The Grove, Tara, & Nyomi Charters

MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA
Nyomi is a highly selective private membership club. We are an invitation-only group and members are invited not only for their outstanding professional accomplishments, but also for their generosity and compatibility.
Nominees should have a record of accomplishment and be active in their careers. Nyomi encourages diversity, including professional field, personal interests, life experiences, geography, cultural background, and other attributes. Nyomi values giving back to our communities, having a sense of humor and excitement about life, and willingness to mentor and share connections. Candidates should have a demonstrated record of supporting women in their careers. It is important to determine the fit with the group. It is not reasonable to expect that just because someone is a friend of a Grover, TARA or a Nyomi there will be a fit with the full group. Special review may be necessary for “close” relationships, including, but not limited to, siblings, partners, co-workers, immediate subordinates who move to new opportunities, etc. Nyomi members include financial services, government, marketing, arts, writers, journalists, lawyers, engineering, construction, and a variety of entrepreneurs. The idea is to be very diverse in careers, cultural backgrounds and non-profit commitments.
Overall, Nyomi targets a maximum of 10-15 new members per year. These “trusted communities” are small by design to facilitate quality relationships and joint events where members can truly get to know other members as well as help and mentor each other. Nyomi is not a stepping stone to TARA or the Belizean Grove, it is a sister organization with a new generation of global leaders and its own constellation of “movers and shakers.” Candidates for membership must be nominated by a Nyomi, TARA or Belizean Grove member in good standing who have attended at least two (2) retreats. In order to engage new members from the beginning, a Nyomi member must be at least a seconder for any Nyomi nomination. Admittance to Nyomi does not ensure life-long membership. Each Nyomi member is expected to adhere to our values and behave accordingly. Bright is good. Charm is better. Kindness is best. Admission to Nyomi will be determined by the CEO of Belizean Grove, ltd. in her discretion, after she has received the recommendations of Nyomi’s Membership Committee. Detailed admission procedures and policies are described below in the Membership Policies and Procedures.

THE NYOMI SPIRIT
People considering and then accepting an invitation should know what is expected of them. Civility prevails, partisanship is frowned upon, and commercialism is banned. The participants’ common denominators are innovative achievements, a “renaissance spirit” with broad ranging intellectual interests, and personal qualities which allow them to enjoy this off-the-record, highly informal tradition. Nyomi is all about heart and soul; women being vulnerable to each other and feeling safe about that. Coming from different fields, we can help each other go beyond our areas of expertise to see problems through a multi-layered lens or kaleidoscope. With this in mind, we have crafted the following “Nyomi Values.”

Nyomi Values Include:
• Maintain strict confidentiality
• Everything is off-the-record, so we can have a safe place where we can be candid and let down our hair
• Take risks
• Appreciate the diversity of the group
• Always be honest, open, and authentic
•Give to get
•No business or non-profit soliciting
•Be sensitive to others, not overly sensitive about yourself
•If you have a problem with someone, try to handle it yourself. If you have acomplaint, try to accompany it with a proposed solution
•People do not know you by your intentions; they know you by your behaviors.
•Have fun!

THE NYOMI ADVISORY BOARD AND COMMITTEES
The Nyomi Advisory Board consists of a diverse group of representatives (class of entrance, geographical location, ethnicity and professional background). The Nyomi Advisory Board may create such sub-committees as it determines from time to time:
•Membership Committee
•New Nyomi Integration (onboarding)
•The Big Sister Wisdom Connection Committee Interface
•Entertainment
•Communication
•Technology
•Annual Conference Committee
•Nyomi Oct Pre-Conference Weekend
•Nyomi August Neverville Weekend
•Virtual Mastermind
•Spirit Committee
The Nyomi Advisory Board or the appropriate Committee may from time to time consult with the CEO of Belizean Grove, ltd. regarding matters within their purview, including for example, budget, appropriate action in response to all violations of the Charter or Policies and Procedures, and appropriate responses to offenses against the values of our fellowship. All matters, including without limitation, membership as a Nyomi Advisory Board member or on a Nyomi Committee, budget, the interpretation of the Charter, Policies and Procedures, and values are at the discretion of Susan Stautberg, as CEO of Belizean Grove, ltd. Membership in Nyomi is held at the discretion of the CEO of Belizean Grove, ltd., upon recommendation by the Nyomi Membership Committee in accordance with the Membership Policies and Procedures.

