The Minnesota Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel America (ACC Minnesota or Chapter) considers requests from third-party organizations to endorse programs, conferences, and other events of interest to in-house attorneys that are held in Minnesota.
An “endorsement” for purposes of this policy means the Chapter may, at its discretion, publicize the program or event, including but not limited to posting on the Chapter website; communicate the event to the Chapter membership; or become associated with the event in any other manner. A panel chaired by the Vice President of ACC Minnesota will consider such requests and make a determination. This policy is separate from ACC Minnesota's regular sponsorship program.
The following factors will be considered:
- whether the program might compete with a currently scheduled or anticipated Chapter program, either because of its content or time proximity;
- uniqueness of the program topic and potential value to a significant segment of the membership (e.g., special focus on corporate counsel issues);
- financial benefit to ACC Minnesota (e.g., sponsorship fees ) or its members (discounted registration fee), as well as potential financial risk;
- participation by Chapter members as faculty or program organizers;
- target audience (e.g., members of the bar, in-house attorneys, paralegals, non-legal managers, law firms);
- obligations imposed on ACC Minnesota such as promotion; finding faculty, program registration and administration; site and hotel identification; and contract negotiation and potential impact on ACC Minnesota resources, including finances and staff time;
- nature of the third-party (profit or non-profit), its reputation and the extent to which ACC Minnesota benefits through association with such organizations;
- ongoing relationship between ACC Minnesota and the third party and whether the relationship will be enhanced by such co-sponsorship; and
- whether the program or the sponsoring organization might pose a conflict with an existing or pending ACC Minnesota sponsorship arrangement.
Approvals will be given on a case-by-case basis, and endorsement of a third-party program will not create an obligation to endorse future programs. “Endorsement” by ACC Minnesota under this policy does not give the sponsoring organization or any other person or entity the right to use the name of the Chapter or the Association of Corporate Counsel (“ACC”) in any program materials, publicity, or advertising unless that right is explicitly granted in an agreement signed by an authorized officer of the Chapter. Endorsements will not be approved if the program is designed to trade upon the Chapter’s name and the associated good will in a way that would confuse others and be detrimental to ACC Minnesota. 8/19/2008
