Bylaws

Section 1. The association shall be called the Southern Florida Concierge Association (SFCA).

¨ To bring together concierges in hotels, resorts and selected condominiums and as such to establish and promote high professional and ethical standards.[1]

¨ To expand and assist in the training of those entering the concierge profession and,

¨ To coordinate, promote and assist in the activities and interests of concierges.

¨ To foster the development of the role of the concierge in the hotel industry and tourism in general.

Section 2. The organization shall have no affiliation with any business, societies, or other organizations. In its present form, the association shall not be affiliated with the Union Internationale des Portiers des Grands Hotels nor Les Clefs d’Or U.S.A., Ltd., and shall conscientiously avoid identification with these officially recognized professional organizations, as well as avoid involvement in the rightful domain of these organizations, as well as avoid involvement in the rightful domain of these organizations. The association does not purport to be an official representative of the concierge profession, but rather an organization designed to develop the professionalism of it concierge members.

Section 3. The association shall not discriminate according to sex, race, national origin, religious, political, or union affiliation.

Section 1. Definition: The term concierge shall refer to individuals employed as concierge in hotels, resorts and selected condominiums and to those guest service personnel who perform only concierge-type duties in hotels, resorts and condominiums.

Section 2. Membership shall be open to all individuals employed as concierge in hotels and resorts in South Florida. Their desk must be located in the lobby and they must perform concierge related duties such as but not limited to airlines, hotel, car rental and restaurant reservations and confirmations. Their official job title must be that of a concierge only. The board will conduct a thorough background check to insure the integrity of its members.

Section 3. Affiliate members shall be individuals in South Florida who are employed as a condominium concierge. Their desk must be located in the lobby and they must perform concierge related duties such as but not limited to airlines, hotel, car rental and restaurant reservations and confirmations. Their official job title must be that of a concierge only. The board will conduct a thorough background check to insure the integrity of its members. Upon approval of membership, 100% of dues shall be payable and affiliate members will have no voting rights. [2]

Section 4. To become a member, an individual must present a completed application to the Board of Directors for approval. They must have previous Concierge background, if not, they must wait for a period of six months in order to qualify for membership.

Section 5. Members shall, upon payment of annual dues, hold the same rights and responsibilities as voting, holding office, serving on committees, etc. in the association.

Section 6. Dues for the association shall be $75.00 per year, payable on or before the first meeting of the year. These dues shall be prorated on a quarterly basis for anyone joining the association at or after mid-year.

Section 7. Any member may withdraw from the association simply by informing the President and the Board of Directors in writing of such a desire.

Section 8. Any member may have his/her membership terminated after being informed of the pending action and given an opportunity for a hearing for any of the following reasons:

¨ For conduct unbecoming of a member or prejudicial to the aims and reputation of the association.

¨ Lack of employment as a concierge six months after termination or resignation from the position.

¨ Not attending 8 of the 12 monthly meetings held every third Tuesday of the month.[3]

¨ For non-payment of dues after 90 days from the due date, unless otherwise extended for good reason.

Section 9. Upon said withdrawal or termination, the member will thereafter make no mention of any prior or current affiliation with SFCA. This provision may be enforced by injunction and all members are specifically informed of this said section.

Section 10. Honorary membership may be conferred upon any person who exhibits distinction in public affairs after nomination by the Board of Directors and a two-thirds vote of the membership present. Honorary members shall have all the privileges of membership, except the right to vote, and shall be exempt from payment of dues.

Section 1. Upon commencement of the Southern Florida Concierge Association, governing responsibility shall be vested in the founding members (incorporators), which shall control its property, be responsible for its finances and direct its affairs in equally delegated ranks until the association’s incorporation. After incorporation, at the first meeting, elections will be held. The governing responsibility shall be thereafter vested in the Board of Directors (which shall have no less than four members); and which shall also consist of the following officers: President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. The officers shall be elected or appointed annually for one year terms of office and shall serve no more than three consecutive one-year terms except that a director who is also an officer may serve more than three consecutive one-year terms as an officer.

Section 2. Positions on the Board of Directors may not be held by two or more employees of the same hotel.