EVENTS AND ANNUAL RETREAT
We encourage all members to attend informal events through the year to begin to get to know other Nyomis. Unlike our usual lives in a competitive world, where we’re working at warp speed, and do not have time to think, our annual getaway is created to be an oasis. Our annual retreats are overflowing with life and opportunity. It provides a time to collectively introduce ourselves and appreciate each other in ways we cannot when we’re in our everyday lives.
The retreat is typically the last week in January/first week in February where we congregate from around the world and really get to know each other (3-4 days). Past retreats have been in Belize, Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Newport RI, Miami, Los Angeles, and Rio. Nyomi, TARA and the Grove have separate retreats that often overlap by a day or two. When we travel, we invite local women politicians, ministers of government, judges, heads of nonprofits to socialize with us, host us and network. There are no other commitments outside of the retreat other than being helpful to each other on a networking basis. There are side trips and events throughout the year. This is not a place to peddle anything. It is a place to exist as an oasis of like minded women on similar journeys with their careers and personal lives regardless of their field.

DUES
The annual membership fee is $750, with a one-time initiation fee of $500. The Retreat expenses are additional. Space is limited. Yearly dues must be paid before a member can reserve space for the retreat. If a member misses more than two annual retreats in a row, she forfeits her full membership in Nyomi unless there are extenuating circumstances. . Persons who have forfeited their full membership may be re-nominated by a member, but their re-admission is subject to the same criteria as those that apply as a new candidate. Admittance to Nyomi does not ensure life-long membership. Each Nyomi is expected to adhere to our values and behave accordingly. Bright is good. Charm is better. Kindness is best.

NYOMI POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Membership Policies and Procedures

1.Membership

A. Membership in Nyomi is by invitation of and acceptance by the CEO of Belizean Grove, ltd., upon recommendation by the Membership Committee, and is limited in membership.

B. A full member in Nyomi is entitled to attend all local events, to attend the annual retreat, to nominate and second up to two candidates for Nyomi membership per year and to serve on the Advisory Board and Committees (subject to approval by the CEO of Belizean Grove, ltd.).

C. Membership is renewed annually
•Renewal is automatic unless an official notice has been presented to a Nyomi member stating circumstances that constitute grounds for termination or non-renewal.

D. Belizean Grove, ltd. may terminate Nyomi at any time, in its discretion, upon notice to the Advisory Board and to Nyomi members; provided, however, that Belizean Grove, ltd. shall refund to the members any unearned portion of any dues that have been paid as of the date of termination.

E. If a member misses more than two annual retreats in a row, she forfeits her full membership in Nyomi unless there are extenuating circumstances.

F. Special Status Memberships:
·The CEO of Belizean Grove, ltd. has the right of final approval over Special Status Memberships.
·A Suspended Status enables an admitted Nyomi member to have one year of dormancy without paying dues. After the one year, she has a one-time option to rejoin on a paying basis, otherwise she is no longer a full member.
·Scholarship Status is limited to 2-3 persons per year who may be invited to attend the annual retreat in the discretion of the CEO of Belizean Grove,ltd.
·Scholarship members will be required to contribute some payment towards the cost of the retreat.
·Scholarships are limited to two years total. It is not an automatic renewal.
·Scholarship members will not be able to attend the extension trip.

