At the Society’s National Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Tauranga earlier this year in May, members decided that it was time the Society adopted a simpler and more streamlined approach to membership.
Up until now, each branch has set its own membership fees, including the number and type of membership categories (classes), and the fee to be paid for each category. At the National AGM, members decided that a new membership fee structure would be implemented across all branches, to take effect 1st January 2024. From that date, all branches will use the same membership classes, and all branches will charge the same fees.
At the National Executive meeting in August, a two-step process for implementing these changes was agreed.
Firstly, three ‘core’ classes of membership will be created — fulltime student, individual, and family/couple. Members of the Society in these classes will be eligible to stand for positions at branch and national level, to vote at branch AGMs, and to put themselves forward as branch delegates to the National AGM. Votes will be counted as one for a fulltime student or individual, and two for a family or couple.
Secondly, there will be one annual fee for each class of membership — $10 for a fulltime student, $20 for an individual, and $30 for a family/couple. Branches are able to provide discounts for unwaged members in any of these categories, at the discretion of the branch committee. The description ‘unwaged’ also applies to those receiving a pension and other beneficiaries.
There is s small wrinkle, in that some branches may have already set their fees for 2024 during their branch AGMs. For these branches, they’ll need to call a Special General Meeting (SGM) to agree the changed membership fee structure. For all other branches, notification by branch newsletter should be sufficient.
For members, it’s simple. When you renew your annual membership towards the end of the year, you’ll choose your new membership category and pay your new membership fee (plus any donation, of course).
Friends of NZCFS — you’re welcome to continue to read our newsletters and attend selected events at no charge. If you want to help other New Zealanders connect with and better understand China, please consider joining us as a member. You can choose your local branch from the NZCFS website and apply online.
Businesses, corporates and institutions — we love the support you give us at a national and branch level. We can negotiate a financial contribution with you that matches our need and your willingness to give. Please contact your local branch or the National Secretary for further information. If you want to participate as a voting member, however, you’ll need to join as an individual member or family/couple.
