Section 1. Application Fee.

The Board of Directors may adopt an application fee for all forms of Membership, except for Institute Affiliate Membership, in reasonable amount, not exceeding three (3) times the amount of the annual dues for REALTOR® membership and which shall be required to accompany each application for membership and which shall become the property of the Association upon final approval of the application and shall not be refundable.  (As prescribed in Article 5, Section 3 (a))

 Applicant will be given three (3) opportunities to attend the Association sponsored Orientation Seminar.  If orientation is not completed in this time, the written application and dues moneys are returned (as prescribed in Article V Section 3 (a)) and dues formula is implemented to Designated REALTOR®.  If a terminated member elects to reapply for membership within the prescribed fiscal year a reapplication fee, as determined annually by the Board of Directors, shall apply.

The application fee is transferred to the General Account Income. 

Section 2. Dues. The annual dues of Members shall be as follows:

(a) REALTOR® Members. The annual dues of each Designated  REALTORÒ Member shall be in such amount as established annually by the Board of Directors, plus an additional amount to be established annually by the Board of Directors times the number of real estate salespersons and licensed or certified appraisers who (1) are employed by or affiliated as independent contractors, or who are otherwise directly or indirectly licensed with such REALTOR® Member, and (2) are not REALTOR® Members of any Association in the state or a state contiguous thereto or Institute Affiliate members of the Association.  In calculating the dues payable to the Association by a Designated REALTORÒ Member, non-member licensees as defined in Section 2 (a) (1) and (2) of this Article shall not be included in the computation of dues if the Designated REALTOR® has paid dues based on said non-member licensees in another Association/Board in the state or a state contiguous thereto, provided the Designated REALTORÒ notifies the Association in writing of the identity of the Association/Board to which dues have been remitted.

(b) In case of a Designated REALTOR® Member in a firm, partnership, or corporation whose business activity is substantially all commercial, any assessments for non-member licensees shall be limited to licensees affiliated with the Designated REALTOR® (as defined in (1) and (2) of this paragraph in the office where the Designated REALTOR® holds membership and any other offices of the firm located within the jurisdiction of this Association. (Amended 1/01)

(l) For the purpose of this Section, a REALTORÒ Member of a Member Association shall be held to be any Member who has a place or places of business within the state or a state contiguous thereto and who, as a principal, partner, corporate officer or branch office manager of a real estate firm, partnership, or corporation, is actively engaged in the real estate profession as defined in Article III, Section 1, of the Constitution of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORSÒ.  An individual shall be deemed to be licensed with a REALTOR®, if the license of the individual is held by the REALTORÒ, or by any broker who is licensed with the REALTORÒ, or by any entity in which the REALTOR® has a direct or indirect ownership interest  which is engaged in other aspects of the real estate business (except as provided for in Section 2 (a) (1) hereof) provided that such licensee is not otherwise included in the computation of dues payable by the principal, partner, or corporate officer, or branch office manager of the entity.

A REALTORâ with a direct or indirect ownership interest in an entity engaged exclusively in soliciting and/or referring clients and customers to the REALTORâ for consideration on a substantially exclusive basis shall annually file with the association on a form approved by the association a list of the licensees affiliated with that entity and shall certify that all of the licensees affiliated with the entity are solely engaged in referring clients and customers and are not engaged in listing, selling, leasing, managing, counseling or appraising real property.  The individuals disclosed on such form shall not be deemed to be licensed with the REALTORâ filing the form for purposes of this Section and shall not be included in calculating the annual dues of the Designated REALTORâ.

Membership dues shall be prorated for any licensee included on a certification form submitted to the association who during the same calendar year applies for REALTORâ or REALTOR-ASSOCIATEâ membership in the association.  However, membership dues shall not be prorated if the licensee held REALTORâ or REALTOR-ASSOCIATEâ membership during the preceding calendar year.

(c) The annual dues of each REALTOR® Member other than the Designated REALTOR® shall be in such amount as established by the Board of Directors.

