NOG Rules
Updated September 17, 2007Guiding Principles
Newtown Oil Group (NOG) is an informal assembly of Newtown, CT residents who act in unison to pursue better than market rates for the purchase of heating oil and related services (maintenance, emergency service, ect).
Administration
Membership and Delivery Vendor administration are undertaken by members who volunteer to accept these responsibilities (the Administrators). The Administrators will seek terms and conditions which they believe will benefit the majority of NOG members. Administrators will not receive compensation for their efforts.
Membership
Membership in NOG is voluntary and open to anyone residing in, or conducting business within Newtown, CT (including Sandy Hook, CT).
Enrollment for new members is opened before a contract is negotiated with a heating oil delivery vendor, but is then closed for the majority of each oil delivery season. The duration of the open enrollment period will depend on certain factors, including the delivery vendor’s willingness to allow additional members to enroll above the limits discussed during negotiations. The Administrators may elect to suspend new enrollments if it is felt NOG has reached a size which represents maximum value to its members (some delivery vendors may be reluctant to commit to a very large group).
(Note: As of September 17, 2007 membership includes some residents of adjoining towns, i.e. Bethel, however NOG will not add new members from adjoining towns; existing non-Newtown residents will remain members until they voluntarily withdraw from the group).
Members will remain in good standing unless they voluntarily elect to stop participating in the group.
Membership will be suspended if a member elects not to participate in the group’s seasonal contract. Membership will be suspended for a minimum of 36 months, and the suspended member will be offered re-enrollment after the black out period has expired.
Membership will be terminated if a member acts inappropriately (via email, phone, in person, or otherwise), including abusive messages to Administrators, the Delivery Vendor, or other members.
Membership in NOG is limited to the exclusive pursuit of obtaining competitive heating oil prices and related services. NOG membership lists will not be used for other marketing purposes.
NOG members agree not to act singularly in negotiating individual terms with the delivery vendor. Such independent approaches dilute and undermine the legitimacy and purchasing power of the group. NOG members agree to alert the Administrators if they are approached by the Delivery Vendor to modify, extend, or otherwise contract for delivery of heating oil outside of the terms offered to all NOG members.
Contract Terms
NOG members recognize that a contractual relationship exists only between the member and a heating oil delivery company (the Delivery Vendor) recommended by the Administrators and that maintenance of this contractual relationship is the sole responsibility of the NOG member.
NOG Administrators will alert members when preferred contract terms have been negotiated with a Delivery Vendor for the upcoming season. Members will work directly with the preferred Delivery Vendor to establish a personal vendor account.
NOG members release the Delivery Vendor to provide NOG Administrators with certain details of the member’s personal vendor account, including name, address, phone, email address, oil consumption totals, and other non-financial information that is required for the Administrators to properly. Administrators will not request, and delivery vendors will hold confidential, all information relating to personal account status, member credit/banking information, or other data which is deemed confidential between the member and delivery vendor. NOG Administrators shall only use this information for the purposes of administering the membership and vendor relations, and shall not use, or make available for others to use, this information.
The Delivery Vendor agrees to truthfully portray all terms of its relationship with NOG, and to take measures appropriate to protect NOG members from “automatic offers” by mail or other means. The Delivery Vendor will otherwise refrain from offering extended terms directly to NOG members without the prior written endorsement of the NOG Administrators. The Delivery Vendor will not accept a request to participate in NOG programs, without the written confirmation of a NOG administrator.