10. Membership of WAGGGS
10.1 Admission of new members
10.1.1 Eligibility Membership of WAGGGS is open to any National Organisation which fulfils, to the satisfaction of the World Board, the conditions of membership set out in sub-clauses 10.1.2 and 10.9 below, and which, by applying for membership, has indicated its agreement to become a Member Organisation and acceptance of the duty of members set out in sub- clause 10.3 of this clause. A Member Organisation may be a corporate body, or an organisation which is not incorporated. It is not possible for individual members of Membership Organisations to be members of WAGGGS.
10.1.2 Conditions of membership Subject to sub-clause
10.1.3, admittance as a Member Organisation of WAGGGS is open to any National Organisation which:
10.1.2.1 respects the historic legacy of the Girl Guide/Girl Scout Movement as expressed in the Fundamental Principles and has a promise and law, in wording approved by the World Board, which reflect the essential values of this legacy;
10.1.2.2 adopts the method of the Girl Guide/ Girl Scout Movement as prescribed by the Bye-Laws;
10.1.2.3 has a membership which is:
(a) voluntary;
(b) open to all girls and young women without distinction of creed, race, nationality, or any other circumstance;
10.1.2.4 is self-governing, with freedom to formulate its policy and put it into practice;
10.1.2.5 is independent of any political organisation and any political party;
10.1.2.6 applies to WAGGGS in the form required by the World Board; and
10.1.2.7 subject to ratification by the Full Members meeting at the next World Conference, is approved by the World Board pursuant to clause 10.1.4 below. Conditions of membership specific to the different categories of Member Organisation are set out at sub-clause 10.9 below.
10.1.3 Further conditions of membership
10.1.3.1 Only one Member Organisation can be recognised in any one country.
10.1.3.2 Only National Organisations of Girl Guides/Girl Scouts and National Organisations comprising both Girl Guides/Girl Scouts and Scouts can become Member Organisations.
10.1.3.3 A Member Organisation may comprise different Associations or groups, provided that the Member Organisation ensures that each Association or group:
(a) accepts and adheres to the conditions of membership as set out in sub-clauses 10.1.2 and 10.9;
(b) agrees to co-operate with other component association/s (meaning an Association which together with one or more other Associations forms a National Organisation) or group/s and together to constitute the single Member Organisation in order that the maximum number of girls and young women shall benefit from membership of WAGGGS.
10.1.4 Two-stage admission procedure
10.1.4.1 The World Board shall consider applications for membership in the first instance. The World Board:
(a) may require applications for membership to be made in any reasonable way that they decide;
(b) may refuse an application for membership if they believe that it is in the best interests of WAGGGS for them to do so;
(c) shall, if they decide to refuse an application for membership, give the applicant their reasons for doing so, as soon as possible and no later than 90 days of the decision being taken, and give the applicant the opportunity to appeal against the refusal in accordance with such policies and procedures created pursuant to the Bye-Laws as shall be in force from time to time; and
(d) shall give fair consideration to any such appeal, and shall inform the applicant of their decision, but any decision to confirm refusal of that application for membership shall be final.
10.1.4.2 If applications for admission to membership are approved by the World Board, the applications shall be considered for admission to membership by the World Conference. Membership shall only be effective on ratification of admission by the Full Members meeting at the next World Conference decided on a 75% majority of votes cast by Full Members at a World Conference.
10.1.4.3 The two-stage admission procedure set out in sub-clauses
10.1.4.1 and 10.1.4.2 shall also apply to Associate Members wishing to become Full Members and changes affecting the entity of Member Organisations as regulated by the Bye-Laws.
10.1.4.4 Where the requirements for Full Membership are met, a new Member Organisation may be admitted to Full membership with the agreement of the Full Members meeting at the next World Conference decided on a 75% majority of votes cast by Full Members at a World Conference.
10.2 Transfer of membership Membership of WAGGGS cannot be transferred to anyone else.
10.3 Duty of members
It is the duty of each Member Organisation of WAGGGS to exercise its powers as a Member Organisation of WAGGGS in the way it decides in good faith would be most likely to further the purposes of WAGGGS.
10.4 Termination of membership
10.4.1 Membership of WAGGGS comes to an end if the Member Organisation resigns by written notice to WAGGGS provided that after such resignation the number of Full Members is not less than three. The resignation shall become effective from the day on which the written notice submitted by the proper authority on behalf of the Member Organisation is received by the World Bureau. The resignation shall be reported to the next meeting of the World Board and at the next World Conference.
10.4.2 Removal from membership of WAGGGS shall be considered by the World Board if:
10.4.2.1 the Member Organisation ceases to exist or a change occurs affecting a National Organisation such that it no longer complies with the conditions of membership as set out in sub-clauses 10.1.2 and 10.9 below;
10.4.2.2 the Member Organisation ceases to comply with any of the conditions of membership set out in sub- clauses 10.1.2 and 10.9 below;
10.4.2.3 any sum due from the Member Organisation has been wholly or partly outstanding for at least two years in succession;
10.4.3 Whilst the World Board is considering removal of a Member Organisation from membership, it may, at its discretion, suspend membership. The World Board shall inform the Member Organisation as to the reasons for the suspension and why it is proposed to remove the Member Organisation from membership and provide advice as appropriate. In the case of failure to pay its membership fee the World Board may grant remission or postponement of the membership fee.
