Talk:Members

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Minimum number of members (mandatory section)

The Act requires an incorporated society to always have a minimum of 10 members.

A body corporate (such as another incorporated society or a registered company) is treated as equivalent to 3 individual members for the purposes of assessing the number of society members.

Types of members (optional)

Many societies have different classes of membership (with different rights within the society, and different obligations to the society). The most common classes of membership are set out here.

You can adapt this rule to suit your society's particular circumstances.

Becoming a member (mandatory section)

Consent and approval

Under the Act, a person (including a body corporate) must expressly consent to be a society member, and this requirement extends to Honorary and Life Members.

Requiring that the consent be in writing helps to avoid situations where it's not clear or it's disputed whether a person has consented to be a member.

This rule is intended to clarify how a person becomes a member and enables a society's committee to obtain essential information about prospective members.

It also makes it clear that a committee is not obliged to admit an applicant as a society member.

It is good practice (to avoid disputes) to retain every signed written consent to become a society member in a society's membership records.

Members' obligations and rights (mandatory section)

This rule spells out the rights and obligations your society may wish to set out for its members. For example, the rule:

• Requires a member to provide information which helps the society to communicate with all its members.
• Outlines a clear duty which requires all members to act in ways that are in line with the purposes of the society.
• Provides certainty about a member’s rights should they fail to pay a subscription or meet other obligations by the due date and makes it clear that a member is not liable for a society’s debts simply because that person is a member.
• Ensures that a body corporate member has a representative authorised to deal with society issues and to represent the body corporate at general meetings.
• Makes it clear that a committee has power to control society property, including the use of society property and premises by members.

Ceasing to be a member (mandatory section)

This rule spells out when a member ceases to be a member.

Obligations once membership has ceased (recommended section)

This rule sets out the consequences when a person ceases to be a society member and ensures the return of society property after a member has resigned or otherwise ceases to be a member.

Becoming a member again (recommended section)

This rule sets out the processes that a former member may be required to follow when seeking to re-join the society.