Member States (discipline)
Diagram outlining the membership journey and status transitions, including active, inactive, honorary, suspended, and removed states, influenced by voting decisions, misconduct, and renewal choices.
🛑 Suspension, Expulsion, and Non-Renewal
Under Article II, §6, clubs have explicit authority to:
- Discipline
- Suspend
- Expel
- Decline to renew a member
This authority is broad but bounded by some conditions.
🔹 Grounds for Action
A club may take action against a member who:
- Fails to pay dues, or other minimum standards (such as attendance, if established by the club),
- Fails to support the club's purposes (e.g. promoting leadership and communication development),
- Does not constructively contribute to the club's program and activities,
- Acts against the ethical or behavioral standards set by the club or by Toastmasters International (including those in Policy and Protocol documents),
- Commits any other "just cause" determined by the club.
⚠️ Important: If the TI International President formally requests that a club expel a member for violating TI standards—and the club refuses—the club itself may be expelled from Toastmasters unless it can justify its decision to the Board.
🔹 Club Responsibilities in Taking Action
- The Constitution doesn't mandate a specific disciplinary process, but the club may establish its own routine procedures.
- This includes automatic removal for nonpayment or prolonged absence.
- Any such procedures must comply with TI's Policy and Protocol if one exists.
🔁 Membership State Model
Let's now map all possible member states and transitions, based on the Constitution.
🧭 Membership States
🗺️ Explanation of Transitions
| From | To |
| Prospective → Active | Invitation + majority vote + payment |
| Active → Inactive | Member request or long absence |
| Inactive → Active | Member request + available slot |
| Active or Prospective → Honorary | 2/3 vote of active members |
| Active/Inactive → Suspended/Expelled | Misconduct, nonpayment, or "just cause" |
| Active/Inactive → Removed (Non-renewed) | Club decision not to renew |
| Suspended → Prospective | Must reapply and be voted back in |
⚖️ Distinction Between Suspension and Expulsion
The Constitution does not define these terms precisely, so clubs may interpret them as:
| Status | Effect | Reinstatement |
| Suspended | Temporarily removed from rights/privileges; possibly still on rolls | May be reinstated without reapplying |
| Expelled | Removed from membership entirely | Must reapply and be voted in again |
✅ Strategic Implications for Clubs
- Use inactive status generously to avoid alienating infrequent members.
- Use suspension as a temporary step when resolving issues—especially if facts are in dispute.
- Use expulsion only with due care, documentation, and procedural fairness.
- Keep a membership standards policy on file (informal or formal), aligned with TI guidance, to justify any removal if challenged.
