Code of Professional Conduct
The Franklin Lakes Chamber of Commerce
Code of Professional Conduct
Purpose and Commitment
The Franklin Lakes Chamber of Commerce is committed to fostering a professional, ethical, inclusive, and community-focused environment in which businesses, professionals, nonprofit organizations, community leaders, and residents can develop meaningful and mutually beneficial relationships.
Be sure to check our our President's Welcome here.
This Code of Professional Conduct establishes the principles and standards expected of Chamber members and, where applicable, guests, volunteers, sponsors, representatives, and participants in Chamber-sponsored activities.
Membership in the Franklin Lakes Chamber of Commerce represents more than participation in a business organization. It reflects a commitment to professionalism, ethical conduct, respect for others, responsible business practices, and positive participation within the greater Franklin Lakes community.
The Chamber believes that sustainable professional relationships are built through education, communication, trust, respect, and integrity, rather than aggressive solicitation or transactional networking.
Members are therefore encouraged to educate rather than sell, to listen before responding, to establish rapport before seeking a business opportunity, and to allow individuals to decide for themselves whether they wish to learn more.
The following standards are intended to preserve that culture and protect the professional reputation of the Franklin Lakes Chamber of Commerce and its membership.
Section 1. Professional Integrity
1.1 Ethical Conduct
Members shall conduct themselves honestly, ethically, responsibly, and professionally in their dealings with fellow members, clients, prospective clients, customers, employees, vendors, nonprofit organizations, community representatives, and the public.
1.2 Truthful Representation
Members are expected to accurately represent their businesses, professional qualifications, experience, products, services, pricing, capabilities, affiliations, and credentials.
Knowingly false, deceptive, fraudulent, or materially misleading representations are inconsistent with the standards of the Franklin Lakes Chamber of Commerce.
1.3 Professional Responsibility
Members should make reasonable efforts to fulfill professional commitments, communicate responsibly, address concerns in good faith, and accept responsibility for their actions and business practices.
1.4 Integrity as a Core Principle
Integrity is fundamental to the culture of the Franklin Lakes Chamber of Commerce.
Professional opportunities should never be pursued at the expense of honesty, fairness, trust, or ethical conduct.
Trust may require considerable time to establish and only moments to damage. Members are therefore encouraged to protect the trust placed in them by fellow members, clients, prospective clients, and the community.
Section 2. Relationship-Based Networking
2.1 Relationships Before Transactions
The Franklin Lakes Chamber of Commerce believes that meaningful business relationships should develop through genuine interaction rather than immediate solicitation.
Members and guests are encouraged to learn about one another, engage in substantive conversation, identify common interests, exchange knowledge, and establish professional rapport.
Not every introduction is expected to result in business.
A professional connection may eventually develop into a client relationship, referral relationship, partnership, collaboration, mentorship, friendship, community connection, or another opportunity that could not have been anticipated during the initial conversation.
2.2 Genuine Conversation
Participants are encouraged to approach Chamber networking opportunities with a genuine interest in others.
This includes asking appropriate questions, listening carefully, learning about another person's organization or profession, and allowing conversations to develop naturally.
The Chamber does not encourage an environment in which participants move rapidly from person to person solely to deliver sales presentations or distribute promotional materials.
2.3 Mutual Respect
Professional networking should be mutually beneficial and respectful.
No participant should feel obligated to purchase a product, retain a service, schedule an appointment, provide a referral, or continue a business conversation merely because they attended a Chamber event.
Section 3. Education Rather Than Selling
3.1 The Chamber's Educational Philosophy
The Franklin Lakes Chamber of Commerce encourages members to educate rather than sell.
When discussing a business, profession, product, or service, members are encouraged to provide useful information that helps others better understand what they do, the problems they address, the solutions they provide, and the considerations that may be important within their respective industries.
3.2 The Individual's Right to Choose
After receiving information, the individual should be permitted to determine whether they wish to learn more.
The Chamber believes informed interest creates a stronger foundation for a professional relationship than pressure or aggressive solicitation.
3.3 No Expectation of Immediate Business
A conversation at a Chamber event should not carry an expectation of an immediate sale, appointment, proposal, referral, or other transaction.
Members should recognize that professional relationships may develop over time.
