Read through the following agreement and sign at the bottom to become a Great Lakes Business Network member.

The Great Lakes Business Network is a network of business leaders committed to protecting the Great Lakes region from threats to the natural environment. The goal of the Great Lakes Business Network (GLBN) is to convene and leverage business leaders across the region to build a coalition to advance a select set of issues and to be the leading business voice for protecting the health and vitality of the Great Lakes and the economy, businesses and communities that depend upon them. We are fact-based, non-partisan, and focused on pragmatic advocacy to help set the Great Lakes agenda.

By agreeing to join the GLBN, your business agrees with the general position statements for each focus issue area. GLBN members should be the CEO, owner, or top executive of the business, or a staff proxy that represents the interests of the top executive. Members may select the issues they want to actively engage in and the Network will customize communications to meet your business interests.

The GLBN is managed through a partnership between the National Wildlife Federation Great Lakes Regional Center and Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities.

The GLBN managing partners agree to:

• Always confirm permission from GLBN members when sharing their information. This includes names, business logo and public statement beyond the website;
• Provide information and opportunities for GLBN members to engage in the focus issues they select to work on;
• Provide opportunities for all members to learn more about GLBN focus issues;
• Provide opportunities for GLBN members to engage directly with decision-makers and media in support of advancing GLBN focus issues, as appropriate;
• Assist GLBN members with developing position statements or other actions in support of formal GLBN issue positions;
• Provide GLBN members with a Network member logo that can be displayed as a promotional tool;
• Maintain a GLBN member email listserve to communicate GLBN activity and provide high level updates on the focus issues;
• Maintain a GLBN monthly newsletter to provide all members high level updates on all efforts and focus issues taken on by the Network.

The GLBN is governed by a membership based Executive Committee that acts as the decision making body for policies and positions established by the GLBN. Should the GLBN Executive Committee choose to advance a position on a new Great Lakes issue, or change the position on an existing issue, those changes will always be communicated in advance to all GLBN members.

Members of the Great Lakes Business Network (GLBN) agree to:

• Provide a business representative name, title or affiliation;
• Provide a business email for communications;
• Provide a business logo and location of home base;
• Identify all focus issues for engagement;
• Provide basic information about your business;
• To be listed publicly on the GLBN website (https://glbusinessnetwork.com/partners/) as a member of the Network.

There is no obligation for a GLBN members to participate as a public advocate, but members may be asked to voluntarily consider participation in any of the following advocacy activities:

• Provide a written statement of support for the goals of the Network to be listed on the GLBN website and shared publicly. This statement could be an open letter to the public, a letter to editor; a statement to customers; a letter to the governor, Attorney General, Congress or state legislature; a letter to a business association, chamber, or peer businesses; video statement; marketing messages on products or advertisements;
• A statement to customers; a letter to the governor, Attorney General, Congress or state legislature; a letter to a business association, chamber, or peer businesses; video statement; marketing messages on products or advertisements;
• Make public statements at events or in media as appropriate;
• Solicit other business leaders to join the GLBN;
• Request meetings and make personal appeals to decision-makers for action on GLBN issues.

Focus Issue Modifications or Removal from the Network: GLBN Members can choose to remove their name from the Network at any time. Modifications to the approach the GLBN takes for focus issues that members directly engage with may be raised through the Issue Lead (which will be held by a Business Member) and if needed, brought to the full Executive Committee for modification.

GLBN VALUES AGREEMENT

• GLBN Vision: A thriving Great Lakes environment and economy fostered by a passionate and diverse business community.
• GLBN Mission: Creating an influential business network that advocates for thriving ecosystems, economies, and communities in the Great Lakes region.

The Great Lakes Business Network believes that to realize our Vision and Mission, it is necessary to state our commitment to our environmental and JEDI values, holding ourselves and each other accountable. In this way, we can continue to build and sustain a diverse and influential business community that advocates for a thriving Great Lakes region for all people.

The GLBN managing partners invite all members to commit to these values and agree to these behaviors and procedures. 

The Great Lakes Business Network commits to the following JEDI principle:

• We seek Justice to identify and remove systemic barriers and disadvantages, opening access to resources and opportunities.
• We are committed to Equity so that each individual can grow and thrive. An individual’s race or personal background should no longer predict their life outcomes.
• Through Diversity we seek to reflect our community, encompassing the broad tapestry of people, life experiences and perspectives.
• Through Inclusion we are determined to amplify each person’s voice and eliminate biases regardless of their abilities, background or experience.

As a member of the Great Lakes Business Network, I commit to:

• Accountability: As members and an organization, if we observe or experience someone not meeting the standards of our values, mission, or vision, we:
  • hold private, supportive conversations, when possible,
  • involve staff & leadership to moderate as appropriate, and
  • reserve the right to withdraw membership and the associated privileges.
• Inclusivity: Our members
  • use inclusive language and refer to others as they request,
  • avoid membership gatekeeping,
  • give voice to all businesses and communities impacted by network and individual business decisions, even if they aren’t members of the network,
  • maintain nonpartisan language.
• Environmental advocacy: our members make decisions and take action with the intent of keeping our Great Lakes environment and marginalized communities protected by
  • determining the resources and people that will be affected by each decision/action,
  • analyzing the effect their decisions/action will have, and
  • minimizing harm to the environment and marginalized communities by making ethical business choices.
• Improvement and learning: Our members
  • proactively participate in personal growth activities around JEDI,
  • seek to understand when they make mistakes, and
  • offer information and/or suggestions when others make mistakes.
• Using my voice: Our members act together in ways that are proactive, and solution driven. by
  • staying up to date on information in the news and provided by GLBN to understand who is most affected by the climate crisis, and
  • participating in GLBN advocacy action items encouraging other members to join the effort.