WBENC NATIONAL FORUM_________________________________ Back To Main Page

Message from the President of the Women's Enterprise Leadership Forum
Annette Taddeo

Below is a description of the requirements and responsibilities for membership on WBENC’s National Leadership Forum and the differences between the “At Large” members, versus the “Governing Group” members.

Forum At Large

• The Forum At Large is a vehicle for any certified Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) to participate at the national level.
• The Forum At Large will provide the opportunity for corporations that are WBENC national members in good standing to nominate two of their best WBE suppliers.
• WBEs wishing to participate in the Forum At Large must currently be doing business with a WBENC national corporate member and be appropriately nominated by that member.
• The Forum At Large member works closely with WBENC to promote the benefits of certification and to facilitate corporate business opportunities for women’s business enterprises (WBEs). Forum members advocate for all WBEs at the national level through participation in regular meetings, conference calls and attendance at the annual national meeting.

Qualifications

• Must be a certified WBE.
• Must be in good standing with the local WBOP and an active member.
• Must be in good standing with WBENC.
• Must be nominated by WBENC national corporate member.
• Must be in attendance at the one annual meeting held in conjunction with the Women In Business annual national conference.
• Must be willing to participate in a minimum of 75% of the online telephonic meetings.

Meetings

• The Forum At Large will convene one time annually. The meeting will be scheduled the during the WBENC national conference, Women In Business, in the conference city.
• Online telephonic meetings will be held quarterly or on an as-needed basis.

Forum Governing Group

• The Governing Group will be made up of the number of members that allows the group to be effective. Suggested maximum -- 70 members.
• The Governing Group must have representation from all local councils.
• WBE Board Members will be nominated and selected from the Governing Group.
• The Governing Group will promote open communication and collaboration with the Leadership Council and continue to invite Leadership Council members to Forum meetings.
• The Governing Group will receive input from the Forum at Large and the local councils and bring identified issues to the attention of the Group.
• The Governing Group will strive to ensure that all businesses have a voice on a national level regardless of revenue or employee size.
  Qualifications
• Must be a certified Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE).
• Must be doing business with the corporate member that appoints them.
• Must be in good standing with the local Women’s Business Organization Partner (WBOP) and an active member of WBENC.
• Must be designated by a local WBOP as its representative or nominated by a corporate member to serve on the Governing Group. Women appointed by the WBOP will automatically be on the Governing Group. WBOP representatives will be required to report to the Governing Group activities and recommendations from the local Forum and vice-versa.
• Must be responsible for all travel expenses to and from meetings and events as well as sponsor or support WBENC functions financially -- annual estimate of $10,000.
• Must be willing to serve on a Task Force and be active on that Task Force.
• Must be willing to serve on a WBENC Committee and be active on that
  Committee - Each Forum Task Force will be a subset of a WBENC level committee.
• Must be a member of the Forum At Large for a minimum of one year prior to becoming a member of the Governing Group.
• Must fill out an application in order to be considered for membership in the Governing Group.
  Meetings
• Must attend two of the three annual meetings. Meetings will be scheduled in conjunction with Committee and Board of Directors meetings and the annual conference