Life Membership is an honor bestowed on an individual Queensland Rocketry Society (QRS) club member with exceptional, loyal and outstanding service and contribution that has a provided measurable benefit to the club over an extended period of time.

Life Membership is recognized as the highest recognition that can be awarded to a member in acknowledgement of exceptional service and contribution. Life membership should retain its prestige and not be awarded easily.

Nomination

1. Any financial member may nominate another member for consideration for Life Membership. Nominations must be submitted in writing and must be seconded by at least one other full member.
2. Nominations should include the nominator’s reasons for putting forward the candidate with the support of examples meeting the criteria. This should be a written document and signed by the nominating members and passed to the secretary to be tabled at the next committee meeting.
3. Life Membership cannot be nominated by or supported by an immediate family member.
4. In the event that the nominee is serving on the committee at the time of nomination, that person must be disqualified from any deliberation on the nomination.
5. In the event that the committee believes the nomination is worthy of Life Membership a majority is required to formalize the nomination.
6. The committee will present the nomination to the Annual General Meeting for the final ratification of the nomination and awarding of life membership.
7. The granting of life membership and the recipients service to the club should be publicized in the club media and any other club communication tool.

Criteria

Life membership should not be considered as competitive and nominees must be considered individually on personal attributes and achievements and not in comparison to others. While it is inevitable that comparisons will be made with past recipients, direct comparisons should not be made.

For any of the relevant criteria the nominee should have demonstrated an exceptional contribution beyond the ordinary for an extended period of time which has a measurable benefit to the club and membership. In considering the award of Life Membership an individual should have demonstrated significant, sustained and high quality service enhancing the reputation and future of QRS.

The following points will be taken into account when considering any nomination:

1. The nominee’s length of membership with QRS will be at least 10 years
2. The nominee will have a minimum of 7 years in specific roles that contribute to the benefit of QRS. These roles may include but not be restricted to: service on the committee, fund raising activities, acting as the LCO / RSO at launch days, assisting at functions and events (e.g. school promotions / public launch days) or other event support roles.
3. The general attitude and overall demeanor of the nominee reflects a dedication to the values of QRS
4. The nominee will have provided valued leadership and/or been an outstanding role model to members in general
5. The nominees’ service must reflect favorably on and brought credit to QRS
6. The nominee must be a currently active, financial member

Note that strict adherence to each of the points above will be at the discretion of the committee members voting on the nomination.

Objections and Retractions

In the case of an objection, the objecting member has to provide strong reasons and/or evidence that counteracts the fundamentals of the Life Membership selection criteria. The committee needs to provide and document evidence the final decision was based on.

Retraction of a Life Membership Award may occur where the recipient has conducted him/herself in a manner that reflects directly and adversely on the image or activities of the club generally or on a specific code. This provision will only be exercised in exceptional circumstances and will require the unanimous agreement of the committee to be enacted. As part of the deliberations, the Life Member in question is to be given an opportunity to present their case for retention of their Life Membership status.

Benefits

1. Awarding of Life Membership at the Annual General Meeting
2. Full membership to QRS for life with no fees
3. Free access to club facilities and functions
4. Recognition on the QRS online Honour Board