MEMBERSHIP AGREEMENT
Quick Summary - What You’re Agreeing To
This is a peer-led, community-based space - not a provider of therapy, medical, legal, or other professional services.
Presenters at events and other members speak in their personal or professional roles, not on behalf of The Empower Network.
Members may share their own services in the directory, but inclusion does not imply endorsement by The Empower Network.
You are responsible for your own outcomes based on what you choose to implement.
Confidentiality, respect, and inclusion are core to our community.
If something feels inaccessible or exclusionary, we welcome your feedback.
The Empower Network is primarily volunteer-run; by joining, you agree to hold harmless and indemnify The Empower Network, its directors, and volunteers.
The Empower Network is not liable for decisions, harm, or damages.
All content shared through The Empower Network is protected by copyright. Members may use materials for personal purposes only. See Section 6 for full terms.
Membership requires a one-time $10 application fee. There is no required ongoing payment.
Membership is open to individuals 18 years of age or older with legal capacity to enter a binding agreement.
This summary is for convenience only. Please read the full agreement below, which is legally binding.
1. Introduction
The Empower Network, Inc. and The Empower Collective ("The Empower Network," "TEN," “The Membership”; "we," "our," or "us") is a peer-led, community-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting individuals with chronic illness and disability through education, connection, and community.
This Membership Agreement outlines the mutual understanding between you, the member, and The Empower Network regarding your participation. By joining The Empower Collective, you acknowledge that you are engaging in a volunteer-run community, that the information provided is for educational and community-building purposes only, and that The Empower Network does not provide professional, therapeutic, medical, or legal services.
2. Eligibility
Membership in The Empower Collective is open to individuals who are 18 years of age or older and have the legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement. By joining, you confirm that you meet these requirements.
3. Membership Overview
By joining The Empower Collective, you gain access to a peer-driven support and education community designed for people navigating chronic illness, chronic pain, and disability. Membership may include:
Educational webinars
Peer support and accountability groups
Working sessions and implementation-focused events
Networking opportunities with others facing similar challenges and building their own businesses or independent income streams.
The Empower Collective’s mission is to empower, encourage, and connect. The information provided is for educational and community-building purposes only and should not be interpreted as professional advice or treatment.
4. Boundaries of Responsibility
No Professional Services Provided by The Empower Network
The Empower Network itself does not provide medical care, therapy, coaching, legal advice, or any other licensed professional services. The Empower Collective's role is to provide community, education, and connection opportunities.
Member-Provided Services
The Empower Collective may maintain a membership directory and may provide opportunities for members to share information about their businesses, services, or offerings. These listings are provided for community visibility and networking purposes only.
Inclusion in the directory does not constitute an endorsement, certification, recommendation, or guarantee of any kind by The Empower Collective regarding any member's qualifications, services, or business practices.
Any services, contracts, transactions, or other engagements you enter into with another member are strictly between you and that member. The Empower Collective is not a party to any such arrangement and assumes no responsibility or liability for any outcome, dispute, loss, or harm arising from those interactions.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, The Empower Collective expressly disclaims all liability for any claims, damages, or losses - direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential - arising from member-to-member transactions or engagements facilitated or discovered through the membership community.
Members are solely responsible for conducting their own due diligence before entering into any professional or commercial arrangement with another member.
No Private Benefit or Endorsement
The Empower Collective is a program of The Empower Network, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Consistent with federal tax law, the organization does not operate for the private benefit of any individual, member, or business. Any visibility, connections, or opportunities provided through the membership community, including the member directory or member spotlights, are incidental to the organization’s charitable and educational purposes and are not intended to provide a commercial advantage to any specific individual or entity.
The Empower Collective does not promote, market, or facilitate business on behalf of members, and no member may represent their participation in the community as an endorsement, sponsorship, or approval by The Empower Network.
Presenter Independence
Some presenters may be members, volunteers, or directors of The Empower Network. When they offer workshops, advice, or professional insight, they do so in their individual professional capacity, not as official representatives of The Empower Network. Their opinions are their own and not necessarily reflective of The Empower Network as an organization.
Personal Responsibility for Outcomes
All ideas, strategies, and suggestions shared through The Empower Collective - whether in webinars, the directory, support sessions, or informal conversations - are for informational purposes only. Each member is responsible for deciding how and whether to apply them. The Empower Collective and its contributors are not responsible for outcomes related to the use of directory listings, services provided by other members, or implementation of any shared recommendations.
5. Community Conduct
We are committed to cultivating a space that feels safe, inclusive, and supportive. By joining The Empower Collective, all members agree to uphold the following standards and related policies:
Confidentiality
Members are expected to respect the privacy of what is shared in group settings. This includes personal stories, health information, business ideas, and other sensitive material. Do not share screenshots, recordings, or identifiable information outside of the community without the explicit permission of the person who shared it.
Respectful Engagement
Harassment, bullying, hate speech, or discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated. This includes - but is not limited to - ableism, racism, transphobia, homophobia, xenophobia, sexism, ageism, or other forms of marginalization and exclusion. All members are expected to engage with kindness, respect, and a willingness to listen.
Use of Materials
All content provided by The Empower Collective is subject to the Intellectual Property and Permitted Use terms outlined in Section 6 of this Agreement. Violations of those terms also constitute a violation of community conduct standards and may result in the actions described in Section 10.
Alignment with Safeguarding Policy
Members agree to uphold The Empower Network's Safeguarding Policy, which prohibits exploitation, abuse, boundary violations, or misuse of roles within the community. Members must immediately report concerns to The Empower Network leadership if they witness or experience behavior that could compromise safety or wellbeing.
