Membership Policy
There are two general classes of membership: individual and organization. There are six subclasses of individual membership and two of organization. The requirements and privileges of membership are as follows:
Individual Memberships
Official Membership – All ABRA Directors, Standing Committee Chairpersons, and Rescue Affiliate Representatives are Official Members. Each Official Member in good standing may attend and participate at all ABRA meetings and exercise ABRA voting privileges. Official Members receive the ABRA Newsletter. Only Official Members are authorized to use the ABRA Banner or Logo, and then only on their official ABRA correspondence.
Personal Membership – Any individual who wishes to support ABRA purposes, principles, and functions may be an individual member. Personal members receive the ABRA Newsletter and may attend and participate at all ABRA meetings. Personal Members do not have voting privileges.
Family Membership – Two persons, each qualifying as a Personal Member, may share the same Personal Membership, its privileges, and ABRA Newsletter.
Contributing Membership – Any person qualifying as a Personal Member who contributes $50.00 or more during any calendar year is considered as a Contributing Member with all the privileges of Personal Membership. All contributions in excess of the Personal Membership annual dues may be considered tax deductible.
Honorary Membership – From time to time the Board of Directors, in consideration of outstanding contributions consistent with the purposes and principles of ABRA, may designate and renew an individual as an Honorary Member for a stated period of time. During such membership, the individual shall have all the privileges of a Personal Member, and membership dues for that member shall be waived.
Newsletter Only Membership – Any member of an ABRA rescue organization interested in keeping current with ABRA activities without being a Personal Member may subscribe to the ABRA Newsletter for the calendar year for a $5 annual subscription fee. Individuals who are not members of an ABRA rescue organization may subscribe to the ABRA Newsletter for the calendar year for a $10 annual subscription fee. Newsletter Only members may attend ABRA meetings upon invitation, but do not have voting privileges.
Organization Membership
Rescue Affiliate Membership
To become an ABRA Rescue Affiliate Member, an operating rescue group must be devoted solely to the Boxer breed, must apply to the ABRA Board of Directors for membership, and must document at least two years of ethical and effective performance in the rescue, care, and placing of Boxer dogs. The two-year minimum experience requirement may be waived at the discretion of the Board of Directors. The applicant also must be a state-approved non-profit organization, and must formally pledge and adhere to the ABRA Code of Ethics.
The ABRA Board of Directors certifies each Rescue Affiliate for a period of five years, after which the Affiliate must be renew its certification by updating its application. Each Rescue Affiliate must renew its membership dues annually to remain in good standing. Each must agree to site visits, from time to time, by an ABRA representative at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
Each Rescue Affiliate Organization has voting privileges and may cast one vote on each issue coming before the ABRA membership. Each ABRA Rescue Affiliate organization may appoint an Affiliate Representative, who must be an ABRA Individual Member in good standing, who may attend and participate in ABRA meetings and may exercise the organization voting privileges in the name of the Rescue Affiliate. With its annual membership, each Affiliate Organization is allocated two Personal Memberships, including annual Newsletter subscriptions, that may be assigned by the Organization to any two of its members so long as the Affiliate Organization remains in good standing.
Rescue Affiliate Organizations may apply for and receive first priority consideration for assistance from the ABRA Emergency Rescue Fund.
ABRA Rescue Affiliates in good standing that are not, themselves, certified as tax exempt charitable organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code may, when adhering to IRS regulations and ABRA requirements, apply for and be granted use of the the ABRA 501(c)(3) federal tax exemption.
Rescue Affiliate groups may use the designated ABRA Affiliate Banner on their Websites, their e-mail, and their written correspondence.
ABRA Rescue Affiliate members may be called on to provide guidance and mentoring for developing
ABRA Associate organizations in good standing.
ABRA Associate Membership
Any bona-fide operational animal rescue or humane organization that documents its activities, facilities and practices and that formally pledges and adheres to the ABRA Code of Ethics, irrespective of breed, may apply for and be accepted by the ABRA Board of Directors as an ABRA Associate Organization.
Each ABRA Associate is required to serve at least one year of probationary status that may be waived by the Board of Directors in the case of at least one year of documented effective and ethical performance. Each must agree to site visits, from time to time, by an ABRA representative at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Final certification will be for a period of five years, and may be renewed by updating the Associate application. ABRA Associate Organizations also must renew membership dues annually.
Each Associate Organization in good standing is allocated one Personal Membership, including an annual Newsletter subscription, that may be assigned by the Organization to any one of its members so long as the Organization remains in good standing. ABRA Associate Organizations do not have voting privileges.
Qualifying ABRA Associates in good standing are encouraged to obtain Rescue Affiliate certification, and may apply for guidance or mentoring from a Rescue Affiliate Organization. They also may apply and receive second priority assistance consideration from the ABRA Emergency Rescue Fund.
Certified ABRA Associate organizations may use the designated ABRA Associate Banner on their Websites, their e-mail, and their written correspondence.
All individual and organization annual membership dues (other than for Newsletter Only members) are $25.00.