Oct. '07 NRDS Work Group Report -- Appendix A

CONTENTS 1 Page
I. Objective	3
II. Points of Entry Criteria
A. Definitions	3
B. Minimum POE Qualification	3-4
C. Performance Requirements:
1. Points of Entry	4-5
2. State Association	5
3. NAR	5-6
D. Certification of POE and Shared Services	6
E. De-Certification of Points of Entry:
1. Voluntary	6
2. Involuntary	6-7
3. Temporary Transfer	8
4. State Association Responsibilities	8
5. State Association De-Certification	8
F. Re-Activiation of POE Status

I. OBJECTIVE
The objective of these criteria is to insure there is a substantial focus by the Association Executive community on the nation-wide integrity and consistency of the membership records data maintained on all REALTORS® and Institute Affiliate members at all levels of the REALTOR® family.

II. POINTS OF ENTRY CRITERIA

A. Definitions

1. “Point of Entry” (POE) refers to the primary point of contact for the collection and maintenance of membership data between the members and the three levels of the National Association of REALTORSÒ. Since the local association is the primary source of membership data, the preference is for the local association to be the POE for its data.
2. “Online POE” refers to an association that maintains its membership data directly on the NRDS system.
3. “Batch POE” refers to an association that is processing membership data to NRDS through download and upload routines.
4. “E-POE” refers to an association that is processing electronic commerce transactions through NRDS for its own association or other REALTORÒAssociations.
5. “National REALTORÒData System” (NRDS) is the database clearinghouse through which all membership data updates are processed. The NRDS will forward to all effected associations any member’s record update.

B. Minimum POE Qualifications

1. Access to a computer with Internet access.
2. Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Explorer or Netscape, the Microsoft Windows 95 or higher operating system, and e-mail applications. Proficiency in word processing and spreadsheet applications preferred, as well as the ability to upload and download files.
3. Capable of entering and maintaining membership records online in the NRDS database.
4. Sign an acceptance letter committing the association to acquire and maintain required NRDS data fields and agreeing to abide by the NRDS Standards and Policies and the POE’s Privacy and Security Policy as modified from time to time by the Association Executives Committee.
5. Attendance at a NRDS Training session either in person or over the phone or Internet as required by the State Association or satisfactory completion of training on-line.
6. Agree in writing to successfully interact and maintain effective working relationships with NAR Technical staff, vendors as appropriate, and other REALTORÒ associations.
7. Agree in writing to comply with all NRDS Business Rules, as modified from time to time by the Association Executives Committee.

C. Performance Requirements

1. Points of Entry Associations

• Process, either by batch or on-line, all member and staff additions, deletions or changes within seven (7) association business days of receipt of that data by the POE. Member data includes the membership data of Institute Affiliate members.
• Complete any required upgrades or changes to applicable NRDS or membership system software within the time limits Agree to abide by all technical standards as established by the Association Executives Committee.
• Cooperate and coordinate with other REALTOR® associations, including the State Association, the member’s secondary association, the Institutes, Societies and Councils, NAR and affected MLS: as may be necessary to effectively maintain the integrity and synchronization of the membership data at all levels of the REALTOR® family.
• POEs shall abide by any NRDS Guidelines published by their state association and shall maintain those NRDS fields deemed to be essential by the state association shall be submitted by the POEs.
• Since the local association is the primary source of membership data, new members data and status changes, preference should be given to granting POE status to the local association for its data. Best efforts, however, should be made by the local association to maintain its data according to approved standards and guidelines for processing data to NRDS.

2. State Associations

• State associations shall initially populate the NRDS database and be the POE for each association in that state that has not qualified to be a POE, does not wish to be a POE, or has not been able to make alternate arrangements for another association to be its POE.
• State associations shall maintain all membership data through NRDS when a local association in that state discontinues regular or consistently accurate membership record maintenance.
• State associations shall notify NAR when a local association is not performing under the performance standards referred to in C (1) above.
• State associations shall notify all local associations in the respective state when another local association becomes de-certified.\

3. NAR

• NAR Finance Staff shall determine when a local or state association or an Institute, Society or Council is ready to begin maintenance of its own data on NRDS and award POE status. POE status may only be granted to an Institute, Society or Council for Institute Affiliate (IA) members and for awarding designations to IS&C members.
• NAR's Association Executive Committee shall have the authority to de-certify or take any appropriate enforcement action needed for any POE that is not complying with the POE Minimum Standards NRDS Standards and Policies and the POE’s Privacy and Security Policy in accordance with the procedures established in Section II (E)(2).
• NAR will not become a POE for any association for any reason.
  

D. POE Certification

1. A POE must demonstrate that it is capable of maintaining its membership data either on-line or through the use of a membership system vendor application which complies with current NRDS file structure and business rules.
2. POE staff must attend a NRDS training class either on-line or held at a physical location prior to the effective date of the POE status. On an ongoing basis, a POE should insure that staff has NRDS training.
3. When using a download/upload application to update NRDS, the prospective POE must successfully demonstrate to NAR that its system is functional, that it can send and receive successful transmissions to NRDS, and that the POE’s conversion table is effectively translating the POE’s codes to the appropriate NRDS codes.
4. A local association or a state association may be the POE for another association, and the two parties are free to negotiate an administrative fee for the service.

