NEWSUG Vendor Policy

Purpose:

This policy guides the relationship between NEWSUG members and vendors in order to maximize our mutual benefit.

Guiding Principles

1. A vendor, in the NEWSUG context, is someone whose business it is to sell services, hardware or software to NEWSUG members. Typical vendors are representatives of value added retailers, computer-aided design and manufacturing software, rapid prototyping hardware and software, job search firms and related service providers.
2. NEWSUG exists for the benefit of its members. It focuses on helping members know how to use SolidWorks and building relationships with other users. Building vendor relationships is a small part of this strategy.
3. NEWSUG members benefit by knowing about vendors and their services in general. NEWSUG will let members know about vendors who may benefit them. Members may initiate the vendor discussions they are interested in.
4. NEWSUG members and vendors have valuable things to share. Part of learning from each other is sharing objective facts about competing products.
5. We will respect each other and work together.
6. NEWSUG will not release member names or contact information to vendors.

Policy Statement

NEWSUG will welcome all vendors to the general NEWSUG meetings. Vendors are welcome to place business cards and brochures at the entrance. If it is known that they are coming, they will be introduced with their name and business.

Vendors may, at their option, bring items that are to be given away. This is neither encouraged nor discouraged. The NEWSUG Board of Directors will display items to be given away and give them away.

Vendors may:

• Participate in the NEWSUG meetings in any way that does not directly promote their business. 
  
• Ask questions and enter the discussions. 
  
• Mention their company name and business as a statement of clarification and context. 
  
• Make factual claims about products and ways to objectively compare them.
  
• Offer to do presentations.  The NEWSUG Board of Directors will accept or decline based on perceived membership interest.  Self-promoting presentations will be declined.

Vendors may not:

• Use information gained at NEWSUG meetings to contact members who have not requested contact.
  
• Directly promote their business.
  
• Make misleading statements about product features.

The NEWSUG web site has a page of links to other sites. In most cases, NEWSUG will be willing to put links to vendor web sites on this page.

Version: 3/6/06