DMISA General Membership Categories and Application

Please note the Code of Ethics for Members before deciding to apply for membership.

By becoming a member of DMISA you will fall into one of the following categories depending on your type of work and application. The Institute comprises of the following categories of general membership:

CORPORATE MEMBER

The following conditions qualify to apply for Corporate membership:
Persons who have been appointed in control of Disaster Management at National, Provincial and Local Government and those who have been appointed as Heads and Deputy Heads of Disaster Management.
Persons in a full-time Disaster Management capacity at National, Provincial and Local Government.
Any application for Corporate membership that does not fall within any of the previous sub-sections on Corporate membership, will be evaluated on merit by the Executive Committee, and if such an application is considered to be in the interest of Disaster Management, then such decisions are to be communicated to the Council at the earliest opportunity.
Corporate membership shall have the right to vote and may hold office in the Institute.

Application form: Online application / Corporate Membership form

AFFILIATE MEMBER

Affiliate membership may be granted to the following groups who do not qualify for membership in any other category:
Persons who are bona fide volunteers under any Disaster Management Legislation, or in an NGO, CBO or private sector organization.
Persons employed at a 107/911 type Reporting/Communication Centre.
A private individual who holds a Disaster Management qualification approved by the Executive Committee, but is not employed in a Disaster Management field.
Students enrolled for a Disaster Management course at a recognized training institution, may apply for Associate membership.
Affiliate members shall have the right to vote at Regional level, but may not hold office in the Institute.

Application form: Online application / Affiliate Member form

SUPPORTING MEMBER

Any organisation, which supports the aims and objectives of the Institute, may apply for Supporting membership.
This membership will have one vote executed by a nominated employee of such organization, as reflected on the application form.

Application form: Online application / Supporting Membership form

GRADUATE MEMBER: Grad: D.M.I.(SA)

Corporate Members of the Institute who have an academic qualification accredited by the Institute, may apply for this category of membership
Corporate Members who qualify through the Credit Accumulation Scheme approved by the Institute and in accordance with the relevant Legislation, may apply for this category of membership;
Graduate Members shall have the right to vote, may hold office in the Institute and may use the title Grad: D.M.I.(SA).

Application form: Graduate Membership

FELLOW OF THE INSTITUTE: F. D.M.I.(SA)

With effect of the establishment of the Institute, Founder members will automatically be awarded membership in the Fellow member category therefore the Founder membership category as it existed in the previous Constitution’s clause 8.1, ceases to exist;
Corporate Members who are deemed to have actively and effectively furthered the objects of the Institute and who have completed at least 10 years’ active service in the Disaster Management profession, can submit a career portfolio for appraisal, to be admitted as a Fellow of the Institute;
Graduate Members who are deemed to have actively and effectively furthered the objects of the Institute and who have completed at least 5 years’ active service in the Disaster Management profession, can submit a career portfolio for appraisal for admission as a Fellow of the Institute;
Fellows of the Institute shall have the right to vote, may hold office in the Institute and may use the title, F. D.M.I.(SA).

Application form: Fellow Membership

LIFE MEMBER

The Council may grant Life membership to any Corporate member of good standing and repute and who has been a member for at least five consecutive years preceding nomination for such membership;
Life members shall not be required to pay subscription fees and shall be entitled to vote, but may not hold office in the Institute. Life members may use the title, Life: D.M.I.(SA).

This membership is awarded through a Council motion and not applied for.

HONORARY MEMBER

The Council may grant Honorary membership to any person who, in its opinion, has made a significant contribution towards the objectives of the Institute;
Honorary membership shall not be awarded to serving members of the Institute;
Honorary members shall not have to pay subscription fees and shall be entitled to vote, but may not hold office in the Institute. Honorary members may use the title Hon: D.M.I.(SA).

This membership is awarded through a Council motion and not applied for.

APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP : MANNER AND PROCEDURE

Any individual wishing to become a member of the Institute shall only be admitted with the approval of the Executive Committee.

Each new member :shall apply for membership on the prescribed application form, as approved by the Council; shall be proposed in writing and seconded by Corporate members; shall agree in writing to be subject to the Institute’s Constitution; shall simultaneously with the submission of his application for membership: pay the registration fee referred to in clause 10.1, or such other amount as determined from time to time by the Council; pay the current annual subscription referred to in clause 10.1.

Any application for membership shall: where a region of the Institute has been established, first be submitted for consideration to the committee of the Institute for the region in which the applicant resides and which committee: if it is satisfied that the applicant is eligible for membership in the category applied for, shall duly sign the application and shall forward such application to the General Manager within 30 (thirty) days after receipt thereof; if not satisfied as to the applicant’s eligibility or membership category, shall forward such application to the General Manager together with a covering letter furnishing the reasons for the refusal to support the application; where no region of the Institute has been established, the applicant shall forward the application directly to the General Manager, who shall act in Accordance with the constitution, satisfy himself as to the applicant’s eligibility for admission to a particular membership category and shall thereafter submit such application to the Executive Committee for consideration.

On acceptance of a member, the General Manager: shall advise the applicant in writing of his admission to the Institute, as well as his membership category. A copy of such advice shall be forwarded to the committee of the Region in which the applicant resides; shall where possible forward the membership certificate of the successful applicant to the Region of the Institute for presentation to the member. If such presentation is not possible, then the certificate shall be forwarded by the Region to the member.

If the application is rejected: the General Manager shall direct a letter to the applicant advising that the application was unsuccessful and simultaneously, inform him of his right to make representations to the Council either in writing or verbally, on the understanding and condition that the Council’s decision shall be final; and that Council shall not be required to furnish an reasons for such a decision; the General Manager shall, in the event of such representations make such preparations as may be necessary for the applicant to make such representations; and for the Council to consider same. Should the Council, after consideration of such representations, decide in favour of admission of the applicant for membership, the provisions of sub-clause 9.3.1 shall apply mutatis mutandis; but if, despite this, the application is again rejected, the General Manager shall accordingly direct a letter to the applicant, advising him of such rejection and that no further representations will be considered. Council shall not be required to furnish reasons for such rejection; the General Manager shall advise the regional committee of the Institute in which the unsuccessful applicant resides, that the application for membership has been rejected and shall simultaneously refund to the applicant the amount which had been paid in accordance with sub-clause 10.1
The General Manager shall keep a register of all applications for membership; such register shall reflect particulars of applications which have been accepted as well as those which have been rejected.