This is one of several documents that are part of the IHEU Bylaws structure, supplementing the Bylaws and the Internal Rules. This version was adopted by the Executive Committee in August 2009.

1. Membership Categories

1.1 IHEU has three membership categories which are specified in the Internal Rules (IR). They are Full Member, Specialist Member and Associate Member.

1.2 All Member organizations have to be Humanist organizations and have objects (in their constitution) that are consistent with Bylaw 2, and IHEU’s definition of Humanism in Bylaw 1.

Bylaw 2 states: The purpose of IHEU is to promote Humanism throughout the world, to develop Humanism as a life stance, to represent organized Humanism in international bodies, to defend human rights and the rights of humanists, to develop organized Humanism in every part of the world and to build a strong and effective global organization.

Bylaw 1 states: Humanism is a democratic and ethical life stance that affirms that human beings have the right and responsibility to give meaning and shape to their own lives. It stands for the building of a more humane society through an ethics based on human and other natural values in a spirit of reason and free inquiry through human capabilities. It is not theistic, and it does not accept supernatural views of reality.

1.3 Full member: The Internal Rules say “This category is for established national, democratic, membership organizations and national and international umbrella organizations for such membership organizations.” (IR No 2.3a) This is the main category, and most large Humanist organizations belong here.

1.3.1 The term established means that the organization has been in existence for some years, and has a well functioning organizational apparatus, including elected leadership, staff (volunteer or professional), membership register, etc. Annual reports and accounts should be available for at least three years. The organization should also be duly registered with the appropriate civil authorities in their country.

1.3.2 Newly formed such organizations can become Associate Members until they have reached sufficient organizational maturity.

1.3.3 The term national refers to the scope of the organization, and that it has activities and is open for membership from all places in the country where it operates. Country will normally refer to the member states of the UN.

1.3.4 A group that has a more restricted scope, like a community or part of a nation, can become Associate Members.

1.3.5 The term democratic refers to the form of governance in the organization. It has to be some form of democratic (direct or representative) decision-making process and election of officials (board, leadership committee or management). The election system must allow all the registered members to know that elections are taking place, to be able to stand for leadership positions, and to be able to vote.

1.3.6 A non-democratic organization could be an organization governed by a small group of founders or by a leadership elected by a process that is not open to all members.

1.3.7 The term membership organization means an organization that is a gathering of individuals who share the Humanist life-stance. The organization has to maintain a list (register) of persons who have actively requested membership, and the members have to make some form of renewable commitment to the organization – a commitment which may be in the form of a membership fee.

1.3.8 A non-membership organization could be an institution or an organization run by a small number of persons and not being open for others to join eg Trust Fund, research institution, think tank, library, etc and should be a Specialist member of IHEU.

1.3.9 The term umbrella organization refers to organizations having other organizations as members, where the member organizations themselves are local or regional membership organizations.

1.4 Specialist member: The Internal Rules state that “This category is for non-membership organizations; e.g. educational institutions; academic institutes; publishing houses, trusts, etc that are actively supporting humanism.” (IR No 2.3b)

1.5 Associate member: The Internal Rules says that “This category is for local humanist organizations, for recently formed national membership organizations and for organizations where promoting humanism is not the primary activity; e.g. humanitarian organizations.”

1.5.1 This group of member organizations are any other organization that share the purpose of the IHEU and that does not fit into the Full or Specialist member category.

2 Rights and Responsibilities of IHEU membership

2.1. Member Organizations may enjoy at least the following benefits (IR No 2.5):

• Be listed as a Member Organization on the IHEU web site.

• Have the right to use “member of IHEU” on their stationary, website, promotions and other material.

• Receive copies of the International Humanist News in printed and electronic form.

• Be represented at the General Assembly.

• Be invited to host the Congress and General Assembly.

• Participate in development of strategy and resolutions.

• Participate in campaigns and other activities where appropriate.

2.2. Member Organizations have the obligation or responsibility to (IR No 2.6):

• Have a sustained commitment to the purpose of the IHEU.

• Act at all times in ways that are in the best interest of the humanist movement

• Notify the IHEU of any changes to their constitution.

• Notify the IHEU of any change in address, contact details and leading officers.

• Appoint an IHEU contact person.

• Submit a copy of their annual report and audited accounts every year.

• Submit the necessary information for the tri-annual dues calculation.

• Pay the annual dues on time.

2.3. Failure to carry out a Member Organisation’s obligations or responsibilities can lead to expulsion from IHEU (see section 6)

3. Dues

3.1 Annual membership dues for all member organizations are due on 1 January in each year and should be paid within two months. (IR 2.10)

3.2 The annual dues are calculated by IHEU once in three years, and the dues shall remain valid until the year following the next tri-annual dues calculation. Member Organisations must supply IHEU with the necessary information to make the dues calculation. In the event that a Member Organization fails to supply IHEU with the relevant information, the Executive Committee may make a reasonable estimate or apply a 20% increase on the previous year's dues, and this revised figure shall be payable. (IR No 2.12)

3.3 The membership dues is calculated based on the Membership Category, the number of individual members, the size of their membership dues and the recurrent income of the organization.

3.4 The number of individual members of an organization should be stated in their annual report, and be generally available. Children under 15 (or a similar local limit) should not be counted as members. A member should be counted even if s/he has not paid their dues in the last year, if s/he has been in good standing for previous years.

