Today is September 25, 2022.
With a Fourth Estate Public Benefit Cooperative membership, you are purchasing a membership share in an organization that seeks to contribute to a healthy society by fostering, supporting and incubating a sustainable and vibrant free press.
Important! In this document, "Fourth Estate" is used to describe Fourth Estate Public Benefit Cooperative.
The following Terms and Conditions form part of the online Application for Membership in the Cooperative. Acceptance of membership constitutes an agreement to comply with the Terms and Conditions as they may be amended from time to time by the Fourth Estate without notice to you.
Membership
The ability to apply for membership in the Fourth Estate Public Benefit Cooperative is open to any person, individual or entity, who meets the following eligibility criteria:
- If an individual, is of eligible age as stated in the Fourth Estate’s bylaws;
- each member is entitled to one (1) vote irrespective of the amount membership shares purchased.
- Purchases at least one (1) membership share(s) of the Fourth Estate (“Membership Share”); and
- Submits to the Fourth Estate:
- a completed Application for Membership and
- payment for the Membership Share at time of submission of the Application for Membership.
In submitting the Application for Membership, you certify that all information you have supplied in the Application for Membership is true and complete.
Payments
The payment for the Membership Share, which must accompany your Application for Membership. Membership voting rights are not fully vested until the Membership Share has been paid.
Payment may be required to access and use or access some Fourth Estate services.
You authorize Fourth Estate to charge your credit card/debit card/payment account for the member share installment payments and member dues.
You agree in the event that the charges are denied by the credit card/debit institution for any reason, you will be notified and obligated to pay by other means within two business days.
Only those Members who have paid in full will have voting rights and access to the capital credit or patronage rebate program.
Member shares are not transferable. While Member equity is refundable, it is at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
I understand that, as with any start-up enterprise, Member equity is subject to risk, including the risk of loss. Member equity is subordinate to all other debts of the Cooperative.
Approval of Membership
Membership in the Fourth Estate is subject to the approval of the Fourth Estate the Board of Directors, you will receive notification via email at the email address provided by you in your Application for Membership. In addition, a membership account will be set up in your name and your name added to the list of members of the Fourth Estate. While the Board of Directors has the power to refuse any application for membership in the Fourth Estate without assigning reason, and without limiting that power, Fourth Estate reserves the right to refuse membership to any applicant and membership may be terminated at Fourth Estate’s discretion without cause, as well as for such things as failure to comply with these Terms and Conditions, the bylaws or any abuse of your membership privileges.
In the event that membership is denied by the Fourth Estate, the Membership Share purchase shall be refunded.
Constitution and Bylaws
The constitution and bylaws are the rules and regulations enacted by the Fourth Estate Fourth Estate governs its operations and management. Your membership, if accepted, is conditional upon your acceptance and compliance with the constitution, bylaws, and rules of the Fourth Estate, which may be amended from time to time in accordance with the governance process set out in the bylaws. I agree to be bound by such governance documents.
If there is a conflict or discrepancy between these Terms and Conditions and the constitution and bylaws , the constitution and bylaws of the Fourth Estate will take precedence.
Changes to Personal or Contact Information
If your Application for Membership is accepted, as a member, it will be your sole responsibility to immediately notify the Fourth Estate of any changes to your personal or contact information, including, but not limited to, mailing address and email address. The Fourth Estate shall not be responsible and shall have no liability for any misdirected, lost or delayed communications (including communications via mail or email) resulting from your failure to provide such notification of change in personal or contact information or for any delay or interruption in delivery.
Privacy and Use of information
The Fourth Estate respects your privacy and will administer the personal information that you provide to it by way of the Application for Membership in accordance with its privacy policies and related practices. The personal information that you provide to the Fourth Estate is being collected and will be used for one or more of the following purposes: to communicate with you; to administer its membership programs; to open, maintain and administer your Fourth Estate membership account; to comply with legal and regulatory requirements; for research and marketing purposes; and, to inform you about products and services by mail, telephone, email or other means.
Please review the Fourth Estate’s Privacy Policy.
