Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2009 21:28:20 -0500
From: "Mike B." <omni at omniphile.com>
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: Good last-minute save, WSFA
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>

lees103 at verizon.net wrote:

>  Of course, the paragraph
> also raises the question of "good standing."

"Member in good standing" is a commonly used phrase in many rules,
bylaws and other legal documents.  I generally means that the person has
paid all required dues, satisfied all requirements for membership, and
continues to satisfy requirements for membership, whatever those may be.
  Examples of requirements are things like attending required meetings,
submitting required information, performing required duties, etc.  A
member not in good standing might be one on probation, one temporarily
expelled for some reason, one who has let dues lapse, who has resigned
from membership, etc.

For example, the Florida Bar defines it at
http://www.floridabar.org/names.nsf/Member%20in%20Good%20Standing?OpenAgent
as:

(a) Members in Good Standing. Members of The Florida Bar in good
standing shall mean only those persons licensed to practice law in
Florida who have paid annual membership fees or dues for the current
year and who are not retired, resigned, delinquent, inactive, or
suspended members.

The Department of Labor web pages at
http://www.dol.gov/DOL/allcfr/esa/Title_29/Part_401/29CFR401.15.htm
quote 29 CFR 401.15 as:

29 CFR 401.15 - Member or member in good standing.

         Member or member in good standing, when used in reference to a
labor organization, includes any person who has fulfilled the
requirements for membership in such organization, and who neither has
voluntarily withdrawn from membership nor has been expelled or suspended
from membership after appropriate proceedings consistent with lawful
  provisions of the constitution and bylaws of such organization.

I'm sure we could find lots more examples, but you get the idea I'm
sure.  In relation to WSFA it means that if the person has at some point
in the past attended 3 meetings, filled out an application, gotten the
required signatures, submitted them, and paid the $10 dues for the
current year, and hasn't resigned, quit, etc., nor been ejected by the
proper procedures, they are a "member in good standing".

> It's rare that a truly
> offensive person offends only one other person.  Therefore, a host who
> barred a WSFA member from his home for cause might well make the case that
> the cause also justifies WSFA revoking membership as Mike suggests.

I'm sure that this idea is why WSFA's expulsion rules require a number
of signatures on a petition to get expulsion considered, and a
supermajority of the members present voting for expulsion, after there
has been time for everyone eligible to vote to consider the matter.  It
isn't easy to eject anyone, nor should it be.  There needs to be serious
cause before such action should be taken.  Has it ever happened?

-- Mike B.