"Spiritual Goals
First, Business
Goals Second"

Mission Statement 
The Devotee Business Fellowship (DBF) is a group of Lesson Students of Self-Realization Fellowship, completely separate from the SRF organization itself, who join together to practice the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda to focus on the laws of success, to promote and affirm prosperity, and to spiritualize and network our personal businesses in a way that is harmonious with SRF principles. 

By-Laws 
The focus is “Spiritual Goals First, Business Goals Second.” DBF members endeavor to encourage and inspire each other to increase and manifest prosperity consciousness through the practice of SRF teachings, to develop success principles in business, and to promote their businesses to the public at large. Our meetings will include a period of meditation and the practice of affirmations and provide an opportunity on a rotating basis for fellow members to “showcase their business wares” so DBF members are informed about one anothers’ businesses. The meetings will also allow DBF members to share business related information and ideas so that everyone can become more successful in their own right. Finally, DBF meetings will include a period of social fellowship. 

A. Lesson Students 
All members shall have completed at least through Lesson 24, and the honor system will be used for adherence to this rule. [Note: This is to assure that all who attend meetings have "completed" Lesson 24 and shares a basic understanding of the principles of the Law of Success. DBF members who invite an SRF devotee to attend DBF meetings are responsible for advising that fellow devotee of the Lesson 24 requirement] 

B. Members will: 
1. Strive to refrain from promoting their businesses on any SRF temple, ashram or center grounds or during SRF sponsored activities and will, instead, view the DBF as the appropriate forum for spreading the word about their businesses and for networking with other SRF members; 

2. Strive to follow the DBF email guidelines and encourage other DBF members to do the same; 

3. Seek to refer business to their fellow DBF members as such opportunities may arise while they are conducting their own businesses; 

4. Be invited to be listed in a Directory of DBF Businesses, to be circulated among the DBF members and made available to anyone who requests one (whether or not in SRF), which will list the DBF members’ names, business contact information, and a brief description of each member’s business;  

5.  Participate in the development and support of a simple website so that all devotees of SRF (and the public at large) can locate information about the businesses and services being provided by the members of the DBF; 

6.  Recognize that DBF is separate and apart from the SRF organization, which has neither authorized nor participated in any aspect of DBF’s development or operation; additionally, although the DBF supports all aspects of Paramahansa Yogananda's teachings and the SRF organization, the group intends to maintain its separateness from the SRF organization and will not seek SRF’s support or assistance in furtherance of its efforts and goals. 

7.  Affirm they will follow the By-Laws of DBF. 

Meeting Format and Procedures
 
A. There will be a Steering Committee of about 6 members, selected on a volunteer and rotating basis, that will function as the organizer of the meetings and facilitator of the DBF. The Steering Committee will meet at least quarterly, as needed. The Steering Committee will divide the various tasks among its members, including the distribution of a Roster of members, the choosing of the Leader of the monthly meetings from among the Steering Committee and the keeping track of the “line-up” of the various monthly Speakers. For reminders about and any changes to the meetings, or any other matter that needs to be communicated to the DBF members, the Steering Committee will circulate announcements by way of emails to the DBF members. It is anticipated that Steering Committee members will not be expected to serve longer than 1 year at a time and the time commitment of service should be kept to a minimum.  

B. The Leader of the meetings will serve in that role for 3 consecutive months. Each Leader will strictly follow the same agenda. 

C. All members should invite other SRF Devotees to join us (so long as they have been Lesson Students for 6 months) and, if possible, forward that potential new member’s name and email to a member of the Steering Committee so they can be included in announcements. 

D. If there is a required expenditure, such as the creation of a website, it will be done as inexpensively and economically as possible, the members will be asked for their approval beforehand, and all will be expected to fund the expense as fairly as possible. Beyond that (and the Donations for the refreshments), there will not be a “dues” per se in connection with this activity. 

E. The Steering Committee will establish a procedure of staggered and rotating “terms” so that members of the Committee are periodically (and regularly) replaced with volunteer members from the Group.

Email and Marketing Etiquette
 
1. Do not give out DBF email addresses to anyone who is not a member of the DBF group (unless you have the express permission of a DBF member to do so on a particular occasion). The best way to not inadvertently give away addresses is to use the BCC field. 

2. Do not promote or advertise your business wares/services to SRF members when you are making contact (personal, email, telephonic, etc.) related to the performance of SRF sponsored activities and/or service; business should not intrude into SRF related activities.

3. Steering Committee members will, from time to time, send emails to the group announcing matters of interest to the operation of the DBF group. The Subject Line of such emails should state “DBF Steering Committee Announcement” and all DBF members are asked to open and read those emails so as to stay informed about meeting format or location/time changes. Members other than those on the Steering Committee should send “group” emails only to share with the group resources and information related to marketing tips or announcements of a community event or activity of general interest. “Group” emails should state as the Subject Line, “DBF Marketing Announcement” so that any DBF member can simply delete the email, if so desired, without have to read it. A “group” email is one that is general in nature and does not specifically relate to doing business with (or referring business to) a particular member, the latter being the only reason to send a personal email, as opposed to a “group” email, without the advance permission of the member. The time for individual members to generally promote their own wares/services to fellow DBF members - in the form of announcements or “special deals” - is at the monthly meetings, where there is a designated space to place flyers, coupons, brochures and business cards for all members to review and take as they wish before they leave the meeting. 

4. Keep email messages short and to the point. 

5. When replying to previous emails, leave the thread (the email or emails you are responding to) on the message so that others can more easily follow the discussion. However, when replying and/or forwarding an email, in the body of the text, take out the email addresses in the “To” and “From” areas at the beginning of the old email. The email addresses can be stolen and used by outsiders to send viruses, worms, unwanted messages, and the names can be added to lists for sale. 

6. If you receive an email that is specifically directed to you (not a “group” email), please reply to the sender, even if only with a “thank you,” so that the sender knows you received and read the email. In many cases it will be helpful if you do this quickly. 

7. Avoid abbreviations whenever possible. DBF (Devotee Business Fellowship) and SRF (Self-Realization Fellowship) are notable exceptions. 

8. Be thoughtful about replying to “All” - because it might not be appropriate for everyone to receive the reply email. Carefully consider who will receive your email before you hit “send.” 

9. If an email is confidential in nature, place the word “CONFIDENTIAL” in the subject line of your email message. 

10. Do not forward a message that you have received unless you have the permission of the person that sent it to you. It could be embarrassing if information is sent to someone who was not intended to read it.  

11. Do not send political or religious messages, jokes, pictures, slide shows, virus hoaxes, chain letters, or PowerPoint presentations. Some computers cannot handle large files, so please do not send slide shows or pictures/photographs.  

12. Keep email messages positive and do not permit criticism, gossip or rumors about others to be included. Anything of a sensitive nature should be handled by telephone.  

13. Check all emails carefully to make sure they make sense, contain proper grammar (no swear words, please) and have no typos; if you intend to include an attachment, be sure you do so.

14. Emails should try to reflect Master’s principles of respect and harmony.

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