Frequently Asked Questions

We only allow one person per professional specialty.

The application asks for references and we have members of our leadership committee that checks them. We allow visitors to come to our meeting for two to three visits. This gives us all the opportunity to get to know each other and to assess the viability of our potential members.

The intent of Nutmeg Business Networking is to grow its members' businesses and not to profit from the act of meeting. In order to cover the expense of meetings (facility, breakfast, coffee, etc.) and promotional activities such as the website and advertisements, there are dues collected quarterly in the amount of $100 per quarter. An application fee of $50 is charged for new members. Our charter stipulates that assessments can occur in the event an expense is agreed upon by majority vote.

Nutmeg's objectives are to give members an opportunity to network, provide qualified leads, and ask for referrals. The weekly one-hour meetings are designed to meet these objectives. The formal meeting begins following a 15–20 minute networking breakfast social. Visitors are introduced and encouraged to pass business cards. During the meeting each member is then given the opportunity to present their business and business needs in a 60-second commercial. Visitors are asked to present their business as well. Following the 60-second commercials, successful leads are presented and testimonials are given.

Members are encouraged to bring new visitors and encourage prospects to join. Visitors can give a presentation if they do not compete with a current member. If they do compete, they may simply view the procedures. New members and visitors can revitalize the chapter with new contacts from their own businesses.

Visitors can apply as long as their profession or "seat" is open. There is a screening process conducted by the group members that gives approval for new applicants to be inducted.

Nutmeg Business Networking is self-managed. One meeting per month is dedicated as a "Business Meeting" to iron out any issues that members may have. We devote that one meeting to address issues, concerns, dues collecting, special events, growth of the group and other management-type discussions. It is imperative that anyone who has concerns address them at our monthly Business Meeting.

It is not the occupation, it is the individual. The occupation can be anything. If you're focused and you have a dream and you're willing to make a sacrifice, you are the person we want in the group.

We understand the importance of the ethical concerns governing certain professions and acknowledge that rules can differ by location. As such, Nutmeg requires its members to uphold the rules of their profession so as not to violate their ethical obligations. In the event that Nutmeg's general rules could potentially violate a professional's ethical code, Nutmeg's rules are superseded by the dictates of the professional's ethics code. Significantly, a primary objective of Nutmeg is to educate its membership in ways to market and grow business.

Our primary objective is to assist our members in ways to improve their business and to educate them concerning how they can effectively network. Business people get business when their expertise is known and others reach a comfort level with them. Nutmeg provides a forum that allows members to meet other business peers who need to know effective and efficient business people.

Nutmeg has roots going back to 1995 and has been through several chapters of growth. Here's our history at a glance: