Notices to Members

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Notice I-21-19

June 22, 2021

NFA seeking committee members and arbitrators

As the industrywide, self-regulatory organization for the U.S. derivatives industry, NFA strives to safeguard the integrity of the derivatives markets, protect investors and ensure Members meet their regulatory responsibilities.

NFA Committee Members

To support its mission, NFA has several committees, comprised of industry professionals and the public, which provide valuable guidance regarding rulemaking and other initiatives. On an annual basis, NFA's Board of Directors makes appointments to these committees. NFA encourages Member employees and other individuals with derivatives subject matter expertise, as well as other diverse skills and backgrounds, to serve on one of the committees described below. If you are interested in being considered for any of the committees, please submit the NFA Committee Engagement Indication of Interest form* to committeeengagement@nfa.futures.org.

Advisory Committee

NFA has four Member Advisory Committees: FCM, Swap Participant, IB and CPO/CTA. Each Committee advises NFA's Board on matters relating to its respective membership category, including providing feedback on proposed NFA rules. Advisory Committee members must represent and be employed by a Member within that specific membership category (i.e. an individual on the FCM Advisory Committee must be employed by an NFA FCM Member). These Committees meet on an ad hoc basis.

Business Conduct Committee (BCC)

The BCC reviews investigative reports drafted by NFA staff and determines whether to authorize NFA to issue a Complaint against an NFA Member pursuant to its rules. BCC members include individuals who reflect the various NFA membership categories and members of the public, including market participants. This Committee typically meets every six weeks throughout the year.

Hearing Committee

Hearing Panels adjudicate matters involving NFA Members who have been charged with NFA rule violations. Hearing Panels are comprised of three individuals from NFA's Hearing Committee. Hearing Committee members include NFA Associate Members, NFA Member employees and members of the public, including market participants. Hearing Committee members are called on an ad hoc basis to serve on a Hearing Panel, subject to the individual's availability and potential conflicts of interest.

NFA's Telemarketing Waiver Committee and Discretionary Account Waiver Panel are also comprised of Hearing Committee members and meet as needed.

Compliance and Risk Committee (CRC)

The CRC focuses on issues that pose compliance and financial risk to NFA Members, the industry or investors. The CRC is comprised of individuals who reflect the various NFA membership categories and members of the public, including market participants. The CRC typically meets four times per year.

NFA Arbitrators

In addition, NFA offers an arbitration program to help customers and Members resolve futures and forex-related disputes. NFA arbitrators have various professions and backgrounds but all share certain qualities: integrity, impartiality and sound judgment. They include individuals who are members of the public as well as those who are affiliated with an NFA Member or perform a substantial amount of work on behalf of an NFA Member. NFA encourages interested individuals to serve as NFA arbitrators.

If you are interested in being considered for NFA's arbitrator roster, please submit the NFA Committee Engagement Indication of Interest form* to committeeengagement@nfa.futures.org.

Any questions concerning this Notice should be submitted to Carol Wooding, Senior Vice President and General Counsel (312-781-1409 or cwooding@nfa.futures.org) or Julia Wood, Senior Attorney (312-781-7459 or jwood@nfa.futures.org).

*Note: The NFA Committee Engagement Indication of Interest form may not view correctly in Firefox. If you are experiencing issues editing the form, please download and edit the PDF form using your default PDF viewer.

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