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Grand Rapids, MI – April 3, 2008 – The Board of Directors of
the Independent Business Owners Association International (http://www.iboai.com),
the primary advocacy organization representing hundreds of
thousands of independent business owners (IBOs) powered by
Amway Global, formerly Quixtar (http://www.quixtar.com),
today issued this statement in response to an initiative
announced by MonaVie, a direct selling organization that
competes with Amway Global.
“The so-called ‘Global Free Agent Initiative’ announced by
MonaVie on April 2 is, we believe, nothing more than a
publicity stunt, as they cannot actually expect to overturn
scores of Court rulings that support the concept of
short-term non-compete agreements for independent
contractors.
Independent contractors in direct-selling organizations such
as Amway Global possess unique knowledge and
networks that they have built with the extensive support of
their parent organization. The parent organization, and
other independent contractors who do not wish to change
their affiliation, deserve a degree of protection when any
individual wishes to resign or is terminated from his
business.
“There is also no coincidence in the timing of MonaVie’s
announcement, coming on the heels of their being joined,
with great fanfare, by terminated Amway Global
distributor Orrin Woodward.
Woodward, along with certain associates, is already
the focus of a lawsuit alleging that he has encouraged
thousands of independent contractors to violate their
non-compete agreements in order to join with him at MonaVie
and in his other business enterprises. MonaVie is also the
target of a similar complaint. Starting with the day of his
termination, Woodward has orchestrated an Internet-centered
propaganda campaign which has hurt those to whom he was
previously loyal, including thousands of Amway Global independent business owners.
“It is no coincidence, we believe, that MonaVie is not a
member of DSA, the Direct Selling Association (www.dsa.org),
and will likely never be while they take this stance in
favor of improper and damaging behavior. We are sure that
the DSA itself and Amway Global, the company to whom
our independent business owners are contracted, will make
their own statements on this matter, but we felt it was
critical for us to speak up quickly, and forcefully, so that
our marketplace understands what is really happening. We are
not going to let MonaVie, or Mr. Woodward, pull the wool
over anyone’s eyes.”
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