Trainer Renewal Fee Proposal

Dear Certified Trainers,  

The CNVC-Certified Trainer agreement for previous years has requested that trainers send their full renewal fee to CNVC, which decides on the use of the contribution. We are aware of requests from trainers to be able to have a voice in how these fees are used to support the vision, mission and aim of CNVC.

 The following series of proposals is designed to help CNVC Governance and the CNVC-Certified Trainers reach a mutually needs-meeting agreement on this topic.

 We believe that a key component of such an agreement will involve the establishment of Regional Centers. As outlined in proposal 3 below, these centers would perform a number of functions to support the vision, mission and aim of CNVC. From the perspective of allocation of trainer renewal fees, the Regional Centers could support both trainers and CNVC by allowing trainers to allocate part of their fees to a broader range of projects, while providing independent assurance to CNVC that these projects are supporting CNVC's vision, mission and aim. Establishing Regional Centers may also contribute to a greater sense of collaboration within the NVC community, which has also been requested by some trainers and groups.

 *Providing Feedback*
To help us effectively manage the expected volume of input, we ask that you offer your feedback in the following Google form:
https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?key=p6HBFi7KGIulaLHytI1bQYg<https://spr\
eadsheets0.google.com/viewform?key=p6HBFi7KGIulaLHytI1bQYg&hl=en>  

In the form, you will be asked for each proposal if you are OK with it as is, OK with but would prefer some changes, or if you have objections and alternate proposals. There will be space to explain the changes or objections you have.

 We would like to have your feedback by December 17 so that we can revise the proposals in time for a meeting on Dec 23.

If you would like to provide feedback and this is not doable for you, would you please let us (me) know what would be doable, to help us plan our work.

We look forward to hearing from you,

Anne, Glenda, Irmtraud, Jerry
Global Community Circle  

*Proposal #1: Certified Trainer Choice in Allocation of Renewal Fee*  

*Observations:

• The CNVC request for the 2007 certified trainer renewal fee was 10% of net income or $300, whichever was higher.
• In the year 2006, trainers' renewal fees totaled $103,667, and the total income of CNVC was $2,240,662.
• Except for the trainers of the French-speaking part of our network and several individuals, certified trainers send their full renewal fees to the CNVC, which decides on the use of the contribution.
• When certified trainers from outside the US send renewal fees in this way there are often losses of resources through costs in taxes, exchange rates and bank fees.
• In addition, we are aware of requests from trainers to be able to allocate part of the fee.

*Needs: Support, growth, contribution, choice; mutuality; ease and simplicity; equivalence between different parts of our network *  

Proposal:  

1.  Certified trainers will send their renewal fees to either the CNVC *or*to one NVC Regional Center by March 31 of the year after the year in which the income was earned.  

2.  If the fees are sent directly to CNVC, the minimum Trainer Renewal Agreement request (e.g., $300) will be allocated to the CNVC General Fund. Anything contributed over this amount, the trainer will have the option to allocate to up to 3 projects recognized by CNVC.  

3.  If the fees are sent to a regional center, the regional center will send the minimum Trainer Renewal Agreement request (e.g., $300) to CNVC for the CNVC General Fund. Any additional amount will be divided between the Regional Center General Fund and up to 3 NVC projects selected by the trainer. These projects may include projects recognized by CNVC, projects recognized by the regional center, the Regional Center General Fund, and the CNVC General Fund. The percentage allocated to the Regional Center General Fund will be set by the regional center in consultation with the trainers who choose to submit their renewal fees through this center.  

*Rationale (how proposal is aimed at meeting needs): One way certified trainers contribute to the support and growth of CNVC worldwide is through trainer renewal fees. This proposal creates a standardized process available to all certified trainers. Each individual certified trainer has choice in deciding how part of their contributed funds will support realization of the CNVC vision, mission and aim. Part of the renewal fees would support the international center, part would create a revenue source for regional centers [see separate proposal on regional centers] and part would support projects that may be particularly meaningful to the individual trainer. Limiting the fund distribution to 3 projects per trainer maintains some ease in bookkeeping and implementation of this proposal. *  

