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FAQs

 1) Q: How do I register to the wita.org site?

 

A: Go to the organizational homepage, www.wita.org

Scroll down and fill out your First Name, Last Name, and Your Email under PLUG INTO WITA.  Then click “Sign Up for Newsletter”.

 

2) Q: There is a 48 hour cancellation policy for WITA events.  This means that cancellations received within 48 hours of an event are billed to cover costs. Why?

 

 A: Good question.  As with any event, our caterers and venues require us to commit to a guaranteed number of attendees 2 days prior to an event.  Any cancellations within 2 days of the event  cannot be taken into account. 
 
This is because the industry standard for catering is that customers (like WITA) can add to the number of guaranteed attendees, but cannot lower this guaranteed number.  After all, the caterers need to order food in advance, plan the table settings and placings, etc; and they are running a business, not a charity!  
 
WITA gets billed, therefore, on the total number of registrants we expect for an event, not on the total number of actual attendees.  Neither the catering company nor WITA (a small non-profit) should be expected to "eat" these costs.
 
If you have further questions about our 48 hour cancellation policy, feel free to call the Executive Director to discuss your concerns.
 
WITA's phone number is 202-312-1600.  Office hours are 9-5 M-F.

 

3) Q: How do I get a Group Membership? 

Executive Level Group Memberships are a great way to get you and your co-workers a membership at WITA.  For $350, you can get a membership for up to 9 members, and for $500 you can get a membership for as many co-workers as you would like.

As part of the membership, you will get a discount to all WITA events, meaning that an event you would normally pay $45 for would only be $30 as part of the membership.  Your group also gets 5 free passes to WITA events for the year that the membership is active. 

To sign up for an Executive Level Group Membership, please Click Here to view the membership form.  Fill it out, and fax, email or mail it to WITA. 

Fax to: 202-312-1601

E-mail wita@wita.org

Or mail to WITA Pennsylvania Avenue NW Suite 400, Washington, DC 20004

 

4) Q: I'm part of a Group Membership, but I'm new to the site. How should I proceed?

 
A: Try this:  Register to the Website and BE SURE to choose your organization's Corporate Membership ID under Section 2 - Membership Info.  This will affiliate you with your group membership in our records, giving you access to your group's free passes, discounts to events if no passes remain, and the other perks your group membership at WITA gives you--like special Members Only events!
 
Once you're registered to the WITA, Login to register for events,  post jobs or resumes, check your group's free passes, or add to the discussion forum.  Take advantage of Washington's premier trade network!
 

5) Q: My group membership comes with free passes to WITA events. How do I use them?

A:  Every executive level group membership comes with 5 free passes that members of the group can use during the year that the membership is good.
 
First, you have to be Logged In in order for the site to recognize who you are!  When you to to register for an upcoming event, select Member Rate for that event, and wait a moment for the site to work its magic--a small message should appear indicating how many free passes are left, and if any are left it will ask you to confirm that you are using a pass.
 
To check if your group has free passes without registering for an event, first go to your profile page. From there, you will see a link to your group's membership.  Click on the link, and at the bottom of the membership page you will find the group's number of free passes.
 
 

 6) Q:  I am a WITA member (or non-member).  How do I register for events on wita.org?

 
A: Whether you are a member or non-member of WITA, you need to be registered as a site user to register for WITA events online and pay via credit card.  
However, unregistered users can download a pdf version of a generic registration form that can be faxed to WITA.
 
All site Users must first  log in to wita.org  so that the site can recognize your membership status.
 
Once you are logged in, choose your event title from the right hand side of the webpage Upcoming Events.  Click on the yellow Register Now option at the top of the event details.
Members profile information is pre-filled in the payment form. You will need to add payment information and then  submit  (or confirm) to register for the event.
 
Once you click Confirm Registration, the site submits your payment to the payment gateway handled by authorize.net. If all fields are completed and accurate, authorize.net will process the transaction and an email receipt will be automatically generated by authorize.net and sent to the member and to the WITA administrator at wita@ wita. org
 
Your event registration is not confirmed without payment!  If alternate arrangements must be made or if you have problems AFTER trying the online payment system, please contact the WITA office at events@wita.org
 

 7) Q: What can you tell me about the WITA Board of Directors?  How can I join the WITA Board?  What about the Foundation Board?

The WITA Board of Directors currently has 17 members, each elected to a three year term, with 5 or 6 Directors' terms expiring on June 30 of each year.

A vacancy occurs when a Director opts to not run for reelection, or when he/she resigns during his/her term.
In either case, at the next Board of Directors meeting, a Nominating Committee is formed.  Selection criteria that are considered by the Nominating Committee include, but are not limited to:  length of time working in trade policy; profile in the trade policy community; ability to work with others across the political spectrum and regardless of their views on trade; professional networks to reach potential speakers; prior involvement with/support of WITA; current construction of the Board to ensure age, gender, industry, political, and other diversity factors. 
 
Once a candidate has been selected by the Nominating Committee, their choice is presented to the full Board for consideration and possible approval.  If approved by the full Board, the Nominating Committee chair contacts the candidate to invite that person to join the WITA Board.
 
By the WITA bylaws, if filling a vacancy the WITA Board appoints the candidate to the complete the remainder of the  term, at which time the new Director may opt to seek reelection.
For vacancies in the normal cycle of elections, the Executive Director presents the slate of Directors nominated for a coming three year term to the Annual Meeting of the Members in June. Each WITA member present gets one vote, up or down, for the slate.    Proxy votes may be submitted via email in the two weeks prior to the Annual Meeting of the Members.
 
The Executive Director maintains a list of persons who have expressed interest in serving on the WITA Board of Directors.  If you would like to be added to this list for a 12 month period, please send an email to jwilkinson@wita.org with the subject line Board of Directors.  The entire list is submitted to each Nominating Committee for their consideration.  However, please be advised they may or may not elect to draw from that list.
 
Board duties include but are not limited to: attending 5 out of 6 WITA Board meetings a year; taking a leading role in creating 3-4 trade policy programs a year;  attendance & support of the WITA Annual Dinner; assistance in identifying and contacting speakers for WITA events; identifying key topics and trends in trade policy for events; assistance in publicizing events; and fiduciatry duties in stewarding organizational resources, guiding the Executive Director as needed, and growing the organization.
 
Officers of the WITA Board serve one year terms.  Officers are elected in January. Currently WITA has 4 officers, President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.  Traditionally one or two members of the WITA Board also serve on the WITF (Foundation) Board of Directors as liaison members.
By the Washington International Trade Foundation's bylaws, the 9 members of the Foundation Board are appointed by the WITA Board.  The Foundation has one officer-- President, and 1 or 2 liaison members from the WITA Board among its members.  Foundation Board members serve one year terms.  Appointments or re-appointments are made at the January WITA Board meeting.

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