AIARD Membership Committee

Eloise Carter, Co-Chair
Ryan Moore, Co-Chair

The Membership Committee works to build membership. It does so by engaging a wide and diverse array of university faculty, students, private sector representatives, government staff, NGO and international development sector colleagues and others who are interested in international agriculture and rural development to join the Association.

Priorities

1. Develop and implement plans to establish at least 3 pilot student chapters of AIARD to expand membership and build a base for the future. These pilot chapters will serve to identify how AIARD can identify and respond to the needs of future development professionals and others interested in AIARD goals and objectives, while retaining responsiveness to the traditional AIARD membership;
2. Develop and implement a plan to establish at least 2 pilot affiliate or organizational memberships, with at least one from an organization or group overseas. These memberships would not replace individual memberships, but would supplement them with institutions, businesses or groups who can both contribute to and benefit from AIARD membership. Examples might include: a group of interested professionals from another country; private companies; universities; research institutions; non-governmental organizations; citizen groups and others, and,
3. Continue the successful two for one recruitment effort, which asks each AIARD member to recruit two new members with interests and commitment to AIARD goals and objectives.

Progress to Date:

A student chapter strategy (charter document and guidelines) has been developed and approved by the Executive Committee (see attached). Five universities have indicated an interest in establishing a pilot chapter, and initial planning efforts are underway at four of them.

Principles and issues have been identified, and a strategy is being drafted to address guidelines for establishment of affiliate or organizational AIARD memberships. Potential members are being identified by committee members. Once the draft strategy document has been reviewed, submitted, revised as needed and accepted by the Executive Committee, efforts to establish at least one will proceed.

The Membership Committee continues to coordinate its efforts closely with those of the Executive Committee and other subcommittees. Examples include, revising the content of the AIARD charter and Web pages to respond to student members and chapters, coordinating Chapter and Affiliate dues with the Finance subcommittee and Executive Committee; potential for student sections or focus groups at the national meeting and in the newsletter.

Membership Application
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