Association “INDIA” – Membership

Who can become member of Association “INDIA”

Members of the Association are all of the founders as well as any other legal person or legally responsible individual accepted as member in accordance with these statutes.

Any person above the age of 18 years who is an Indian or Person of Indian origin living in Bulgaria or their immediate family members like spouse, children or parents living in Bulgaria is eligible to be a member in the Association as long as said member remains in “good standing”.  A member is in “good standing” when the member pays his/her annual membership dues when required. A member is no longer in “good standing” when the member fails to pay his/her annual membership dues when required. The members under this clause shall be “Full Members”. The annual membership fee shall be BGN 20/-

Discounted memberships are extended to students and senior citizens (persons above the age of 60), to include additional complementary memberships may be granted to persons in key positions of authority as deemed appropriate by the Management Board, and voted upon by the general membership. Such persons shall not have any voting rights. The annual membership fee shall be BGN 10/-

If a member so elects, he or she may include within his or her membership any or all of the interested parties who reside in his or her household.  Such members should be “Household Members” of the Association. Regardless of the number of such Household Members, each Full Member of the Association shall be entitled to only one vote on each Association matter to be decided by a vote of the Full Members.  Only the Full Members are entitled to participate in any prize drawing that require membership. Yet at any time any Household Member may become a Full Member by paying the fee appropriate to becoming a member.

Membership Category and Annual Membership Fee

• General memberships (Fee 20 BGN)
• Student memberships (Fee 10 BGN)
• Senior Citizen memberships (persons above the age of 60) (Fee 10 BGN)

The annual membership fee entitles you to membership in the Association for the current calendar year. The membership start date is considered as of the first of the month following approval by the Management Board and payment of your membership dues. New members are sent letters of acceptance. Applicants for membership are kindly requested to make payment upon receipt of the formal letter of acceptance. Membership becomes effective after payment of the initial membership fees. Membership Fees can be transferred to Bank Account provided in the membership form.
The application for membership can be accepted or could be denied by the Management Board without stating any reasons thereof.

Benefits of being a member of Association

Members in good standing in the association will have access to all the meetings of the association. Notice of a meeting will be given to members before the meeting which will include the time, place, and object of the meeting.
Members in good standing in the association will have priority access over non-members to all the social activities like cultural events & festivals, sports, excursions and enjoyment of the subject matter. Invitation for the same shall be extended to the members well before it is extended to the non-members.
Members in good standing in the association will have improved contacts and communications within the expat Indian community living in Bulgaria.

Rights of a member of Association

Members in good standing in the association will have right to vote on all important matters.
Members in good standing in the association will have right to contest elections of the executive body of the association.
Members in good standing in the association will have right to be part of various committees of the association.

General Notes

1. Admission to the Association is a matter within the complete and exclusive purview of the association. The association has the right to select its members.
2. Membership in the Association is not a constitutional right, but simply a privilege. It is a privilege which may be accorded or withheld. It is not a right that can be gained independently and then enforced.
3. Further, the right to be a member of the association is not conferred by any statute. It is by through the action and of assent of members of the association that one becomes associated with them in the common undertaking, and not by any outside agency or by the individual’s action.
4. The association possesses the inherent power to prescribe qualifications regulating its membership. Association has the right to make their own rules regarding admission and exclusion of members and these rules become articles of agreement to which all who become members are party to. Further the association may impose terms and conditions upon the membership as they may choose and members should comply with those terms and conditions in order to be entitled to the benefits of membership.
5. The Association may set its own membership qualifications and restrictions.
6. The membership in the association is voluntary. An individual is free to join or resign from an association. Membership in an association can be terminated by resignation or withdrawal by the member. However, an individual’s resignation from an association is subject to financial obligations due to the association. The bylaws and constitution of the association constitute a contract between the organization and its members. A member may resign by simple announcement of his intention to do so and no acceptance of the resignation is required to give it effect.
7. A member cannot by his/her own failure of an obligation terminate the responsibility which he/she had assumed.
8. Membership in the association will not cease ipso facto because of one’s failure to pay his/her dues within the time prescribed by the rules of the organization, so as to relieve him from further liability for such dues.
9. A member cannot by his/her own failure of an obligation terminate the responsibility which he/she had assumed, though the association might do so.
10. One who has been excluded from membership in the association may not recover damages for the exclusion, either from the association itself or from its members as individuals.
11. The association has the right to withhold its services and the benefits of membership from anyone who refuses to comply with its reasonable rules and regulations.
12. The right of expulsion from the association may be based upon two grounds:
    1. a violation of any of the established rules of the association as have been subscribed or assented to by the members which provide expulsion for such violation; and
    2. for conduct that clearly violates the fundamental objectives of the association and if allowed to persist would thwart those objectives or bring the association into disrepute.