Membership By-Laws

The WorkOnward Foundation Professional Membership program exists to recognise achievement, uphold standards of practice, strengthen mission-aligned community, and create a trustworthy framework for professional recognition across STEM and AI.

Membership administration operates under authority delegated by the Foundation's Board and remains subject to applicable nonprofit law, adopted Foundation governance documents, and policies approved through the Foundation's formal decision-making structure.

Where any conflict exists between these By-Laws and superior governing authority, the superior authority controls and these By-Laws should be interpreted as closely as possible to remain operative.

The membership classes are Student Member, Affiliate Member, Member, Senior Member, Fellow, and Honorary Fellow.

Each class has its own eligibility criteria, rights, responsibilities, dues expectations, and progression rules. Published descriptions may be updated from time to time so long as material changes remain consistent with adopted governance.

Honorary Fellow is a recognition category awarded by the Board and is not part of the ordinary public application pathway.

Applications and nominations must be reviewed according to grade-specific criteria published by the Foundation. Intake completeness review may be handled administratively, but substantive admission decisions must follow the grade's stated review path.

Advancement into Senior Member or Fellow requires documented peer or committee review. Fellow decisions must be nomination-based and cannot be granted solely through a self-submitted application.

The Foundation may request clarification, correction, or supplemental materials where the record is incomplete, inconsistent, or inadequate for a fair decision.

Annual dues, discounts, waivers, and renewal windows are set by the Foundation and published with the membership fee schedule. Reduced-fee categories may include geographic, career-stage, hardship, or affinity-based adjustments approved by policy.

A member is in good standing when dues are current or formally waived, the member is not suspended or terminated, and no active sanction prevents use of grade privileges.

Failure to complete required payment after approval or renewal may delay activation, suspend benefits, or cause lapse in accordance with published policy.

Rights may include use of post-nominals, access to member communications, invitations to programs, nomination rights, and voting privileges where the grade explicitly provides them.

Voting rights attach only to grades designated as voting grades and may be suspended if the member is not in good standing.

No membership grade creates ownership rights in Foundation assets or independent authority to bind the Foundation unless such authority is separately granted through office, delegation, or contract.

Members must maintain accurate contact information, comply with the Code of Conduct and associated policies, and use membership status responsibly in public and professional contexts.

Members must not knowingly submit false renewals, conceal material conflicts in supporter or committee roles, or continue to claim an active grade after suspension, lapse, or termination.

A member who becomes materially ineligible to hold a grade should notify the Foundation where continued use of the grade would be misleading or contrary to policy.

The Membership Officer oversees recordkeeping, completeness checks, communications, process integrity, and day-to-day operational administration consistent with delegated authority.

Panels and committees may be constituted for admissions review, Fellowship review, interviews, discipline, appeals, fee waivers, and other membership functions. Their scope must be documented or reasonably inferable from adopted policy.

Committee members must disclose conflicts of interest and may be recused where impartial participation cannot be assured.

The Foundation may deliver notices by email, secure link, or other reasonable electronic means using the most recent contact information provided by the participant.

Membership records should be maintained sufficiently to document applications, supporter responses, decisions, payments, sanctions, and appeals. The Foundation may adopt record retention procedures consistent with privacy, legal, and risk-management requirements.

Minor administrative defects that do not materially prejudice fairness do not automatically invalidate a decision or action under these By-Laws.

A member may resign by written notice. Membership may lapse for non-payment, be suspended during or following conduct action, or be terminated for cause under the applicable policies.

Resignation or lapse does not erase prior conduct matters, unpaid balances, or continuing obligations relating to confidentiality, truthful representation, or post-termination use of Foundation credentials.

Where a member loses good standing, the Foundation may require immediate discontinuation of grade claims, post-nominals, or other active-member privileges.

Disciplinary matters are handled under the published Discipline & Appeals framework. Significant sanctions require documented reasoning and an opportunity for the affected person to respond unless immediate interim action is necessary for safety or integrity.

Appeals must be filed within the applicable deadline and should be reviewed by individuals who were not materially involved in the original decision wherever practical.

Appeal decisions are final within the Foundation's internal process unless the Board authorizes extraordinary review.

These By-Laws may be amended through the approval pathway established by the Foundation's Board. Material changes affecting dues, member rights, disciplinary standards, or admissions architecture should be published with reasonable notice where practical.

Published summaries or implementation notes may accompany amendments to clarify operational impact, but such notes do not override the adopted text.