Membership General Information
Membership is available to organisations providing services for people with hearing impairments..
Members acknowledge that the network focuses on issues concerning hearing impairment.
Each Member must approve the Memorandum of Understanding
Each Member agrees to pay the contribution sum as established by the Membership.
Procedures
The candidate organisation for Membership will send a request to the Board in which are made clear the activities of the organisation and the reasons for applying for Membership.
The Board will decide whether this organisation might be a potential candidate. If so, a delegation of the Board together with the co-ordinator will contact the organisation to discuss the application.
Based on the report of the delegation, the Board will accept or decline the application of the candidate organisation.
The Board will send the decision to the candidate organisation who countersigns the memorandum of understanding and returns to the board.
Termination of Membership
By a member
Every member of HIPEN can terminate its Membership at the end of each calendar year.
To terminate its Membership, the director of the organisation concerned has to inform the President of the Board by written notice before September 30th of the current year.
By HIPEN
Termination of an organisation’s membership may take place as a final procedure of the Board if a member:
· does not pay the agreed contribution for more than 1 year
· violates its duties or obligations according to HIPEN
· violates the interests and the general aims of HIPEN
Such termination has to be done in written form, stating the reasons.
The director or general manager of the organisation concerned will have the opportunity to explain the situation to the Board Members and to find a joint solution to the situation.
If no agreement can be achieved between the Board Members and the organisation concerned, the Board and the directors alone of all other member organisations will, decide, by secret vote, if membership of the organisation concerned should be terminated.
This decision will be made by a simple majority of those voting. If termination of Membership is decided, this decision will be immediately applicable.
The director of the excluded organisation will be informed in writing by the Board about the termination, as will all Members of HIPEN. The financial contributions of the terminated member will not be refunded.
· Twice a year a General Meeting of Members will be held (preferably in varying locations in one of the participants’ organisations)
· Every year a working programme will be developed and confirmed by the Members
· Every year a budget will be established by the Members
Role of Co-ordinator
A co-ordination point has been established which, as a minimum, carries out the following tasks:
· Providing information and documentation through appropriate means of communication
· Exploring possibilities of raising funds
· Coordinating network actions
· Supporting and preparing meetings of the network and the Board
A co-ordinator has been appointed by all the Members of the network to put into effect Board decisions according to the agreed objectives of the Network.
The co-ordinator reports to the President and Members of the Board and works in accordance with their instructions.
HIPEN Co-ordinator
John Harris