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A. Membership Requirements
1. Minimum Statewide Requirements. Membership in the Chapter shall be achieved by completing the Texas Master Naturalist State minimum requirements of 40 hours of combined classroom and field experiences, 8 hours of Advanced Training and 40 hours of volunteer service. (Reference ‘Master Naturalist™ Program ’, Chapter Management Guidelines, Requirements section)
2. Membership in the Chapter is open to qualifying individuals regardless of race, age (must be 18 years of age or older), sex, religion, disability, or national origin.
B. Member Categories
1. Trainee. Volunteer Participant of an official class from the first day of class to the end of the training period continuing until the Trainee has completed the Chapter Training requirements.
2. Texas Master Naturalist Pledge. Volunteer Participant who has completed the Chapter Training requirements and has yet to complete the State or Chapter minimum Certification requirements for advanced training and volunteer service to become ‘Certified’ within the calendar year following the end of the training period.
3. Certified Texas Master Naturalist. Volunteer or previously Certified Texas Master Naturalist who has completed the State or Chapter minimum Certification requirements (Reference ‘Master NaturalistTM Program’, Chapter Management Guidelines, Certification section) for advanced training and volunteer service hours for the year.
4. Texas Master Naturalist Member. Volunteer who has previously been a Certified Texas Master Naturalist but has not yet to complete the required volunteer service of 40 hours, and an additional 8 hours of Advanced Training toward re-certification requirements for more than one year.
C. Voting Membership. Voting membership in the Chapter shall be extended to Texas Master Naturalist Member-in-Training, Texas Master Naturalist Pledge, Certified Texas Master Naturalists, and Texas Master Naturalist Members in “Good Standing” for the current fiscal year. “Good Standing” is defined as current in dues, if required, and in compliance with Master Naturalist Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct.
D. Honorary Membership. An Honorary Texas Master Naturalist is a person who has made a substantial contribution to the furtherance of the activities of the Chapter. The candidate typically is not a Texas Master Naturalist. Honorary Members shall be entitled to all of the privileges as a Texas Master Naturalist Member of the Chapter without payment of dues, including the right to vote as a Member of the Chapter.
The names of candidates for Honorary Membership may be submitted, by any Chapter Member, to the Chapter Board for approval. With Board approval, the candidate for Honorary Membership will be placed before the general membership for a vote. Honorary members shall be selected by the affirmative two-thirds voice vote of the membership present at any General Membership Meeting..
E. Disciplinary Action or Termination
1. Voluntary Termination. A member may voluntarily terminate membership in the Master Naturalist program by written communication to the Chapter Board of Directors.
2. Disciplinary Action or Removal. Removal of a member from the membership roll or disciplinary action of a member shall follow the Master NaturalistTM program Chapter Management Guidelines section on Policy and Procedures for the Disciplining and/or Removal of Members.
F. Membership Transfer. Transfer to or from the Chapter should follow the Master NaturalistTM program Chapter Management Guidelines section of Membership Transfer.
G. Multiple Chapter Membership. Membership in Multiple Chapters is not permitted