Membership

Member benefits:

  • Reduced registration rates to NAASC-organized International Conferences on Arabidopsis Research (ICAR)*
    *Membership must be current at the time of the ICAR to receive the discounted registration rate

  • Eligibility to apply for NAASC-organized ICAR registration fee waivers, e.g., ICAR 2024

  • Early access to/discounts for seminars & events

  • Ability to nominate/be nominated for community awards

  • Access to the new Arabidopsis Community (AC) Reddit board for sharing protocols, best practices, gear & reagent advice, resources, solutions to common problems, conversations, and discussions.

  • Free job postings and listings on the AC Reddit board

  • 5% of member fees go to the Equity Fund for direct support of those in need that are ineligible for other funding streams (e.g., for ICAR support)

  • Support of fundamental plant biology & diversity, equity, inclusion & belonging in plant biology

  • Opportunities to contribute to community initiatives (via survey or as a community committee member)

  • (North American members only) Voting rights for NAASC Board of Directors and Early Career Scholars members

  1. Establishing Membership

Membership in the Arabidopsis Community by NAASC is open to all individuals that have an interest in Arabidopsis research, education, outreach, and training including attendees of NAASC-sponsored conferences, events, or workshops as well as individuals specifically requesting membership. We welcome individuals of all nationalities, relevant disciplines and organization types. NAASC does not discriminate with respect to membership on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, marital status, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, sexual preference/orientation, gender identity, or veteran status.

  1. An application for membership in the Arabidopsis Community (AC) will include name, email address, career position, area(s) of research and/or education and/or training, and affirmation that the NAASC/AC Code of Conduct will be followed.

    1. Applicant shall be notified after membership has been validated. A rejection of an application does not need to state the grounds for refusal.

    2. The membership shall be effective upon validation and payment of the membership fee.

  2. Anticipated membership benefits may include (a) Discounted registration to NAASC-organized ICARs; (b) Eligibility to apply for NAASC funding for ICAR; (c) Access to the new Arabidopsis Community (AC) Reddit board for sharing protocols, best practices, gear & reagent advice, resources, solutions to common problems, conversations, and discussions.; (d) Discounts to NAASC-organized workshops and other events; (e) Eligibility to nominate, apply, for, and receive, AC awards; (f) Free job postings and listings on the AC Reddit board; (g) Access to members-only events; (h) 5% of member fees go to the Arabidopsis Community Equity Fund ; (i) Support of fundamental plant biology; (j) Opportunities to contribute to community initiatives and (k) (North American members only) Voting rights for NAASC Board of Directors and Early Career Scholars members

  3. Termination of Membership

    1. A Member may declare withdrawal of membership by written notice, including electronic communication, without stating reason.

    2. Membership ends if membership fee (if any) is not renewed.

    3. A Member may be expelled from the Arabidopsis Community in accordance with the following:

      1. If the membership is unacceptable to the NAASC in particular in the following cases:

        1. A serious breach by that Member of the provisions of these Statutes, the internal regulations or the decisions of its bodies, which cannot be remedied or is not remedied within 30 calendar days after a written notice sent to that effect by the Board of Directors;

        2. Bringing NAASC or the Arabidopsis Community into disrepute or similar unethical behavior, as judged by the Board of Directors .

        3. Violation of the NAASC/AC Code of Conduct

      2. Any reputable individual or organization can recommend in writing to the Board of Directors that an AC Member should be expelled, with documented reason(s) why the membership is unacceptable to the Community. The Board of Directors shall review the request within a reasonable period, and will decide by simple majority vote whether to dismiss the request or to proceed with a termination proceeding.

      3. If a termination proceeding is initiated by the Board of Directors, the Member in question will be immediately suspended. During the suspension, the Member cannot execute any rights of Membership, notably his/her voting rights.

      4. The Member in question will be notified via email and registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt at least 28 days prior to the termination proceeding. The Board of Directors will communicate reason(s)/evidence for potential expulsion and will lay out next steps, including immediate suspension of membership rights and a reasonable deadline for the Member to respond with their views about the envisaged exclusion.

      5. In the termination proceeding, the Board of Directors will meet via conference call. The Board will decide how best to bring the matter to the Membership for determination on how best to proceed.

      6. Any expulsion decision does not need to be justified and is final. The expulsion shall be effective as of the date of the decision and the former Member shall be notified by registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt within 15 calendar days.

      7. If a Member is expelled, fees paid will be considered for refund on a case-by-case basis by the Membership committee but are not guaranteed to be refunded.