User:AlanEarl/AlanEarl/IBOAI

IBOAI (or IBOA International) is the Independent Business Owners Association International, the trade association representing all IBOs (Independent Business Owners) affiliated with Amway Global.

2010 Theme Preserving the Past, Enriching the Present and Inspiring Hope for the Future!

Purpose
The purpose of the IBOAI is to represent all IBOs in business discussions with Amway Global. As “the voice of the IBO,” the IBOAI makes recommendations to Amway Global as well as considers recommendations from Amway Global about changes to the business such as products, Rules of Conduct, operations, and the IBO compensation plan. The IBOAI Board and Amway Global meet to negotiate details on proposed recommendations four times a year plus additionally as needed either at meetings or in phone conferences. The Association’s staff conducts business on behalf of all IBOs from its headquarters in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The Board
The IBOAI Board is comprised of IBOs currently qualified at the Diamond level or above elected by the membership each fall to three year terms. Board Members serve on committees and attend the four Board Meetings each year during which discussions with Amway Global occur, plus make themselves available for phone conferences and other meetings throughout the year.

The committee that exercises the powers and authorities of the IBOAI Board of Directors during the intervals between regular or special meetings of the Directors is the Executive Committee. It appoints all IBOAI committees and makes committee assignments, and the three main committees report directly to it. The Executive Committee also sets meeting dates, locations, and agendas, plus creates the positions of the officers and defines their roles. In addition, the Executive Committee reviews recommendations from individual IBOs.

The main committees on which Board Members serve are:
 * Awards & Recognition
 * Legal & Ethics
 * Business Operations

Two additional committees conduct Association business for its Members:
 * Governance & Oversight
 * Hearings & Disputes

One ad hoc committee also meets concurrently during Board Meetings to advise Amway Global on product development and promotions, which is the
 * Marketing Advisory Committee (MAC)

Membership
Each IBO automatically becomes a Member of the IBOAI upon registering with Amway Global and upon renewal. The membership fee is currently $12 annually. Membership lasts until December 31 of the current fiscal year, which is the deadline for IBOs to renew their Amway Global business.

Membership Benefits

For yearly membership, IBOs receive the benefits of IBOAI representation with Amway Global, leadership access, support from IBOAI staff, blanket music licensing coverage for their functions, reputation management, and a successful Search Engine Optimization (SEO) campaign. IBOs also benefit from the IBOAI consultants who advise them on taxes, crisis management, and more.

2010 Board Members
 * Steve Woods, Chairman
 * Brad Duncan, Vice Chairman
 * Bob Andrews, Past Chairman
 * Alberto Aguilera
 * Glen Baker
 * Mike Bundy
 * John Crowe
 * Howie Danzik
 * Jim Dornan
 * Jody Dutt
 * Kanti Gala
 * Bert Gulick
 * Leif Johnson
 * Shivaram Kumar
 * Pedro Lizardi
 * Doug Weir
 * Doyle Yager
 * Dan Yuen

2010 MAC Members
 * Kathy Victor, Chairman
 * Patsy Lizardi, Vice Chairman
 * Terry Andrews, Past Chairman
 * Susan Bundy
 * Jennie Belle Crowe
 * Theresa Danzik
 * Lata Gala

2010 Governance & Oversight Committee
 * Jody Victor, Chairman
 * Bill Hawkins

Election

Board Members are elected to three-year terms by voting members of the IBOAI. Each fall, a nominating committee nominates four or five candidates, whom the voting members of the Association (Platinum or above level in good standing) elect to terms that begin the following January 1.

History
The IBOAI was first incorporated in Grand Rapids, Michigan, as The American Way Association (AWA) in April 1959, when Nutrilite Distributors came together to create a distributor voice to protect their business interests. The Founding Families were Jere and Eileen Dutt, Fred and Bernice Hansen, Joe and Helyne Victor, Rich DeVos, and Jay Van Andel. Walter Bass became the first President of the Association.

The AWA met monthly to investigate products for distributors to sell to earn income. Every product had to meet five criteria: universal appeal, repeatable sales, unlimited potential, not be tied to the economy, and support the concept of free enterprise. To identify products that met these criteria, the AWA developed an official seal, which appeared on the labels of products approved by the AWA Board. The first product approved was L.O.C. Liquid Organic Cleaner.

Later in 1959, Rich DeVos and Jay Van Andel started a separate sales, marketing, and manufacturing company, known today as Amway Corporation. A key company policy for DeVos and Van Andel involved the AWA helping make major decisions for their new company.

In 1966, the AWA was renamed the Amway Distributors Association (ADA-U.S.) At the same time, Canadian distributors formed their own Association (ADA-Canada) to provide the same protection and representation U.S. distributors received through the U.S. ADA. They would combine organizations in 1994 as The ADA, when Amway formally agreed to submit to the Board any proposed new policy or policy change that might materially affect distributors in the U.S. and Canada. This included but was not limited to changes in the Sales and Marketing Plan, changes to the Rules of Conduct for distributors, and changes to various IBO documents; final decision-making authority remained with the company, however.

In 1999, as the new e-commerce model changed the business from Amway to Quixtar, “distributors” became known instead as “Independent Business Owners” and the name of the Association changed again to the IBOAI: the Independent Business Owners Association International.

In 2009, the IBOAI commemorated its 50th anniversary in March and Amway (as Amway Global) its 50th anniversary in May.

Accreditations
The IBOAI is a BBB accredited business and has a BBB rating of A+.