Membership Eligibility
A person is eligible to be a member of the AAIM if the person is of Muslim faith and satisfies all the following criteria. The person:
- Is a person of Indian origin
- Is over the age of 18 years; and
- respects, supports and upholds the objectives of the Association; and
- abides by the rules and guidelines of the Association as per this constitution; and
- must be an Australian resident or citizen residing in ACT and surrounds; and
- must not have been convicted of a criminal offence or misappropriation of private or public funds or forgery of any kind in any court of law.
Membership Applications Qualifications
Applications for membership must be in writing on the official AAIM membership application form (Appendix) or submitted on-line and a statement signed by the applicant indicating support for the goals of the AAIM and its policies. The Executive Committee will act on all applications for membership.
Non-Approval of any Proposed Membership
The Executive Committee reserves the right to decide the process for managing membership applications (that is, receiving and approving or rejecting membership applications). The process will involve consideration on a case-by-case basis and a decision made by a majority vote of the Executive Committee. The names of the approved new members will be documented in the minutes of the respective meeting.
Anyone who supports the mission, objects, purposes, rules, policies and procedures of AAIM and agrees to be bound by these rules will be eligible to apply for membership.
After the Executive Committee has approved or rejected a membership application, the Executive Committee must write to the applicant as soon as possible to advise them of the decision.
If the Executive Committee rejects an application for membership, the Committee reserves the right to not give reasons to the applicant in the first instance. But in the event, such a person seeks reasons for the rejection of their membership application, the Executive Committee will respond to the person in writing outlining the reasons for its decision to reject the application’s membership application.
If the person chooses to take legal action, the Executive Committee will encourage the person to participate in the dispute resolution processes in place for AAIM (see Dispute Resolution Process). These processes allow each party a reasonable opportunity to be heard and/or to submit their arguments in writing. The parties will be encouraged to first attempt to resolve the dispute in private meeting/s.
Classes of Members
All members of the Association will become ‘General and ‘Life’ members automatically following approval of their respective application by the Executive Committee. All endorsed members may hold Office and vote on matters affecting AAIM.
Membership Fees
a) General Membership: for 2 years to be renewed every 2 years. The membership fees shall be as determined by the EC from time to time and agreed by the members at an AGM or SGM. General Member should be a Legal Resident of Australia.
b) Life’ Membership fees are initially set at $1000.00 and valid for life. Life Member should be a Permanent Resident or Citizen of Australia. Life members are not required to pay annual membership fees. Life members shall pay the required fee as a one-off payment or in instalments over the period of time as agreed by the Executive Committee. In case of paying by instalment, life membership commences on the day the final instalment is made to complete the full payment.
c) Those upon reaching 70 (seventy) years of age will enjoy free General membership for life.
d) Changes to membership fees (an increase or decrease) can be moved through a motion by members present at the Annual General Meeting.
e) Membership fees are due upon joining the Association for the remainder of the second Financial Year, and thereafter every two years on 1 July.
Unique Membership Number
a) A unique membership number shall be created, issued to a member and maintained by the Association for each member, in the format General and Life Member: AAIM-xxxx (e.g., AAIM-0007)
b) The membership number should remain unique to the person or identification purposes and must not be allocated to another member of the Association.
Membership Entitlement
The right, privilege or obligation that a person is entitled, being a member of the Association (a) cannot be transferred or transmitted to another person; and
(b) will terminate on cessation of the person’s membership.
Cessation of Membership
a) A person ceases to be a member of the Association if the person
i. dies or
ii. resigns from membership of the Association – (all members will be notified annually as to their intention to remain a member); or
iii. is expelled from the Association.
Suspension of Membership
a) members may be reprimanded, cautioned or suspended from certain privileges, or expelled from AAIM for any of the following reasons:
i. wilful misuse of AAIM property or facilities (for example use of AAIM influence for personal gain, benefit, fame, reputation, advantage, etc or for benefits of family, relative, friends, not respecting the constitution, lack of transparency and ill-motivated, misuse or inappropriate use of AAIM fund, asset, premises, event, program, records, information, etc);
ii. conduct in a manner which is undermining, damaging or prejudicial to the objectives or reputation of the Association;
iii. wilful disregard of the safety of themselves and/or of others while participating in an AAIM activity; or
iv. conduct detrimental to the AAIM and/or the associated/affiliated associations in Canberra (See section Disciplinary Process)