ARTICLE I – NAME

The name of this Organization shall be known as: HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING SUPPLIERS TRADE GROUP

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE

1. To establish complete and adequate reports for discussion.

2. To foster healthy relationship and cooperation between its members and between buyer and seller.

3. To act in any lawful way necessary for the protection of its members against unsound credit and business practices.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP

1. Each member firm shall file a name of a Representative duly empowered to act for the said member at meetings with the Secretary.  All memberships are to be carried in the firm name.

2. Each member agrees to abide by the Regulations & Procedures of the group.

3. In fairness to all and in accordance with policies governing Credit Group activities, members who do not submit information, will not be eligible to receive the completed reports.

4. Membership in the group is contingent upon being a member of the National Association of Credit Management.

ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS

The officers shall be a Chairperson and a Secretary.  The Chairperson shall be elected annually by a vote of the membership. The Secretary of the National Association of Credit Management or his duly appointed representative shall be the Secretary of the Group.

ARTICLE V - MEETINGS

A meeting of this Group will be held every other month in Tampa FL. Each member located in the state of Florida is required to attend 3 out of the 6 meetings (January to January) to remain in the group.  Members located out of state are exempt from the attendance requirement.

ARTICLE VI - ETHICS

1. All information emanating in this Group must be considered strictly confidential.  Under no circumstances shall information obtained in this Group be divulged to the subject account or used to the detriment of any Group member.

2. Any violation of this Article will be subject to investigation by the NACM Ethics Committee and violators will be subject to expulsion from the Group.  Any information given to public authorities in pursuance of a legal requirement shall not be construed a violation of the above Article.

3. There shall be no agreement expressed or implied, respecting which action members of the Group shall take as a result of credit information discussed in this Group meeting.  No one except the individual member himself shall determine to whom, or what terms, or to what extent he may or may not extend credit.  Any member, after receiving all possible credit information, must individually make his own decision as to future credit to be extended to any account.  This means that the Group will not pass on C.O.D. terms as a group, it is further understood that these meetings to be strictly credit meetings and have nothing to do with discounts, terms of sale, etc.  

ARTICLE VII - PROCEDURE

1. Within three weeks before the meeting, the Secretary will send each member of the Group an email noting the day of the next meeting post a form on NACM Tampa’s website for each member select their inquiries for discussion.  Members should include the customer's complete name, address, and phone number.  Each member will be charged for five inquiries per booklet.  More than five (5) inquiries may be submitted and the submitting member will be charged for each additional account per member contract.  The Secretary will post a worksheet (a consolidated list of submitted inquiries to each member to list their experience which includes credit history and complete payment experience) on their website.  This list should be completed no later than the date indicated.  Members are required to submit either their worksheet or A/R monthly.

2. Any other information available should be given, such as result of recent contact with debtor, tax and other liabilities known, etc.

3. After account discussion is completed, the Chairman shall ask the members to bring up any other names desired for discussion.

4. A discussion will then be held on any other matters of interest, such as current sales and collections as compared with previous months, liquidation’s, legislation.   

5. It is the definite benefit that each member firm has a credit representative present at all meetings to reciprocate information.

6. There will be a $35 charge per person to attend the meetings.  Members who make a reservation and do not cancel within 72 hours of the meeting date will be charged the fee.  Members who do not make a reservation and do not attend will not be charged.