== Assurers As Members == Comments at end; don't change the New Text unless we achieve consensus on the changes. === Intro === It was: * nominated by a member * seconded by another * voted on by the board * pay a fee of $10. This was designed following a sort of "avoid the too-dead, avoid the too-live" threat model. So this avoids takeovers by too many people and by too many names not known. Mark has proposed in this rule change this: * Must be an Assurer That has the benefit of dropping the fee, which is discriminatory (and against our principles), and includes a liveness test, because certs will probably be required to vote (refresh each two years). Also, it is who we are, we are at core a bunch of Assurers. And it is much more representative as it brings in a potential 2400 people. * resolution is [[https://lists.cacert.org/wws/arc/cacert-members/2010-01/msg00038.html|proposed]]. === Motion to be voted on (New Text) === '''By inserting the following additional definitions at rule 1(1):''' {{{ a Policy means a reference to the Policies of the Community duly passed to at least DRAFT under CAcert Community's Policy on Policy }}} '''By deleting rule 2 and rule 3, and inserting in its place:''' {{{ 2. Membership Qualifications (1) A person is qualified to be a member of the association if, but only if: (a) the person is a person referred to in section 15(1) (a), (b) or (c) of the Act and has not ceased to be a member of the association at any time after incorporation of the association under the Act, or (b) the person is a natural person: (i) who subscribes to the objects of the association, and (ii) who is, at the time of application, an Assurer, within the meaning of the Assurance Policy, or has received approval from the committee to dispense with this requirement, and (iii) who has not previously been expelled from the association, unless approved by a motion at a general meeting of the association. 3. Application for membership (1) An application of a person for membership of the association must be made: (a) in writing or digitally signed email to the secretary, in the form set out in Appendix 1 to these rules, or (b) in any other such manner determined by the committee from time to time. (2) As soon as practicable after receiving a membership application, the secretary must cause to be checked that the proposed member: (a) is an Assurer within the meaning of the Assurance Policy, and (b) is not an expelled member of the association. (3) If the secretary cannot be satisfied as to the applicant’s qualifications pursuant to rule 2, the secretary must, as soon as practicable, refer the application to the committee to determine whether to approve or reject the application. (4) A membership application referred to the committee under these rules must: (a) be considered as soon as practicable, and (b) be approved if the application complies with Rule 2 of these rules. (5) As soon as practicable after the secretary or committee makes a determination as to the application, the secretary must notify the applicant in writing or by digitally signed email, that: (a) the application was approved or rejected (whichever is applicable); and (b) if the application was rejected the reasons relied upon in doing so (6) The secretary must, on approval of a membership application, enter the applicant's name in the register of members and, on the name being so entered, the nominee becomes a member of the association. }}} '''By deleting rule 9, and inserting in its place:''' {{{ 9. Fees and subscriptions Members of the association are not required to pay an admission or annual fee. }}} '''By deleting rule 33(5).''' '''By deleting the remainder of Appendix 1 of the rules after the first occurrence of "Date……………………………………………".''' === Old Text === {{{ 33(5) A member or proxy is not entitled to vote at any general meeting of the association unless all money due and payable by the member or proxy to the association has been paid, other than the amount of the annual }}} === Comments === * DanielBlack:'''Must''' be assurer is really strong and places constraints on membership in assurer sparse areas * Assurer as a required aspect for membership also places hard boundaries for geographic assurer sparse areas. Keeping board approval for non-assurers seems to be a good way of keeping membership more open. * DanielBlack: Dropping financial requirement * Really good thing. This caused difficulties for the global citizens as well as numberious other reasons presented on the cacert-member's list * DanielBlack: "liveliness test" * I'd like some test that our members actually contribute to the organisation and aren't silent names on a membership list. Options: 1. requiring certificates for voting (as Ian suggest) - good start though I think its a little too weak 1. membership lapses if a member fails to vote in two consecutive General Meetings 1. every two years a subcommittee assesses each member's contribution to CAcert association and makes recommendations to the board about continuing each members' membership. Assessments can take into account participation in policy/systems/development/board/assurance/event work. * DanielBlack: If this is still controversial can this be split into: 1. assurers get automatic membership 1. remove membership by member recommendation and committee 1. remove membership fees 1. membership liveliness test * [[Iang]] variation to Rule 9 is suggested: . ''9. Fees and subscriptions Members of the association are not required by these rules to pay an admission or annual fee. The committee is encouraged to ask for donations suitable to the circumstances, and interpret donations as positive signals. '' * See [[https://lists.cacert.org/wws/arc/cacert-members/2009-12/msg00033.html|post on rationale]] * PieterVanEmmerik: What is so bad about the fee? If you are really interested 10 Euros a year isn't that much and paying is easy using PayPal (what do people have against PayPal?). * robert k [[https://lists.cacert.org/wws/arc/cacert-members/2010-01/msg00121.html|discussion thread]]