CHAPTER 3 MEMBERS AND MEMBERSHIP
5. Categories of Membership:
Membership of the Trade Association shall be divided into three categories as set forth in Clause 5 herein, as follows:
(1) Ordinary Members: Membership shall consist of natural persons or duly registered juristic persons engaged in the sectors of trade, industry, investment, finance, commerce and service activities.
(2) Affiliate Members: Membership shall consist of natural persons or duly registered juristic persons engaged in the sectors of trade, industry, investment, finance, commerce and service activities. Affiliate Members shall enjoy all of the privileges and duties of the Ordinary Members except that they or their authorized representatives are not permitted to hold an elected office and they may not vote.
(3) Honorary Members: Membership shall consist of natural or juristic persons regarded by resolution of the Board of Directors as being able to bring honour to the Trade Association or who are engaged in activities that will enable them to be of assistance to the Trade Association and who have duly accepted the invitation to become Honorary Members.
Honorary Members shall enjoy all the privileges and duties of the Ordinary Members except that they are not permitted to hold an elected office and they may not vote. In addition, the Board may propose to the General Meeting one or more natural persons who are Honorary Members to have the title of “Honorary Chairman” and upon approval by the General Meeting, such Honorary Members shall assume the title of “Honorary Chairman”.
6. Qualifications of Members:
In addition to qualifications as set out in Clause 5 above, the Trade Association’s Members shall be further qualified as follows:
(1) For natural persons:
1. they must be sui juris,
2. they must not be bankrupt, incapacitated or quasi-incapacitated persons,
3. they must not have been subject to any court’s final adjudication or to a term of imprisonment unless such is for a misdemeanor or an offence subject to penalty which does not exceed that prescribed for a misdemeanor or for an offence committed through negligence,
4. they must not be suffering from any communicable diseases which is repugnant to the society,
5. they must have a reasonably sound financial standing,
6. and be of good and acceptable conduct/character.
(2) For juristic persons:
1. they shall not be bankrupt entities, insolvent or which have been dissolved or in the process of acquiring any of the aforesaid status,
2. they shall be of reasonably sound financial standing.
The provision of Clause 6(1) shall also be applicable to the qualifications of any representative appointed with the authority to act in lieu and on behalf of a Member in the juristic person category under Clause 10 as well.
7. Membership Application:
An entity wishing to apply for the Trade Association’s Membership shall submit its application in the form prescribed by the Trade Association to the Secretary-General or the Director acting for the Secretary-General.
8. Consideration of Membership Application:
The Secretary-General or the Director acting for the Secretary-General shall submit the application to the Board of Directors at the first meeting following the receipt of such application. On adoption of the Board of Directors resolution either to accept or reject any of such application, the Secretary-General shall give a written notice to the applicant within seven days from the date of resolution.
9. Membership Commencement Date:
After the Board of Directors has accepted any membership application, such membership shall commence as from the date subscription fee as well as the Trade Association’s annual dues have been paid by the applicant.
10. Juristic Person Members:
A juristic person member may not appoint more than two natural persons as its authorized representatives to act on its behalf and to perform the duties and to exercise its rights in lieu. Such appointment shall be made in writing and sent to the Secretary-General. A representative, however, may not appoint a sub-representative to act on his behalf unless such is the appointment of proxy pursuant to Clause 30 for the purpose of attending and voting in a particular meeting.
11. Termination of Membership:
Membership will be terminated on:
(1) the death of Member or dissolution of the legal entity,
(2) disqualification as prescribed under Clause 6,
(3) Member’s resignation through submission of a resignation letter to, and accepted by the Board of Directors,
(4) the court’s order as an incapacitated or quasi-incapacitated person,
(5) the court’s final judgement of imprisonment against the Member unless such is for a misdemeanor or an offence committed through negligence,
(6) adoption of a resolution by the Board of Directors with at least three-fourths votes of approval from the total number of Directors present at any meeting to have the name of such Member struck off the Members Registry on any of the following grounds:
1. performance or omission to perform any act thereby causing the Trade Association to suffer disrepute,
2. violation of the Bylaws,
3. failure to pay annual dues or to make such payment within the prescribed time after receiving the Trade Association’s notice that payment be made within thirty days.
Any Member whose name has been deleted from the Members Registry shall not be entitled to receive the refund of any dues/fees or any sum paid to the Trade Association.
12. Members Registry:
The Members Registry shall be kept by the Registrar at the Trade Association’s Office and shall contain at least the following particulars:
(1) Names and nationalities of Members and their representatives,
(2) Names used in Members’ operations and categories of businesses,
(3) Location of Members’ offices,
(4) Date of entry as Members,
(5) Date and reason for termination of membership.
