AVA Handbook

2.01 TYPES AND APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP

I. GENERAL

There are five (5) types of membership in the American Volkssport Association (AVA).

A. REGULAR MEMBER CLUB. A club formed by an organization or group of persons who want to conduct or sponsor AVA-sanctioned volkssport events.

B. ASSOCIATE MEMBER CLUB. A club formed by an organization or group of persons who want to participate in, but not conduct, AVA-sanctioned volkssport events.

C. STATE ORGANIZATION. An organization formed by the Member Clubs in a specific state.

D. VOLKSSPORTS ASSOCIATE. An individual, family or business wanting to provide financial support to the AVA.

E. HONORARY MEMBER. A membership conferred by the National Executive Council on an individual, club or organization whose actions have greatly helped or promoted the aims and purpose of the AVA.

II. POLICY

A. Application for Membership.

1. Any organization or group of persons wanting to form a REGULAR MEMBER CLUB must submit an AVA Form 201, Application for Club Membership (Figure 2.1), with the charter fee and the appropriate prorated portion of the annual dues. The organization or group will send the application through the State Organization (if applicable) and the appropriate Regional Director to the AVA National Headquarters.

a. The proposed Member Club must, as a minimum:

(1) Have an elected president, vice president and secretary/treasurer;

(2) Have an approved constitution and/or bylaws;

(3) Have an established bank account in the club=s name; and

(4) Submit, if eligible, an application for inclusion in the AVA=s 501(c)(3) group tax-exemption.

b. The proposed Member Club should be incorporated under the laws of the state in which it is located.

(Figure 2.1)

2. Any organization or group of persons wanting to form an ASSOCIATE MEMBER CLUB must follow the same procedures outlined for a Regular Member Club. If the organization or group is outside the AVA's jurisdiction, the proposed club must have a large contingent of American members. The proposed club must also be a member of its host country's IVV national organization.

3. A STATE ORGANIZATION may be formed when there are at least six (6) Regular Member Clubs in a single state and two-thirds of those clubs agree. They will use the same application procedure and have the same additional requirements as Regular Member Clubs except State Organizations pay no charter fee or annual dues. Detailed State Organization Policy is provided in Appendix C.

4. Any individual, family or business wanting to become a VOLKSSPORTS ASSOCIATE on an annual or lifetime basis should submit a written application along with the appropriate dues directly to the AVA National Headquarters. Application forms are available in various volkssporting publications.

5. Any Regular Member Club, Associate Member Club, State Organization, or member of the National Executive Council may recommend any individual, club, or organization for HONORARY MEMBERSHIP. They must make this recommendation in writing and send it to the AVA National Headquarters.

B. Processing of Applications.

1. State Organizations will process applications for Regular and Associate Member Clubs within their state. The State Organization will ensure the application is complete, the proposed club meets membership requirements, and the formation of the club is in the best interest of the AVA. If the State Organization approves the application, it forwards the application to the appropriate Regional Director. If the State Organization disapproves the application, it will return the application to the originator with an explanation of the disapproval.

2. A Regional Director will process all applications for Regular and Associate Member Clubs and State Organizations within his or her region. The Regional Director will review the applications in the same manner as a State Organization. If the Regional Director approves the application, he or she will forward it to the AVA National Headquarters. If the Regional Director disapproves the application, he or she will return it, through the State Organization if appropriate, to the originator with an explanation of the disapproval.

3. The AVA National Headquarters will process each application for membership and assign an appropriate membership number. The National Executive Director will grant interim approval of all applications for Regular Member Clubs, Associate Member Clubs, and State Organizations. The National Executive Council will grant final approval of these applications and all applications for Honorary Members.

2.02 MEMBERSHIP DUES

I. GENERAL.

The National Executive Council establishes dues for the various classes of membership.

II. POLICY.

A. Regular and Associate Member Clubs will pay annual dues on or before July 1 of each year. The AVA National Headquarters will mail an annual dues notice to each Member Club by May 1. A club that has not paid its annual dues by August 1 will be considered not in good standing. A club that has not paid its annual dues by September 1 will be assessed a late fee. If a club has not paid the dues by November 1, the National Executive Council will declare the club inactive.

