Membership FAQ’s

In order to clarify some key issues related to DCAT membership, we have compiled these questions and answers. If you have additional questions regarding membership, please contact the DCAT office at 1-800-640-3228 or 1-609-448-1000 and a staff member will be happy to assist you.

Who is DCAT and what is the overall objective of the association?
Who is a DCAT member? Who holds DCAT membership?
Who is included in a member's listing in the DCAT directory?
Why is one employee the Designated Contact and what is that person’s role?
Who are the Alternate Contacts and what is their role?
Why do we ask for a Human Resources Department Contact from your company?
What is the impact of a corporate merger or acquisition upon a company's
      membership status?
Can an individual hold DCAT membership?
What is the fiscal year of the DCAT organization?
How are dues determined for my company?
What is DCAT’s membership dues renewal policy?
What is DCAT's corporate tax status with the IRS?

Who is DCAT and what is the overall objective of the association?

The Drug, Chemical & Associated Technologies Association, Inc. founded in 1890, is an association of member companies who manufacture, distribute or provide services to the pharmaceutical, chemical, nutritional and associated industries. The association provides services, programs and activities designed to support the business development objectives of its membership. As an association of widely diverse members, DCAT recognizes the potential for conflicts between the interests of its member companies. Therefore, DCAT does not engage in any lobbying or other activities that seek to influence policy making or regulatory issues impacting its member companies. However, DCAT membership is one of the most essential connections by which persons can appropriately network and participate in programs, events, committee and leadership activities with colleagues in the industry.

Who is a DCAT member? Who holds DCAT membership?

The corporate entity that joins DCAT is the DCAT member. As a result, membership benefits are extended to any full-time employee of that member entity.

A parent company is a corporate entity that pays DCAT dues and includes within its membership its divisions, subsidiaries, and wholly owned companies that are involved in the pharmaceutical, chemical, nutritional or associated industries. As a DCAT member, the parent company is entitled to:

• hold a suite at Waldorf Astoria during DCAT Week.
• hold a table at the Annual DCAT Dinner.
• receive a full listing in the DCAT Directory of Members and receive copies for persons listed and any employee requesting it.
• participate in any of the services and/or programs provided to members.
• receive substantial discounts for services and or programs.
• access to member-only programs, events and services.
• free listings for their open positions on DCAT’s Industry Job Center site.
• employee participation in organizational committees, events and leadership.
• electronic notifications of special programs and events.
• access to speaker presentations and industry information.
• free yearly subscriptions to selected industry publications.

A division, subsidiary or wholly owned company of a member parent company having specific business/products within the pharmaceutical, chemical, nutritional or associated industries may choose to have its own DCAT membership separate from that of the parent company. That entity would pay dues based on the number of full-time entity employees. A division, subsidiary or wholly owned company choosing to have its own membership is entitled to all the DCAT membership benefits listed above. However, a division, subsidiary or wholly owned company that chooses to have its own membership, may not include its parent company in DCAT membership or extend membership laterally to other divisions, subsidiaries or wholly owned companies of a shared parent.

Should a division, subsidiary or wholly owned company choose to be a DCAT member through its parent company, it is the responsibility of the parent company to notify DCAT that these entities are to be included under the parent company membership.

(See information below regarding the listing of other entities in the membership directory.)

Who is included in a member's listing in the DCAT directory?

The directory will list one (1) Designated Contact and five (5) Alternate Contacts of the parent company or dues-paying entity. If a parent company wishes to have the name and address of a division, subsidiary or wholly owned company listed in the directory there is no charge.  However, if the parent company wishes to list up to three (3) employee contacts for that entity, there is an additional fee of $250.00 per entity.

All subsidiaries/divisions/wholly owned companies listed in the DCAT directory must have ties to the pharmaceutical, chemical, nutritional or associated industries. Companies listed in the directory as divisions, subsidiaries or wholly owned companies will not receive copies of the directory, unless the additional $250.00 fee per entity was paid to list entity employees.

The Human Resources Department contact and administrative/office personnel will not be listed in the directory.

Why is one employee the Designated Contact and what is that person’s role?

As an industry expert, the Designated Contact

• holds the official vote/representation for the member company for any issues regarding DCAT and its governance.
• is responsible to disseminate all organizational information to interested employees.
• keeps the organization advised regarding company status and changes in employee contacts.

Who are the Alternate Contacts and what is their role?

To ensure that members of your company are aware of all programs, events and other organizational information, Alternate Contacts receive DCAT information and assist in disseminating it throughout the company.

When other members are looking to your company for products and services, they will contact the Alternate Contacts you have listed in the directory.

Please Note:  Although Designated and Alternate Contacts may be selected from any department or location within a member company, it is not appropriate for administrative assistants or other support personnel to be selected as a member's Designated Contact or Alternate Contacts.  There is a separate section of the Membership Data Update Form to list administrative and support personnel so they may receive pertinent DCAT information.

Why do we ask for a Human Resources Department Contact from your company?

As a member company, you are entitled to submit open positions for DCAT’s Industry Job Center employment listing service on the DCAT website.  Having a contact from your Human Resources Department will help DCAT validate submissions.

What is the impact of a corporate merger or acquisition upon a company's membership status?

Should this situation arise between member companies, the Designated Contacts from each should:

• mutually select one Designated Contact and up to five Alternate Contacts for organizational records, DCAT Week attendance, Annual Dinner tables and/or suites, and notify the DCAT office.

If a non-member company acquires a member company:

• membership benefits will be extended to the acquiring company through the end of the current billing cycle; however, it is the responsibility of the acquiring company to contact the DCAT office with the names of their Designated and Alternate Contacts.
• the acquiring company will assume control of any tables/suites that the member company has established at DCAT Week or the DCAT Dinner.
• at the beginning of the next billing cycle after the acquisition occurs, the dues level of the acquiring company will be adjusted to reflect the size of the new company.

No. DCAT membership is on the corporate level. We do however have a “retired member” category.  These members may join for a nominal fee.  However, they must be retired from a DCAT member company and must no longer participate and or/consult in any industry-related business.

What is the fiscal year of the DCAT organization?

DCAT’s fiscal year begins on November 1st and closes on October 31st of the following year.

How are dues determined for my company?

Companies are billed for dues based upon the number of full-time employees working for the parent company, both domestically and internationally, regardless of their function within the company.

A division, subsidiary or wholly owned company of a member parent company having specific business/products within the pharmaceutical, chemical, nutritional or associated industries may choose to have its own DCAT membership separate from that of the parent company. The entity would pay dues based on the number of full-time entity employees.

 
What is DCAT’s membership dues renewal policy?

On our about August 1st of each year, the Designated Contact of each member company will receive a notice and invoice regarding dues renewal.  Along with this information, they shall also be requested to provide updated company and contact information for the organization’s records and Directory of Members.

DCAT membership fees must be paid prior to November 1, the start of DCAT’s fiscal year. Companies failing to pay their dues prior to that date will be considered a “suspended member.”

Any dues renewals paid after the fiscal year begins must include a 10% reinstatement fee as follows:

Members who have not paid their membership dues by October 31, 2010, but have paid a reinstatement fee at some time prior to October 31, 2011, may retain their original “member since” designation. However, dues payments are not prorated.

What is DCAT's corporate tax status with the IRS?

DCAT is registered with the IRS as a 501(c) 6 not-for-profit organization. Dues or other contributions are not deductible as charitable gifts, but may be deductible as a business expense.

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