Membership [Manual of Operations]

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====== Membership ======
BCA Membership is split into 4 categories: [[general:membership#individuals|Individuals]], [[general:membership#honorary|Honorary]], [[general:membership#groups|Groups]] and [[general:membership#associates|Associates]].
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===== Individuals =====

Individual Members join annually as either:
  * Club Individual Members (CIMs)
  * Direct Individual Members (DIMs)

Individual Members are represented on Council by four Individual Member Representatives.

All Individual Members (with the exception of the President and Honorary Members) pay an annual fee. The individual membership process is handled by the Membership Administrator.
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===== Honorary =====

The Constitution allows for the election of a President. There are also a small number of BCRA Honorary Members. These members do not pay a fee, but their membership is handled in the normal way by the Membership Administrator.
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===== Groups =====

There are 3 sub-categories of Group Members.

==== Clubs ====

Clubs join annually and pay a membership fee. Up to date details on the process, fees and requirements for club membership must be maintained on the BCA public website. The Club membership process is handled by the Membership Administrator. Clubs applying for first-time BCA membership must be put before any National Council Meeting as the next item of business following apologies and establishment of a quorum and accepted or rejected by a simple majority of those eligible to vote. 

The BCA Membership Administrator should ensure any prospective new members are checked for eligibility and put on the next BCA Council agenda (contact the Secretary) or included in the Membership Administrator report along with any supporting documents. 

Clubs who have allowed their BCA membership to lapse by three years or less may renew their membership without Council approval, at the discretion of the Membership Administrator who may wish to check their eligibility has not changed. A club who have allowed their membership to lapse by more than three years should be processed as a new (first-time) member.




==== Regional Councils ====

Regional Councils have their own Constitutions and run their own affairs. They carry out certain functions on behalf of BCA and are entitled to send a representative to Council, and all of Council's Standing Committees. They do not pay a fee to BCA and receive costs from BCA for much of their work. The BCA website has a full list of [[http://british-caving.org.uk/?page=88|Regional Councils]].

==== Constituent Bodies ====

Constituent Bodies have their own Constitutions and run their own affairs. They carry out certain functions on behalf of BCA and are entitled to send a representative to Council, and all of Council's Standing Committees. They do not pay a fee to BCA. The BCA website has a full list of [[http://british-caving.org.uk/?page=131|Constituent Bodies]].

==== Access-Controlling Bodies: ====
Access-Controlling Bodies join annually and usually pay a basic membership fee. The membership process is handled by the Membership Administrator. Some Access-Controlling Bodies are funded by BCA via their Regional Council. Arrangements for this are detailed in the Finance Committee’s [[http://www.british-caving.org.uk/admin/bca_2009.03.28_regional_council_funding.pdf|Regional Council Funding]] document.

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===== Associates =====

Associate Membership is available for those Groups who are interested in BCA's activities and/or wish to support its aims and objectives, but who are not caving, mining-history clubs, or access-controlling bodies. Typically this includes: outdoor-activity service providers, commercial organisations and other "corporate" bodies.

Associates join annually and pay a basic membership fee, which includes all BCA's publications. The Associate membership process is handled by the Membership Administrator. Information on this is on the [[officer_information:membership|Membership Processes]] pages.

Associate Members are not entitled to vote at General Meetings.

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//Formally adopted at 2012 AGM. Last review: 11/06/12//