Neighborhood & HOA Nordic Walking Group License

Purpose of the License

The Neighborhood & HOA Nordic Walking Group License is an NWANA group license intended for the creation and gradual development of a Nordic Walking Group within a neighborhood, residential development, condominium community, homeowners association, or another residential community.

The license applies to the group as a separate group within the NWANA system. It is not an individual participant license, authorization to represent a homeowners association or property management organization, authority to manage property, permission to use private facilities or common areas, a professional credential, or an athlete competition license.

Two Available Group Formats

The Neighborhood & HOA Nordic Walking Group License supports two possible group formats.

Independent Neighborhood Group

An independent group may be created by residents or other eligible people connected with a particular neighborhood or local residential area.

The group does not have to be affiliated with a homeowners association, condominium association, property management organization, or other residential organization.

However, an independent group may not:

• use the name, logo, resident lists, internal communication channels, or other resources of a specific organization without permission;

• present itself as an official program or representative of a homeowners association or residential organization;

• use private facilities or common property without the required authorization.

HOA or Residential Community-Authorized Group

A group may be created within a specific:

• homeowners association;

• condominium association;

• residential development;

• gated community;

• apartment or residential community;

• property management organization;

• other organized residential community.

A group associated with a specific organization or residential community may be created only by that organization or with its permission.

Authorization from a Specific Organization

A homeowner, tenant, resident, family member, employee, volunteer, authorized partner, or another eligible person may propose the creation of a Nordic Walking Group within a particular homeowners association or residential community.

However, obtaining an Individual Neighborhood & HOA License does not, by itself, authorize that person to:

• represent the homeowners association, condominium association, residential community, or property management organization;

• use its name, logo, facilities, resident lists, internal communication channels, or other resources;

• establish a group as an official residential community program;

• access or reserve private facilities or common property;

• make commitments or collect funds on behalf of the organization.

NWANA may request confirmation that the organization has authorized the creation of the group and the use of its identity.

How a Licensed Group Is Created

For an independent neighborhood group, formation may begin when at least one Individual Neighborhood & HOA License holder expresses interest in developing Nordic Walking in the corresponding neighborhood or residential area.

NWANA identifies an appropriate local service area, creates the independent Neighborhood Nordic Walking Group, provides it with a group license, and creates a dedicated page within the NWANA system.

For an HOA or residential community-authorized group, formation may begin when at least one Individual Neighborhood & HOA License holder proposes the group and the selected organization authorizes its creation.

After the organization’s authorization is confirmed, NWANA creates the authorized Neighborhood & HOA Nordic Walking Group, provides it with a group license, and creates a dedicated page within the NWANA system.

The first registered participant becomes the first licensed participant associated with the new group. This person does not automatically become the group’s owner, leader, instructor, board member, property manager, or official representative and is not required to organize its activities.

Who the Group May Serve

An organization-authorized group serves the audience selected by the participating homeowners association or residential organization.

Depending on the organization’s authorization, this may include:

• homeowners;

• condominium owners;

• tenants and residents;

• family members;

• employees and volunteers;

• invited guests;

• other participants approved by the organization.

An independent neighborhood group may welcome residents and other people connected with the local community.

Participation in an independent group does not mean that the group represents every resident, property owner, neighborhood organization, or homeowners association in the area.

Role of NWANA

NWANA provides the Nordic Walking foundation and initial infrastructure for the group.

NWANA may provide:

• a dedicated group page;

• Nordic Walking education;

• technical standards and methods;

• instruction in Nordic Walking technique;

• professional development opportunities for eligible instructors;

• sport, training, and competition expertise;

• support for the gradual development of the group;

• guidance toward possible RECOGNIZED status.

The group license does not provide authority over residential property, homeowners association decisions, community governance, private facilities, or common areas.

What the Group License Provides

The Neighborhood & HOA Nordic Walking Group License allows the group to:

• operate within the NWANA system as a Neighborhood & HOA Nordic Walking Group;

• have a dedicated page for approved information, registration, news, programs, and events;

• welcome Individual Neighborhood & HOA License holders;

• introduce Nordic Walking opportunities within the neighborhood or residential community;

• organize walks, meetups, family activities, and community initiatives;

• invite appropriately qualified Nordic Walking instructors and other professionals;

• participate in NWANA programs and events;

• organize its own in-person and virtual events and competitions;

• establish authorized volunteer, partnership, sponsorship, and fundraising initiatives;

• develop gradually toward RECOGNIZED status.

Obtaining the group license does not require the organization or independent group to begin any activities immediately.

Cost of the Group License

The initial Neighborhood & HOA Nordic Walking Group License is provided free of charge.

Creating the group and its dedicated page is also free. During the initial stage, the group does not pay an annual NWANA fee.

The $200 annual group license fee applies only after the group voluntarily receives RECOGNIZED status.

