Chapter Guidelines

Membership

  • Both the member and his or her spouse can enjoy the programs and services provided by the chapter.

  • Points are awarded for each local, regional or international event where a member who by and large, has attended the entire function. Members must have a minimum of eight (8) points at the end of each YPO year. Members who fail to meet this requirement will become associate members (please refer to the attendance policy).

  • Each full member (member for one (1) year) can sponsor one new member per YPO year. It is the sponsoring member's responsibility to ensure that the new member integrates smoothly into the chapter. Associate members, 49ers and secondary chapter members may not sponsor new members.

  • Orientation meetings will be organized for new members.

  • We have four different membership categories. They are full member; associate member; secondary chapter member and 49er.

  • The YPO year runs from July until June.

Program

  • The chapter program is organized by the Education Chair and his team, and is supported by the chapter. Requests for organizing additional events should be referred to the Education Chair.

  • Promotional fliers for events are usually e-mailed to members, spouses and members' secretaries / personal assistants and mailed to their spouses who have asked to receive circular by post.

  • Most chapter events are open to members and their spouses. Events are usually financed by the chapter. Unless otherwise noted, members and their spouses do not have to pay to participate in events.

  • Each member can only bring prospective member (i.e. gone through the first review) to chapter event.

  • It is at the discretion of the Education Chair to decide which events will be made available to non-Hong Kong Chapter members. Each individual overseas member is only permitted to attend a maximum of two Hong Kong Chapter events during each fiscal year and to be charged on cost basis.

  • YPOer's family members (this excludes Christmas party that members' children are automatically invited) may attend chapter event on an available basis after the deadline of registration, however, the same family member may only attend two (2) chapter events in each fiscal year. Prior approval of the Event Chair AND Chapter Chair or Education Chair is required. A guest fee of HK$1,000 is applied to all events.

  • Key associates are only allowed at events especially designed for them, or where the Executive Committee has decided to allow guests. In such cases this will be advised to all members by email or fax and, after the registration deadline, requests for guests will be allocated on a first come basis. Each member may only bring one key associate per event and is required to pay a guest fee of HK$1,000. The proportion of key associates at a chapter event may not exceed 20% based on signed up numbers.

  • A penalty may apply to members who register for an event and fail to attend or who cancel their registrations without sufficient notice. Penalty invoices will be sent by mail.

Forum

  • Participation in Forums is entirely discretionary but highly encouraged. Members and spouses who participate in Forum consistently rank it as their most valuable experience in YPO.

  • Each new member must attend one Forum Fundamentals (FF) as well as NMSO which is usually held in conjunction with FF within his / her first year, which will be organized and financed by the Chapter.

  • Each new spouse is encouraged to attend NMSO or FF which will be financed by the Chapter.

  • The Forum Chair / Spouse Forum Coordinator will privately assist any member wishing to join a Forum or transfer to a different Forum.

  • Members and their respective spouses cannot attend the same FF or Forum Moderator Development (FMD). In the event there is a schedule conflict, the member will take priority place over his or her spouse.

  • Members who have not been FF trained cannot sign up for FMD unless they have authorization by the forum officer. Such authorization will be granted under exceptional circumstances.

  • Moderators should be trained prior to them becoming moderator of their Forum. If the moderator attended FMD more than 18 months before assuming the role of moderator, he / she needs to be retrained within the year of assuming the role of moderator of his / her Forum.

  • In the event of low or high sign ups, the Forum Chair has the right to merge FF with FMD, and / or move those participants who have not been FF trained into FMD.

  • Forum Chair will arrange moderators meeting / workshop per year in forum meeting format under forum confidentiality, to identify and help resolve health issues facing each existing Forum group as well as sharing idea, materials, etc. The meeting / workshop will also be used to educate and encourage Forum moderators to use existing Forum tools and retreat resources to improve Forum health. Moderators MUST attend Moderators Meeting/ Workshop. If for any reason they can not make it then two representatives from a Forum must attend.

  • An ANNUAL Forum subsidy is available for each forum group (for year 2009 / 10, this is HK$1,000 per paying YPO member per forum) to be used for YPO approved Forum resources.

  • A NEW forum subsidy of up to US$3,000 will be allocated to any new forums that use an approved Forum resource for its forum retreat within the first year of formation. Submission of invoices for resource's fee and lodging is required.

  • In the event a new Forum takes up the NEW Forum subsidy of up to US$3,000 within their first year they will not be eligible for the ANNUAL Forum subsidy in the same year.

  • A member/spouse who leaves his/her Forum cannot join another Forum for at least three months, unless both Forums and their members unanimously agree to allow it.

  • A member cannot belong to two Forums within the Hong Kong Chapter unless both Forums agree unanimously.

Networking

  • Communication with members can be in the form of memos, newsletters, fliers, etc. from the Chapter Networking Officer and other serving Chairs.

  • Response or feedback on communication materials can be directed to the Chapter Office or the respective Chair.

  • Members searching for business opportunities within the YPO network should contact the Chapter Networking Officer.

  • As a member of YPO, you are part of the Member-to-Member Exchange (M2Mx) network. Please visit web-site: www.myypo.org / www.m2mx.com

  • Each full member will be given a userid and password to access to both the YPO Worldwide web-site www.myypo.org and the local chapter web-site www.ypohk.com.

Fees and Dues

  • Each member has to pay a one-time chapter initiation fee (HK$88,000) when admitted and also chapter annual dues (HK$29,000), in addition to international initiation fee and annual dues as required.

  • Secondary member has to pay half of the chapter initation fee (HK$44,000) when admitted, balance payable if he/she becomes full member. Also, he/she has to pay the chapter dues (HK$29,000), in addition to international and primary chapter initiation fee and annual dues are required.