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Membership

This section of the ARO Policy Manual covers ARO membership classes, fees and pro rata fees for part year membership.

Documents covered by this section of the Policy Manual include:

This section of the ARRO Policy Manual details how ARRO will communicate with its members and key stakeholders.

Documents covered by this section of the Policy Manual include:

Membership Management Policy

Policy Statement

ARO will encourage individuals and organisations to support ARO through membership in order to further the objectives of ARO. All records and information collected by ARO on individuals and organisations will be maintained in accordance with relevant privacy legislation.

Definitions

  • Membership year – means a year commencing on 1 March and ending on 28 or 29 February.  Life membership – means membership of ARO for the remainder of that member’s life or desire to be involved with ARO. Eligibility is covered by a separate policy.

Context

ARO has a range of membership classes as defined in the Rules of Association. Each of these attracts certain benefits as detailed in the membership brochure.

Procedures

The following headings, down to and including ‘Responsibility’ set out how this ARO policy will be implemented.

Application for membership

Any individual or organisation wishing to become a member of ARO must complete the membership application form in the membership brochure, or on line, and pay the prescribed joining and annual fee for their class of membership.

Classes of membership and fees

The Rules of Association define a number of classes of membership. The ARO Executive will determine from time to time how many of these will be activated in order to manage the membership of ARO.

Membership fees will be made up of an initial joining fee and then an annual renewal fee. The membership fees are set out in the Schedule of membership fees.

Expectation of members

All members, suppliers, partners and sponsors of ARO are expected to adhere to the ARO Code of Conduct.

Annual renewal and membership status

The Treasurer will arrange for all members to receive a membership renewal invoice prior to 1 March each year. Members will be given until 30 May of the same year to renew their membership or it will be deemed to have lapsed. The Treasurer will establish a follow up process at the end of April and May to ensure members who have not renewed are followed up and have the opportunity to do so.

Those members who do not renew by 30 May will have their status changed to ‘lapsed’ in the membership database and on the web site. As a result they will loose access privileges to the web site and newsletters.

Responsibility

The Governance and Compliance Officer is responsible for compliance with and review of this policy.

Associated Documents

    Record Keeping

    The Secretary will maintain records of all members, past and present, in perpetuity. These records will be maintained in accordance with relevant privacy legislation.

    Warning – Uncontrolled when printed!

    The current version of this document is kept on the ARO web site.

    • Authorised by: Governance and Compliance Officer Original issue: 9 November 2008 Current version: 6 February 2025, Review no later than: 28 February 2030
    Life Membership Policy

    Policy Statement

    Life membership of ARRO is a special honour within the organisation. It is not something that is conferred on members often, therefore ARRO will use the life membership class to recognise particular members for their outstanding contribution to furthering the objectives of ARRO over an extended period.

    Definitions

    • Life membership – means membership of ARRO for the remainder of that member’s life or desire to be involved with ARRO.

    Context

    ARRO has a life membership class as defined in the Rules of Association. This class of membership may only be conferred on a member by the ARRO Executive, subject to the acceptance of a nomination at an Annual or Special General Meeting of ARRO members. Life membership attracts certain benefits as detailed in this policy.

    Procedures

    Nomination for life membership

    Any two financial members of ARRO may nominate another member of ARRO for life membership. The nomination must be confidential and submitted in writing on the attached nomination form to the Executive Officer for consideration of the Executive. If the nominee is the Executive Officer, the nomination must be submitted to the President.

    The ARRO Executive will review the nomination to ensure it has been correctly presented and sufficient information has been presented to allow the members present at the next annual or special general meeting to consider the nomination.

    To be considered, all nominations must be received by the Executive Officer at least 35 days before an annual or special general meeting of members to ensure it is included on the agenda and distributed to members in accordance with the Rules of Association.

    Life membership may only be awarded by a 75% majority vote of the financial members present at the annual or special general meeting at which the nomination is presented.

    ARRO acknowledges the worth and contribution of their membership however ARRO can only confer Life Membership to one member per year at an AGM.

    Eligibility criteria

    Life membership of ARRO may be awarded for outstanding service or contribution to furthering the objectives of ARRO, as detailed in the ARRO Statement of Purpose, over an extended period of time (i.e. not just a single activity).

    • Service or contribution can be outstanding if it is seen to demonstrate a high degree of personal resource or devotion to the organisation or demonstrates exemplary commitment and discharge of duties within ARRO. Examples of service or contribution which might form the basis of a citation in relation to the nomination include length of service and commitment to ARRO and the particular achievements of the member in enhancing ARRO in that time.

    Benefits of life membership

    Life members will be entitled to all the normal benefits of membership associated with the class of membership to which they belong, however they will not incur any annual membership fees for the remainder of the period they choose to remain a member of ARRO. Life members will be expected to adhere to all the rules of ARRO and its Code of Conduct.

    Recognition of life members

    Life members will be recognised with a certificate of life membership presented by the ARRO President. At the discretion of the Executive, other forms of recognition, such as an engraved plaque may also be presented to life members.

    Responsibility

    The Executive Officer is responsible for compliance with and review of this policy.

    Associated Documents

    • ARRO Rules of Association ARRO Membership renewal/invoice ARRO Schedule of membership fees ARRO Code of Conduct
    • Rules of Association » – This document sets out the constitution of ARRO and the classes of membership.
    • Schedule of Membership Fees » – Details of the fees of each membership class and also pro rata rates for joining mid year.
    • Code of Conduct » – Sets out expectations of how ARRO members should behave.

      Record Keeping

      The Executive Officer will maintain records of all members, past and present, in perpetuity. These records will be maintained in accordance with relevant privacy legislation.

      Warning – Uncontrolled when printed!

      The current version of this document is kept on the ARRO web site.

      • Authorised by: Governance Officer Original issue: 15 February 2014 Current version: 20 August 2019. Review no later than: 20 August 2022