Individual Neighborhood & HOA License

The Individual Neighborhood & HOA License is designed for people who want to support the development of Nordic Walking where they live or help create Nordic Walking opportunities for residents of a particular neighborhood, residential development, or community.

It allows you to join an existing group or become the first person to begin forming a new group and establishing its page within the NWANA system.

The annual fee for this individual license is $20. RunSignup automatically prorates the fee based on the time remaining in the current license year.

This license is not a competition license for athletes and does not authorize you to represent a particular homeowners association, condominium association, residential community, or property management company without its permission.

Two Ways to Develop a Group

Two types of groups may be developed through this license.

Independent Neighborhood Group

An Independent Neighborhood Nordic Walking Group may be started by someone who has a genuine connection to the selected area—someone who lives or works there, rents or owns property there, or represents a business or organization located in the neighborhood.

The group is organized around a geographic area and receives a neutral name, for example:

Downtown St. Petersburg Nordic Walking Group

Permission from a local HOA is not required to create an independent neighborhood group, provided that the group does not claim to represent the HOA or use its name, logo, official communication channels, facilities, or other property without authorization.

Official Residential Community Group

An official HOA or Residential Community Nordic Walking Group may be created for a specific:

• homeowners association;

• condominium association;

• townhouse community;

• apartment or residential community;

• property management company or another formally organized residential community.

This type of group is created with the permission of the association’s leadership, board of directors, property management company, or another authorized representative.

It becomes the residential community’s own group, connected to the community organizationally and supported within NWANA’s Nordic Walking development system. NWANA does not replace the community’s leadership or interfere with the management of its property.

Permission from an HOA is not required simply to obtain an individual license. Permission is required only when a group intends to officially use an organization’s name, represent that organization, or use its resources.

Who Can Obtain This License?

This license may be obtained by someone who wants to:

• join an existing neighborhood or residential community group;

• help develop Nordic Walking among neighbors;

• become the first participant in a future group;

• propose the creation of a group to the leadership of an HOA or residential community;

• support walks, events, and other local initiatives;

• use NWANA knowledge, training, standards, and methods to help develop Nordic Walking within the community.

An unrelated person cannot register a group on behalf of an HOA or residential development with which they have no connection. However, someone with a genuine connection to a neighborhood may establish an independent group without requiring the involvement of an HOA.

What Happens After You Obtain the License?

After registering, you become a holder of the Individual Neighborhood & HOA License. NWANA records your selected territory or residential community and your interest in developing Nordic Walking within this category.

If a corresponding group and page already exist, you will be able to join them.

If no such group exists, your registration may provide the starting point for creating its page. NWANA creates new pages gradually, as soon as at least one interested person appears in a particular area or residential community.

If several people register for the same area or community, they can come together through one shared page instead of creating multiple duplicate groups.

Obtaining the license does not require you to create a group, become its leader, organize walks, or conduct events. At the same time, it does not exclude any of these possibilities. If you wish, you may take initiative and participate in developing the group in whatever way is comfortable for you.

At the initial stage, there are no requirements regarding a minimum number of participants, a mandatory walking schedule, frequency of events, designated group leadership, or a particular level of activity. The immediate goal is to give people an opportunity to register, find one another, and gradually begin developing Nordic Walking in their neighborhood or residential community.

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.

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/.

Opportunities for Participants and Groups

As the group develops, its participants may:

• connect with other people interested in Nordic Walking;

• organize group walks and local events;

• introduce residents to Nordic Walking;

• support active lifestyles and stronger connections among neighbors;

• collaborate with HOAs, property management companies, local organizations, and businesses;

• invite qualified instructors and other specialists;

• use NWANA educational opportunities, standards, and instructional resources;

• participate in regional and national NWANA initiatives;

• develop their own ideas and programs for the neighborhood or residential community.

Each group determines its own pace of development. NWANA provides the overall system, a group page, organizational support, and access to its accumulated athletic and educational experience.

Organizing Your Own Competitions

As the group develops, it may organize its own in-person or virtual Nordic Walking competitions. Use of the NWANA name or designation as an official NWANA competition must be arranged separately.

Financial Structure

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

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

If the group later becomes ready for independent administration and receives RECOGNIZED status, it may be provided with expanded administrative capabilities and its own payment structure within the NWANA system.

RECOGNIZED Status

RECOGNIZED status applies to the group, not to an individual license holder.

Obtaining this status is optional. A group may develop gradually and decide to apply later, when its participants are ready to assume greater responsibility for their programs, events, and administration.

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

The annual NWANA membership fee for a group with RECOGNIZED status is $200.

What Makes This License Unique?

This license makes it possible to begin developing Nordic Walking with one interested person, without waiting for an established organization or a large group of participants.

It supports both independent groups organized around a geographic area and official groups established within HOAs, condominium associations, and other residential communities.

The primary purpose of this license is to help people find one another, connect through Nordic Walking, and gradually build their own active local group with the support of NWANA.