The result of multiple Board Meetings and work completed by the IBOAI Board and Quixtar in June, registration just got a little easier. Read about it on our main IBOAI website and react here.
There was a high sense of accomplishment as IBOAI Board members, staff and Quixtar Corporate executives began the closing session of their June IBOAI Board Meeting. The feeling was that things had never gone smoother! Read the details on the main IBOAI website and discuss the news here.
(this press release just issued)
Grand Rapids, MI -- April 3, 2008 -- The Board of Directors of the Independent Business Owners Association International (http://www.iboai.com), the primary advocacy organization representing hundreds of thousands of independent business owners (IBOs) powered by Quixtar/Amway Global (http://www.quixtar.com), today issued this statement in response to an initiative announced by MonaVie, a direct selling organization that competes with Quixtar/Amway Global.
"The so-called ‘Global Free Agent Initiative’ announced by MonaVie on April 2 is, we believe, nothing more than a publicity stunt, as they cannot actually expect to overturn scores of Court rulings that support the concept of short-term non-compete agreements for independent contractors. Independent contractors in direct-selling organizations such as Quixtar/Amway Global possess unique knowledge and networks that they have built with the extensive support of their parent organization. The parent organization, and other independent contractors who do not wish to change their affiliation, deserve a degree of protection when any individual wishes to resign or is terminated from his business.
"There is also no coincidence in the timing of MonaVie’s announcement, coming on the heels of their being joined, with great fanfare, by terminated Quixtar/Amway Global distributor Orrin Woodward. Woodward, along with certain associates, is already the focus of a lawsuit alleging that he has encouraged thousands of independent contractors to violate their non-compete agreements in order to join with him at MonaVie and in his other business enterprises. MonaVie is also the target of a similar complaint. Starting with the day of his termination, Woodward has orchestrated an Internet-centered propaganda campaign which has hurt those to whom he was previously loyal, including thousands of Quixtar/Amway Global independent business owners.
"It is no coincidence, we believe, that MonaVie is not a member of DSA, the Direct Selling Association (www.dsa.org), and will likely never be while they take this stance in favor of improper and damaging behavior. We are sure that the DSA itself and Quixtar/Amway Global, the company to whom our independent business owners are contracted, will make their own statements on this matter, but we felt it was critical for us to speak up quickly, and forcefully, so that our marketplace understands what is really happening. We are not going to let MonaVie, or Mr. Woodward, pull the wool over anyone’s eyes."
There are some great video clips of IBOAI Board members speaking at Achievers -- Bill Hawkins on the IBOAI partnership with Quixtar / Amway Global, Jim Janz on increased IBO profitability, Joe Markiewicz on the role of the Board, and Scott Holland on stepped-up IBOAI communications. You can find them at the main IBOAI website.
"This was probably the best Board meeting I've attended in 20 years," said Jim Janz, Chairman of the IBOAI, following the Association's October Board meeting. "Board members and other IBO leaders worked in real partnership with our counterparts at Quixtar and Alticor."
Doug DeVos, Steve Van Andel, Jim Payne, Steve Lieberman, and other members of Quixtar and Alticor staff all made presentations and answered even the toughest questions posed to them by Board members on topics ranging from the future use of the Amway Global brand in North America to product pricing, QBI, and accreditation. Corporate reps, again and again, demonstrated a willingness to be flexible on both method and message.
"We focused on the solutions, and we accomplished a great deal that will be reflected in what all IBOs hear and see from Quixtar and from us in the weeks and months ahead," said Janz.
It is probably not well known to most IBOs that IBOAI Board meetings involve up to four days of intense sessions, with Board members - all volunteers - working 15 hours or more per day in full Board, Executive Committee, and subject-specific committee meetings. In addition, the October meeting involves electing the next year's officers and reporting the results of the election for new Board members from a pool of qualified Diamonds and above, plus the selection of additional members by the current Board.
The results of the elections are reported in full here, with Bill Hawkins elected as 2008 Chairman and Bob Andrews as Vice Chairman.
What comes out of the committee meetings are recommendations that are presented to Quixtar. It is too early to report the results of these recommendations, but we can say that:
The Awards & Recognition Committee, chaired by Bill Hawkins, made recommendations regarding QBI, achievement awards, and how a portion of Quixtar's advertising and PR budget should be used.
