Lean Association Bulgaria Membership

Terms & Conditions 

These Terms & Conditions (“Terms”) govern the relationship between Lean Institute Bulgaria Ltd., UIC: 205650071, with registered office and address of management at: Sofia, Bulgaria, 19 Lyuba Velichkova St. (“Organizer”, “we”, “us”) and the organization applying for and/or paying a membership fee to Lean Association Bulgaria (“Member”, “you”, “your organization”).

By submitting a membership application and paying the membership fee, you declare that you have read, understood, and accepted these Terms.

1. Definitions

1.1. Association – Lean Association Bulgaria, a national platform for community building, knowledge exchange, and development of Lean / Operational Excellence practices.
 1.2. Organizer – Lean Institute Bulgaria Ltd., administrator and organizer of the Association’s activities.
 1.3. Member – a legal entity (company/organization) that has applied for membership and paid the membership fee.
 1.4. Representatives – individuals designated by the Member to participate in events and communications of the Association.
 1.5. Membership Package / Benefits – the set of activities, services, and preferential conditions described on the official Association page and/or in these Terms.

2. Scope of Membership

2.1. The Organizer grants the Member access to the Membership Package for the duration of the membership period, including but not limited to networking events, Gemba walks, webinars, access to recordings/resources, and preferential pricing, subject to the conditions set out herein.

2.2. Membership does not guarantee specific business results, certifications, or outcomes and does not create any agency, partnership, or representation of relationship between the parties.

3. Membership Term and Validity

3.1. Membership is annual and valid for the period from 1 January to 31 December of the respective calendar year (“Membership Period”), regardless of the date of joining.

3.2. Any unused benefits or opportunities within the Membership Period do not carry over to a subsequent period and do not give rise to compensation.

3.3. Membership becomes active upon:
 (i) confirmation by the Organizer
 (ii) receipt of payment, unless otherwise agreed in writing.

4. Membership Fee and Payment

4.1. The annual membership fee is EUR 2,500 (excluding VAT).

4.2. Payment shall be made by bank transfer or another agreed payment method, following issuance of an invoice by the Organizer.

4.3. The membership fee is non-refundable, except where mandatory provisions of applicable law provide otherwise.

5. Representatives and Access

5.1. The Member designates its Representatives for participation in activities and for official communication.

5.2. The Organizer may request confirmation of Representatives’ details (name, email, organization) for registration and access purposes.

5.3. The Member is responsible for ensuring that its Representatives comply with these Terms, event rules, and standards of professional conduct.

6. Activities and Participation Rules

6.1. Networking Events

• Organized up to two (2) times per year.
• Participation is limited to up to two (2) Representatives per Member organization, unless explicitly stated otherwise.
• The Organizer determines the date, format, location, and agenda.

6.2. Gemba Walks

• Organized up to four (4) times per year.
• Registration is with limited capacity, hence being subject to remaining spots.
• The Organizer determines the host organization, capacity limits, access rules, and safety requirements and may refuse participation for objective reasons (e.g. host restrictions, security, capacity).
• Failure to attend after confirmed registration does not entitle the Member to a replacement visit or compensation.

6.3. Webinars

• Organized on topics selected through surveys or structured interest collection processes.
• A webinar will be conducted only if a minimum of ten (10) companies express interest in the selected topic.
• Each webinar has a duration of one (1) astronomical hour.
• If minimum interest is not reached, the Organizer may postpone or cancel the webinar.

6.4. Discounts, Sponsorships, and On-Demand Benefits

6.4.1. Certain Membership Package benefits are provided only upon explicit request by the Member (on demand), including but not limited to discounts for Lean Enterprise Institute (LEI) publications and other services.

6.4.2. Members of Lean Association Bulgaria are entitled to the opportunity to receive up to a 50% discount on sponsorship packages for the Tomorrow Redefined conference organized by Lean Institute Bulgaria Ltd.

6.4.3. The availability, scope, and specific conditions of sponsorship packages are determined separately for each conference edition and communicated via the official sponsorship offer. Membership does not guarantee automatic allocation of a sponsorship package but provides preferential terms subject to availability and Organizer confirmation.

6.4.4. All discounts and preferential conditions are valid only during an active Membership Period and may not be combined with other promotions unless explicitly stated otherwise.

7. Changes to Program, Format, and Schedule

7.1. The Organizer reserves the right to make reasonable changes to dates, locations, speakers, topics, formats, and programs due to organizational needs, force majeure, or external circumstances.

7.2. Members will be informed through official communication channels (email and/or website).

7.3. Changes, postponements, or cancellations do not entitle the Member to a refund of the membership fee.

8. Conduct and Right of Refusal

8.1. Members and their Representatives must maintain professional and respectful behavior.

8.2. The Organizer reserves the right to restrict or terminate participation in specific activities if conduct violates applicable laws, safety requirements, third-party rights, or the reputation of the Association.

8.3. In such cases, no compensation shall be due.

9. Intellectual Property and Materials

9.1. All materials provided within the membership (including recordings, presentations, resources, newsletters, and formats) are protected by intellectual property rights and/or third-party rights.

9.2. Materials may be used solely for internal, non-commercial purposes within the Member organization, unless explicitly authorized in writing.

9.3. Redistribution, public publication, resale, or modification without prior written consent are strictly prohibited.

10. Logo, Branding, and Public Visibility

10.1. By joining the Association, the Member grants permission for its name and logo to be displayed as a Member of Lean Association Bulgaria (e.g. on the Association’s landing page).

10.2. The Member represents and warrants that it holds the necessary rights to grant such permission.

10.3. If the Member does not wish to be publicly displayed, it must notify the Organizer in writing, and the Organizer will implement the change within a reasonable timeframe.

11. Personal Data Protection (GDPR)

11.1. The Organizer processes personal data of the Member’s Representatives (including name, email address, role, and organization) solely for the purposes of membership administration, communication, and participation in Association activities.

11.2. Personal data processing is carried out in full compliance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR), the Bulgarian Personal Data Protection Act, and all applicable EU and national legislation.

11.3. The legal basis for processing is performance of a contract (Article 6(1)(b) GDPR) and/or the legitimate interests of the Organizer related to managing the membership community.

11.4. Further details regarding data processing, retention periods, and data subject rights are available in the Organizer’s Privacy Policy.

12. Limitation of Liability

12.1. All activities and materials are provided for informational and educational purposes only and do not constitute individual legal, financial, or business advice.

12.2. The Organizer shall not be liable for decisions made by the Member based on content provided within the membership.

12.3. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Organizer’s total liability shall be limited to the amount of the membership fee paid by the Member for the relevant Membership Period.

13. Amendments

13.1. The Organizer may amend these Terms by publishing an updated version on the official website or membership page.

13.2. Continued membership or use of benefits after publication constitutes acceptance of the amended Terms.

14. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

14.1. These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Bulgaria.

14.2. Any disputes arising out of or in connection with these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent Bulgarian courts.