Article Iii Membership

ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP

Section 3.1Definition of Member.

A member shall be any state or local paralegal association (“association”), a national military association of paralegals for each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, any organization comprised of persons enrolled in a course of post-secondary paralegalstudies (“student association”), or any person, firm, educational institution or corporation duly admitted to membership in NFPA and in compliance with the membership provisions of these bylaws.

Section 3.2Membership Rights and Privileges Defined.

A.The term “regular rights and privileges” shall include the following: a subscription to NFPA’s national magazine, the right to be a coordinator or member of an NFPA standing or special committee, the right to participate in professional and personal benefits offered by NFPA, and other rights and privileges as granted by the Board of Directors or delegate assembly.

B.The term “extraordinary rights of membership” shall include the right of an association to have an individual member in good standing hold NFPA office, the right for an association to make motions, speak in debate, and vote on NFPA matters.

Section 3.3Classes of Membership.

There shall be the following classes of membership:

A.Voting Membership.

1.Qualifications.

Voting membership shall be available to paralegal associations, including Military Paralegal Associations, that meet the following requirements (“voting member association”):

a.The association shall have bylaws that include stated goals and purposes not inconsistent with the goals and purposes of NFPA.

b.The association's membership requirements shall not exclude or discriminate as to any class of paralegals, as defined by the membership committee's guidelines for its membership.

(i)Any association which imposes any type of educational requirement for its voting membership, may, as an alternative, consider work experience as a paralegal.

(ii)Any association that restricts its membership as to class or specialty area must show that such a restriction is for good cause and is not arbitrarily imposed but is created to provide a forum to address specialized issues. Any such class restriction cannot be imposed upon all categories of the association's membership.

c.The association's membership requirements shall reflect NFPA's diversity statement and shall not exclude or discriminate on the basis of any category or form of diversity.

d.The association shall be an autonomous group that is not controlled by any organization, educational or training institution, business enterprise, or other entity.

(i)Membership in another professional paralegal association shall not make an association ineligible for NFPA membership.

(ii)The phrase “not controlled by” shall mean that no entity or individual other than the individual voting members of a member association, shall have the power or authority to directly or indirectly direct, regulate, manage or oversee any act or decision or to participate in any manner, directly or indirectly, in the government of a member association.

e.Voting members of voting associations shall be paralegals in good standing who are not incarcerated.

(i)A voting member association may have student members who shall qualify as a student per the voting association's definition of a student member and shall be a student enrolled in a paralegal study program. For the purposes of these bylaws such persons shall be identified as student members of voting member associations or student members.

(ii)Voting member associations may have other membership classifications while voting control of the association and governing body remains vested in paralegals who are not incarcerated.

f.The association shall have paid all monies owed for one (1) quarter of dues before voting privileges are granted.

g.The association shall have at least fifteen (15) voting members.

h.The association shall be a nonprofit organization.

2.Rights

Voting member associations in good standing shall be entitled to all of the regular rights and privileges of membership and all of the extraordinary rights of membership.

B.Affiliate Membership

1.Qualifications.

Paralegal associations that meet the requirements of Article III, Section 3.3, Part A, Subparts (a)-(f) and (h), have less than thirty (30) members, and which do not want to take an active part in the governance of the NFPA but do want to associate with the mission and activities of NFPA and participate in professional and personal benefits offered by NFPA may become affiliate members at a per annum rate to be established by the Board of Directors. The association must apply for voting association membership if its membership exceeds thirty (30).

2.Rights

The affiliate member association and its members shall receive a subscription to NFPA's national magazine and shall have the right to participate in professional and personal benefits offered by NFPA while the affiliate association pays its annual dues, so long as it remains under thirty (30) members, and so long as the association’s membership requirements reflect NFPA's diversity statement and do not exclude or discriminate on the basis of any category or form of diversity.

CB..Provisional Membership

1.Qualifications

a.Voting member associations that are experiencing financial difficulties and/or are losing members to the point that they are at or near fifteen (15) members may request that they be put on provisional membership for one year. During this time, the association shall receive guidance from the Board of Directors, office staff, and other associations. The association shall pay dues set by the Board of Directors. To remain as a provisional member beyond one year shall require a three-quarters (3/4) vote of the entire Board of Directors.

b.A former voting association that is reapplying for voting membership after losing its membership in NFPA either through resignation or termination shall upon request and at the discretion of the Board of Directors be awarded a one year provisional membership. During the one year period, the reapplying association shall meet all of its financial obligations and demonstrate that it meets the criteria for voting membership.

