CAcert Inc. is an incorporated non-profit association registered with with New South Wales (NSW), Australia, government.
Rules
The Association is incorporated under a slightly modified version of the model rules the NSW government publishes for associations under the 1984 Associations Incorporations Act, you can find a copy here: http://www.cacert.org/docs/CAcert_Rules.pdf
These rules define the association operations, annual membership fee, liability of members, elections, AGM, etc. In Appendix 1 you will find the membership application form. Appendix 2 has a form with which you are able to get a proxy for voting on your behalf at any formal meetings, such as the AGM, or any SGMs.
For some more (legal) documentation on the New Southe Wales law for associations you need to look at the Assocications Incorporation Act 1984 No 143 (last updated on the 4th of December 2006).
Membership
Do not mix up the term association member with the term "member of CAcert". The latter one means a person registered with the CAcert.org website. An association member is able to nominate or to be nominated for board membership of CAcert Inc. and the person can vote on AGMs and SGMs and any motions the board puts to the association membership. Registration with the CAcert website does not give the person the right to vote on any motions brought up at any AGMs or SGMs.
If you want to become a member of the CAcert association, please read the association rules, and afterwards fill out this form: http://www.cacert.at/svn/sourcerer/CAcert/CAcert-Association-Membership-Application-Form.pdf
To become a real member of CAcert Inc Association (once again, this is different from a registrated user of CAcert) is that you have to be nominated by at least two current CAcert Inc association members, and accepted by the board (as per the rules). So try to find a member who will nominate you, e.g. via a request to one of the CAcert email lists. If you found two nominators tell them why you want to join and what you plan to contribute. Once nominated (the nominators will send a signed nomination to the association members and CAcert board, the tresurer will notify you when you have to pay the annual membership fee in order to be a full member of the association with all rights and responsibilities as described in the official Association Rules.
The easiest is to print off the membership application form, complete it, scan it and sent it of for nomination via a (CAcert cert) signed email.
All members must be on the association membership email list. This list is for notices to members *ONLY*, not for general discussions. This list allows the board to notify members of any motions needing a majority vote to make changes, or for any SGM or AGMs.
You can pay your yearly membership fee through Paymate: https://www.paymate.com.au/PayMate/ExpressPayment?mid=cacert&ref=CAcert-Inc_Membership-fee&amt=10.00&curr=USD
The current membership fee is US$10/year.
While you will be notified of your membership being due before the end of the association financial year, please make sure you are paid up before the 30th of June otherwise you will loose membership rights.
The membership can be disovled by sending a signed email to the secretary of the CAcert Board.
Board
http://www.cacert.org/index.php?id=8