(d) The annual dues for each Institute Affiliate Member established pursuant to the Bylaws of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

(e) Affiliate Members.  The annual dues of each Affiliate Firm Member shall be established annually by the Board of Directors.  For this Firm Membership the Firm shall be allowed to designated one representative.  This designation can be changed to another individual with a thirty (30) days notice to the Association submitting the standards transfer form with the established transfer fee.

(1) Other persons in the same office may also join the Association as Affiliate Members (Individuals) for an additional lower fee to be established annually by the Board of Directors.

(f) Public Service Members.  The annual dues of each Public Service Member shall be established annually by the Board of Directors.

(g) Honorary.  Dues payable, if any, shall be at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

(h) Student Members.  Dues payable, if any, shall be at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

(i) Assessments.  In addition to the foregoing provisions for dues, the Board of Directors may from time to time levy an assessment for the purpose of the NORTH METRO REALTORS® ASSOCIATION to be paid uniformly by each Member at the time and in the manner established by resolution of the Board of Directors.  Such assessments shall not at any time require of any member a payment or payments totaling more than $50 in any calendar year. The failure of a Member to pay such assessment when due shall subject the Member to sanctions as provided in Section 4 of Article X.

Section 3. Dues Payable.

Dues for all Members shall be paid annually in advance of the first day of October.  Dues for new members shall be computed from the date of application and granting of provisional membership. 

(a) In the event a sales licensee or licensed or certified appraiser who holds REALTOR® membership is dropped for nonpayment of Association dues, and the licensee remains with the Designated REALTORS® firm, the dues obligation of the "Designated REALTOR®" (As set fourth in Article X, Section 2,(a) will be increased to reflect the addition of a non-member licensee.  Dues shall be calculated from the first day of the current fiscal year and are payable within thirty (30) days of the notice of termination.

Section 4. Late Payment Fees.

If dues are not paid by October 31, beginning November 1 an additional amount established by the Board of Directors shall be added as a late payment fee.

Section 5. Nonpayment of Financial Obligation. 

(a) If dues, fees, fines or other assessments including amounts owed to the Association or the Association's MLS are not paid within one (1) month after the due date, the nonpaying Member is subject to suspension at the discretion of the Board of Directors.  Two (2) months after due date, membership of the non paying Member shall automatically terminate unless within that time the amount due is paid.  However, no action shall be taken to suspend or expel a Member for nonpayment of disputed amounts until the accuracy of the amount owed has been confirmed by the Board of Directors.

(b) A former Member who has had his/her membership terminated for nonpayment of dues, fees, fines or other assessments duly levied in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws or the provisions of other Rules and Regulations of the Association or any of its services, departments, divisions or subsidiaries may apply for reinstatement in the manner prescribed for new applicants for membership, after making payment in full of all accounts due as of the date of termination.

Section 6. New Agents.

Designated REALTOR® dues shall be adjusted within thirty (30) days to reflect additional new licensees in that office according to the formula as specified in Article X, Section 2, (a).

Section 7. Dues Adjustment Billings. 

Dues adjustment billings will be due and payable upon receipt.  If not paid in thirty (30) days it will be an automatic termination of the Designated REALTORS® membership.

Section 8. Deposit.

All moneys received by the Association for any purpose shall be deposited to the credit of the Association in a financial institution or institutions selected by resolution of the Board of Directors.

Section 9. Expenditures. 

The Chief Executive Officer shall administer the day to day finances of the Association.  Capital expenditures in excess of $50 per member over the available cash on hand may not be made unless authorized by a majority of the Association Members eligible to vote present at a meeting especially called for that purpose, provided that the meeting has been properly noticed.

Section 10. Notice of Dues, Fees, Fines, Assessments and Other Financial Obligations of Members. 

All dues, fees, fines, assessments or other financial obligations to the Association or Association Multiple Listing Service shall be noticed to the delinquent Association Member in writing setting forth the amount owed and due date.

Section 11. The Dues of REALTOR® Members Who Are REALTOR® Emeritus

(As Recognized By The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®). Past Presidents of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® or Recipients of the Distinguished Service Award Shall Be as Determined by the Board of Directors.