3.5 The membership dues should be the amount paid to the organization for general membership benefits, including a magazine subscription, access to meetings, and a vote in organizational elections. Money paid for participation in specific conferences, for ceremonies or for other specific services rendered, is not counted as membership fee.

3.6 The total recurrent income of the organization is all income that is regular and can be expected from year to year, and can be used for planning of activities and budget. Examples are membership dues, subscription fees, release from funds, interest on capital, regular grants, regular income from local and national government bodies, gifts and donations, etc.

3.6.1 Income that is irregular should not be included. Examples are one-off large donations, income related to a special campaign etc.

3.6.2 From the recurrent income is deducted certain costs that are permanent in nature. If the membership fee contains a local part that is automatically forwarded to local societies, the local portion may be deducted. If the membership fee includes a free journal or magazine, the cost of production and distribution of the journal/magazine can be deducted. Income from capital and release from funds that are restricted to a specific purpose (e.g. humanitarian aid, a specific social projects etc) can also be deducted. If the organization is responsible for managing institutions (hospitals, schools, care homes, etc) with part of the recurrent income, this part can also be deducted.

3.6.3 Revenue from sales of books and brochures and from journal subscriptions shall not be counted as recurrent income, but the surplus of income over expenditure from such activities shall be included. Government and/or other grants shall be considered recurrent income if they are given for the general aims of the organization, but not that part that is restricted for expenses for certain purposes/services.

3.6.4 The total recurring income less the specified deductions is called the recurring free income, and is used in the dues calculations.

3.7 IHEU’s Executive Committee may negotiate a lower membership fee for a limited number of years with any Member Organization facing financial difficulties, They have to report such arrangements to the next annual General Assembly. (IR No 2.11)

4. Calculation of dues

4.1 The dues for Full members are calculated this way:

4.1.a If the organization has more than 1.000 individual members AND the organization has regular income from annual membership dues of at least GB Pound (£) 10 on average or other forms of recurrent income of more than GBP 20 on average per member; the dues are 5% of the recurring free income plus GBP 0.05 per member. The minimum contribution shall be GBP 1500.

Example 1: An organization has 1800 members paying dues of GBP 15 on average. The recurrent income is GBP 30,000 and the reductions (e.g. cost of magazine) is GBP 12,000. The fee is GBP 900 (5% of recurring free income of GBP 18,000) plus GBP 90 (1800 times GBP 0.05) is GBP 990. So the minimum fee of GBP 1500 would apply.

Example 2: A larger organization has 8,000 members paying dues of GBP 25 on average. The recurrent income is GBP 250,000 and the reductions (e.g. cost of magazine and subsidies to local groups) is GBP 50,000. The fee is GBP 10,000 (5% of recurring free income of GBP 200,000) plus GBP 400 (8,000 times GBP 0.05) equals GBP 10,400.

4.1.b If the organization has more than 1,000 individual members BUT with other recurring income of less than GBP 20 on average per member; the dues are 4% of recurring free income. The minimum contribution is GBP 100.

Example: An organization has 2,000 members, and total recurring income of GBP 35,000. The reduction is GBP 15,000 (e.g. cost of magazine etc). The fee is GBP 800 (4% of recurring free income of GBP 20,000).

4.1.c Member organizations with less than 1.000 members or supporters shall pay 3% of recurring free income or GBP 50, whichever is higher.

4.1.d Umbrella organizations whose membership is made up exclusively of other organizations may choose to belong to group a) based on the total number of members in all their participating organizations or else belong to group b).

4.2 The dues for Specialist members is at least 2% of annual recurring free income. The minimum contribution for this category is GBP 750.

4.3 The dues for Associate Members is 1% of annual recurring free income. The minimum contribution for this category is GBP 30 and the maximum is GBP 1.000.

5. Failure to pay dues

5.1 Member organizations that have not paid their annual dues (including all arrears) do not have the right to attend or vote at the General Assembly. (IR No 2.14)

5.2 Member organizations that have not paid their annual dues for three consecutive years shall have to negotiate suitable fee payments to reactivate membership of the IHEU. (IR No 2.15)

6 Expulsion from IHEU

6.1 A Member Organization can be expelled for not fulfilling their membership obligations (see section 2 of these Regulations) (IR No 2.16)

6.2 A proposal to expel a Member Organization may be initiated by the Executive Committee or by at least three full Member Organizations and submitted to the Executive Committee. (IR No 2.16.1)

6.3 The process for expulsion is as follows:

6.3.1 Firstly: The proposal for expulsion shall be sent to the Member Organization concerned, and it shall have three months to prepare a written response, together with the right to attend and speak at the Executive Committee meeting at which the expulsion proposal is considered. (IR No 2.16.2)

6.3.2 Secondly: If the expulsion proposal is agreed, it shall be effective immediately. (IR No 2.16.3)

6.3.3 Thirdly: The Executive Committee shall inform the submitting Member Organization of its decision, and shall report back to the next General Assembly. (IR No 2.16.4)

6.3.4 Appeal: The organization shall have the right of appeal to the next scheduled General Assembly, with the right to present that appeal, provided that the Member Organization notifies the President at least 45 days prior to the General Assembly of its intent. (IR No 2.16.3)