Article 10. Admission to the Union

10.1 Membership of the Union is voluntary. Members of the Union can become citizens of Georgia and foreign countries at the age of 16, who recognize the Charter of the Union, expresses full readiness to fulfill the statutory goals and mission and who has applied to the Board of Directors for membership and has submitted positive and substantiated affirmations to at least 3 current members of the Union.

10.2 Associates and Honorary Members may be admitted to the Association. An associate and honorary member of the Union may become a natural person.

10.3 An Honorary Member shall not pay any membership fee, shall enjoy the right of deliberative voting only. It may not be elected by the governing or supervisory authorities of the Union. The status of an honorary member shall be granted by the decision of the Board (without submitting the application, but with the consent of the person) upon the proposal of at least 3 members of the Board. Candidate for Honorary membership only fills in the application form;

10.4 By decision of the Board of the Association, new associate members may be admitted to the union on the basis of a written application on behalf of the board, provided that membership in the union (association) represents a significant condition for the latter.

10.5 Any member has the right to freely leave the Association. The issue of leaving the Union (Association) member shall be considered by the Board within no more than three months. A union member shall be considered a member of the previous union at least if no decision has been taken within three months of his / her application to the board. The expiry of the said period shall not be imposed upon an honorable cause.

10.6 If a member by its actions interferes with the achievement of its goals or if the member’s actions have impaired the honor, dignity or business reputation of the Union, or if there are other substantive grounds, the Union Board may expel it from the Union. The said decision may be appealed by a member of the court;

10.7 Membership of the Union may be terminated by a decision of the Board of the Union in the following cases:

(A) on the basis of a personal statement of a natural person;
(B) In case of non-payment of membership fee of 6 (six) months, if there is no motivated factual fact;
(C) failure to comply with the statutory requirements of the Union, as well as with the interests or reputation of the Union, or its attempt to infringe;
(D) in case of violation of the “rules of conduct” of the members of the union;
(E) in case of joining other NGOs or other associations (with similar aims and directions). Contrary to internationally recognized international animal protection norms or union interests. As well as joining other non-animal protection organizations if the matter is not agreed with the union board.
(F) in case of the death of a union member.
(G) in the presence of other objective reasons.

10.8 Membership of a Union may be terminated by the persons established by the Union in accordance with the provisions of Article 10.7.

10.9 To join the union (associate member), together with the application and the card data, the applicant must submit a copy of the ID card, an autobiography, relevant recommendations and 2 color photographs to the union board.

10.10 The Board of the Union shall, within six months of receipt of the application, on the basis of an interview with the applicant, decide whether or not to join the Union.

Article 11. Rights and Obligations of Associate Members

11.1 A member of the Union may:

(A) elect and be elected in the governing bodies of the Union;
(B) participate in the work of the General Meeting of the Union;
(C) participate in, develop and discuss Union programs and projects;
(D) be familiar with the decisions taken by the Union’s management bodies;
(E) leave the union willingly.

11.2 A member of the Union shall be responsible for:

(A) to comply with the requirements of the Charter of the Union, its interests and reputation;
(B) obey the “rules of conduct” approved by the Union;
(C) facilitate the implementation of the objectives and functions of the Union;
D) to pay timely membership dues of the  Union in the amount and manner prescribed by the Board;
(E) to provide, at the request of the Association, any additional data or amendments thereto in the interest of organizing the list of Members.
(F) protect the confidentiality of the Union’s activities.
(G) take care of the name and authority of the union (association).

11.3 In the interests of the Union, one or more of the rights provided for in the Charter may be restricted to a member by a decision of the Board of the Union for a specified period.

Article 12 – Suspension, termination, and termination of membership

The Board of the Union shall decide on the suspension, termination, and expulsion of a member’s powers.