Minnesota ISSA Chapter - Serving the Upper Midwest

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this policy is to define the responsibilities and requirements for managing and participating in the Minnesota ISSA Chapter Corporate Sponsorship Program.

SCOPE:

This policy pertains to all security vendors, product resellers and service providers who are approved Minnesota ISSA Chapter corporate sponsors.

POLICY:

The Minnesota ISSA Chapter Corporate Sponsorship Program (hereafter referred to as CSP) provides a means for security vendors, product resellers and service providers to partner with the local chapter to:

• Enhance professional growth, expand the knowledge and skills of chapter members and the security community.
• Enhance the credence and legitimacy of the information security profession.
• Encourage a free exchange of information security techniques, approaches and problem solving.
• Keep members abreast of current and emerging security technologies.
• Establish ourselves as the voice of leadership in the community by:
• Providing effective means to communicate with management
  • Helping shape government policy and legislation
  • Promoting generally accept information security best practices and standards
  • Promoting ethical, legal and responsible behavior
  • Promoting professional industry certifications

This is a local program and therefore does not entitle participating organizations to any rights or privileges with the international ISSA organization or other ISSA chapters.

Program Management Responsibilities

Chapter Vendor Relations Director

1. Program marketing
2. Recruiting new sponsors
3. Managing the program and maintaining the appropriate documentation
4. Advising sponsors of their responsibilities under this program
5. Promptly informing sponsors of when it is time to renew their membership
6. Collecting initial and renewal dues from sponsors and ensuring prompt delivery to Chapter Treasurer
7. Assist the Chapter President with annual corporate sponsor meeting

Chapter President

1. Assist Chapter Vendor Relations Director with the program
2. Conduct annual meeting with active corporate sponsors
3. When appropriate, advise participating organizations of any actions that could result in de-enrollment from this program to include failure to pay renewal dues

Sponsor’s Rights and Responsibilities

To participate in this program, organizations must agree to the following:

• Perform all professional activities and duties in accordance with all applicable laws and the highest ethical principles;
• Maintain appropriate confidentiality of proprietary or otherwise sensitive information encountered in the course of professional activities;
• Discharge professional responsibilities with diligence and honesty;
• Refrain from any activities which might constitute a conflict of interest or otherwise damage the reputation of employers, the information security profession, or the Association; and
• Not intentionally injure or impugn the professional reputation or practice of colleagues, clients, vendors, product resellers or service providers, to include competitors

Program Fees & Requirements


The following are the available sponsorship levels and durations.

Standard Membership

Cost of Standard membership is $1000. Membership dues are due immediately upon signing the Corporate Sponsorship Agreement Form. This timeframe for this level is for 1 year, commencing on the date of the invoice and terminating 1 year later unless sponsor renews. Failure to pay dues will result in immediate suspension of corporate sponsorship privileges.

Extended Membership

Cost of Extended membership is $2500. Membership dues are due immediately upon signing the Corporate Sponsorship Agreement Form. This timeframe for this level is for 3 years, commencing on the date of the invoice and terminating 3 years later unless sponsor renews. Failure to pay dues will result in immediate suspension of corporate sponsorship privileges.

Premier Membership

Cost of Premier membership is $5000. Membership dues are due immediately
upon signing the Corporate Sponsorship Agreement Form. This timeframe for this level is for 2 year, commencing on the date of the invoice and terminating 2 year later unless sponsor renews. Failure to pay dues will result in immediate suspension of corporate sponsorship privileges.

Web Only Membership


Cost of Web Only membership is $500. Membership dues are due immediately upon signing the Corporate Sponsorship Agreement Form. This timeframe for this level is for 1 year, commencing on the date of the invoice and terminating 1 year later unless sponsor renews. Failure to pay dues will result in immediate suspension of corporate sponsorship privileges.

Membership dues cover all employees (within reason and at the discretion of the board) employed by the sponsor. These dues to not cover International level dues. Payment of International dues is the responsibility of the corporate sponsor or employee depending on company policy. Corporate sponsors are encouraged to become members of the International ISSA organization however, this is not a mandatory requirement under this program.

Sponsorship fees are non-refundable. Upon termination of membership by participating sponsor or the Minnesota ISSA Chapter, voluntary or involuntary, membership fees will not be refunded.

Corporate sponsor membership dues do not cover other goods or services provided to the chapter, such as meeting place, refreshments for meetings, receptions, training, product drawings/giveaways, etc.

Program Benefits


Standard and Extended Membership in this program entitles organizations to the following benefits:

1. Marketing company sponsored events to all chapter members (not to exceed two a year)
2. Posting whitepapers on chapter website (content requires board approval)
3. Organization logo, URL and brief description of company on chapter website
4. Approval to handout pamphlets and other marketing materials at chapter events
5. Free chapter membership for all personnel employed by the sponsor (within reason)
6. Use of chapter website to post internal job announcements and approval to announce openings at chapter meetings
7. Approval to send two marketing emails a year to the chapter membership. Mailings will be performed by the Chapter Communication’s Director.
8. Acknowledgement of partnership at each chapter meeting
9. Personnel identified by the sponsor will be added to the chapter’s email list and will automatically receive all chapter-related communications.
10. Approval to speak at chapter meetings for no longer than 5 minutes for marketing purposes. This must be scheduled in advance with the Chapter Program Director.
11. First priority over companies who are not corporate sponsors, to speak/present at chapter meetings on topics of interest (as defined by the chapter). Presentations will be vendor/product neutral.
12. Approval to conduct business related surveys (once a year)
13. Approval to host service/product specific meetings in conjunction with chapter meetings (room rental, food, refreshments are the responsibility of the sponsor). The chapter will inform chapter members of these meetings for the sponsor.

Premier Membership Benefits:

In addition to the previously mentioned benefits, Premier Membership includes the following:

1. Preferred placement of company logos and descriptions on chapter website and at chapter meetings.
2. Marketing company sponsored events on website (not to exceed four a year)
3. Approval to send four marketing emails a year to the chapter membership. Mailings will be performed by the Chapter Communication’s Director.
4. First priority among chapter sponsors to speak/present at chapter meetings on topics of interest (as defined by the chapter). Presentations will be vendor/product neutral.
5. Up to (5) partner organizations, each of whom having gross revenue not exceeding $10mm annually may exercise the Standard Member benefits.

Web Only Membership Benefits:

Web Only members are entitled to chapter web site resources only. No physical mailings, speaking preference, or material dissemination privileges at chapter meetings are included in this membership level.

POLICY REVISIONS/REVIEW:

This policy will be reviewed and revised accordingly on an annual basis by the chapter President and Vendor Relations Director. Corporate sponsors are responsible for reviewing this policy on an annual basis.