ARTICLE 5

MEMBERSHIP

Section 5.01
Qualifications

Membership of the Islamic Center of Southern California shall be a privilege, granted at the discretion of the Board, and open to all Muslims who are in good standing in their community, and who endorse the general policies of the Center. Acceptance of membership shall constitute the member’s agreement to strictly abide by and support the mission, policies, Bylaws, and rules and regulations of the Center.

Section 5.02
Procedure
The following steps must be taken for a qualified person to meet the requirements for membership in the Center:

• Filling out a membership application form.
• Recommendation by two active members.
• Favorable recommendation by the membership committee.
• Approval by the Board.
• Signing the arbitration clause.
• Payment of dues.

Section 5.03
Types of Membership

Associate Membership
Those who have passed the above process (5.02) become associate members for a period of one year. During this period, associate members may serve on committees, but are not eligible to vote or hold an office.

Active Membership
Members who have served as associate members for one year and have fulfilled their membership obligations, are eligible to be active members by action of the Board. An active member shall have a vote in the General Membership meetings. Periodic review of the active membership list shall be made by the Board to determine the voting membership.

Honorary Membership
Honorary membership is a recognition of the services of individuals who have contributed generously to the welfare of Islam, and persons who have performed an outstanding service to the progress of this Center. Such an individual shall be recommended by an active member for the approval by the Board. The recipient should not be holding any elected position at the time. Honorary members are not voting members.

Affiliate Membership
An affiliate membership is a temporary membership available to the parents of the New Horizon Schools and the Sunday school students. Applicants for this class of membership must have children as students in one or more of these schools and must be recommended by the governing board of the appropriate school. They must also comply with the requirements of Section 5.01 (Qualifications) and Section 5.02 (Procedure) of this Article. Affiliate Members may serve on committees but are not eligible to vote or hold office. Affiliate Members may pay reduced dues. Affiliate Members are encouraged to apply for regular membership.

Inactive Membership
Any member who does not pay the dues assessed upon him within three (3) months of the notice of assessment shall have his/her voting privilege suspended; any member who fails to pay his/her dues for a period of one year from the date of said notice will cease to be a member. Voting privilege, however, shall be reinstated upon paying the dues and assessments before membership is terminated.

Section 5.04
Withdrawal
Any member may withdraw his/her membership in the Center by delivering to the Secretary in person or by mail addressed to the Secretary at the corporation’s principal office, a written request to withdraw. The withdrawal becomes effective on receipt of the request by the Secretary.

Section 5.05
Termination
A membership may be automatically terminated by the Board if membership dues or assessments, or any part thereof, remain unpaid without proper justification after the expiration of the time of payment thereof prescribed pursuant to or by these Bylaws. This automatic termination is final; however, such terminated member may apply for new membership.

Any member who has been convicted of a felony or of a criminal offense involving moral turpitude shall be subject to admonishment, censure, suspension or expulsion from this Center by Board action which is final.

Actions by any member that are deemed contrary to the general interest of Islam or of the mission, policies and welfare of the Center will be a cause for suspension of one or more of the member’s privileges or termination of membership. A two-third (2/3) majority vote of the Board is necessary for such action. The member shall be notified in writing and, in case of termination, s/he will have the right to appeal such decision to the Board. If the Board upholds its decision, the member may appeal the decision and ask for a vote by the general membership in a meeting called on the petition of thirty (30) voting members as set out in article 6 and if a two-thirds majority of the active membership present and voting, in a meeting where a quorum is present, approves, the terminated member shall be reinstated.