Faith Community Nordic Walking Group License

Purpose of the License

The Faith Community Nordic Walking Group License is an NWANA group license intended for the creation and gradual development of Nordic Walking Groups within religious, spiritual, interfaith, and other faith-based communities.

The license applies to the Nordic Walking Group as a separate group within the NWANA system. It is not an individual participant license, authorization to represent a particular faith organization, a professional teaching or coaching credential, or an athlete competition license.

Two Available Group Formats

The Faith Community Nordic Walking Group License supports two possible group formats.

Organization-Authorized Group

A group may be created within a specific:

• church;

• synagogue;

• mosque;

• temple;

• congregation;

• religious or spiritual community;

• faith-based organization;

• interfaith organization.

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

Independent Interfaith or Faith Community Group

An independent group may bring together people from different faith communities and other people interested in developing Nordic Walking in a faith-based or interfaith environment.

An independent group does not have to belong to a specific religious organization. However, it may not use the name, logo, facilities, internal communication channels, or other resources of a specific organization without permission.

Authorization from a Specific Organization

A faith community member, faith leader, employee, volunteer, program participant, authorized partner, or another eligible person may propose the creation of a Nordic Walking Group within a particular faith organization.

However, obtaining an Individual Faith Community License does not, by itself, authorize that person to:

• represent the organization;

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

• establish a group as an official program of the organization;

• 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 organization-authorized group, formation may begin when at least one Individual Faith Community License holder proposes the group and the selected organization authorizes its creation.

For an independent interfaith or faith community group, formation may begin when at least one Individual Faith Community License holder expresses interest in developing such a group in the corresponding community.

After the appropriate authorization or independent group request is confirmed, NWANA creates the Faith Community 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, faith leader, 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 faith organization.

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

• members of the faith community;

• faith leaders, employees, and volunteers;

• program participants;

• families and caregivers;

• invited guests;

• members of the local community;

• other participants approved by the organization.

An independent interfaith or faith community group may welcome people from different faith traditions and other participants interested in its purpose.

Participation in an independent group does not imply membership in or endorsement by a particular religious organization.

Responsibilities of the Faith Organization and NWANA

The participating faith organization determines and oversees:

• the group’s relationship with the organization;

• any religious, spiritual, or community-service content;

• permitted participants;

• leadership and volunteer responsibilities;

• use of facilities and organizational resources;

• communication and use of the organization’s identity;

• event, financial, safety, and operational procedures;

• other organizational policies applicable to the group.

NWANA’s role is focused on the Nordic Walking component. NWANA may provide:

• 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 NWANA group license and any future RECOGNIZED status apply to the Nordic Walking Group. The participating faith organization remains responsible for its own programs, teachings, leadership, and activities.

What the Group License Provides

The Faith Community Nordic Walking Group License allows the group to:

• operate within the NWANA system as a Faith Community Nordic Walking Group;

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

• welcome Individual Faith Community License holders;

• introduce Nordic Walking opportunities within a faith-based or interfaith community;

• organize walks, meetups, fellowship activities, family events, community-service initiatives, and other approved programs;

• 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 Faith Community 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 faith organization. That organization may establish its own requirements for leadership, volunteers, facilities, programs, and events.

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;

• group walks and social meetups;

• fellowship and community-building activities;

• family and intergenerational programs;

• community-service and volunteer initiatives;

• instruction provided by appropriately qualified professionals;

• educational events and workshops;

• participation in NWANA competitions and other events;

• its own in-person and virtual competitions;

• 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 faith organization must comply with that organization’s authorization and policies.

Group Events and Competitions

A Faith Community 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 faith organization.

An independent interfaith or faith community group may conduct events and competitions in its own name. It may not present them as events of a specific religious 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 faith 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 faith 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 faith 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 Faith Community License

The Faith Community Nordic Walking Group License applies to the group and is initially provided free of charge.

The Individual Faith Community 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 Faith Community License is intended for faith community members, faith leaders, employees, volunteers, program participants, authorized partners, and other people interested in developing Nordic Walking in a faith-based or interfaith environment.

Official membership in a religious organization is not required to obtain the individual license.

An Individual Faith Community License holder may:

• join an existing group;

• help propose an authorized group within a specific faith organization;

• become the first licensed participant connected with the creation of an independent interfaith or faith community group.

The individual license does not authorize its holder to represent a specific organization or create a group under that organization’s 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/.