| Membership FAQ |
| 09 February 2009 | |
What is the difference between provisional and registered membership?There are two steps to becoming a full WFTO member: provisional and registered. Members must pass through both steps in order to promote their membership of the WFTO and use the WFTO logo.The first step is to become a provisional member. When we have received your application pack we will contact your referees as well the existing members from your country. As soon as the application file is complete a recommendation is sent to the WFTO Board who decides on the approval of your organisation. If they approve your organisation you will receive an invoice for the membership fee. When we have received your payment you will receive the welcome pack. You are now a provisional member. Provisional members have the right to: 1 Participate in WFTO activities 2 Receive all communications from the Global Office 3 Serve on sub-committees 4 Attend regional meetings and scheduled international conferences 5 Attend Annual General Meetings. Provisional members may not: 1 Use the WFTO logo 2 Use the WFTO logo in any form without the permission of the Global Office 3 Serve on the Board 4 Speak or vote at the Annual General Meeting.
The second step is to become a registered member. All WFTO members are obliged to pass throuigh our monitoring process. This requires a thorough self-assessment against the 10 principles of Fair Trade every two years. You may submit your first self-assessment report as soon as you have paid your first membership fees. These reports are then reviewed by a Registration Sub-Committee, who makes a recommendation. If approved for registered membership the WFTO Global Office will send you a contract for the use of the WFTO logo. When this contract is signed and returned you will receive a certificate and the manual for the use of the logo. At that moment you are a registered member. How can I contribute to WFTO?As a global association bringing together players in the Fair Trade movement both large and small, WFTO is active in many parts of the world. We encourage regional and country networks of WFTO members that work together to strengthen the movement in their part of the world. Your ideas, experiences and knowledge, are all the things that make WFTO the dynamic and ever-growing association that we are. Come and join us! What can I expect to get out of membership?WFTO is a growing network of over 350 members in 70 countries. Click here to learn what some of our members say about what WFTO means to them and click here to read about the benefits of joining WFTO. What languages does WFTO communicate in?WFTO is primarily an English-language association. However, key documents and communication are translated into Spanish and staff at the Secretariat are fluent in English, Spanish, German and Dutch. We manage in French. How much does it all cost?All WFTO members pay an annual subscription fee. Fees for trading members are set on a sliding scale. The network is co-ordinated by a small Secretariat. The Global Office is entirely funded through these membership fees. Please click here for details of our fee structure for the current year . Can I start using the WFTO logo immediately after I've joined?No. You need to pass through our monitoring process in order to be authorised to use the logo. You must complete at least one Self Assessment Report and have it approved before you can sign the contract for the use of the WFTO logo. What are my obligations as a member?All members are requried to:
How long does it take to process my application?The WFTO Global Office endeavours to process your application as quickly as possible. As long as you have sent in all the information that we require in order to process your application, and your referees respond to our requests for a reference in good time, the whole process can take about 3 months. However, sometimes the process can take longer due to delays from referees, or if there is outstanding information required from you. Obtaining references is a major bottleneck and can significantly slow down the application process. To speed up the process, we kindly ask you to get in contact with your referees when — or before – you submit your application. That way, they know what is expected from them. In all cases the Global Office will keep you informed as to progress along the way, and will advise you of any further information that may be required. What happens when I submit my application?Your referees will be contacted, and they are given one month to respond. If, after a month, no response is received, you will be advised and the referee will receive a reminder. Once all the references have been collected, the file is given to the Executive Director for initial assessment. After this, the file is sent to each member of the Board of Directors, who are given 6 weeks to provide a final assessment. You will be notified as soon as a final decision is made. If your application is successful, you will be sent an invoice based on your gross income figure. Your membership will become active as soon as the fee is paid. Do I send the fees to you when I send in my application?Do not send any fees with your application - your application must be approved first! Can I pay my fee by credit card?Yes you can. Log in to the Members Only Website and check the Member Tools section. What currencies can I pay in?We accept US Dollars and Euros only. This will be clearly indicated on the invoice, together with our bank details and any fees that may be applicable to the bank transaction charges, which must be covered by the members. Interested? Read these hints on completing an application
Make the most of your application form! This is your chance to tell us all about your organisation and its commitment to the movement. The more we know about you, the easier and quicker it will be for us to process your application.
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Remember that we only accept electronic applications. If this is a problem for you, please contact our membership officer. |
