Affiliates / Partners

Any member(s) of ABSA International (ABSA) who desires to establish a link between ABSA and a local or international association with goals and principles similar to those of ABSA, which that member is associated may petition to establish that organization as an ABSA affiliate.

Affiliate Overview

Domestic and International

• There are no links to ABSA implying or stating ownership or oversight in terms of the Affiliates management.
• A petitioning organization must submit its own Constitution and By-Laws (in English) to the ABSA Council for review to ensure that they do not conflict with the ABSA By-Laws.
• Dues paid to an Affiliate organization and any other financial matters are not the responsibility of ABSA nor are they regulated by ABSA.
• The Affiliate organization is not accountable to ABSA for any decisions made by that organization provided that they are not in conflict with the ABSA By-Laws.
• ABSA Council may request correspondences (e.g., council meeting and general meeting minutes), publications and activities to prove activeness of the association. ABSA will maintain data protection compliance.
• Affiliates do not fall under ABSA’s group exemption with the IRS and should apply for “not-for-profit” status on their own.
• Disputes within the Affiliate organization would be the responsibility of that organization to resolve.
• ABSA Council reserves the right to remove Affiliate status after an appropriate hearing.

Petitioning Requirements

Domestic Status:

• A petition for Affiliate status signed by a minimum of ten (10) members from the petitioning organization, of which five (5) shall be current ABSA members in good standing.
• Current association President / Leader must be an ABSA member.
  • Member status in ABSA is not required for the remainder of the petitioning organization’s membership•
• Council may request access to the petitioning organizations Membership Directory.

International Status:

• A petition for International Affiliate status signed by a minimum of ten (10) members from the petitioning organization, of which one (1) shall be current ABSA member in good standing.
  • Member status in ABSA is not required for the remainder of the petitioning organization’s membership.
• Written verification, signed by three (3) Association Leaders (Board member or Council leader) certifying the number of members in their association.

Petitioning Procedures
For petitioning of Affiliate or International Affiliate status, submit the following to the ABSA office info@absa.org, attention Michelle Gehrke:

• Signed petition by ten (10) members. Be sure to indicate which are also ABSA members.
• Constitution and By-Laws (must be submitted in English).
• For International status—three (3) signatures from Association Leaders verifying the current
  number of members in association.
• For Affiliate (domestic) status – membership directory (if requested).