Adherence to Community Standards
Members agree to follow The Empower Collective's Community Standards, which provide a shared framework for confidentiality, respectful engagement, and inclusive behavior. These standards apply in all Empower Collective spaces, including online platforms, virtual events, and in-person gatherings.
Violations of these standards or related policies may result in suspension or termination of membership, in accordance with Section 10 of this Agreement.
6. Intellectual Property & Permitted Use
All content, curriculum, resources, templates, recordings, worksheets, frameworks, and materials made available through The Empower Collective membership (collectively, "TEN Content") are the exclusive intellectual property of The Empower Network and are protected by applicable copyright, trademark, and intellectual property laws.
Your membership grants you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to access and use TEN Content for your own personal, non-commercial purposes only.
You may not, without prior written consent from The Empower Network:
Copy, reproduce, screenshot, record, or download TEN Content for distribution
Share, forward, or provide access to TEN Content with any non-member, including through private sharing, group chats, or social media
Use TEN Content - in whole or in part - to create, develop, or inform any product, course, program, service, or offer for sale or distribution
Adapt, modify, or create derivative works based on TEN Content
Use TEN Content for any commercial purpose whatsoever
Access to The Empower Collective is granted to the individual account holder only and may not be shared, transferred, or gifted to another person.
Any violation of these terms constitutes copyright infringement and/or a material breach of this Agreement, and may result in immediate termination of membership without refund and/or legal action to recover damages.
The Empower Network reserves all rights not expressly granted herein.
7. Member & Volunteer Contributions
Members and volunteers retain full ownership of any original works, ideas, or content they share within The Empower Collective community spaces.
By sharing content within The Empower Collective, you grant other members a limited, personal-use license to view and engage with your contribution within the membership community only. This does not include the right to copy, distribute, screenshot, share externally, or use your work for any commercial purpose.
The Empower Network will not republish, redistribute, or repurpose individual member contributions to The Empower Collective in any external context without your explicit written permission.
8. Membership Fees & Cancellations
Membership requires a one-time $10 application fee, due at sign-up. There is no required ongoing membership fee. Members are invited to support TEN through a suggested monthly donation, the amount of which is at each member's discretion.
A 50% discount code to reduce the cost of the application fee is available for those who need it - contact us for details.
The Empower Network reserves the right to adjust the Empower Collective suggested donation structure with advance notice to members.
9. Commitment to Inclusion and Growth
The Empower Network is rooted in the principles of disability-informed care. Inclusion is an ongoing process. We welcome feedback on accessibility, equity, and safety, and commit to respectful dialogue and continuous improvement.
10. Termination of Membership
The Empower Network may suspend or revoke an Empower Collective membership if a member:
Violates this Membership Agreement
Violates the Safeguarding Policy or Community Standards
Harms the safety, dignity, or integrity of the community
Shares confidential or protected materials without consent
Uses the community for self-promotion or solicitation without prior approval from TEN leadership
Suspension or removal may also occur if a member's continued participation could reasonably be perceived to compromise the safety or wellbeing of the community. Such action may be taken out of an abundance of caution and does not in itself imply wrongdoing.
No refunds are provided for payments made before termination.
11. Limited Liability
By participating in The Empower Collective, you agree:
The Empower Network, its directors, officers, volunteers, staff, presenters, and members are not responsible for harm (personal, professional, emotional, financial, or business-related) resulting from participation.
All content is provided 'as-is' for informational and educational purposes only.
You accept full responsibility for your decisions and outcomes.
The Empower Network shall not be liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages, including loss of income or opportunities.
12. Hold Harmless & Indemnification
By participating in The Empower Collective, you agree to hold harmless and indemnify The Empower Network, its directors, officers, staff, volunteers, and community facilitators from and against any claims, damages, liabilities, costs, or expenses (including reasonable attorney's fees) arising out of:
Your participation in The Empower Collective programs, events, or community spaces.
Your use of information, materials, or connections gained through The Empower Collective.
Any services you provide to or receive from other members outside of The Empower Collective.
This clause is not intended to waive any rights you may have under applicable law, but to clarify that The Empower Collective is a volunteer-run nonprofit membership and cannot be held responsible for disputes or damages that arise between members or from how information is applied.
13. Agreement to Other Policies
Your membership agreement works in connection with other policies adopted by The Empower Network, including (but not limited to) our Privacy Policy, Community Standards, Safeguarding Policy, and Website Terms of Use, all available at www.empower-network.org.
By signing up for membership, you acknowledge that you have reviewed these policies and agree to abide by them in addition to the terms set out here. The Empower Network may update its policies from time to time, and members will be notified of material changes.
14. Dispute Resolution
If a dispute arises that cannot be resolved informally, the party seeking resolution must provide written notice to the other party describing the nature of the dispute. Within 30 days of receiving that notice, both parties agree to make a good-faith effort to agree on a mediator and schedule mediation. If mediation is not completed within 60 days of the initial written notice - unless both parties agree in writing to extend that period - either party may pursue legal action.
If mediation is unsuccessful, the parties agree to resolve disputes exclusively through the courts of Kansas as set out in Section 15.
12. Governing Law
This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Kansas. Any disputes shall be resolved exclusively in the state or federal courts located within Kansas.
13. Updates
This agreement may be updated periodically. Members will be notified of significant changes.
Contact Us
For questions, concerns, or to report a problem, please contact us.
The Empower Network, Inc.Email: support@empower-network.orgWebsite:www.empower-network.org