Terms of membership

These terms apply between you and Meson Agency ("we", "us"), which operates The Council. By taking a membership or using The Council app you agree to them.

1. Membership is by invitation

Membership is offered at our discretion, on the referral of a current member and subject to review by the membership committee. We are not obliged to give reasons for declining an application, and an application does not create any entitlement to membership.

2. Invite codes

An invite code is personal to the person it was issued to, is single-use unless we say otherwise, and expires on the date shown. Do not pass your code to anyone else. We may revoke an unused code at any time.

3. Fees and renewal

• Membership runs for twelve months from the day it is activated and renews annually unless cancelled.
• Fees are charged through Stripe. You can cancel renewal at any time in Me → Manage billing; cancellation takes effect at the end of the period you have paid for.
• Fees already paid are not refunded on a pro-rata basis if you leave or are removed part-way through a period, except where Australian Consumer Law requires it.
• If we change the fee we will tell you at least 30 days before your next renewal.

4. Events

• Seats are limited. When an event is full a waitlist opens, and released seats pass to the waitlist in order.
• Members may bring one guest unless we say otherwise for a particular event. You are responsible for your guest's conduct.
• Some events carry a separate charge, shown before you confirm. Paid seats are non-refundable within 48 hours of the event, as the venue has been committed by then.
• If you cannot attend, release your seat in the app so it can pass to someone else. Repeatedly holding seats and not attending may cost you your membership.

5. The directory and contact details

This is the rule that matters most. The directory exists so members can find each other, not so anyone can build a list.

• Do not copy, scrape, export or reproduce the directory or any part of it.
• Do not use member details for bulk marketing, cold outreach, recruitment campaigns or any automated processing.
• Contact details you receive through an accepted introduction are given to you by that member, for that purpose. Do not pass them on.
• Do not add members to mailing lists, groups or CRMs on the strength of their membership alone.

Breaching this section is grounds for immediate removal without refund.

6. Introductions

An introduction request is a request, not an obligation. Members may decline without giving a reason and declining carries no consequence. Contact details are exchanged only when a request is accepted, and only to the extent each member has allowed in their settings.

7. Conduct

Behave at The Council events and in the app as you would at a colleague's table. We may suspend or remove a member for harassment, dishonesty, disclosure of what was said in confidence at an event, or conduct that damages the group or its members. Decisions of the membership committee are final.

8. Your account

Keep your account to yourself — access to the app is tied to your email address. Tell us promptly if you think someone else has access to it. Keep your profile accurate; it is what other members rely on.

9. What we don't promise

The Council is a membership of people, not a guarantee of outcomes. We do not promise that you will receive business, introductions, or a seat at any particular event, and nothing shared at an event or in the app is professional, financial or legal advice. The app is provided as-is; we will keep it running with reasonable care but cannot promise it is uninterrupted or error-free.

10. Liability

Nothing in these terms excludes rights you have under Australian Consumer Law. Subject to that, our liability to you in connection with your membership is limited to the fees you have paid us in the twelve months before the claim, and we are not liable for indirect or consequential loss, including lost business or profits.

11. Ending a membership

You can leave at any time by cancelling renewal or emailing us. We may end a membership for a breach of these terms, or on 30 days' notice without cause, refunding the unused portion of your fee in the latter case. When a membership ends, access to the directory, introductions and members-only events stops immediately.

12. Changes

We may update these terms. Material changes will be notified in the app at least 30 days before they take effect, and continuing as a member after that date means you accept them.

13. Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of New South Wales, Australia, and the courts of that state have non-exclusive jurisdiction.

Contact

Questions about these terms: members@mesonagency.com.