No Initial NWANA Requirements

Obtaining and maintaining the initial group license does not require NWANA to impose:

• a minimum number of participants;

• the immediate appointment of a group leader;

• an instructor, coach, or judge;

• regular walks, classes, or training sessions;

• organized programs, events, or competitions;

• the collection of membership fees;

• an immediate application for RECOGNIZED status.

An independent group may begin with one interested participant and develop at its own pace.

An organization-authorized group may develop at a pace approved by the participating homeowners association or residential organization. That organization may establish its own requirements for leadership, access, facilities, programs, and events.

Responsibility of the Residential Organization

For an organization-authorized group, the participating homeowners association, condominium association, residential community, or property management organization determines and oversees:

• the approved program format;

• permitted participants;

• group leadership and administration;

• access to private property, common areas, facilities, and organizational resources;

• requirements for instructors, volunteers, and external partners;

• participant communication;

• safety, accessibility, insurance, and emergency procedures;

• event approvals and facility reservations;

• financial accounts, sponsorships, fundraising, and collection of fees;

• branding and use of the organization’s identity;

• other community policies applicable to the group.

The group license does not replace organizational approval, facility reservations, property rules, or other requirements applicable to a particular location or activity.

Possible Areas of Development

Depending on the interests of the participants and the authorization provided by any participating organization, the group may gradually develop:

• introductory Nordic Walking activities;

• neighborhood walks and social meetups;

• family and intergenerational activities;

• community physical activity programs;

• resident and neighborhood events;

• instruction provided by appropriately qualified professionals;

• educational events and workshops;

• participation in NWANA competitions and other events;

• its own in-person and virtual competitions;

• volunteer, partnership, sponsorship, and fundraising initiatives.

None of these activities is required by NWANA for the group to maintain its initial license.

Qualified Activities

The group license does not, by itself, authorize any participant to teach Nordic Walking technique, provide professional instruction, coach participants or athletes, supervise programs requiring professional qualifications, or serve as a judge.

A person must have the appropriate training, license, qualification, organizational approval, and any other required authorization to perform these activities.

The group may exist and develop before it has an instructor, coach, or judge. Professional qualifications are not required for ordinary participation or authorized organizational and volunteer assistance.

Activities conducted under the name of a participating homeowners association or residential organization must comply with that organization’s authorization and policies.

Group Events and Competitions

A Neighborhood & HOA Nordic Walking Group may organize its own in-person and virtual events and competitions as it develops.

An organization-authorized group must conduct such activities with the permission of the participating homeowners association or residential organization.

An independent neighborhood group may conduct events and competitions in its own name and in accordance with the requirements of the location being used. It may not present them as events of a specific homeowners association or residential organization without authorization.

If the group wishes to obtain separate designation for a competition as an official NWANA competition, that designation must be arranged separately in accordance with NWANA rules.

Financial Structure

During the initial stage, payments associated with group programs and events and collected through the NWANA-created page are processed through NWANA.

After NWANA operating expenses, these funds may be used to support the group’s page, events, programs, and continued development.

Any fundraising, sponsorship, collection of fees, or other financial activity conducted under the name of a participating homeowners association or residential organization must be authorized by that organization.

If the group later receives RECOGNIZED status, it may be provided with expanded administrative capabilities and its own payment structure within the NWANA system, subject to any applicable arrangements with the participating organization.

RECOGNIZED Status

RECOGNIZED status applies to the Nordic Walking Group and its NWANA group license, not to an individual participant or to the participating homeowners association or residential organization as a whole.

Obtaining this status is optional. The group may remain at the initial stage for as long as necessary.

Authorization by a homeowners association or residential organization and RECOGNIZED status from NWANA are separate designations. Neither designation replaces the requirements for obtaining the other.

The requirements and application process for NWANA RECOGNIZED status will be published separately at the appropriate stage of the program’s development.

After the group receives RECOGNIZED status, the annual cost of its NWANA group license is $200.

Difference from the Individual Neighborhood & HOA License

The Neighborhood & HOA Nordic Walking Group License applies to the group and is initially provided free of charge.

The Individual Neighborhood & HOA License applies to a specific person and costs $20 per year. RunSignup automatically prorates the fee based on the time remaining in the current license year.

The Individual Neighborhood & HOA License is open to anyone who wants to support the development of Nordic Walking where they live or help create Nordic Walking opportunities for a particular neighborhood or residential community.

Membership in a homeowners association is not required to obtain the individual license.

An Individual Neighborhood & HOA License holder may:

• join an existing group;

• become the first licensed participant connected with the creation of an independent neighborhood group;

• help propose an authorized group within a specific homeowners association or residential community.

The individual license does not authorize its holder to represent a specific homeowners association, residential community, or property management organization or create a group under its name without permission.

Individual license holders may register for and participate in NWANA in-person and virtual competitions in accordance with the rules of each event. They receive a 5% discount on NWANA competition registration fees.

Neither the individual license nor the group license is an athlete competition license. If a separate athlete license is required for a particular competition, this requirement will be stated in the event rules. The athlete license can be obtained through https://license.nwaofna.org/.