 *Proposal #2: CNVC-Recognized Translation Project *  

*Observations: NVC training and organizing is happening in many languages. The language of CNVC operations is English. We would like all NVC practitioners world-wide to have timely access to information about CNVC operations in a language they find easy to read and understand.*  

*Needs: Access, connection, mutuality, shared reality, cooperation.*  

*Proposal:*  

1. For CNVC to establish the Translation Project as a CNVC project to which people can donate funds.

2. The aim of the Translation Project is to support connection within the NVC Community by providing funding to support

1. Translation of CNVC Governance documents (including web pages) from English into other languages used in the NVC Community,

2. Translation into English of feedback provided to CNVC Governance Teams on feedback forms in languages other than English,

3. Translation of Regional Center documents from other languages into English,  

4. Interpretation (i.e., "live" translation) as needed during CNVC Board meetings; GCC meetings; and meetings involving the Admin Team and members of the NVC Global Network.

5. Other translation activities as may be mutually agreed upon between CNVC Governance and Regional Centers.    

Policies, including decisions about distribution of funds, will be made by the Translation Circle.  

1. The translation circle will be composed of the Communication Coordinator and representatives of translators who perform the types of translation outlined in the aim above.

2. Each language area will have the option to select a coordinator and a representative to the Translation Circle.

3. The initial coordinators will be appointed by the Communication Coordinator, until such time as the language circles are ready to make their own appointments. Anne Bourrit and Irmtraud Kauschat have agreed to serve as the initial coordinators of the French and German translation teams.  

4. The Communication Coordinator will serve as the coordinator of the Translation Circle.

*  Proposal #3: Regional Centers*  

*Observations: The 2007 CNVC-Certified Trainer Agreement requested that trainer renewal fees be paid in US dollars and sent to a US location. When certified trainers from outside the US send renewal fees in this way there are often losses of resources through costs in taxes, exchange rates and bank fees. CNVC, the NVC organizations and communities that have been established around the globe, and the many individuals everywhere who seek to learn, live and teach NVC, seek a clear flow of information, often more than can be handled by a small staff in one central office. *  

*Needs: Meaning in using resources effectively. Transparency, participation and inclusion in evolving CNVC as a partnership organization. Order.*  

Proposal:  

1. 1. Regional Centers will be initially recognized and annually reviewed by the Global Community Circle (GCC) in accordance with the points in this proposed agreement.  
2.  
3. 2. Regional Centers will have representation either directly or indirectly on the GCC. Whether a particular Center has direct or indirect representation on the GCC will depend on:  
4.  
1. The number of Regional Centers and their relationship to one another geographically and by language.
2.  
3.  GCC's decisions about number of members that make for effective work on GCC.  
4.  

Regional Centers will be legal non-profit or charitable entities with Boards of Directors (except where laws of the country in which it is established make this not feasible). They will maintain financial and activity records that meet the standards required of non-profit /charitable organizations in the country in which they are incorporated and/or operate.  

Regional Centers will define their own geographic region of operations. Multiple centers may operate in any particular geographic region.  

Regional Centers will have the following responsibilities:  

1. Provide one or more representatives to serve on the next broader level of CNVC organization as determined by consent between the regional center and the next broader level. 2. Provide information on local trainings, practice groups and other  
2.  
3. NVC-related resources by phone and email, with a commitment to respond to inquiries within an established time frame, preferably within 3 business days.
4.  
5. Publish updates at least annually on the CNVC website about their decisions and activities. The content and form of these updates to be determined by mutual consent.  
6.  
7. Approve and review NVC-related projects. Such review and approval will be done by one or more persons selected by the Regional Circle who are not involved in the project(s) in question, and will be renewed annually. The regional center will determine criteria and measures by which to approve and review projects. The criteria for approval will include the following:  
8.  

1 These projects must meet legal criteria for nonprofit activities consistent with the purpose of the regional center and CNVC as stated in its legal incorporation documents.

 2. One aspect of initial approval will include whether the project includes enough activities over a long enough period of time to make a difference.  

3. One aspect of the renewal will involve the project providing an annual written report of its activities and results achieved (in terms of needs met and not met for the people the project is intended to benefit) by March 31 of the following year.  

 Receive and account for renewal fees from certified trainers in their area who choose to give to the regional center (rather than directly to CNVC). Regional Centers may choose to recognize the labor contribution of a certified trainer in lieu of part or all of the regional center's portion of that trainer's renewal fee.  

