How to Become a Member

( Click here to Register Online ) 

Introduction

Membership is conducted through written application. The EAGC Board of Directors has discretionary authority to review membership applications and determine eligibility and appropriateness of applicants based on agreed criteria. No applicant who has an arbitration ruling outstanding is accepted as a member.

At appropriate intervals a list of applicants is disseminated to Council members; at which time they have 15 days to lodge in writing to the Board any objections to an application. The Board may consider an objection in their application approval process but has authority to make the final decision.

Membership Categories

Membership has three categories of Active, Affiliated, and Associated. Members also register under any or all of the following groups: (1) Grain Producer (2) Grain Trader; and (3) Grain Processor. EAGC is founded, held in trust, and governed by the Active and Affiliated Members and all services are focused on their needs and requirements. Members and the BOARD can add or change categories through a constitutional amendment approved through an agreed constitutional process.

Active Members : M embers who join as individual companies, cooperatives, associations, or other types of representative organizations from the three core grain sub-sectors; grain producers, traders and processors. These members have voting rights, representational privileges, and access to all services of the Council.


Affiliated Members: Key associations that represent one or more recognised grain sub-sectors (producers, traders and processors) at the national level. Each organisation shall have the right to one vote representing its members' views. Registered active and affiliate members are afforded equal status and equal voice regardless of size, type, and sector.

The Association as a single unit has the same rights and access to services as an Active Member, but members of these associations must join the Council directly as Active Members in order to benefit from the full range of EAGC services.

As an alternative, members of these associations may choose to join the EAGC as a Recorded Affiliate . As a Recorded Affiliate the organisation may register their contracts with the EAGC and thereby build up a history with the EAGC. However a Recorded Affiliate has no voting rights or the right to discounted member service costs (such as reduced arbitration fees due to registered contracts; arbitration registration cost would be based as a non member) or other EAGC member services.

Associated Members . This is a broad member base which includes allied industries, service providers, international organizations and interested individuals who operate within and outside the Council area of operation. Although services are not focused on Associate Members, nor are they involved in the governance process, Associate Members are strongly encouraged to participate in EAGC activities, and lend active technical and other support to EAGC programs and services. They have access to websites and news information and may enjoy event discounts at the discretion of the BOARD.

Membership Fees

1. All members, regardless of category (Recorded Affiliate is an exception), pay a one-time registration fee and a subscription fee. Fee rates are based on membership category.
   
2. EAGC offers members an option of a one-year or a five-year annual subscription plan. The five-year plan provides a 20% discount.
   
3. All fees and subscriptions are determined and approved by the Board. The Board maintains the right to adjust registration fees, and the annual and 5-year subscription rates, at its discretion and shall inform members within two weeks of such adjustments. Fee and rate adjustments do not affect members in good standing and only apply to new members and to member subscriptions at time of one-year or five-year renewals.
   
4. A member's one-year or five-year subscription period commences on the date that annual subscription fees (and registration fee in the case of new members) are received.
   
5. Upon registration, the member is given a membership number, a certificate of membership and copies of Council operating documents including but not limited to the following: the Bylaws, EAGC operation manual including the standard terms of trade, arbitration procedures, and template contract forms.

EAGC Bylaws & Regulations

These Bylaws and Regulations constitute an agreement between EAGC and its members. Each member agrees to be bound by these Bylaws and Regulations and any amendments thereto, and by the lawful action of the Board of Directors, or voting members of the Council.
Download the EAGC Bylaws & regulations