The Business Operations and Marketing Advisory Committee, meeting jointly and chaired by Kathy Victor and Sandy Hawkins, respectively, made recommendations regarding PV/BV, IBO websites, Quixtar's websites, sales leads, and Quixtar communication to the Field.
The Legal & Ethics Committee, chaired by Bob Andrews, made recommendations related to improving understanding and fairness of certain Quixtar Rules of Conduct, communication about Rules of Conduct, and improving the registration process.
Additionally, a non-Board Public Relations Committee chaired by IBOAI PR Manager Melissa Timmer announced wide-ranging plans for communication designed to improve IBO understanding about the role of the Board and the Association, dispel myths about the business, and improve all members' understanding about effective online public relations.
"We're looking forward to building on the platform of renewed trust built by the 2007 Board," said Chairman-elect Bill Hawkins. "We have an outstanding new compensation package and tremendously exciting new products and pricing. Hang on folks, 2008 is going to be fun, fast, and phenomenal!"
Congratulations to the new Directors of the IBOAI Board: Howie Danzik, Jim Dornan, Jody Dutt, Kumar, Steve Woods, and Dan Yuen. Their terms will run from January 1, 2008, until December 31, 2010. Howie, Jim, Jody, Kumar, Steve, and Dan replace the Directors whose terms are set to expire at the end of 2007.
Beginning January 1, 2008, new Officers serving your Board will be Bill Hawkins, Chairman and Bob Andrews, Vice Chairman. We also welcome Jim Janz as a new member of the Governance and Oversight Committee.
The IBOAI and Quixtar signed a new contract reaffirming our close working relationship, as announced earlier on our IBOAI blog. A renewed commitment to working harder together is already evident in current Board Meetings with the Corporation. We are excited about a great year ahead!
[This press release went out nationally today]
Former IBOAI Directors Orrin Woodward, Billy Florence, Don Wilson, Randy Haugen, Chris Brady and Chuck Goetschel Ordered to Cease Breaching Confidentiality
Grand Rapids, MI–-August 15, 2007-- A Temporary Restraining Order Pending Arbitration was sought by the Independent Business Owners Association International (IBOAI) and granted on August 14, 2007 in a Michigan district court, preventing former IBOAI directors Orrin Woodward, Billy Florence, Don Wilson, Randy Haugen, Chris Brady and Chuck Goetschel from continuing to engage in breach of their fiduciary duty, breach of contract and violation of the Michigan Uniform Trade Secrets Act.
The IBOAI presented evidence to the Court that Woodward, Florence, Wilson, Haugen, Brady and Goetschel, whose businesses were recently terminated by Quixtar (see http://tinyurl.com/2tbbyw), had already disclosed “confidential information and trade secrets which the Defendants could only have learned as a result of their membership and activities on the IBOAI Board.”
The Court concluded, in its Temporary Restraining Order, that “the actions of the Defendants will result in immediate and irreparable harm to the Plaintiff (and its members)” and ordered Defendants, within five business days of being served, to “return to the Plaintiff or its counsel all of the Confidential Information in their possession, whether in hard copy form, electronically, or otherwise.”
The Independent Business Owners Association International, http://www.iboai.com, is the trade association for hundreds of thousands of Independent Business Owners (IBOs) powered by Quixtar.
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On August 9, 2007, Quixtar terminated the businesses of 15 IBOs for breach of contract and other related claims. Subsequently, five members of IBOAI’s Board of Directors, all of whom had also had their businesses terminated by Quixtar, were suspended by the Board pursuant to the IBOAI Board By-Laws. Another IBO, a former director, was removed from his position on two Board committees. This still leaves a strong and experienced group of directors to carry on the mission of the Association, with others to be elected to vacant positions by the end of the year.
The Board of Directors of the Independent Business Owners Association International retains its firm belief in the founding ethical and moral business principles which created the opportunity still available to all Independent Businesses powered by Quixtar. It supports the rules and regulations which it has helped to shape since 1959, in partnership with Quixtar.
At the same time, while any partnership will experience differences periodically, the Board remains unanimously committed to working with Quixtar’s leadership towards our common goal – business and personal success for each IBO.
Sometimes a tree needs to be pruned to become healthier. This is what the Board believes has happened recently. As a result, the future is brighter for all active IBOs.