Annually, provide to the CNVC:  

1. the agreed-upon portion of the collected trainer fees for the previous year in accordance with directions provided by the individual certified trainers (by April 15)  

2. a list of the certified trainers from whom these fees were collected (by April 15), their current contact information, the total amount of fees contributed by or identified with each trainer, and how the trainer requested those funds be allocated  

3. a copy of the financial records for the previous year (by June 30)

4. project reports from any projects approved by the regional center to which trainer fees were allocated (by June 30) 5.  

a proposed budget (by June 30 for that calendar year)  

6. Provide an initial response within two weeks to any query/request for information or clarification about the items above. Work consistently on addressing everyone's needs around the query.  

Translations: Where the Center operates in a language other than English, provide translation:  

- Of all correspondence to and from the international Center within two weeks. - Of all international web page content (within four weeks of receipt of the text).
- Of all feedback provided to CNVC Governance teams on designated feedback forms within two weeks.

* *  *Rationale (how proposal is aimed at meeting needs): Regional centers increase access for individuals seeking information about NVC workshops, practice groups and other resources. Regional centers could choose to create NVC projects, and these projects would have a mechanism for support and oversight. Regional Center reports would ensure that local groups, individuals, and the international center would all have access to information and understanding about activities – this would support fundraising, planning, learning, and networking. Regional Centers would have choice in defining their own geographic region of operations, and trainers would have choice in which center to affiliate with, if any.  

*Proposal #4: International Center *  

*The responsibilities of the international center and the regional centers mirror each other in support of mutuality and shared access to information.* Proposal:  

1. The international center known as the Center for Nonviolent Communication (CNVC) will maintain its status as a legally recognized non-profit organization with a Board of Directors. It will maintain financial and activity records that meet the standards required of non-profit charitable organizations in the country in which the Center is incorporated and operates.  

2. CNVC will:  

1. Provide one or more representatives and/or staff people to serve on the Global Community Circle as determined by consent between the GCC and the CNVC Admin Team and/or CNVC Board.  
2.  When CNVC receives queries about trainings, practice groups and other NVC-related resources, where those requests are in areas supported by regional centers, CNVC will respond within an established time frame, preferably within 3 business days. CNVC will provide contact information for the regional centers and recommend that the person contact the center or centers directly for information. CNVC may also choose to provide additional information in response to the query.  
3.  Publish regular updates (at least quarterly) about their decisions and activities* *to the GCC, the Regional Centers and the broader NVC Community.  
4.  Receive and account for certified trainer renewal fees from individual certified trainers and regional centers. Specifically, forward trainer-designated amounts to the recognized projects the trainer has selected  
5.  Approve and review CNVC-recognized projects. Such review and approval will be done by one or more persons who are not involved in the project(s) in question, and will be renewed annually. CNVC will determine criteria and measures by which to approve and review projects. The criteria for approval will include the following:  
6.  These projects must meet legal criteria for nonprofit activities consistent with the purpose of CNVC as stated in its legal incorporation documents.  
7.  One aspect of initial approval will include whether the project includes enough activities over a long enough period of time to make a difference.
8.  One aspect of the renewal will involve the project providing an annual written report of its activities and results achieved (in terms of needs met and not met for the people the project is intended to benefit) by March 31 of the following year.  

 2 Annually, provide to the GCC, Regional Centers, and Certified Trainers (CNVC may also choose to share this information more widely):  

• the total amount of certified trainer renewal fees received directly by CNVC (by April 15)  
• a consolidated list of the certified trainers from whom these renewal fees were collected (by April 15), their current contact information, the total amount of fees contributed by or identified with each trainer, through whom they contributed their fees (i.e. CNVC or particular Regional Center), and how the trainer requested those funds be allocated  
• a copy of the financial records for the previous year, a report showing how trainer fees provided to CNVC were distributed (by June 30)  
• project reports from any CNVC approved projects to which trainer fees were allocated (by June 30)  
• a proposed budget (by June 30 for that calendar year)  
• Provide an initial response within two weeks to any query/request for information or clarification about the items above. Work consistently on addressing everyone's needs around the query.