Membership

How people become a member of the society

The rules must set out who can be members and how they can become members.

Rules should specify the administrative steps to become a member.  For example:

• Do people need to apply in writing?
• Must an existing member nominate new members?
• Can they apply at any meeting of the society?
• Are membership forms and membership fees required?

Will the society have different types of members?  For example, active members, life members or honorary members.

Where a society has different types of members, consideration should also be given to whether different types of members should have different voting rights.

Can the society refuse to admit a person as a member, and if so, in what circumstances?

How people stop being a member of the society

The rules must set out how membership to a society can be ended either by an individual member or by the society.

Rules should set out the processes for ending a membership by a member.  For example, can a member resign simply by telling the secretary or does it need to be in writing?

Rules should provide how the society can end the membership of an individual, who should have authority to do so and in what circumstances.  For example, non-payment of subscription/fees, behaviour that brings the society into disrepute.

Should there be a right to appeal a decision of the society to end a person’s membership?

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