3.4 Knowledge as Professional Value
Members are encouraged to demonstrate their expertise by being helpful, informative, knowledgeable, and willing to answer reasonable questions.
Sharing knowledge without immediately demanding something in return contributes to a stronger professional community and allows trust to develop naturally.
Section 4. Business Cards and Contact Information
4.1 Rapport Before Exchange
The Franklin Lakes Chamber of Commerce recognizes business cards as a traditional and useful networking tool. However, members and guests are asked to establish some degree of conversation and rapport before offering business cards or requesting another person's contact information.
4.2 Permission to Exchange Information
Rather than automatically handing business cards to everyone encountered at an event, participants are encouraged to ask whether the other person would like to exchange information.
For example:
“Would it be okay if we exchanged business cards?”
This simple practice demonstrates professional courtesy and makes the exchange mutual.
4.3 No Mass Distribution
Chamber events should not be treated primarily as opportunities for indiscriminate distribution of business cards, brochures, promotional materials, or sales literature.
Promotional materials may be distributed where specifically permitted or provided for as part of an event, sponsorship, exhibit, or Chamber program.
4.4 Meaningful Connections
The Chamber believes the value of a business card lies in the relationship it represents.
The objective should not be to distribute the most cards, but to establish professional connections worth continuing.
Section 5. Solicitation and Professional Boundaries
5.1 Respectful Business Development
Professional follow-up is appropriate when mutual interest has been established.
Members should nevertheless respect others' professional and personal boundaries.
5.2 Unwanted Solicitation
Attendance at a Chamber event does not constitute consent to persistent telephone calls, repeated emails, excessive marketing communications, aggressive sales presentations, or other unwanted solicitation.
5.3 Respecting a Decision
If an individual indicates that they are not interested in learning more about a product, service, opportunity, or business relationship, that decision should be respected.
A respectful interaction can preserve a professional relationship even when no immediate business opportunity exists.
5.4 Directory Information
The availability of contact information through a Chamber directory or other Chamber resource should not automatically be interpreted as permission for persistent or inappropriate solicitation.
Section 6. Respect for Fellow Members
6.1 Professional Courtesy
Members are expected to treat fellow Chamber members, guests, employees, volunteers, sponsors, and community representatives with professional courtesy.
6.2 Healthy Competition
The Chamber recognizes that multiple members may provide competing products or services.
Healthy competition is an ordinary and beneficial part of commerce.
Members are encouraged to distinguish themselves through expertise, quality, innovation, service, value, professionalism, and integrity.
6.3 Disparagement
Members should refrain from knowingly making false statements about another member, deliberately spreading misinformation, improperly interfering with another member's business relationships, or engaging in conduct intended primarily to damage another member's professional reputation.
6.4 Professional Disagreements
Disagreements should be handled professionally and, whenever practical, directly between the parties involved.
Differences of opinion do not justify harassment, threats, intimidation, personal attacks, or knowingly false accusations.
Section 7. Nondiscrimination and Equal Respect
7.1 Nondiscrimination
The Franklin Lakes Chamber of Commerce is committed to providing an environment in which individuals are treated with dignity and respect.
The Chamber does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, familial status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, New Jersey state, or local law.
7.2 Equal Participation
The Chamber seeks to provide appropriate opportunities for qualified individuals and organizations to participate in Chamber activities without unlawful discrimination.
7.3 Respect for Differences
Members may have different backgrounds, experiences, beliefs, perspectives, and opinions.
Professional respect remains expected regardless of those differences.
Section 8. Harassment, Intimidation, and Inappropriate Conduct
8.1 Professional Environment
The Franklin Lakes Chamber of Commerce seeks to maintain a professional environment at its meetings, programs, events, committees, digital communities, and other Chamber-sponsored activities.
8.2 Harassment
Harassment, intimidation, bullying, threats, discriminatory conduct, or other behavior that creates a hostile, threatening, or materially disruptive environment is inconsistent with Chamber standards.
8.3 Personal Boundaries
Members and guests are expected to respect reasonable personal and professional boundaries.
Conduct that may be acceptable in a private social environment may not be appropriate in a professional Chamber setting.
8.4 Electronic Conduct
These expectations extend, where applicable, to electronic communications and online interactions associated with Chamber activities.
Section 9. Welcoming Members and Guests
9.1 A Welcoming Chamber
The Chamber seeks to provide an environment where new members and first-time guests feel comfortable participating.
