Applying to join IVC

During the first few months, prospective members of IVC are usually expected to attend at least three events. There are two reasons why we do this. Firstly it gives you the opportunity to attend a variety of events before having to decide whether or not you would like to join. And just as importantly it gives us the chance to get to know you a little better.

Once you have decided you wish to join IVC, you will normally need to get between two and four Committee or event organiser signatures on a membership application form. If you have not previously been, or are not currently, a member of an IVC you will need to take your membership application form with you to each of your initial three events and get a member of the committee to sign it for you. This will later be used to verify that you have attended your three events and to ensure that a committee member has had the opportunity to meet you on each occasion.

The Membership Application is posted or handed to the Membership Secretary together with a cheque or cash for the subscription for consideration at the next Club Committee Meeting. It is very rare for an IVC Committee to turn down an application for membership from prospective members. However, the Constitution of every Club in the Association of IVCs (AIVC) does provide Club Committees with the right to refuse an application for membership without being required to give a reason for such refusal.

The reason for this approach to deciding on membership is simple: IVC event organisers open up their events - and, often, their own homes - to all IVC members, many of whom will be strangers. They obviously wouldn't want to have to worry about the sort of people that might turn up. Our vetting procedure thus makes sure that anyone who is admitted to membership has at least got through four events without disgracing themselves in a big way.