The Atlas Concept : Regulations (page 2)

2. Membership exclusivity All full members obtain a regional exclusivity protection for their city, or port either as "sea" or "air" member. This means the exclusivity of any member is not granted per country but per region (or State). Exceptions Members could be obliged to share their regional exclusivity protection under following conditions. * Cities - with more then 2 million residents can have two members - with more then 5 million residents can have three members. The maximum for regional exclusivity protection will never exceed three members whereof 1 member will need to be either a "sea" or "air" member. * Ability to cover the market the member must have sufficient commercial strength to cover the region where he is appointed otherwise an additional member could be requested by the membership or the BOD.. * Request of 3 other members whenever 3 members apply for an additional member because of running commitments of their Atlas counterparts. All members are invited to share this information with the Management of the Network. * Code of ethics whenever members have complaints in respect of timely payment or timely replies from a member, the concerned member could be faced to an additional member nomination in his region. * Annual meetings whenever the member fails to attend two consecutive annual Atlas Conferences, the concerned member could be faced to an additional member nomination in his region. * Membership combinations whenever the member is both "sea" and "air" member in the same city or region, the concerned member could be faced to an additional member nomination in his region. Compensation will be granted to those members who loose their sole exclusivity in their city or region. This compensation will be granted under a 50% reduction of their "attendance fee" for the annual Atlas conference starting as from 2005.