Objective

The purpose of this document is to provide detailed provisions in connection with the membership categories generally defined in the Statutes of the Association, including:

1. The detailed definition of membership levels,
2. The determination of annual membership fees for each level,
3. The regulation of membership fee payments,
4. The detailed regulation of benefits associated with each membership level
5. The regulation of the process for registering and administering members.

The current version of this document forms an inseparable annex to the Statutes of the Association.
According to the provisions outlined in the Statutes of the Association, the Board shall propose revisions to the content of this document and the determination of annual membership fees, subject to approval by the annual General Assembly.

2. The Detailed Definition of Membership Levels

The Statutes of the Association generally define the below membership categories:

1. Standard Members are (natural or legal) persons who support the activities of the Association primarily through their active participation in achieving the purpose of the Association.
2. Sponsoring Members are (natural or legal) persons who feel connected to the purpose of the Association and make a financial contribution to the Association’s operation and the achievement of its aims.
3. Administrative Members are natural persons who are appointed by the General Assembly to manage or administer the Association in achieving its purpose.
4. Honorary Members are natural persons who are appointed by the General Assembly for special services to the Association. They generally support the Association by virtue of their professional or social excellence and reputation.

The detailed definition of the individual membership levels are as follows.

2.1. Standard Members

“Support of the Association primarily through their active participation” refers to the voluntary development or operation of the Association’s organisation. Standard Members contribute significant voluntary work (at least 50 hours per year) to the operation of the Dzokden Kalapa and/or Dzokden organisations, ensuring that the Dzokden Kalapa Association can accommodate practitioners and provide them with opportunities to participate in teachings and accumulate merit.
Work performed by the Association’s paid employees under the terms of their employment contract does not qualify them for Standard Member status.
One may apply for Standard Membership upon completion of an activity or upon making a long-term commitment to an activity to build or run the Association’s organisation.
The Board may also offer Standard Membership to individuals who actively contribute to the development or running of the Dzokden Kalapa organisation through their involvement.
Standard Member status is subject to annual review. In the case of active Standard Members, if the required significant voluntary work related to the organisation’s development or operation has not been completed in the given year and is unlikely to be fulfilled in the following year, the Board may propose to the General Assembly the revocation of Standard Membership. The Board conducts this annual membership review process at the beginning of each calendar year.

2.2 Sponsoring Members

“Sponsoring Members are (natural or legal) persons who feel connected to the purpose of the Association and make a financial contribution to the Association’s operation and the achievement of its aims”.
Financial contributions from Sponsoring Members can be accepted only as dana; an act of generosity intended to develop selflessness and overcome greed and desires.
If a donor accepts the Sponsoring Member status, the Association may acknowledge the Sponsoring Members in its communication in the manner specified by the Association, subject to the sponsor’s approval.
Sponsoring Members are differentiated based on the sum of their financial contributions established by the Sponsoring Levels (see 3).
No financial contribution shall be accepted under the Sponsorship Membership if the sponsor expects any form of consideration in return for their offer.

2.3 Administrative Members

“Administrative Members are natural persons who are appointed by the General Assembly to manage or administer the Association in achieving its purpose.”
A natural person who takes on an official role in managing or administering the Association may earn the title of Administrative Member.
An official role in management or administration refers to holding a position within the Association’s formal organizational structure, with leadership, business, financial, operational, or communication responsibilities.
Any member or the Board may propose a candidate for Administrative Membership. The status is granted once the General Assembly reviews and formally approves the nomination. The Spiritual Director may also participate in the process by conducting a divination, voting in the General Assembly, or exercising veto power.
Administrative Membership remains valid for the duration of the member’s role. Once the holder of the Administrative Membership leaves the active managing or administering role in the Association, their Administrative Membership is automatically revoked.
Administrative Members have the right to vote in the General Assembly and may participate with one vote.

2.4 Honorary Members

“Honorary Members are natural persons who are appointed by the General Assembly for special services to the Association. They generally support the Association by virtue of their professional or social excellence and reputation.”
Honorary Members can be:

1. Former Standard and Administrative Members who in the past, participated significantly in the development of the Association, or
2. Persons who serve the Association’s purposes by leveraging their social recognition and network of connections.

According to the Statutes of the Association, the Honorary Membership status does not require payment of membership fees. However, an Honorary Member may choose to offer payment of membership fees.

3. Membership Fees

4. Membership Benefits

The following table summarises the membership benefits for all three membership categories:

Welcome gift: As well as a certificate, the welcome gift is an item blessed by Rinpoche (e.g. mala, pendant, wristband, etc.). The idea is to create a physical and personal bond that reminds people of their membership with Dzokden Kalapa.

5. Membership Directory

Members are registered in the membership directory.
The membership directory is represented in Google Sheet with the following fields:

The Google drive location of the Membership Directory:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1yoEOAfLuhhVKC9mz5cHsGwG_KxqE423mrSQfZqVxiMA/edit?usp=sharing

The membership directory can be published on the kalapa.org website in a GDPR-compliant manner.

6. Membership management processes