Membership Terms and Conditions

1. About APANY Membership

APANY is a New York not-for-profit charitable corporation recognized as exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Membership provides eligible individuals and organizations with a formal relationship to APANY and an opportunity to support the Corporation’s mission, goals, projects, programs, and community work.

2. Membership Eligibility

Eligibility for APANY membership depends on the membership class for which an individual or organization qualifies.

APANY’s Board of Directors may establish qualifications and criteria for membership, including a schedule of dues, permitted waivers, application procedures, and requirements or prohibitions applicable to prospective members, provided those requirements remain consistent with applicable law, APANY’s Certificate of Incorporation, and Corporate By-Laws.

Applicants are responsible for providing complete and accurate information necessary for APANY to determine the appropriate membership classification and process the membership.

3. Membership Categories

APANY’s Corporate By-Laws establish three classes of membership: Active Members, Associate Members, and Honorary Members.

4. Membership Term and Renewal

APANY’s Membership Committee is responsible for membership retention, outreach, ongoing communications with members, maintaining a list of current members, and membership renewals.

Membership terms, renewal procedures, applicable deadlines, and payment schedules will be communicated through APANY’s current approved membership materials and enrollment process.

Nothing in these Terms creates an automatic renewal obligation unless an automatic or recurring payment arrangement is expressly disclosed and authorized by the member through APANY’s approved payment process.

Members are responsible for keeping their contact information reasonably current so APANY can maintain accurate membership records and provide appropriate communications.

5. Membership Dues and Contributions

APANY’s Board of Directors may establish a schedule of membership dues and may authorize waivers consistent with APANY’s Corporate By-Laws.

The dues or contribution applicable to a membership transaction will be the amount stated in APANY’s then-current approved membership materials or enrollment process.

Payment of dues or a membership contribution does not change a member’s membership class or create voting, Board, Officer, or other governance rights beyond those provided by APANY’s governing documents.

Each member will be issued appropriate evidence or proof of membership. Membership and evidence of membership are nontransferable.

6. Refunds and Cancellations

Refund requests relating to membership dues or contributions are governed by APANY’s Donation and Refund Policy and any applicable payment-processing terms disclosed at the time of payment.

If APANY offers a recurring payment option, instructions for canceling future recurring charges will be provided through the applicable enrollment or payment process.

A cancellation or refund does not alter APANY’s governing documents or create membership or governance rights not otherwise provided by the Corporate By-Laws.

7. Membership Benefits

APANY may make programs, communications, events, volunteer opportunities, member activities, or other benefits available to eligible members from time to time.

Specific benefits may vary by membership class, program, event, availability, or applicable eligibility requirements. Separate registration or payment may also apply to individual programs or events.

Descriptions of membership benefits on APANY’s website, communications, or enrollment materials do not modify the voting or governance rights established by APANY’s Corporate By-Laws.

8. Voting and Governance Rights

Active Members

Active Members are APANY’s voting membership class under the membership provisions of the Corporate By-Laws.

Subject to APANY’s governing documents and applicable qualifications, Active Members may:

• vote on matters presented to the voting membership;
• participate in the election of Directors;
• serve on the Board of Directors; and
• serve as Officers of APANY.

Associate and Honorary Members

Associate Members and Honorary Members do not have voting rights and may not serve on APANY’s Board of Directors or as Officers.

Associate and Honorary Members may serve on eligible Committees of the Corporation that are advisory in nature and do not have authority to bind APANY.

9. Membership Meetings

APANY’s Corporate By-Laws provide for an Annual Meeting of members entitled to vote and permit Special Meetings to be called in the circumstances described in the By-Laws.

The Corporate By-Laws govern matters including meeting notices, eligibility to vote, record dates, quorum, proxies, electronic participation, voting procedures, and actions taken by the membership.

These Terms are a public-facing summary and do not replace those meeting and voting procedures.

10. Termination of Membership

Membership may be terminated only in accordance with APANY’s Corporate By-Laws and applicable law.

Termination by the Membership

Membership may be terminated, with or without cause, by majority vote of the membership authorized to vote — Active Members — at the Annual Meeting or at a Special Meeting of the membership called for that purpose.

Termination by the Board of Directors

The Board of Directors may terminate membership for cause by majority vote at a Regular Meeting or Special Meeting of the Board called for that purpose.

Under the Corporate By-Laws, failure to timely remit required membership dues, if any, constitutes sufficient cause for termination of membership by vote of the Board.

These Terms do not create a separate termination procedure or expand the termination authority established by APANY’s governing documents.

11. Use of APANY Name and Authority

Membership does not, by itself, authorize a member to enter into contracts, incur obligations, collect or commit funds, make official representations, or otherwise bind APANY.

Members serving on committees or in other volunteer capacities must act within the authority assigned to them under APANY’s governing documents and any applicable Board authorization.

APANY’s Corporate By-Laws designate the President as the Officer authorized to speak on behalf of the Corporation unless that authority has been delegated or otherwise authorized in accordance with the By-Laws or by the Board of Directors.

12. Privacy and Communications

APANY may maintain membership records and use membership information for legitimate organizational purposes including membership administration, renewals, communications, recordkeeping, programs, and other activities related to APANY’s operations and mission.

Personal information submitted through APANY’s website or membership process is handled in accordance with APANY’s Privacy Policy.

Members should maintain current postal, telephone, and electronic contact information with APANY so membership records and communications can be properly administered.

13. Tax Treatment

APANY is recognized as a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. That organizational status does not, by itself, determine the tax treatment of every individual membership payment.

APANY does not guarantee that membership dues, contributions, or other payments are fully tax-deductible. Members should rely on the applicable receipt or acknowledgment provided for the transaction and consult a qualified tax professional regarding their individual circumstances.

14. Changes and Governing Documents

APANY may update these Membership Terms to improve clarity, reflect administrative procedures, update cross-references, or address changes in APANY’s approved policies and operations.

No revision to this website policy, standing alone, amends APANY’s Certificate of Incorporation or Corporate By-Laws or changes the rights, entitlements, or obligations of APANY members established by those governing documents.

Amendments to APANY’s Corporate By-Laws, including provisions concerning membership rights, must be made through the procedures required by the Corporate By-Laws and applicable law.

If there is a conflict among these Membership Terms, the Corporate By-Laws, and the Certificate of Incorporation, APANY’s governing documents control in accordance with their terms.

These Terms are governed by the laws applicable to APANY as a New York not-for-profit corporation.

15. Contact APANY

Questions about membership classifications, applications, renewals, membership records, dues, or these Membership Terms may be directed to APANY.