2.Rights and Privileges

Provisional member associations shall have all the regular rights and privileges of membership and the extraordinary rights to make motions and speak in debate but shall not have the extraordinary rights to vote or to have members elected to NFPA offices.

DC.Student Memberships

1.Student Association Membership

a.Qualifications

Student association membership shall be available to student paralegal associations that meet the following requirements:

(i)The student association shall be recognized, approved, or sponsored by an institutionally accredited paralegal program. Institutionally accredited shall be defined as: agencies or associations which review post-secondary education programs for purposes of confirming the quality of the program based upon their own pre-established standards.

(ii)All members of the student association shall be currently enrolled in the institutionally accredited paralegal program which recognizes, approves, or sponsors the student association and not employed as a paralegal.

(iii)The student association shall have bylaws that include stated goals and purposes that are consistent with the goals and purposes of NFPA.

(iv)The student association's membership requirements shall reflect NFPA's diversity statement and shall not exclude or discriminate on the basis of any category or form of diversity.

(v)The student association shall be a non-profit organization.

b. Rights

(i)Student associations shall receive one subscription to NFPA’s national magazine and shall have the right to participate in professional and personal benefits offered by NFPA.

(ii)Student Association Liaison to NFPA. Each student association shall appoint one individual member as a liaison to NFPA. This liaison may attend and participate in meetings of NFPA but shall not be entitled to the extraordinary rights of membership to make motions, vote, or hold NFPA office.

2.Student Sustaining Membership-at-Large

a1..Qualifications

Student Sustaining Membership-at-Large shall be available to a student enrolled in an institutionally accredited paralegal program, as defined in Section 3.3(D)(1)(a)(i) above, who meets the following requirements:

(ia)the paralegal program does not have membership as a NFPA student association; AND

(iib)the student does not have any other class of NFPA member association available to join, AND

(iiic)the student shall not be incarcerated. Student sustaining members-at-large shall be governed by NFPA's diversity statement and shall not be excluded or discriminatedagainst in applying for or holding membership or receiving services in NFPA on the basis of any category or form of diversity. Student Sustaining Membership-at-Large shall also be extended to an individual who has graduated from an institutionally accredited paralegal program, as defined in Section 3.3(D)(1)(a)(i) above, within six (6) months preceding the date the application is submitted and is not a paralegal. This membership provision is only applicable for up to one (1) year post graduation and is non-renewable.

b2.Rights and Privileges

(i)Student Sustaining Members-at-Large shall have no rights or privileges of membership except the right to receive a subscription to NFPA’s national magazine announcements of educational activities, and other benefits deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors.

ED..Sustaining MembershipOrganizational

1.Qualifications

This category of membership is not available to paralegal associations but is available to three (3) other entities.

a.Corporate/OrganizationalSustaining Membership. This membership shall be offered to corporations and organizations that provide services, goods, or help to fund paralegal educational and membership activities, paralegal groups which are divisions or sections of non-paralegal entities, statewide alliances of paralegal associations or located outside of the United States and do not want to take an active part in the governance of NFPA but do want to associate with the mission and activities of NFPA and participate in the personal and professional benefits offered by NFPA.

2.Rights and Privileges

a.Corporate/Organizational Sustaining Members shall have no rights or privileges of membership except those of identification with NFPA, one subscription to NFPA’s national magazine, announcements of educational activities, and discounts and incentives unique to Corporate/Organizational Sustaining Members as deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors.

E.b.Individual Sustaining Membership-at-LargeRegular Member.

1. Qualifications

This membership shall be available to individual paralegals. Individual sustaining regular members-at-large shall be paralegals who are not incarcerated. Individual sustaining members-at-large shall be governed by NFPA's diversity statement and shall not be excluded or discriminated against in applying for or holding membership or receiving services in NFPA, on the basis of any category or form of diversity.

2.Rights and Privileges

Individual Members are entitled to the regular rights and privileges of membership and to the extraordinary right to speak in debate, but shall not be entitled to the extraordinary rights of membership to make motions, vote, or hold NFPA office.

F.c.MilitarySustaining Membership-at-Large.

