The normal process for leading up to Global membership, in most cases, requires a successful application for Regional Membership. Only after a period of at least three years of Regional Membership, may Global Membership be considered.

PROCESS

Introduction: 

The normal process for leading up to Global membership, in most cases, requires a successful application for Regional Membership. Only after a period of at least three years of Regional Membership, may Global Membership be considered.

The Round Square Board (in consultation with Full Member Schools and the Regional Directors), determines the priorities for new membership, as well as the rate of growth of the organization.

An interested school should submit the Round Square Membership Enquiry Form to the appropriate Regional Director.

If this application is successful, the Round Square Application for Regional Membership Form is submitted to the Regional Director, a copy to the Executive Director (brian@roundsquare.org) and a copy to the Business Secretary  (jane@roundsquare.org ). If the Applicant School falls within the current membership priorities of the Round Square Board, the Regional Director will designate a Head to visit and evaluate the School for global membership. The Executive Director may also visit the School.  The cost of these visits is assumed by the Applicant School.

PRIOR TO ANY VISIT OF A SCHOOL by the Regional Director (or designee), as part of a membership application process, consultation with the Executive Director MUST take place to ensure that the organization’s principles of growth and diversity are acknowledged and supported.

The evaluation is shared with the Regional Director and the Regional Membership Committee, who make a formal recommendation to the Membership Committee of the Round Square Board.  The Membership Committee of the Round Square Board then reviews, endorses, and makes a formal recommendation to the Round Square Board at its March or October meeting.

The Regional Director informs the Applicant School of the results of the application and Executive Director and Chairman of Round Square writes a congratulatory letter to the new Regional Member School.

Global membership may be requested by a regional school, but applicants are reminded that there is a current program of sourcing member schools in under or non represented regions.

After a successful application The new Global Member School is officially accepted at the Round Square Annual General Meeting of the International Conference. 

If an applicant School is not accepted for Global Membership at any stage, the Regional Director communicates the reasons with the School. The School may remain a Regional Member.

An Applicant School could attend an International Conference as an observer. 

In a few cases, a School may be fast tracked into Global Membership in a shorter time frame. In this situation, the Executive Director must visit the school prior to recommending it for Global Membership or delegate a senior member of the secretariat to visit the school.

Schools that have been Regional members of Round Square for at least three years, may apply to the Regional Director for consideration for Global membership.

However, prospective applicants are reminded of the decision taken in 2008 in Canada. The 2008 International Conference in Canada incorporated a consideration of the question of growth of the organisation. The topic was discussed at length by Heads and Governors and consensus reached on the way forward. It was agreed that the continued growth of Round Square in terms of its member schools and influence should be supported and that the challenges presented by this (e.g. Conferences) should be addressed as required but should not be seen as a barrier to continue further expansion.

Whilst there is much work to be done in evaluating the type of growth that should take place, the speed at which it should occur and in particular the need for addressing the issue of diversity with membership, (however this is defined), the notion of continued expansion was unequivocally supported by all in attendance.  It is interesting to note that the Governors in a separate meeting arrived at the same conclusion.

Essentially our agreed direction is

1. To grow strategically (‘intelligently’) over the next two to three years, emphasising growth in unrepresented or under-represented areas as a means of extending our diversity.
2. To follow a plan which addresses the issue of longer term growth and which is endorsed by the current membership.

This will mean that full membership in over represented regions may be limited whist the question of under represented regions and less resourced schools is addressed. However, regional membership, and in some cases, Global membership, still remains an option in the over represented regions and I would urge you to consider this. It is likely that in the fullness of time, existing regional members might become Global Members.