VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[Philip Banks]

Professional Level: To qualify at the Professional level, please list at least 5 paid jobs in the previous 13 months where the rate paid was at or near standard local professional rates for the type of work. The Membership Committee will examine your application and verify details.

How will the Membership Committee verify details?

[Bish]

Thanks for raising the question Philip. It is usually a simple decision as to whether or not someone is pro or associate. In fact, it's very unusual that anyone does not self-select their category correctly. On the rare occasions that someone request pro and their body of work suggests otherwise will the membership committee request further clarification from the applicant.

I understand the concern with the word "verify"... it is more of an assessment process where (in borderline cases) the applicant may be requested to supply substantive confirmation of the work performed.

The truth of the matter is that it is basically an honour system with committee approval. If something doesn't look right, then appropriate steps can be taken to verify (with the consent and cooperation of the applicant). We are not looking for tax returns, bank statements or copies of invoices (although these have been proffered on occasion). To be honest, one of the biggest issues is defining "professional rates"... if a job is considered OK at $500, then obviously it's not OK at $50... but there's a long sliding scale between $50 and $500... when does it become "a professional rate"? This is the stuff that the membership committee wrestles with a lot of the time.

All that being said, the overwhelming majority of applicants understand what it means to be classified as a pro member. The envelope gets pushed occasionally and each case is reviewed individually.

We will review the wording on the application. I have already raised it with the VP of membership. Thanks again for pointing it out.
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Bish a.k.a. Bish
Smoke me a kipper... I'll be back for breakfast.
I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls.

[Karyn OBryant]

What Peter said.
And thank you, Philip, for asking the question.
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Pretending to be other people since 1986.

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