Tradewinds 7 Point System: An Attendance Based Membership Policy

Tradewinds Networking is built on the idea that industry specific seats should be protected through participation, not tenure or rigid rules. The 7 Point System exists to clearly set expectations for members while balancing flexibility for busy business owners.

This policy explains how attendance connects directly to professional seat protection. It is not a disciplinary system. Members remain in good standing, but the exclusivity of a professional category is earned through consistent engagement.

Below is a high level overview of how the system works. Additional detail follows for those who want a deeper understanding of seat status, thresholds, and governance.

At a Glance: The Tradewinds 7 Point System

Event Types and Points

Event Type	Frequency	Points Earned
Meeting	Twice per month	2 points
Lunch	Once per month	1 point
Social	Once per month	1 point
Guest Attendance	Any event	Double points

Notes:

• Guest bonus applies when a qualified new guest attends with a member

• Points are assessed on a quarterly basis

Quarterly Seat Protection Thresholds

Seat Status	Points per Quarter	What This Means
Fully Protected Seat	7 or more	Seat remains exclusive
Provisional Seat Hold	4 to 6	Seat is temporarily non exclusive
Unprotected Seat	0 to 3	Seat is open and may be reassigned

To maintain a fully protected seat, at least one meeting must be attended per quarter. Lunches and socials support engagement but do not replace meetings.

Purpose of the System

Tradewinds uses a points based attendance system to protect the value of professional seats while respecting that members run real businesses.

The system:

• Protects industry specific seats through participation

• Keeps meetings central to collaboration and trust building

• Allows flexibility without sacrificing engagement

• Creates a clear and objective framework for expectations

Attendance determines seat protection, not membership standing.

Understanding Seat Statuses

Fully Protected Seat

A fully protected seat is exclusive to the current member within their professional category.

• No other professional in the same category may join as a member

• A same category professional may attend once as a guest

• Interested professionals are placed on a waitlist

• No reassignment occurs while the seat remains fully protected

If a fully protected seat later becomes provisional, individuals on the waitlist may be notified and invited to participate or apply.

Provisional Seat Hold

A provisional seat occurs when a member’s quarterly attendance falls below the fully protected threshold and another professional in the same industry expresses interest.

During the provisional quarter:

• The seat becomes temporarily non exclusive

• The current member has the opportunity to reestablish protection by earning 7 or more points

At the end of the quarter:

• If the member meets the fully protected threshold, they retain the seat

• If not, the board evaluates engagement and assigns the seat accordingly

This approach ensures fairness while allowing members the opportunity to recommit.

Unprotected Seat

An unprotected seat is fully open.

• The seat may be reassigned at any time

• Qualified new professionals may apply once requirements are met

• The current member loses exclusivity upon reassignment

• Former seat holders may request placement on the provisional waitlist

Unprotected seats allow Tradewinds to remain active, engaged, and aligned with its membership standards.

Meeting Attendance Requirement

Meetings are the foundation of Tradewinds Networking.

• At least one meeting must be attended per quarter to maintain a fully protected seat

• Lunches and socials support engagement but do not replace meetings

This ensures every protected seat is backed by meaningful participation in core discussions.

Board Authority and Oversight

The Tradewinds Board retains authority to:

• Review attendance and points quarterly

• Determine qualified guests and alternates

• Manage professional category waitlists

• Reassign seats in the best interest of the organization

• Adjust point thresholds or policies with notice to membership

This governance allows the system to scale naturally as the group grows.

What Members Should Expect

The 7 Point System is designed to be clear, fair, and predictable.

Members can expect:

• Transparency around seat protection

• Flexibility without ambiguity

• Standards that protect the integrity of the group

• A structure that rewards consistent engagement

At its core, this system exists to ensure that every seat at the table is held by someone actively contributing to the Tradewinds community.