ACITVE  &  INACTIVE  MEMBERS OF THE   E.S.C. (SA)

 1.         By-law regarding  Active & Inactive Members. 

The purpose of this document will be to define between Active and Inactive members of the ESC (SA) .      

a)      To be viewed as an active member, a person should meet the following criteria, and nothing less than the stipulated criteria. 

1.      As stipulated in the constitution of the ESC (SA) the objectives of the organization is consisting of two parts of ministry, the first being the ministry to the personnel, and the other being the ministry to the victims, and secondary victims of trauma. An active member should be available to be put onto a duty roster. It is the responsibility of all members who wish to be active to contact the District chaplain, and give him/her all their details, like contact numbers, dates and times on which they will be available for duties, etc.  It is then the duty of the district chaplain to ensure that all members are given an equal opportunity to be on duty, and perform chaplaincy services.  The active member should try spending on duty time, where possible, with the personnel of the service where they are serving. The member should be available for the pastoral role of the chaplain to the staff. 

2.      An active member should be available to attend calls during the month, whilst on duty.  A member should be placed on a duty roster, and then be available to turn out to calls if he/she is needed to do so. 

This does not reflect on chaplains doing only counselling for the chaplaincy. These Members should however be available to perform counselling sessions on a monthly basis for the chaplaincy, as their services might be required. 

3.      A member should regularly attend the district meetings being held. A minimum of 50% of all meetings held within the time span of one year should be attended.  If a member attends less than this amount, the member will be marked as inactive.  It is the task of the District chaplain to make sure that all members in his/her district are informed of the district meetings.   A member cannot, and may not be penalised if the member did not receive notification of the meetings held.  It is the responsibility of all members to make sure that the district chaplain has all their latest contact details.  If the district chaplain does not have adequate contact details, he/she cannot be held responsible for not informing the chaplains about the meetings held.  All members of the ESC (SA), active & inactive should be informed of ALL district chaplains meetings.  A district will consist out of active and inactive members.  If a member is working shifts, or due to an illness cannot attend meetings, this should be taken into consideration, and the member should not be penalized if he cannot make the 50% attendance due to these two reasons. 

4.      The District chaplains will inform the ESC (SA) executive of the names of members that will need to be changed from active members to that of inactive, making use of the above-mentioned criteria.  It is the responsibility of all members to give statistics of all calls attended, and personnel visits to their District chaplain.  If a District chaplain receives no statistics from members, and he/she is not aware of any duties performed by such a member, the district chaplain will be entitled to inform the ESC (SA) executive that the member should be marked as an inactive member. 

5.      A form will also be available where individual members could indicate on if they wish their status to be changed from active, to that of inactive.  With this form, the member will direct a voluntary request for this.  This form will need 2 (TWO) signatures on it, being that of the applicant and the signature of the District chaplain.  This will then be send to the ESC (SA) for processing.  Forms will be made available by the ESC (SA). 

b)            Status of an inactive member.  

1.      When a member becomes inactive, the member’s status as either Chaplain, or Assistant chaplain will fall away, and the members will only be known as a member of the ESC (SA).  A member can change his/her status back to that of either Chaplain or Assistant Chaplain, only after becoming an active member again. 

2.      An inactive members will neither be entitled to a five-year, ten-year, or any service medal by the ESC (SA), or have a change in status from Assistant Chaplain to that of Chaplain after a period of three (3) years, or for any commendations by the ESC (SA). These will only be available to active chaplains, or assistant chaplains. 

3.      Inactive members will be able to assist at any trauma scene, at the discretion of the District chaplain, or Regional Chief Chaplain. 

4.      Inactive members will be represented by their region, as a region will consist of all paid-up members of the ESC (SA).  They will have their regional representation at the AGM, and other meeting, as per the constitution of the ESC (SA) point 8.  

5.      Inactive members will still be liable to pay their annual membership fees.