Archive
ANNOUNCEMENT
Change to membership categories and fees
The membership of AONTAS comprises a vast array of organisations and individual members involved in adult education which has grown and developed over the past number of years. The categories of membership used up until May 2006 dated back to 1983, however, as they did not accurately reflect the array of members today it was proposed that a change to the constitution would be made. This decision was unanimously accepted at the AGM of 10th May 2006 and the following changes may be noted.
The corporate voluntary and corporate statutory categories has be combined to simply give 'organisational members', so to allow for members that do not strictly fall into either category. The individual member category remains unchanged, however, an introduction of an associate member category has been made to cater for overseas members; all right will be afforded to these members apart from voting.
Furthermore, as the fees have also remained unchanged for over 15 years and with the ever increasing cost to service members, standing at approximately seventy five euro for each member to cover postage and stationary without taking into account the cost of publications, a revised fee structure was called for. A resolution to amend the fees was unanimously passed at the AGM of 2006. The new fee structure is based on the income of the organisation and fees will differ accordingly. The individual membership fee would increase but not for the unwaged. The new category of associate members would incur a standard fee regardless of it being an organisation or an individual as the cost to service both is identical.
Whilst we are mindful of the implications of a fee increase to our members we feel that the new fees are necessary, justifiable and designed to ensure AONTAS remains accessible to all organisations and individuals.
