For MCAN members, that adds up to large agency resources, while maintaining the flexibility and freedom of staying "lean and mean."

MCAN meets three times a year in various cities during the months of January, May and September. MCAN meetings include informative workshops, a principal’s meeting, and plenty of time to swap ideas and concerns. For those involved in MCAN, the network quickly becomes an "extended family," Members say MCAN helps them serve their clients more effectively . . . run their agencies more efficiently . . . and enjoy the unique comradery that comes from friendships with knowledgeable, spirited, non-competing professionals.

Sound like something you might be interested in? Contact us to discuss the benefits and responsibilities of MCAN membership.

Membership in MCAN dramatically strengthens your competitive position by putting your company on an equal level when you're up against a tough presentation with much larger agencies. You're no longer the 10-person shop, but a viable contender in business with over 100 affiliated members available to help you with concepts, creative, media, production, campaigns, consulting, research, test marketing, and more. It can greatly improve the integral operations and profitability of your agency.

Personalized Business Relationships With Other Agency Principals
Principals of MCAN agencies become personally acquainted through the network's various activities. All or any of them are available for advice and counsel on general management problems of specific account service and new business opportunities. One of the purposes for which the network was originally organized, this "fraternal" relationship is a tremendous value to all agency principals and staff.

Management Conferences
MCAN has three management conferences per year, all of which are working sessions. The spring conference is for agency principals and department heads with the program devoted to the production side of agency operations, along with the MANNY advertising awards competition. The fall conference covers a wide range of subjects including new business, account management, creativity, and public relations. The winter meeting is exclusive for principals and deals with agency management, policies, and procedures. Meetings are typically held on Friday and part of Saturday. Because members are non-competitive, the discussions are completely open and frank and are highly informational.

"Branch Office" Services
Each member acts, upon request, as a "'branch office" for other members in performing any reasonable marketing or advertising service within the local area. Included are creative services (obtaining location photographs, securing case histories); media services (recommending local media); market research services (conducting surveys); sales promotion services(contacting dealers or distributors); public relations services(setting up interviews or press conferences); Marketing Resources Plus sharings, or other specialized requirements to assist with clients, new business prospects or internal operations. The "branch office" is compensated on an hourly basis at a fee schedule established by the members.

Account Experience Information
Because the network's member agencies serve, in the aggregate, hundreds of types of accounts, one can use the experience the other members have gained from servicing accounts that are similar, but non-competitive. This includes program development, creative successes, media planning and other client needs.

Information Retrieval Service
MCAN members have access to independent information retrieval services when needed by member agencies. This includes background information on hundreds of industries.

Broadcast Media Buying Capability
An arrangement with a member media buying service can provide the MCAN member agency with the expertise and "clout" in broadcast buying normally enjoyed by only a few very large agencies.

MCAN Objectives and Guidelines for Memberships
A. To offer the opportunity to affiliate within an effective network, to a limited number of independent advertising agencies seeking to adopt similar ideals and methods, and by close cooperation, achieve greater levels of accomplishment and efficiency in agency management.

B. To raise the standards of advertising service to clients of the network members through cooperative study and exchange of information relative to agency management and all phases of advertising. To attempt to widen the range of services offered to clients by each member through affiliation with other progressive agency members.

C. To simplify and standardize agency operations for more efficient selling, organizing and servicing client accounts.

D. To exchange information on all common problems including management, sales development, operations, market studies and agency functions.

E. To assist any member of the network, upon request, in the solicitation and servicing of an account through specialized experience and abilities.

F. To meet regularly to compare experiences, discuss ways and means of improving standards of operation, methods of increasing profitability and to promote general welfare of all members.

Specialized Talent Access
A member agency need not restrict its capabilities to the talents of its own staff members. Whenever there is a need for a highly specialized skill, the networks's headquarters office, located in the New York talent pool, can obtain the particular talent needed for the individual assignment.

A Membership of Agency Principals
An agency's membership in the Marketing Communications Agency Network shall consist of an active principal and/or designated representative of his or her agency. Such a designated top management representative may be permitted to substitute in case of emergency based on his or her ability to participate.

Membership Composed of Advertising Agencies
Regular membership shall be open to advertising agencies possessing such basic requirements for qualifications as listed in the bylaws and as agreed upon by MCAN members.

Market Exclusivity
Only one agency "franchise" shall be awarded per any one ADI/DMA; to any one agency which specifically serves that area. In case of conflict or potential conflict, current members shall have the right to veto an applicant's membership.

Applicants Invited on a Trial Basis
The Membership Committee shall approve all applications for membership and may/shall invite the principal(s) and/or his or her designated representative of the approved applicant agency to attend one or more regular meetings of MCAN on a trial basis. All incidental travel costs, including meals and lodging, required to attend the meeting shall be the sole responsibility of the applicant agency.

Election of Membership
After the applicant has attended one meeting the applicant may be elected to regular membership at a subsequent meeting upon proper motion and unanimous vote of approval of the membership present and in good standing.