Issue:Responsibility for following Top Echelon Network Policies

Created: 02/01/1988; Revised: 9/25/2002; 9/9/2003

Part One
The Top Echelon policies provide rules and procedures that guide your Preferred Member services in Top Echelon Network. Top Echelon may amend these policies from time to time. All amendments will become effective upon publication of notice to Preferred Members either in the appropriate Network newsletter or online in the news section of the Member’s Area.

Part Two
As a Member of Top Echelon Network, you are responsible for reading and adhering to the rules, policies, and procedures set forth, as amended. Ignorance of any rule, policy, or procedure is no excuse for a violation. Owners of Member firms are personally responsible for their acts and omissions as well as the acts and omissions of their firm’s employees.

Spirit of this Policy
Top Echelon's policies set forth rules and procedures designed to guide Network Members and the potential conflicts that may arise while conducting business with Top Echelon and other Top Echelon Members.

Top Echelon Network holds each recruiter responsible for his own actions and requires that he is aware of, understands, and adheres to all of the rules, policies, and procedures. Any Member recruiter who claims that they were unaware of a particular policy will still be accountable for his actions.

Owners of firms should require their employees to read all policies because owners will be accountable for their employees' acts and omissions. Further, owners must immediately notify Top Echelon of any ownership changes in Preferred Member agencies to ensure that additional owners, partners, joint ventures, etc., sign Top Echelon’s Preferred Membership Agreement.

Either you or Top Echelon may terminate your Membership at will. Top Echelon Network is a non-exclusive and voluntary system. Top Echelon does not impose non-competes or grant exclusive territories. However, recruiters maintaining any ownership in a Network that competes with Top Echelon Network are not permitted to be Members of Top Echelon. Nevertheless, membership in a "wholly member-owned cooperative" is permitted.

By your continued participation in Top Echelon Network, you agree to all rules and procedures set forth in the Top Echelon policies as they may be amended.