Network TwentyOne

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Network TwentyOne, also known as N21 or Network 21, is an education and training company supplying Professional Development Programs to Independent Business Owners (IBOs) working with the Quixtar and Amway network marketing business opportunities. Network TwentyOne operates in more than 36 countries.[1] It was founded in 1989 by Americans Jim and Nancy Dornan, IBOs in Amway and Quixtar.[2] The Dornans were Founders Crown Ambassadors in Amway as of 2006[citation needed].

Contents

[edit] History

Jim Dornan recounts in his book The Power of Partnership [8] that he is a graduate of Purdue University and was an aerospace engineer and Nancy Dornan a speech therapist when they joined Amway in 1970. He states that they retired from conventional employment while in their 20s, having built a large Amway network. The financial burdens caused by the birth of their son, Eric, with spina bifida was one of the reasons why the Dornans started building their business seriously. Later on he started his own training and motivation organization, and named it Network 21. Most IBOs in the Amway/Quixtar business are affiliated to some such IBO organization which are typically started by successful IBOs after having grown their business significantly.

[edit] People and Culture

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Jim Dornan has also coauthored the book Becoming A Person Of Influence with John C. Maxwell. Jim Dornan has been a committee member of National Charity Awards [9] organized by Doug Wead. Maxwell and Wead are among frequent speakers at seminars organized by N21[citation needed]. As of 1995, Jim Dornan was one of the several Amway business leaders on the board of Gospel Films[citation needed]. As of 2007, Jim Dornan was on the board of directors of Equip Foundation[3] founded by John C. Maxwell.

[edit] Business Methodology

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Network 21 provides training programs to help IBOs grow their Amway/Quixtar businesses. The system consists of books and CDs, and organizing seminars where successful business persons, specialists and motivational speakers, from within and from outside Network 21, speak. Network 21 teaches a method of business building which it calls the "TEAM21 strategy"[citation needed].

[edit] Philanthropy

World Vision, an international "Christian relief and development organization dedicated to helping children", has recognized Network TwentyOne's members as their largest corporate network of child sponsors.[citation needed] On September 1, 2006, Jim and Nancy Dornan, founders of Network TwentyOne, accepted an achievement award from World Vision President, Richard Stearns, on behalf of Network of Caring. Network 21 IBOs from around the world have donated over $20,000,000 to World Vision's child sponsorship programme over the previous 20 years, improving the lives of over 50,000 children.[citation needed]

Jim and Nancy Dornan, and their son Eric Dornan have also created The Ambassador Fund and the Fernando Foundation, in honor of Fernando Ruelas, the late long-time caretaker of Eric.[10] The Fernando Foundation supports numerous outreach programs in support of the world's children, the construction of homes and schools for street children in India organised under the Karuna Project. The foundation is also heavily involved in promoting and supporting Power Soccer.[11]

[edit] Controversy

Leslie Giblin, author of the book Skill with People sued Network 21 in 2002 for copyright infringement through unauthorized printing and selling of his book in several countries[citation needed]. In a related case against Yager Internet Services, Leslie Giblin's grandson, Brian Zima, stated in a court affidavit that he had inadvertently published an incorrect date of first publication for the book on their website www.skillwithpeople.com, and apologised for any misunderstandings this may have caused.[4] Network TwentyOne and Giblin subsequently settled the case out of court[citation needed].

Network TwentyOne is named in the Blakey Report[5], as one of the organizations that works with Amway. The report was used as an expert witness report in P&G vs Amway case number H-97-2384 (S.D. Tex. 1997)and claims that the Amway business operates in a manner that is parallel to that of major organized crime groups. The report was prepared by G. Robert Blakey who was retained by P&G to support its RICO claim against Amway. It also figured in the Amway vs. P&G case number 1:98cv 726.[6]. It is claimed that Amway unsuccessfully tried to prevent the appearance of this report on the internet.[7]. These cases did not involve Network TwentyOne. The Britt and Yager Organizations are the two main groups mentioned in the report, while Network 21 and several other IBO organizations are mentioned only as other organizations within the Amway "family".

Courts in both Utah and Texas dismissed Procter & Gamble's claims against Amway.[8]

In 1994, in the parliament of New South Wales in Australia, the minister for consumer affairs was questioned regarding the methods used by Amway and N21, to which the minister replied by saying that the complaints and evidence received were too few to indicate any cause for concern.[9]

In May 2007, Amway stated on its media blog that the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in its complaints against Network 21, made serious allegations about the way Network 21 represents the Amway business opportunity in the UK. The DTI also alleged that Amway did not do enough to police the misrepresentations made by Network 21 and other organizations. Amway announced a ban on sale of Business Support Materials (books, tapes, CDs, meetings, websites) by IBO organizations, including Network 21, in UK, and announced a thorough review of its business practices globally. Amway refused to stand by assertions in a response letter from Jim Dornan to IBOs, calling it an "unproductive spin" created by Network 21. Dornan's letter suggested that Network 21 is not a party to the DTI complaint. Jim Dornan subsequently issued a second letter, stating that Network 21 (UK) is named in a separate complaint by the DTI and hence the issue should be taken seriously and addressed. [10] [11] [12].

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://n21corp.com/CompOverview.asp
  2. ^ http://n21corp.com/TimeLine.asp
  3. ^ Website of Equip Foundation [1]
  4. ^ Brian Zima Affidavit [2]
  5. ^ The Blakey Report
  6. ^ Amway vs. P&G et al., Case No. 1:98cv 726
  7. ^ An article by Evelyn Pringle [3]
  8. ^ http://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/03/03-20202-CV0.wpd.pdf
  9. ^ Parliament of New South Wales, discussion on Amway and Network 21[4]
  10. ^ OK, let’s talk UK, on Amway Media Blog [5]
  11. ^ Misrepresenting, on Amway Media Blog [6]
  12. ^ Un-spun, on Amway Media Blog [7]

[edit] See also

[edit] Network 21 sites

[edit] Other external links

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