President: Shall preside on all meetings of the association and the Board of Directors; shall appoint, with the counsel of the membership, the chairpersons of all committees; shall be an ex-officio voting member of all committees.

Vice President: Shall preside at all meetings in the absence of the President; shall, with the President, coordinate the planning and organizing of the quarterly meeting and other meetings as they are called; shall be an ex-officio voting member of all committees

Secretary: Shall keep accurate record of the minutes of all meetings of the association and the Board of Directors; shall keep a full and up-to-date roster of the membership; shall send out proper notices of all meetings of the association and the Board of Directors; shall conduct all correspondence as requested; shall be an ex-officio member of the Membership and Promotional Committees.

Treasurer: Shall be responsible for the collection and distribution of the association dues and funds as directed by the Board of Directors; shall deposit said funds in an account in the association’s name in a banking institution decided upon by the Board of Directors; shall be an ex-officio member of the membership committee.

Nominations shall be accepted by assigned Election Committee from the yearly business meeting until the night of elections, which shall be the next scheduled business meeting; elections shall be by secret ballot; elections shall be by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the membership; no proxy votes shall be accepted; absentee ballots shall be accepted from those members unable to attend the meeting the night of the elections. All absentee ballots must be received by the Elections Committee prior to the night of elections in order that signature and membership may be verified; officers shall assume office upon tally of the ballots. Officers can be voted on from the current Board of Directors. Directors can be voted from the general membership. The candidate must be a member for a period of one year to be eligible to be a Director. They must serve on the Board for one year in order to run as an Officer. The President must be an Officer for a period of one year in order to be eligible.

Section 5. Vacancies of office shall be filled by appointment by the Board of Directors.

¨ Promotional: Shall work to promote the association through various means and mediums.

¨ Membership: Shall work to maintain a current membership list and solicit new members as they may occur.

¨ Elections: Shall be responsible for the administration of the association elections; the chairman and members shall be appointed by the president at the yearly business meeting with the term of service ending with the installation of officers at the next scheduled meeting; no current officer or committee chairperson or person nominated for office shall serve on the Elections Committee.

¨ Special Events: Shall be responsible for the planning and execution of special events for the association as decided on by the membership.

Section 7. Officers and committee chairpersons may be removed from office by a two-thirds vote of the members present after proper notification has been given the membership of such an ensuing vote.

Section 1. The association shall hold business meetings throughout the year according to seasonal schedules.

Section 2. Other meetings or special events may be scheduled and called as seen necessary or desirable by the Board of Directors or membership.

Section 3. A minimum of seven days notice (outlining the time, location, and tentative agenda) must be given before any meeting may be called. Exception to this are the committees who may call meetings as they see necessary to conduct business.

Section 4. For business to be conducted at any meeting, a quorum consisting of a majority of the officers must be present. Business of the association shall be approved by a two-thirds vote of the members present at any regularly scheduled or specially called meeting.

Section 1. These bylaws may be amended at any regular or special meeting by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present and voting, provided notice, including the subject, of the proposed amendment has been given in the call for the meeting.

Section 1. This association shall be dissolved after a 2/3 vote of the membership present at a specially called meeting with disillusionment as the sole agenda item. Proper notification must be given as in the case with all specially called-for meetings.

Section 2. On the dissolution of the association, any funds remaining shall be distributed to one or more regularly organized and qualified charitable, educational, or philanthropic organizations to be selected by the Board of Directors.

Section 1. After presentation ad discussion of these by-laws, a minimum of seven days notice must be given to all prospective members as to the agenda of By-Law Ratification. A two-thirds vote of the members present shall be necessary for ratification and enactment of these bylaws.

Section 2. Upon ratification, the Founding Members, Luis Brac, Mark Romero, Michele Stilla, and Stella Collazo will act as the Board of Directors and will be given all governing responsibilities, effective until elections.

Section 3. The above Directors, as well as being Directors, shall forever be known as Founding Members of the Association.

[1] Amended to include condominium concierge in an affiliate capacity. June 10,1997

[2] Amended to include condominium concierge in an affiliate capacity. June 10,1997

[3] Amended to hold members accountable for their participation in monthly meetings. June 16, 1999

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