Membership

Excerpt from the Constitution of CPISRA

Article 3 - Members

CPISRA shall have the following forms of membership:

National Members
Individual Members and
Associate Members

Only one organisation per country shall be admitted as a "Full Member" of CPISRA and shall be known as a National Member.

National Members

Only the national organisation that holds the position of the ruling body in its respective country on matters concerning sports for persons with the conditions stated in article 2 is eligible to become a Full Member.

Individual Members

Individuals who have made a significant contribution, or are interested in the field of sports and recreation for those with the conditions stated in article 2, are eligible to become Individual Members.

Associate Members

Other associations or national and international organisations that have made a significant contribution, or are interested in the field of sports and recreation for those with the conditions stated in article 2, are eligible to become Associate Members.

Article 4 - Membership Application Procedure

Application for membership to CPISRA shall be addressed in writing to the Secretariat and must clearly state which form of membership is requested (National Member, Individual Member or Associate Member).

Application as a National Member

Together with this application, the applicant shall submit a copy of its Statutes or other constitution in English and a certificate, issued by the official sports authority of the country in question or by such body or person in that country as is acceptable to the Executive Committee, attesting to the fact that the applicant is the main sporting authority in that country in all matters relating to sports for persons with the conditions stated in article 2. Applications from organisations in countries that do not officially recognise sports for the disabled will be assessed on a case by case basis.

Applications as Associate Members or Individual Members

Applicants for Associate Membership or Individual Membership shall submit a report on the activities undertaken by them in sports or recreation for those with the conditions stated in article 2 during the preceding four years.

The Executive Committee shall decide whether or not to accept the application and its decision shall be provisional until a final decision by the General Assembly. The applicant shall be informed by the Secretary General of the Executive Committee's decision as well as the date and place of the General Assembly which shall make the final decision. The Executive Committee may grant the applicant observer status in the event of a one or more year wait before the next General Assembly is convened.

Once the decision of the General Assembly has been made, membership status shall only be granted after payment of the relevant membership dues.

New members shall take on all the rights and obligations that these Statutes confer upon conclusion of the application procedure.

Article 5 - Rights of Members

The following rights are applicable to National Members of the association:

To receive all magazines, bulletins and relevant information distributed by the Association.

To receive applicable annual reports and the financial reports of the Association.

To receive the minutes of the General Assembly.

To vote at the General Assembly. Only the duly appointed or nominated representative, and not a proxy, of a National Member can exercise the vote of that National Member.

To have one vote.

To send no more than two (2) delegates to attend each General Assembly.

To send no more than two (2) observers (without voting or speaking rights) to the General Assembly.

To nominate individuals for election to the Executive Committee or any other elected body within the association that may be determined from time to time.

To put forward to the Executive Committee or the General Assembly any proposals or motions related to the goals which the Association wishes to achieve.

To be empowered to organise competitions at a national, regional or world level in accordance with the approved rules and regulations of CPISRA.

To have the right for their athletes to participate in competitions and sporting events approved and/or sanctioned by CPISRA upon payment of fees set out by the Organising Committee of the event.

The following rights are applicable to Associate and Individual Members of the association

To receive all magazines, bulletins and relevant information distributed by the Association.
To attend and speak, but not to vote, at the General Assembly.

Article 6 - Obligations of the Members

Members of CPISRA, regardless of their status as members, must abide by the Constitution of the Association as well as the rules and decisions of the General Assembly and the Executive Committee.
The annual membership dues which are duly established by the General Assembly must be paid. Different rates of annual membership dues may be set for the different categories of membership.
Non-payment of any annual membership dues for a period of three months shall result in notification by CPISRA, through the Secretary General, that all membership rights set out in this Constitution will be suspended unless the member pays the said dues within a further three months from the date of notification. Should the dues not be forthcoming, membership shall remain suspended for a maximum period of six months following. At the conclusion of this period, and should there still be failure to pay the said dues, then the membership shall be deemed to have lapsed.
Members are strongly encouraged to promote programmes and projects in the field of sports and/or recreation at a national and international level.
National Members are strongly encouraged to organise competitions and other international sporting events according to CPISRA regulations.
All members of CPISRA must dignify and support the practice of sport at the highest level for persons with the conditions stated in article 2 within their respective territorial areas, without discrimination of any sort.
Members of CPISRA are required to support the aims and purposes of the Association.
Members must notify CPISRA within 29 days of any change to their Constitution or legal status in their country.

Article 7 - Loss or suspension of Membership Status

Loss or suspension of membership for any reason does not require the Association to refund any fees or dues previously paid by the member.

Involuntary loss of membership shall be decided by the General Assembly.

The decision of suspending a member by the Executive Committee shall always be submitted for ratification by the General Assembly.

Reasons for loss of membership are as follows:

A. Voluntary withdrawal

B. Dissolution of the member

C. Modification in the nature or legal structure of the member

D. A National Member shall automatically cease to be a member if it is no longer recognised in the relevant country as the main sporting body in that country in all matters relating to sports for persons with conditions stated in article 2.

E. Expulsion

The Executive Committee must be duly notified by the National Member, Individual Member or Associate Member of the decision to withdraw from the Association. Membership will automatically be cancelled as of the moment of said notification.

Any modification in the legal constitution of the member which, in general, might imply a lesser operational capacity than that stipulated in its initial configuration as a CPISRA member, shall determine the loss of membership status pursuant to C above.

Non-compliance with these Statutes by the member, as well as any action that may jeopardise the good name, regulations and decisions of the Association and its Committees, may result in a report of the Executive Committee recommending the General Assembly to decide on suspension or loss of membership.

A member under suspension shall remain subject to the terms of these Statutes including payment of membership fees.

The decision to expel or suspend a member shall require at least two thirds (2/3) of the votes cast at the General Assembly on the resolution for the expulsion to be in favour of the expulsion.

Non-payment of the membership fee shall result in the consequences and procedures set out in Article 6 above.

A member under suspension loses all rights and privileges of membership.

Any subsequent application for re-admission will be treated as a new application.

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