B. Dues for newly established Member Clubs will be prorated based on the fiscal year quarter in which the membership is requested.

C. Dues for Volkssports Associate members, except life members, are collected on an annual basis based on the anniversary month of the membership.

2.03 STATUS AND STANDING.

I. GENERAL.

The status and standing of a Regular Member Club, Associate Member Club, and State Organization determine their rights and privileges.

II. POLICY.

A. Regular Member Clubs, Associate Member Clubs, and State Organizations are considered active when the club's or organization's membership application has been accepted and all its activities are conducted according to the provisions of the AVA Constitution, Bylaws and Policies.

1. Active Member Clubs and State Organizations are considered in good standing when all debts, liabilities and obligations to the AVA have been satisfied. They may exercise all the privileges of their respective membership.

2. Except as noted in Policy 4.06, AFTER ACTION REPORTING, active Member Clubs and State Organizations are considered not in good standing when an outstanding debt, liability, and/or obligation has not been satisfied within thirty (30) days of the date due. A Member Club or State Organization not in good standing forfeits all rights and privileges to include the right to conduct or sponsor events. It may not vote in any state, regional or membership meeting of the AVA. A Member Club or State Organization satisfying that outstanding debt, liability and/or obligation is considered in good standing.

B. The National Executive Council will declare Regular and Associate Member Clubs inactive when the club is in good standing and requests inactive status; fails to pay its annual dues by November 1; fails to satisfy an outstanding debt, obligation or liability to the AVA within 90 days of the due date; or is expelled under Article 5, Paragraph 5.7(c) of the AVA Constitution. To request inactive status, a club must submit the request in writing through the State Organization, if applicable, and the Regional Director to the AVA National Headquarters. An inactive club is considered in good standing when it has satisfied all debts, obligations and liabilities to the AVA. If it does not meet these conditions, the inactive club will be considered not in good standing. An inactive club may not conduct sanctioned events or vote in any state, regional or membership meeting of the AVA. An inactive club must return all official materials supplied to the club by the AVA and/or IVV. Failure to return these materials may result in legal action.

C. The National Executive Council may declare State Organizations inactive when the number of clubs within the state is five or less; the organization does not satisfy debts, liabilities or obligations to the AVA within 90 days of the due date; or the AVA expels the organization under Article 5, Paragraph 5.7(c) of the AVA Constitution. An inactive State Organization is considered in good standing when it has satisfied all debts, obligations and liabilities to the AVA. If the inactive State Organization does not meet these conditions, it will be considered not in good standing. An inactive State Organization may not conduct sanctioned events or vote in any state, regional or membership meeting of the AVA. An inactive State Organization must return all official materials supplied to the organization by the AVA and/or IVV. Failure to return these materials may result in legal action.

D. The AVA National Headquarters will notify, in writing, the Member Club or State Organization that it has been placed on inactive status and the requirements for reactivation.

2.04 REACTIVATION OF MEMBERSHIP

I. GENERAL.

Any organization or group of people may request reactivation of an inactive Regular Member Club, Associate Member Club, or State Organization.

II. POLICY.

A. An inactive Regular Member Club, Associate Member Club, or State Organization may be reactivated provided it meets all membership requirements established in Policy 2.01, TYPES AND APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP. Applications for reactivation will follow the procedures outlined in Policy 2.01. The Reactivation Fee and the appropriate prorated annual dues must accompany the application. If the inactive club is in good standing and the State Organization, Regional Director or National Executive Council does not approve the application, the disapproving authority will notify the club in writing and return the reactivation fee and prorated dues.

B. Any Regular Member Club, Associate Member Club or State Organization that is inactive, not in good standing and seeks reactivation must either satisfy all debts, obligations and liabilities owed the AVA or submit a plan to bring the club or organization into good standing. The Regional Director will approve this plan. If the Regional Director does not approve the plan, the club may appeal the disapproval to the National Executive Council. If the National Executive Council disapproves the club's or organization's application for reactivation, the AVA National Headquarters will notify the club or organization in writing. The AVA National Headquarters will apply the reactivation fee and prorated dues against any outstanding debt, obligation or liability to the AVA. If the club or organization fails to comply with the approved plan to bring it into good standing, the AVA National Headquarters will return the club or organization to an inactive status.