Standing and Voting Status

Membership Standing

Good Standing: Members who keep current with annual dues are considered to be in Good Standing.‍

Lapsed: Members who do not renew by August 31 become Lapsed Members.‍

Dropped: Failure to renew within 12 months of becoming a Lapsed Member results in a member being Dropped.

• A Dropped Member is ineligible for membership benefits and must apply to the Board of Control for reinstatement.
• A Reinstatement Request Letter (generated by the Registrars) and signed by the member, must be submitted to the Membership Department by the Thursday prior to the monthly Board of Control Meeting. The reinstatement fee is $80.
• The Board of Control meets on the second Wednesday of each month, except in July and August.

Voting Status

A fundamental right of members is to decide who sits on the Board of Control through the annual election. Members also participate in key decisions by voting on important issues during regular members business meetings.
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Members are Active as long as they have attended or voted at one meeting within the twenty-four months preceding any exercise of their rights of membership. Members who have not attended or voted at one meeting within that twenty-four-month period are automatically deemed Inactive. Inactive in good standing have the same rights and privileges as Active members except that they don’t have the right to vote, make nomination proposals, be counted for purposes of the minimum number of signatories for a petition, or receive ballots and member notices. Inactive members shall be reinstated as Active members either: (i) immediately upon showing up in attendance at any Annual, Business, or Special Meeting, at which they shall be entitled to exercise all rights as an Active Member, including to be counted as part of a quorum and to vote, or (ii) 30 days after submitting a written request for reinstatement to the Board of Control. Lapsed members are members who have not paid their dues. To learn what to do if your membership has lapsed, visit our Membership Standing page.

Voting status is distinct from, and does not affect, Membership standing.

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