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If you lead a successful independent agency that is a
leader in your market and has a cooperative spirit of
sharing, AMIN membership may be the resource you need
to take your agency to the next level.
We are seeking agencies of strong local standing in
important major geographic areas. If you are
interested in membership, simply complete the
AMIN application form.
Member applicants must be approved by a majority of
the AMIN Executive Committee and a majority of all
members of the corporation. |
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As you consider membership in our network, it is
important that you know what is expected of our
members. Certainly, all of our members maintain
complete independence and participate in exchanges of
services within AMIN on a voluntary basis. Each agency
may decline any assignment or request it receives from
other members.
We believe very strongly that the strength of the
network is due, in large part, to the commitment by
senior leadership within our member agencies. For that
reason, attendance by an agency principal at the
annual management conference is mandatory unless
excused in advance by the AMIN president. Attendance
at the annual media conference is also mandatory,
because contract negotiations for shared media
resources occur at that time. While
attendance at other conferences is not mandatory, it
is strongly encouraged. Participation in these
conferences provides a strong network interface at key
positions throughout our agencies.
Most AMIN requests fit into normal agency activities
and require very little agency time to complete. Many
of our member agencies designate a staff member to
serve as AMIN liaison, which allows most assignments
to be handled without in-depth involvement from agency
principals.
Projects of broader scope and importance would be
handled just as they would for an agency client and
would be compensated accordingly. The agencies
involved would agree, in advance, to any compensation
agreements for this kind of work. |
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When an agency joins AMIN, it becomes the exclusive
member for the marketing area designated. No other
agency can purport to be an AMIN agency for the area.
However, as a condition of membership, AMIN agencies
all agree they will not solicit the clients or
personnel of another AMIN agency. If an affiliate's
client or employee contacts another AMIN member, that
member has two responsibilities:
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In the case of an affiliate's client making
contact, senior management of the AMIN agency which
represents the client must be notified and made
aware of the contact.
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In the case of a staff person making application,
the applicant must be advised of the Network's
policy prohibiting an interview unless the current
employer is notified. Once the applicant has been
advised of AMIN's policy, the applicant may withdraw
the application. If the applicant does not withdraw
the application, the contacted agency must notify
senior management of the AMIN agency that currently
employs the applicant. Inherent in this process is a
commitment on the part of the current employer not
to punish the applicant.
Head-to-head competition between two or more AMIN
agencies for the same prospective account is permitted
under the following conditions:
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If the account is not currently represented by an AMIN agency.
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If an AMIN agency’s client initiates an open review for selection of an agency.
On agency promotional mailings, most members restrict
themselves to their own marketing area. However, there
is no limitation and they may mail into other AMIN
territories. In this case they should take care to
exclude mailings to other AMIN agencies’ clients.
If an AMIN agency is losing an account and is aware of
it, they may wish to advise another AMIN member who is
qualified. Likewise, if a member hears about an
account being available, but is unable to handle it
because of a conflict, the member is encouraged to
refer the lead to another AMIN agency.
Revised: July, 2006
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Our members find that the cost of membership is
considerably less than the savings the agency realizes
through discounts on AMIN media, research and legal
resources. And that doesn’t even account for the
opportunities for shared market and business
intelligence that impact the bottom line.
The AMIN initiation fee, paid only once when an agency
joins the network, is $2,500. Annual dues of $6,000
are billed in quarterly installments of $1,500, and each
agency pays its allocation for media resources, based
on its billings. |
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