9.2 Inclusion in Conversation
Established members are encouraged to introduce themselves to new participants, welcome individuals into conversations, and facilitate introductions where appropriate.
9.3 Avoiding Closed Groups
Members are encouraged not to allow Chamber events to become environments in which established participants interact exclusively with people they already know.
Creating new relationships is an important purpose of Chamber networking.
9.4 Professional Hospitality
A warm welcome can significantly shape someone's first experience with the Chamber.
Members are therefore encouraged to contribute personally to a professional and hospitable environment.
Section 10. Responsible Communication and Follow Up
10.1 Professional Communication
Communications arising from Chamber relationships should remain respectful, accurate, and professional.
10.2 Appropriate Follow-Up
When mutual interest has been established, appropriate follow-up may include thanking someone for a conversation, providing requested information, making an agreed-upon introduction, or continuing a discussion.
10.3 Communication Preferences
Members should respect requests to discontinue communications or marketing messages.
10.4 Chamber Communication Resources
Chamber mailing lists, directories, event information, digital resources, and other communication tools should not be misused for harassment, deception, unauthorized mass solicitation, or other inappropriate purposes.
Section 11. Privacy, Confidentiality, and Trust
11.1 Respect for Confidential Information
Members should exercise reasonable care with confidential, proprietary, personal, or sensitive information obtained through professional relationships or Chamber activities.
11.2 Reasonable Expectation of Privacy
Information reasonably understood to be private should not be publicly disclosed or distributed without appropriate authorization.
11.3 Improper Use of Information
Confidential information should not be improperly used for personal, competitive, or commercial advantage.
11.4 Preservation of Trust
Respect for confidentiality helps establish the trust necessary for meaningful professional relationships.
Section 12. Conduct at Chamber Events
12.1 Professional Participation
Members and guests attending Chamber events are expected to behave professionally and respectfully.
12.2 Respect for Participants
Participants should respect fellow attendees, event hosts, speakers, sponsors, volunteers, Chamber representatives, venue employees, and other individuals associated with the event.
12.3 Positive Energy
The Chamber encourages events that are energetic, engaging, conversational, and welcoming.
Professionalism should not prevent people from enjoying themselves, developing friendships, exchanging ideas, and having meaningful conversations.
12.4 Disruptive Conduct
Conduct that materially disrupts an event, interferes with another participant's reasonable enjoyment of the event, or violates applicable Chamber policies may be addressed by Chamber leadership.
Section 13. Community Responsibility
13.1 Commitment to Community
The Franklin Lakes Chamber of Commerce recognizes that businesses are an important part of the communities in which they operate.
The Chamber, therefore, encourages responsible participation in the greater Franklin Lakes community.
13.2 Genuine Community Support
Community service and charitable involvement should be approached with sincerity and respect.
The Chamber believes community support should go beyond an opportunity for self-promotion.
13.3 Collaboration
Members are encouraged, where appropriate, to identify opportunities to collaborate with businesses, nonprofit organizations, civic organizations, and community institutions.
13.4 Strengthening Franklin Lakes
A strong local business community and a strong residential community can reinforce one another.
The Chamber seeks to contribute positively to both.
Section 14. Supporting Local Business
14.1 Awareness of Local Businesses
The Chamber encourages members and residents to learn about businesses operating within Franklin Lakes and the surrounding community.
14.2 No Purchasing Obligation
Membership does not obligate another member or consumer to purchase a particular product or service.
Purchasing decisions remain the responsibility of the individual or organization making them.
14.3 Creating Opportunity
The Chamber's role is to facilitate introductions, visibility, education, and relationships.
Members remain responsible for earning business through their own professionalism, expertise, service, quality, and value.
Section 15. Representation of Chamber Membership
15.1 Accurate Representation
Members should accurately describe their membership and relationship with the Franklin Lakes Chamber of Commerce.
15.2 No Implied Endorsement
Membership should not be represented as a Chamber certification, guarantee, recommendation, or endorsement of a member's products, services, qualifications, or business practices unless such endorsement has been expressly authorized.
15.3 Authority to Speak for the Chamber
No individual member may represent themselves as speaking officially on behalf of the Franklin Lakes Chamber of Commerce unless authorized to do so.