E. De-Certification of a POE

1. Voluntary De-Certification: Upon 30 days notice to NAR and the state association, local POEs may request voluntary de-certification if local conditions preclude continued participation. The POE requesting de-certification must first explore the option to employ another association to become their POE.

2. Involuntary De-Certification:

a. Any alleged violation of POE Minimum Standards NRDS Standards and Policies and the POE’s Privacy and Security Policy may be reported in writing to Association Executives Committee staff.

b. The NAR Finance Division and other AEC and NAR staff shall conduct research to determine whether there is reason to believe that a violation of the POE Minimum Standards NRDS Standards and Policies and the POE’s Privacy and Security Policy has occurred.

c. If the staff it is determined that there is reason to believe that a violation of the NRDS Standards and Policies and the POE’s Privacy and Security Policy has occurred, Association Executives Committee staff shall send a letter addressed to the Association Executive and Chief Elected Officer of the Association in possible violation notifying the Association of the nature of the violation and requesting that the violation be corrected within thirty days. The Association Executive of the State Association shall also be notified in writing. If the entity violating the policies is an MLS, the association executive of the MLS shall be notified in writing. If the entity violating the policies is an ISC, the association executive and Chief Elected Officer of the ISC shall be notified in writing. If the entity violating the policies is a DR, the association executive and Chief Elected Officer of the DR’s primary association shall be notified in writing.

d. If the Association POE believed to have violated the POE Minimum Standards NRDS Standards and Policies and the POE’s Privacy and Security Policy claims that no violation has occurred or is unable or unwilling to correct the violation within thirty days of the date of the notice provided in (c) above, a hearing panel of three AEs appointed by the Chairperson of the Association Executives Committee shall convene a hearing to determine whether a violation has occurred. At that hearing the Association POE believed to have violated the POE Minimum Standards will have the opportunity to present its position regarding the alleged violation. For the convenience of all parties, hearings shall be conducted as needed at the next available NAR Annual or Mid-year Meeting, Leadership Summit, AE Institute or with the approval of the Association POE believed to have violated the POE Minimum Standards NRDS Standards and Policies and the POE’s Privacy and Security Policy by telephone or other electronic conferencing means. If the Association POE believed to have violated the POE Minimum Standards NRDS Standards and Policies and the POE’s Privacy and Security Policy is unwilling or unable to be present at the hearing the Association POE shall be required to attend by telephone or other electronic conferencing means available at the hearing site.

e. If the hearing panel determines that a violation has occurred and the Association POE is unwilling or unable to correct the violation, the Association Executives Committee shall revoke the Association's POE’s access to NRDS status. The Committee may allow the Association POE an additional thirty days maximum to correct the violation after which time de-certification revocation of access to NRDS shall take place automatically if the violation has not been corrected.

3. Temporary Transfer of POE: A Temporary Transfer of POE status may occur when a local association is no longer able to perform its duties and/or there is no one left at the local association to request a de-certification. In those cases, the State may, after first providing written notice to such local association not less than thirty (30) days in advance, assume POE duties itself or assign these duties to another POE that has agreed to provide them. In the event of conflict between the state and local associations in determining the need for temporary transfer of POE status, the local and state associations will direct all inquiries to the Association Executives Committee through AEC staff. If the conflict cannot be resolved the AEC shall determine the need for temporary transfer of POE status and select the association to whom the POE duties are assigned.

4. State Association Responsibilities: When a local association voluntarily relinquishes its POE status or its POE status is revoked, the State association will notify all local associations in the state of the opportunity to become the POE for that association and may assign that responsibility to another POE which has agreed to provide these services. In the event no other POE is willing or able to assume POE duties for the association relinquishing its POE status or the association that has had its POE status revoked by the AEC, the state association shall assume these duties. The association assuming this responsibility may assess the local association requiring POE services a reasonable fee.

5. State Association De-Certification: Should a state association be unable to comply with the POE Minimum Performance Criteria, or should a state request voluntary de-certification; the Association Executives leadership, in concert with the assigned NAR Leadership Team Liaison and NAR NRDS staff executive, shall immediately contact that association’s Chief Elected Officer to address possible solutions, including transfer of POE responsibilities to another REALTOR^Ò Organization.

F. Re-Activation of POE status

1. Voluntarily de-certified POE's can become re-certified as soon as they are able and pay any applicable fees, as discussed in E (4) above.
2. Involuntarily de-certified POEs can become re-certified when they overcome the deficiencies which had caused them to lose their certification, pay any applicable fees (as discussed below); and complete a minimum 90 day probation period.
3. Expenses: Associations that desire to re-establish themselves as POEs will be responsible for the costs they incur; as well as any costs associated with the transfer of the association’s information management services to the entity that had been performing POE services.