BNI OPRF Partners Chapter Substitute Program If a member cannot attend a meeting, the next best thing is to find someone (employee, friend, client, vendor, neighbor, associate) willing to give their time to substitute. It is important that we understand what is expected of a person when they attend as a member-substitute during a meeting. Substitute Policy  Waiver and Release Form Contact Information Information requested from substitute: Name  •  Business Name  •  Position/title  •  Brief description of your business (1-2 sentences) Address  •  Telephone  •  Email  •  Web address is optional Meeting Flow All meetings begin at 7:15am Open networking takes place from 7:15 -7:30am. During this time, a substitute is invited to network openly, as themselves, with the other members of our chapter. The official meeting begins at 7:30am. At this time and throughout the entire meeting, the substitute is asked to act as the absent member. At this point, the substitute must indicate the name of the member for which they are substituting and then proceed with a 45 second speech advertising the services/product of the member. This speech should be provided by the member for whom he/she is substituting. The next participation point is the Referrals/Testimonials portion of the meeting. We again, go around the room to each individual. At this point, the substitute may choose to extend a referral for business on your behalf or on the behalf of the member represented. He/she may also choose to say something positive (testimonial) about a member or about the meeting. The other option is to sit this round out completely All participants, including substitutes are expected to stay for the entire meeting. It is considered in poor taste to speak your part and then leave without listening to the rest of the participants. Once the meeting has been adjourned, you may approach or contact anyone you like as your own representative.