10.4.4 Should the Member Organisation fail to comply with advice given to it by the World Board or should the Member Organisation for any reason not be able to fulfil the conditions of membership as set out in sub- clauses 10.1.2 and 10.9 below within the time- frame determined by the World Board, having been duly reported to the Member Organisation, the World Board shall consider whether its membership should be terminated. The matter shall be referred to the Full Members at the next World Conference who may then terminate the membership of the Member Organisation by a resolution passed by a 75% majority of votes of Full Members.
10.4.5 If the Member Organisation concerned wishes to ask for re-consideration of the decision to terminate its membership it shall have the right to appeal, through the World Board, to the Full Members at the next meeting of the World Conference. There can be no further appeal.
10.5 Re-admission to membership
10.5.1 A former Member Organisation may apply for re-admission to membership of WAGGGS and may be re-admitted to Associate or Full membership subject to the former Member Organisation applying to WAGGGS in the form required by the World Board and the two-stage admission procedure set out at sub-clause 10.1.4 above.
10.6 Register of members
10.6.1 When:
10.6.1.1 an application for membership is approved,
10.6.1.2 any membership is terminated, or 10.6.1.3 any other details entered in the
register of members of WAGGGS changes. the World Board shall cause the register of members of WAGGGS to be updated within 28 days.
10.7 Membership fees WAGGGS may require Member Organisations to pay reasonable membership fees to WAGGGS.
10.8 Categories of membership
10.8.1 There shall be the following two categories of membership:
10.8.1.1 Full Membership;
10.8.1.2 Associate Membership.
10.9 Conditions of membership relating to categories of membership
10.9.1 A Full Member is a Member Organisation working in the true spirit of the Girl Guide/Girl Scout Movement, which shall:
(a) demonstrate adherence to the conditions of membership as set out in sub-clause 10.1.2 and this sub-clause 10.9.1;
(b) have a constitution incorporating the conditions of membership as set out in sub-clause 10.1.2 and this sub-clause 10.9.1 and other requirements suited to its needs, which shall be submitted to and approved by the World Board and re-submitted for approval whenever it is being amended;
(c) apply its funds and assets for the implementation of the objects and not for the profit of any person;
(d) adopt a name including Girl Guide/Girl Scout or other suitable name approved by the World Board and adopt the method of the Girl Guide/Girl Scout Movement;
(e) subject to and in accordance with the requirements relating to copyright/Intellectual Property Rights as prescribed by the World Board, adopt the Trefoil in its badge;
(f) have an organisation, suited to the needs of the country and its members, with:
• a responsible central body truly representative of all Girl Guiding/Girl Scouting within the country;
• a programme using the method of the Girl Guide/Girl Scout Movement and designed to meet the needs of girls and young women of different age groups, adequate leadership and a suitable training programme;
• sound policies and plans for continuing development, administration and finance, based on continuing self-evaluation;
(g) carry its share of responsibility as a Member Organisation including participation in the regional way of work as set out in the Constitution. 22(h) pay annually to WAGGGS the membership fee agreed in advance by the World Conference. Appropriate membership fees will be payable annually commencing 1 January in the year following admission to membership.
10.9.2 An Associate Member is a National Organisation which fulfils the conditions at sub-clause 10.9.1 except that in relation to sub-clause 10.9.1(f) it is less well developed.
10.10 Rights, responsibilities and privileges of Full Members and Associate Members
The rights, responsibilities and privileges of Full Members and Associate Members are:
10.10.1 It is the right, responsibility and privilege of all Member Organisations (both Associate Members and Full Members), without limitation, to:
(a) maintain the conditions of membership as set out in sub-clauses 10.1.2 and 10.9
(b) take part in the World Conference and the respective Regional Conferences, and exercise such voting rights as are appropriate to their category of membership;
(c) contribute to the policy of WAGGGS formulated by the World Board;
(d) nominate persons to serve on the World Board pursuant to clause 14;
(e) nominate persons from within their Region to serve on the Regional Committees subject to clause 14;
(f) submit names of persons for possible appointment to committees;
(g) promote World Thinking Day and World Thinking Day Contributions;
(h) take part in gatherings of WAGGGS;
(i) support and use the World Centres;
(j) support and use the services of the World Bureau and, if established, their Regional Office as defined in the Bye-Laws;
(k) receive publications and documents issued by the World Bureau, to consider:
(l) proposed amendments to this constitution and the Bye-Laws, to vote upon:
(m) the Triennial Report and other reports presented by the World Board;
(n) invitations received from Full Members to act as host to the World Conference.
10.10.2 In addition to the rights, responsibilities and privileges set out in sub-clause 10.10.1 above it is the right, responsibility and privilege of Full Members to:
(a) ratify approval by the World Board of Member Organisations pursuant to sub-clause 10.1.4;
(b) recognise Associate Members as Full Members of WAGGGS pursuant to sub-clause 10.1.4;
(c) elect persons to serve on the World Board as Elected Trustees in accordance with sub-clause
14.1.1;
(d) elect persons from within their Region to serve on the Regional Committee;
(e) vote upon the adoption of the audited balance sheet and accounts, and the general financial policy and plans of WAGGGS pursuant to sub- clause 11.4.4.7;
(f) submit invitations to act as host to meetings of the World Conference;
(g) to participate fully in the life and work of WAGGGS.
10.10.3 The World Board may not directly or indirectly alter the rights or obligations attached to a category of membership.