per membership year, free of charge.

Tools:
The group provides trainings, masterminds , social media content, events, referral-tracking and communication tools; members agree to use them appropriately.

Bylaw Amendments

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Any member may propose amendments in writing. Notice: Provide at least 14 days’ notice before a vote.
Approval: Amendments pass with a two-thirds vote of members present. The Jefa Society founders have fun authority to nullify any amendments.

Membership Termination/Revocation

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Grounds:
Violations of bylaws, repeated poor conduct, failure to meet accountability expectations, consistent consumer complaints, or substantiated malicious behavior.
Process:
- Written notice with reasons; opportunity to respond; final decision by leadership.
Reinstatement:
- Possible in some cases, but not cases where consumers were wronged - after 6 months and demonstration of corrective action, subject to leadership vote.

Acknowledgment and Agreement

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By applying, the member affirms they have read, understand, and agree to abide by these bylaws, including the exclusive referral commitment, inclusion standards, accountability framework, and the prohibition on BNI participation or participation in any other networking group.

Jefa Society reserves the right to change, add to or remove member bylaws at its discretion without advance notice.

these by-laws make us different, they make us the standard and they make The Jefa Society a trusted networking group.

Our Bylaws are made publicly available for public awareness and transparency.

Version 2 - Feb 2026

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