Membership

Membership types are Active Full, Alumni, Founding, Associate, Honorary and Pledge.

Active Full members

Active Full members have been accepted into the club and have paid current annual dues. They must regularly participate in business meetings and events, follow the basic tenets of F.I.S.T. and demonstrate active support through service or social activities.

Active Full members may:

• Vote at business meetings in person or by digital vote.
• Wear a full F.I.S.T. backpatch.
• Attend and have a voice at business meetings.
• Receive membership rates at events.
• Hold office in F.I.S.T.
• Participate in committees during their first year.

First-year members are encouraged to serve on committees but are not eligible to serve on the Leadership Committee.

Alumni members

Alumni members were previously Active Full members, remained in good standing and no longer wish to maintain active membership. A person must have been an Active Full member for two years before moving to Alumni status. Alumni may choose whether to pay dues. Paid and unpaid Alumni remain on the F.I.S.T. membership roster; Alumni status signifies inactive status.

Alumni members may wear a full F.I.S.T. backpatch.

Founding members

Founding members are individuals who were F.I.S.T. members before 1999, remain in good standing and do not wish to maintain Active Full membership. Founding members who pay club dues receive Active Full member privileges. Founding members who do not pay dues receive Alumni privileges.

Associate members

Associate members want to participate actively in F.I.S.T. activities without committing to Full membership. An applicant for Associate status must submit a written application, be recommended by an Active Full member, complete one act of service for the club and receive a unanimous vote of the Full members present at a duly called meeting. Associates must follow all club rules.

Once approved, Associate members must pay annual dues, attend at least one open or F.I.S.T.-only event each year, volunteer for at least one F.I.S.T.-sponsored event each year and provide service support. Service may include advertising assistance, commenting on posts, creating memes, helping with planning discussions, purchasing seats at F.I.S.T.-sponsored tables at other events or similar support.

Associate members may:

• Attend F.I.S.T. events, including open business meetings.
• Wear an Associate F.I.S.T. backpatch.
• Receive member rates at events when dues are paid.

Honorary members

Honorary membership may be bestowed on a person who has gone to extraordinary lengths to support F.I.S.T. This designation is not limited by gender. Honorary members have no meeting, event or dues requirement. A candidate must be nominated by at least three Full members and approved by a two-thirds vote of the Full members present at a duly called meeting.

Honorary members may:

• Wear a small F.I.S.T. backpatch.
• Attend events as appropriate.
• Receive membership rates at events.

Active Full membership is open to applicants who agree with the values, purpose, policies and procedures of F.I.S.T.

1. An individual seeking membership submits an application to the F.I.S.T. Leadership Committee and requests Pledge status. The application may be submitted in person or through the F.I.S.T. website. Support from a F.I.S.T. sponsor or mentor strengthens an application.
2. A panel of Active Full members interviews the applicant and recommends whether the applicant should become a Pledge.
3. The membership votes through the planned voting mechanism. Acceptance as a Pledge requires a two-thirds majority of the members present who have voting privileges.
4. The accepted Pledge is matched with a mentor and notified of both decisions.
5. When the mentor believes the Pledge is ready, the mentor presents the Pledge at a club meeting. Acceptance as a Full member requires a unanimous vote of all votes cast by the Active Full members present.
6. After acceptance, the new member becomes eligible to wear the club backpatch.

Pledge status should last no longer than one year, but progress may also be evaluated through events attended and projects completed. Exposure to members and club service are expected. The measure is one project per month, with no fewer than six and no more than eight projects. A project extending beyond one month counts for each month of work; for example, a three-month project counts as three projects.

The membership may extend Pledge status when extenuating circumstances have prevented the Pledge from moving to Full membership.

Multi-club membership

Full members of service backpatch clubs may hold dual Full membership in F.I.S.T. when the other club’s leadership agrees. Full members of social backpatch clubs may not hold dual Full membership in F.I.S.T.

For example, a person may not be a Full member of both The Exiles and F.I.S.T., but may be an Associate member of F.I.S.T. and a Full member of The Exiles. A person may be a dual Full member of the Boys of Leather and F.I.S.T. when the Boys of Leather consent and do not use a full backpatch as part of their club. These examples reflect the organizations as constituted in November 2011.

After both clubs agree, the person seeking F.I.S.T. membership must complete the standard pledge process.

Reciprocal membership

F.I.S.T. members may attend events held by organizations with reciprocal agreements at member prices and, in some cases, with member privileges. F.I.S.T. members remain bound by the host organization’s rules.

Reciprocal members generally do not need separate vetting for events; a F.I.S.T. backpatch or digital membership card will serve as verification. Because members represent F.I.S.T. when using reciprocity, their conduct should reflect club values.

Reciprocity may allow F.I.S.T. to vouch for traveling members. Members visiting a city with a reciprocal organization should contact that organization in advance to confirm current events and policies.