Effective Upon Membership Activation: This Membership Agreement becomes effective on the date your application for VEST membership is approved and your initial membership payment is successfully processed (the “Membership Start Date”).

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VEST is a professional community designed to help women build meaningful relationships, expand their networks, access professional development opportunities, and navigate their careers, businesses, and lives with greater support and connection.

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Membership provides access to a community, not a guaranteed outcome. The value of VEST depends in part on the trust, participation, and contributions of its members. This Membership Agreement establishes the terms of membership and the shared expectations that help protect that community.

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By submitting an application for VEST membership and indicating your acceptance of this Agreement, you agree that, if your application is approved and your initial membership payment is successfully processed, this Membership Agreement will govern your VEST membership beginning on your Membership Start Date.

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1. Membership

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Membership in VEST is personal to the individual member and may not be transferred or shared.

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Membership is subject to VEST's eligibility requirements and approval. Submission of an application does not guarantee acceptance.

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Your membership begins on your Membership Start Date and continues for the applicable membership term communicated at enrollment, unless earlier terminated in accordance with this Agreement.

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2. Membership Benefits

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During an active membership term, members may receive access to benefits such as:

• VEST member programming and events.

• VEST Tables and other peer connection opportunities.

• The VEST digital community and member platform.

• Educational content and resources.

• Networking and relationship-building opportunities.

• Opportunities to connect with mentors, speakers, partners, and other members.

• Other benefits, programs, or opportunities VEST may make available from time to time.

 

Specific benefits may vary by location, availability, capacity, or membership year.

 

VEST may reasonably modify programming, benefits, event schedules, speakers, platforms, or other aspects of membership as the community evolves. Membership does not guarantee access to every event, program, individual, opportunity, or resource offered by VEST.

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3. Membership Fees

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Members agree to pay the membership fees disclosed at the time of joining or renewal.

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New members may be responsible for a one-time Joining Fee. Following the initial membership term, membership automatically renews for successive annual terms at the applicable Renewal Fee unless canceled as described below.

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Unless otherwise stated in writing, membership fees provide access to VEST membership and its associated benefits during the applicable term and are not based on individual attendance or usage.

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Certain programs, coaching services, events, or optional offerings may require additional fees.

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4. Automatic Renewal

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Your VEST membership automatically renews annually unless you cancel before your renewal date.

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At the end of each membership term, your membership will automatically renew for an additional one-year term, and VEST or its payment processor will charge the payment method on file for the applicable Renewal Fee and any applicable taxes.

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Before renewal, VEST will provide any renewal notice required by applicable law, including information about the upcoming renewal and how to cancel.

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VEST may change membership fees or material membership terms for a future renewal period. Any applicable changes will be communicated before the renewal takes effect.

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You authorize VEST and its payment processor to charge the payment method associated with your membership for each automatic renewal until you cancel your membership.

 

5. Cancellation and Refunds

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You may cancel automatic renewal at any time before your renewal date by emailing membershipteam@vesther.co.

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Canceling automatic renewal prevents your membership from renewing for another term. Unless otherwise required by law, cancellation does not terminate or refund the membership term you have already purchased, and you will continue to have access to applicable membership benefits through the end of your current term.

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Membership fees are generally nonrefundable once a membership term begins, except where required by law or where VEST expressly agrees otherwise in writing.

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A member's decision not to attend events, participate in programming, use the platform, or otherwise take advantage of membership benefits does not create a right to a refund.

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Any cancellation or refund terms specifically communicated in connection with a particular membership offering will control for that offering.

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6. Community Standards

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VEST is built on trust, mutual respect, and meaningful professional relationships.

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Members agree to comply with the VEST Community Guidelines & Code of Conduct, which is incorporated into this Agreement by reference.

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Members are expected to:

• Treat other members, staff, speakers, partners, guests, and community participants with dignity and respect.

• Respect personal and professional boundaries.

• Protect confidential or sensitive information shared within the community.

• Engage in disagreement professionally and in good faith.

• Avoid harassment, discrimination, intimidation, bullying, threats, coercion, or retaliation.

• Respect another person's decision not to pursue a professional, commercial, social, or other relationship.

• Avoid persistent, misleading, exploitative, or high-pressure solicitation.

• Conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the safety, trust, and integrity of the VEST community.
   

These expectations apply to VEST events, programs, digital platforms, group chats, direct messages, social media, member gatherings, and other interactions reasonably connected to the VEST community.

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7. Confidentiality and Community Trust

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VEST creates spaces where members can have candid conversations about their careers, businesses, leadership experiences, challenges, and personal experiences.

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Members agree to respect information shared by another member when it is identified as confidential or when a reasonable person would understand that it was shared in confidence.

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Members may not disclose another person's confidential, proprietary, or sensitive information without authorization.

 

Each member remains responsible for determining what information they choose to share. Participation in VEST does not, by itself, create a legal confidentiality, fiduciary, advisory, or professional relationship among members.

