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Becoming a Vendor Member
Vendor Members of CGSUSA are an important part of our CGSUSA members’ ministry with children. CGSUSA strives to build connections between our catechist members and our vendor members.
Vendor Member Benefits
Vendor Member Commitments
Process Overview
All Vendor Members will receive a non-exclusive license from CGSUSA to sell CGS materials on their website once the application process is completed. The parameters of this relationship are contained in a Letter Agreement which must be signed by the Vendor Member. (A sample of the license letter is provided within in the Vendor Information Packet.)
- All Vendor Members will receive a copy of the CGSUSA logo to display on their website, Facebook page or other social media, indicating that they are a current CGSUSA Vendor Member in good standing.
- All Vendor Members will be part of the CGSUSA Source List. The Source List is provided to all those who participate in a CGSUSA sponsored Formation Course and is also available to be downloaded from the CGSUSA website.
- All Vendor Members will have access to the Online Materials Manual for Levels One, Two and Three, as well as the all the other benefits offered to Individual Members and Organization Members.
- All Vendor Members will be assigned a CGSUSA Advisor who is a Formation Leader to assist with any questions or concerns about materials.
- All Vendor Members will receive regular communications from CGSUSA regarding new and updated materials.
- Materials offered for sale by Vendor Members must follow the guidelines for materials identified by the International Council (Consiglio) in the “Characteristics of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd” as detailed on page 2 and as listed in our website material manuals.
- Vendor Members must apply for and maintain a Vendor Organization membership in the United States Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. Memberships are renewable every twelve months.
- Vendor Members must sell products that are safe under the regulations of the United States Consumer Products Safety Commission.
- All licensed Vendor Members of CGSUSA must maintain adequate insurance to protect themselves and CGSUSA from liability issues that may arise. This includes a Comprehensive General Liability policy including Product Liability coverage and a certificate of insurance naming CGSUSA as an additional insured under the Vendor Member’s liability policy.
- Vendor Members’ products must be related to the Montessori Method or CGS in some direct way.
- Vendor Members must contact CGSUSA’s Membership Coordinator when adding new offerings for sale.
- Vendor Members must sign and comply with the provisions of the Trademark License Letter Agreement with CGSUSA. (A sample letter is provided within the Vendor Information Packet.)
- Business submits completed Vendor Application and Discernment Process
- Receives confirmation of receipt from CGSUSA
- Business mails 1 material sample to national office – CGSUSA Attn: Mary Mirrione | 7655 E. Main Street | Scottsdale, AZ 85251 | 480.874.3759
- Business engages in active review process with CGSUSA
- Upon receipt of approval and welcome letter from CGSUSA, approved vendor members submit membership payment through the Organization Membership form. Be sure to enter your business name in the Organization Name field. You will receive access to all Materials Manuals.
- CGSUSA adds new Vendor Members to CGSUSA website weekly and to PDF Source List monthly.
Levels of Support
Sponsor Annual Membership of $150 or more
A Vendor Member with membership at this level provides the CGS catechist with unfinished materials for the Atrium environment so that the material may be transformed and become an instrument for the child to enter into the Mystery. This level of membership is limited to businesses just beginning or working on a smaller budget that still want to gain exposure to catechists and communities using The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and to support the purpose and mission of CGSUSA. This is the basic level of membership for any vendor.
Collaborator Annual Membership of $250 or more
A Vendor Member with membership at this level provides the CGS catechist with unfinished materials for the Atrium environment so that the material may be transformed and become an instrument for the child to enter into the Mystery. This level of membership is for those who have been in business for at least five years and would like more exposure to catechists and communities using The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd through our CGSUSA website. This level of vendor membership shows our catechists members a greater commitment and supports the purpose and mission of CGSUSA.
Partner Annual Membership of $500 or more
Answers the call to accompany the workers in the vineyard – the catechists, formation leaders, and others who serve in CGS – by helping to reduce the financial burden on individual catechists. Partner Vendor Members provide the catechists of CGSUSA with materials and resources most often purchased by catechists and communities. Partner Membership includes an advertisement in the annual Servant Song Retreat Program book and a discount on Exhibitor Space at CGSUSA events.
Benefactor Annual Membership of $1000 or more
Works with CGSUSA to offer formation, ongoing education, and to deepen others’ understanding of the spiritual life of the child. Benefactor Vendor Members are signs to the Church and beyond that, the religious values of childhood, especially contemplation and joy, are worth cultivating. Membership at this level will include exclusive access to certain promotional or sponsorship opportunities. CGSUSA is engaged in an increasing array of initiatives and activities, sometimes in partnership with other major associations or groups. In situations where the number of vendors who can be involved is limited, the offer to be involved will be extended first (and sometimes exclusively) to the Benefactor member. Only Benefactor Vendor Members will have the opportunity to sponsor CGSUSA podcasts on topics of interest to the CGSUSA membership.
After your Vendor Member Application has been reviewed and accepted, please submit your annual membership payment through the Organization Membership Form.
Your Support Matters
There are many ways to help support the ongoing mission of The United States Association of The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.
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