Membership

If you wish to join COGS please download and complete a membership application form and send by post to;

Membership Secretary
COGS
P.O. Box 347
Dickson   ACT   2602

Please include a cheque or money order to cover the appropriate membership fees.  Your membership card, a copy of Canberra Organic and some information sheets will be posted to you.

Membership Fees

New Member

                                          One Year                       Two Years

Full                                        $25                                $40

Concession                           $15                                $24

Renewing Member

                                          One Year                       Two Years

Full                                         $20                               $35

Concession                            $12                                $21

 

Concession membership

Concession membership is available for pension card holders, full time students and the unemployed.  If you fall into any of those categories would you please send the membership secretary a photocopy of the relevant card/document confirming your status. 

Membership Categories

Please choose the most appropriate category of membership from the list below:

Single Membership.

Single membership is available for all individuals over the age of 18 years. Members are entitled to such benefits as may be decided upon by the COGS committee from time to time and include:

  • An allotment at a community garden, where the definition of an allotment is decided by the relevant garden committee, and where the allocation of an allotment is subject to the availability of an allotment and the agreement of the COGS committee.
  • To borrow books from the COGS library to the number set out in SoA 11.
  • To receive one copy of any mailouts, including the Canberra Organic.
  • One vote at any COGS election.
  • The right to hold any position on the COGS Committee if elected or co-opted to that position, as well as any garden Committee (provided of course that member has a plot at the garden) and any subcommittee.

Family Membership

Family membership is available for a maximum of 2 adults, and the subscription is the same as for single membership. The membership entitles the people on the membership to such benefits as may be decided upon by the COGS committee from time to time and include:

  • An allotment at a community garden between all participants on the one membership, where the definition of an allotment is decided by the relevant garden committee, and where the allocation of an allotment is subject to the availability of an allotment and the agreement of the COGS committee. 
  • To borrow books from the COGS library to the number set out in SoA 11 between all participants on the membership.
  • To receive one copy of any mailouts, including the Canberra Organic. 
  • Each adult can Vote at any COGS election.
  • Each adult has the right to hold any position on the COGS Committee if elected or copted to that position, as well as any garden Committee (provided of course that they are plotholders at the garden) and any subcommittee. 
  • Children under 18 years are part of a family membership if:
    •  They are children of any adult listed on the membership,or they are explicitly listed on the membership application along with an adult, 
    • however the adult on the membership is held accountable for the actions of the children and is responsible for ensuring that the children comply with the rules of COGS. 
    • Institutions cannot be part of a family membership.

Life Membership

Life Membership is available for an adult who has a single membership of COGS or for one of two adults who hold family membership and has an honour bestowed by the COGS Committee as a recognition of the contribution of that person/s to COGS. Such people are entitled to the same benefits as single or family membership as appropriate, but do not have to pay the annual subscription fee.

Associate Membership

Associate Membership is available to institutions such as schools, other educational facilities and other organic growing groups. Associate Membership imposes such obligations and entitles the institution or growing group to such benefits as may be decided upon by the COGS Committee from time to time and include:

  • One adult will be nominated by the Associate Member as their Liaison Officer. Only the Liaison Officer will exercise the rights of the Associate Member. 
  • To receive one copy of any mailouts, including the COGS Organic. 
  • Access to plots in a COGS community garden (where available), on payment of the current plot fees, to use for teaching organic gardening techniques where the following conditions are met:
    • All garden rules are adhered to;
    • The Liaison Officer to be responsible for ensuring that all course participants of the Associate Member adhere to the COGS rules;
    • Only the Liaison Officer has access to the garden keys or combinations;
    • Course participants will only have access to the garden in the presence of the Liaison Officer;
    • The Associate Member must have adequate public liability, voluntary workers accident insurance and workers compensation insurance (as stipulated from time to time by the COGS committee) to cover all participants and instructors who are not ordinary COGS members. 
    • The COGS Committee must be advised by the Associate Member of any change of Liaison Officer.

Overseas Membership.

As for Single and Family membership, except that the only entitlement is to receive a copy of the Canberra Organic. Overseas members are not entitled to any concessional rates. This category was introduced as a result of membership enquires on the Internet. It is intended that any communication between COGS and Overseas members, with the exception of printed publications, is by electronic mail.