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When highly sensitive or proprietary information is involved, members should use appropriate independent confidentiality agreements.

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8. Member Relationships and Opportunities

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VEST facilitates connections but does not guarantee or endorse relationships or transactions between members.

 

Membership does not obligate any member to provide an introduction, investment, employment opportunity, referral, purchase, partnership, mentorship, advice, or other benefit to another member.

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Members are responsible for conducting their own diligence before entering into business, financial, professional, or personal relationships with people they meet through VEST.

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Any agreement or transaction between members is solely between the parties involved unless VEST expressly agrees otherwise in writing.

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9. Member-Organized Activities

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Members may independently organize dinners, gatherings, meetings, collaborations, or other activities with people they meet through VEST.

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Unless VEST expressly identifies itself as the organizer or sponsor, these activities are independent of VEST.

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Members participate in member-organized activities and relationships at their own discretion and responsibility.

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The VEST Community Guidelines & Code of Conduct may nevertheless apply to conduct at member-organized activities when there is a meaningful connection to the VEST community.

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10. Suspension or Termination of Membership

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VEST may take reasonable action when a member materially violates this Agreement, the VEST Community Guidelines & Code of Conduct, or other applicable VEST policies.

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Depending on the circumstances, VEST may issue a warning, establish conditions on continued membership, restrict access to certain programs or community spaces, temporarily suspend membership, or terminate membership.

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VEST may immediately suspend or terminate membership when, in its reasonable judgment, conduct presents a significant safety concern; involves serious harassment, discrimination, threats, intimidation, retaliation, or dishonesty; materially disrupts the community; or fundamentally undermines the safety, trust, or integrity of VEST.

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Conduct outside an official VEST activity may be considered when there is a reasonable connection to the VEST community or a material impact on the safety, well-being, or ability of members to participate.

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A criminal charge, conviction, civil judgment, or formal finding by another organization is not required for VEST to enforce its own community standards.

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When circumstances reasonably permit, VEST will provide the member an opportunity to respond to a concern before making a final termination decision. VEST may take immediate interim action when reasonably necessary to protect members, staff, the community, or the integrity of a review.

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11. Fees Following Termination

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If VEST terminates a membership because of a material or serious violation of this Agreement or the VEST Community Guidelines & Code of Conduct, the member will lose access to membership benefits and community spaces.

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Membership fees already paid are generally nonrefundable following termination for a member's violation, except where required by applicable law.

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If VEST terminates a membership for reasons unrelated to the member's conduct or violation of VEST policies, VEST may, as appropriate under the circumstances, provide a prorated refund or other reasonable resolution.

 

12. Photography and Media

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VEST may photograph, film, or record VEST events for educational, archival, promotional, and communications purposes.

 

Members who have legitimate confidentiality, privacy, personal safety, or business concerns regarding photography or publicity should notify VEST. VEST will make reasonable efforts to accommodate those concerns.

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Members may not record private VEST conversations or closed sessions without the permission of those involved.

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13. VEST Materials and Intellectual Property

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VEST programming, curriculum, resources, recordings, branding, member directories, private event information, and other materials provided for member use may be subject to intellectual property, confidentiality, or access restrictions.

 

Membership does not give members the right to reproduce, distribute, sell, publish, or commercially exploit VEST materials except as expressly authorized.

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Members may not use VEST's name, logo, branding, or their membership status in a manner that falsely suggests VEST's endorsement, sponsorship, investment, or approval of the member, their company, products, services, or views.

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14. No Guaranteed Outcomes

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VEST provides community, programming, resources, and access to relationships and opportunities.

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VEST does not guarantee employment, career advancement, investment, financing, business opportunities, customers, introductions, partnerships, revenue, personal or professional outcomes, or any other particular result from membership.

 

Members remain responsible for their own professional, business, financial, legal, and personal decisions.

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15. Relationship to Other VEST Terms and Policies

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Membership is also subject to the VEST Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, VEST Community Guidelines & Code of Conduct, and any additional terms applicable to specific programs, events, services, or benefits.

 

These documents are incorporated into this Agreement by reference and together establish the terms applicable to membership and use of VEST services.

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If there is a conflict between this Membership Agreement and the general Terms of Use regarding a matter specifically related to membership, this Membership Agreement will control that matter.

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16. Changes to Membership Terms

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VEST may update this Agreement or its membership policies from time to time as its programs, services, community, or legal obligations evolve.

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Material changes affecting an active membership will be communicated to members as appropriate. Changes to pricing or other material commercial terms will generally apply beginning with a subsequent renewal unless otherwise disclosed and agreed to.

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17. Electronic Acceptance

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During the membership application process, applicants will be asked to affirmatively acknowledge and agree to the VEST Membership Agreement, Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and VEST Community Guidelines & Code of Conduct.

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If an applicant is accepted into VEST and completes the initial membership payment, that acceptance will apply to the member's membership beginning on the Membership Start Date.

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No separate signature is required.