Getting IRS to recognize an independent contractor status is not difficult and does not involve some of the nonsense posted in this thread. We chose to contact the local IRS office and have an agent speak with our board. I would recommend that route.
In the meantime, this publication may help some:
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1779.pdf
The number one indicator for IRS, as we were told by the field agent, is that the "company" may only dictate and direct the results of the independent contractor's work, not his methods. We no longer offer "training". We now require (legally) that those who wish to contract with us demonstrate their competence prior to agreeing to contract for their services.
State issues like Tee's group has run into are a different matter, and ones which Washington association may also encounter as a result of a lawsuit filed against WOA.