Section 16. Chamber Name, Logo, and Intellectual Property
16.1 Responsible Use
The Chamber's name, logo, branding, publications, website content, and other intellectual property should be used responsibly.
16.2 Authorization
Membership does not automatically provide unrestricted authority to reproduce, modify, sublicense, or commercially exploit Chamber intellectual property.
16.3 Questions Regarding Use
Members who are unsure whether a proposed use is appropriate should contact the Chamber before using the Chamber's intellectual property.
Section 17. Personal Opinions and Chamber Positions
17.1 Individual Views
Members may hold and express their own professional, social, civic, and political opinions.
17.2 Separation From Chamber Positions
Personal opinions should not be represented as official positions of the Franklin Lakes Chamber unless formally authorized.
17.3 Membership Does Not Constitute Endorsement
The Chamber's acceptance of an individual or organization as a member does not mean the Chamber endorses every statement, opinion, position, product, or service associated with that member.
Section 18. Conflicts of Interest
18.1 Responsible Decision Making
Individuals participating in Chamber leadership, committees, purchasing decisions, sponsorship arrangements, or other organizational matters should exercise appropriate professional judgment when potential conflicts of interest arise.
18.2 Disclosure
A personal, professional, or financial interest that could reasonably influence a Chamber-related decision should be disclosed when appropriate.
18.3 Organizational Integrity
Transparency concerning material conflicts of interest helps protect the Chamber, its membership, and the individuals involved.
Section 19. Accountability and Enforcement
19.1 Responsibility for Conduct
Members are responsible for their conduct when participating in Chamber activities and when representing their affiliation with the Chamber.
19.2 Review of Concerns
The Franklin Lakes Chamber of Commerce reserves the right to review conduct that may be inconsistent with this Code, applicable Chamber policies, governing documents, membership requirements, or applicable law.
19.3 Fair Consideration
Not every disagreement, business dispute, or difference of opinion constitutes a violation of this Code.
Concerns should be considered reasonably, fairly, and in an appropriate context.
19.4 Appropriate Action
Depending upon the circumstances and subject to applicable Chamber policies and governing documents, the Chamber may address concerns through communication, clarification, warnings, restrictions on participation, or other appropriate measures.
Serious or repeated violations may affect participation or membership where authorized by applicable Chamber policies or governing documents.
Section 20. Our Standard for Professional Networking
The Franklin Lakes Chamber of Commerce seeks to create a different kind of professional networking environment.
We do not measure a successful Chamber event solely by the number of business cards exchanged, sales appointments generated, or immediate transactions completed.
A successful event may result in one meaningful conversation.
It may introduce two people who can help one another.
It may allow a business owner to learn something valuable.
It may create a new community partnership.
It may begin a professional relationship that develops over months or years.
Members and guests are therefore encouraged to arrive prepared to participate rather than promote.
Have conversations.
Listen carefully.
Ask thoughtful questions.
Share knowledge.
Educate others about what you do when they express interest.
Allow them to decide whether they would like to learn more.
Build rapport before exchanging contact information.
Respect professional boundaries.
Look for opportunities to help.
And always conduct yourself with integrity.
The Franklin Lakes Chamber of Commerce believes that the most valuable outcome of professional networking is not a stack of business cards.
It is a relationship worth continuing.
Section 21. Our Continuing Commitment
The reputation of the Franklin Lakes Chamber of Commerce is created collectively by the individuals and organizations that participate in it.
A Code of Professional Conduct alone cannot create a strong Chamber culture.
Our members create that culture through their actions.
Every professional introduction contributes to it.
Every new member welcomed into a conversation contributes to it.
Every piece of knowledge shared without pressure contributes to it.
Every respectful disagreement contributes to it.
Every community partnership contributes to it.
Every time a member chooses integrity over immediate personal advantage, the Chamber becomes stronger.
We ask every member, guest, volunteer, sponsor, and participant to help us maintain an environment where businesses and professionals can meet, learn from one another, develop meaningful relationships, contribute to the community, and create opportunities built on mutual trust.
Community First. Relationships Always. Integrity Without Compromise.
These principles represent the professional culture that the Franklin Lakes Chamber of Commerce seeks to foster among its members, its business community, and the Town of Franklin Lakes, New Jersey.
Read about our Mission and Vision Here