1.Qualifications

This membershipshall be available to individual paralegals currently serving on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States. Individual military sustaining members-at-large shall not be excluded or discriminated against due to tour of duty outside of the United States of America. In addition, individual military sustaining members-at-large shall be governed by NFPA's diversity statement and shall not be excluded or discriminated against in applying for or holding membership or receiving services in NFPA, on the basis of any category or form of diversity.

2.Rights and Privileges

Military Sustaining Membership-at-Large are entitled to the regular rights and privileges of membership and to the extraordinary right to speak in debate, but shall not be entitled to the extraordinary rights of membership to make motions, vote, or hold NFPA office.

b.Individual Sustaining Members-at-Large are entitled to the regular rights and privileges of membership and to the extraordinary right to speak in debate, but shall not be entitled to the extraordinary rights of membership to make motions, vote, or hold NFPA office.

c.Military Sustaining Membership-at-Large are entitled to the regular rights and privileges of membership and to the extraordinary right to speak in debate, but shall not be entitled to the extraordinary rights of membership to make motions, vote, or hold NFPA office.

F.Associate Membership

1.Qualifications

This category of membership is available to paralegal groups which are divisions or sections of non-paralegal entities (e.g., bar associations, government entities, etc.), or located outside of the United States do not want to take an active part in the governance of NFPA but do want to associate with the mission and activities of NFPA and participate in professional and personal benefits offered by NFPA. Associate members shall pay dues as set by the Board of Directors.

a.The association's membership requirement shall reflect NFPA's diversity statement and shall not exclude or discriminate on the basis of any category or form of diversity.

b.Members of the association shall be paralegals in good standing who are not incarcerated.

c.The association shall be a nonprofit association, or the equivalent thereof.

2.Rights and Privileges

Associate member associations are entitled to receive one subscription of NFPA’s national magazine and other general mailings as deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors and shall have the right to participate in professional and personal benefits offered by NFPA.

Section 3.4 Good Standing Defined.

A member, to be in good standing, shall not be in default in the payment of dues or other accounts payable to NFPA and shall be in compliance with the bylaws of NFPA.

Section 3.5 Admission Procedure.

A.Application. Application for membership shall be made on official forms and sent to the Board of Directors along with any required documentation.

B.Vote. An affirmative vote of three-fourths (3/4) of the Board of Directors shall be required to accept a member applying for membership in the following classes of Membership: Voting Membership, Affiliate Membership, Provisional Membership, Student Association Memberships, and Associate Membership. The Vice President and Director of Membership shall approve a member applying for membership in the following categories: Organizational Sustaining Membership, Individual Sustaining Membership-at-Large, and Student Sustaining Memberships-at-Large.

C.Admittance

1.The secretary shall notify each newly-accepted member and shall enclose a statement of the member's dues, which shall be payable within sixty (60) days.

2.Upon payment of dues, the newly-accepted member shall be admitted to NFPA.

Section 3.6 Resignation.

A.Process. Resignation of any member shall be submitted in writing to the NFPA president and secretary, who shall present the resignation to the Board of Directors for action. All regular and extraordinary rights and privileges shall cease upon termination of membership.

B.Responsibility. Resignation and termination of membership shall not relieve a member of the obligation to pay dues, assessments, or other charges which are owed to NFPA. In hardship cases, this provision may be appealed and the Board of Directors may make a decision in relief of the appellant

Section 3.7 Transfer of Membership.

Membership in NFPA is not transferable.

Section 3.8Membership in Multiple Local Associations

Individuals who are members of more than one local association, shall notify all local associations involved and select one local association (typically the first one joined) to be the primary local. This local association will be responsible for adding this member to the NFPA membership list and for paying that member’s NFPA dues.

Additional locals associations will not be responsible for paying NFPA dues for the member with multiple local association membership.

Section 3.89Use of Name.

No member whose primary purpose is to provide paralegal education shall use the NFPA name or logo, or identify itself as a member of NFPA, unless (a) the member's programs are in compliance with NFPA's resolutions on education and are accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency, (b) the member's programs have been approved by the American Bar Association or are in substantial compliance with its guidelines, or (c) the member displays on any materials containing the NFPA name or logo, or indicating that the member is a member of NFPA, a disclaimer that its educational programs do not meet the criteria as set forth above in (a) or (b), such disclaimer to be in a form and substance approved by the Board of Directors from time to time; provided, however, that this Section shall not give any member any independent rights in any intellectual property.

ARTICLE IV