March 29, 2013
RE: Reduced Dues Clarification of Benefits (ROD)
To all WSTA Members:
The WSTA Bylaws allows for the reduction of dues for regular members based on certain situations and on the recommendations of the Membership Services Director. Over the years, the WSTA Board has formalized a process where a regular member can ask for and receive reduced dues in two situations:
- Retirement from the business, or
- Illness
In 2001, a verification process was formally implemented with a Dues Reduction Request Form, which requires specified information and the signature of the member as well as input from the Membership Services Director. The status of the retirement will begin once it’s approved by the MSD. Final approval will be provided by a Board vote at the next scheduled Board meeting.1
The retired or retirement status of a regular member has been traditionally based on the “Honor System2”. A retired status member cannot drive for their own or another business they or a family member may have a financial interest in at any time. Nor does relocation outside of California qualify as retirement as we are now a national association. We do not recognize partly or part-time retired for purposes of dues reduction.
As a retired regular member on reduced dues status (with no voting rights) the retired member will retain their Return-of-Dues benefit and may continue to have access to some membership service discount programs such as medical, dental, tire discounts, etc. as long as it’s utilized for personal non-business related uses.
There are also services, products and programs that WSTA offers which is only business related, such as DOT drug and alcohol testing, PrePass, freight bills and related forms that reduced dues members should not be utilizing. Any use of these benefits would suggest that the member on reduced dues status is in fact not retired as stated in the implied honor system that drives the organization.
Reduced dues members who we do not have a Dues Reduction request form on file will be asked to complete one for their file.
If a reduced dues member is not clear concerning this policy, please call the office or our WSTA Membership Services Director or visit our website at westrk.org.
Thank you,
Dianna Webster
WSTA Accountant
1 The process for this determination was confirmed by counsel at the Winter 2016 Board Meeting. The dues reduction begins once the MSD or designated member confirms retirement status. The Boards final approval at the next scheduled meeting concludes the process.
2 An Honor System or Honesty System is a philosophical way of running a variety of endeavors based on trust, honor and honesty. Something that operates under the rule of the “Honor System” is usually something that does not have strictly enforced rules behind its functioning.
Last Updated 3-17-2016