2.New Member Recommendation Process

A. Nomination
·Full TARA/Nyomi/Grove members who have paid dues timely and who have attended at least two retreats may submit nominations for membership to the Membership Committee.
·Each nomination packet must be received by the CEO of the Belizean Grove no later than two weeks before the June and September meetings; late submissions will be deferred to the next Membership Committee meeting at which nominations are considered. The CEO of the Belizean Grove will in turn submit nomination packets to the Chair of Nyomi’s Membership Committee.
· Nominations must be seconded by a full Nyomi/TARA/Grove member who has paid dues timely and who has attended at least one retreat. Members may second up to two candidates for Nyomi membership per year.
• NOTE: In order to engage new members from the beginning, at least one of the Sponsors/ Seconders must be a Nyomi/TARA/Grover for any nomination. Existing members who may know the Candidate should be contacted to enlist their support. Otherwise we encourage an introduction in order to get a seconder.
• Sponsors and seconders should contact additional members who may know the candidate to gauge their support.

B. Nomination Packet
• Consists of a nomination form and a brief bio.
• The nomination form is attached to the Membership Policies and Procedure
• The brief bio should be no more than two pages, and should not be multi-page CVs or resumes. It must be up to date, and current professional/personal activities must be expressed in the present tense, so that the Membership Committee can know what the candidate is doing today, versus in the past.

C. Action by the Membership Committee
• The Membership Committee will by majority vote decide which candidates will be recommended for admission to Nyomi. The Membership Committee will strive to maintain diversity in the professions, ethnicity, and background of the members.
• If the Membership Committee feels important information is missing, the Chair or other member will contact the nominator to ask for more information, and a decision on the candidate will be deferred to the next Membership Committee meeting.
• The Chair of the Membership Committee will promptly communicate the Membership Committee’s recommendation to the nominator of each candidate, but will not provide detailed evaluations or critiques of candidates, whether accepted or not accepted.
• The Membership Committee’s recommendations will be communicated to the CEO of Belizean Grove, ltd., who has the right of final approval over all candidates. Absent extraordinary circumstances, the CEO will approve the Membership Committee’s recommendations and invite the recommended individuals to become Nyomi’s.

D. Acceptance of Membership Invitation
• Persons offered admission to Nyomi must accept the offer and pay their dues within sixty days following notice of admission. Approved candidates who do not accept the offer within sixty days may seek admission within two years of the offer, but will be admitted only if a vacancy is available.

E. Responsibilities of Nominator
• The nominating member is responsible for introducing and orienting her accepted Nyomi candidate.
• The nominating member assumes ongoing responsibility for her candidate to address any disciplinary and other issues that may arise once her candidate has been accepted.

3. Performance Standards

A. All Nyomi members shall abide by the Grove/TARA/Nyomi values and spirit and meet the Grove/TARA/Nyomi standards of behavior.
• The Onboarding Process will ensure that members clearly understand the Rules of the Road and expected behavior.
• The Spirit Committee will ensure that members adhere to the Rules of the Road and the Grove/TARA/Nyomi standards.

B. Violations of the Rules and Standards
• Issues of behavior will be reported at the quarterly Advisory Board meetings.
• Specific action items will be recommended and implemented based on the recommendation of the Advisory Board.
• First transgression is a verbal discussion and review by proposing member and a member of the Spirit Committee.
• Second transgression is an official letter to modify behavior or else the member will be terminated.
• Third transgression is official termination with a letter from the Advisory Board.
• Opportunity for appeal
• A member who is “on notice” after a first or second transgression, as described above, has the option to speak before the Advisory Board, but notices will remain as official actions on the part of the Advisory Board regardless of the outcome.

4. Effect of Charter and Policies and Procedures

A. The Charter, together with the Nyomi Policies and Procedures, constitutes the entire agreement between Belizean Grove, ltd., the Advisory Board, and members of Nyomi. By paying dues, attending and participating, the members agree to be bound by the Charter and the Policies and Procedures, which together constitute an agreement that will be governed by the laws of the State of New York.