Home About IEF Conferences Newsletter Resources MEMBERSHIP IN THE  INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT FORUM

The IEF is an international Bahá'í-inspired non-governmental organization that provides a forum for its members to, among other things:
deepen their understanding of the relevance of the social and ethical principles in the Bahá'í Writings for the environment and sustainable development challenges the world is facing;
explore the application of those principles in their work and activities;
share knowledge and experience.

We also seek to share our views and interact with other organizations in various international fora. The IEF was, for example, accredited to the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg, 2002) as a scientific and technological organization.

The IEF was launched in October 1997 and today we have over 200 members in 50 countries on all 5 continents. Our annual international conferences have until now been organized in Canada, Czech Republic, Greece, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, USA and South Africa and each conference has an electronic version for those who cannot attend in person.

The IEF has no membership fees. To function without cost we use the Internet as much as possible. Most of our communication is by e-mail to reach members even where Internet access is difficult.

Membership is open to any interested person on the condition that they are sympathetic to the Bahá'í teachings and that they accept to abide by the IEF Statutes, By-laws and the decisions of the Governing Board.

Applications for membership should be submitted to the Governing Board, which will decide if the above conditions are met. The Board's decision to accept or reject the application need not be justified.

A member will receive all the materials of the Forum and announcements of all activities, may participate in the annual General Assembly, conferences and discussions by e-mail or in person, and is entitled to a single ballot whenever elections take place as provided for in the Statutes and By-laws. A member is eligible to be elected to the Governing Board or to any positions within the Forum that are filled by election. Each member will provide an electronic (e-mail) contact address, if available, for use by the Forum in its electronic mailing list(s), as well as a completed membership questionnaire, resumé or curriculum vitae detailing experience in environment and sustainable development, and ability to provide advice or service to others in the environment field. Members' contact information and summaries in standard format derived from the resumés will be published in the Directory of Members sent to all members, included without addresses in the Forum's public directory on the Internet (WWW page), and made publicly available in other appropriate hard-copy and electronic publications.

Interested individuals who do not wish to vote, to be eligible for election, or to appear in the directory may become associates. Associates are placed on the appropriate electronic mailing list(s) and will receive the materials of the Forum and announcements of all activities. They may participate in conferences, discussions and working groups organized by the Forum, and may attend the General Assembly as an observer, without the right to vote or be voted for.

With many browsers, the questionnaire form at the bottom of this page can be copied, completed and pasted into your e-mail reply.

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MEMBERSHIP QUESTIONNAIRE FOR THE
INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT FORUM
(with explanatory notes, see blank form below)

DATE:

NAME:
ADDRESS:
COUNTRY:
TELEPHONE: +
FAX: +
E-MAIL:

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE (such as professional activities, community involvement, membership in/cooperation with environmental NGOs, environmental involvement with religions (maximum 200 words):

SPECIAL ENVIRONMENTAL INTEREST (such as conservation, environmental education, pollution, biodiversity):

I WISH TO BECOME (mark alternative with X)**: 
a) A MEMBER [ ] 
b) AN ASSOCIATE [ ]

I WOULD LIKE TO BE ACTIVE IN THE FORUM DOING ANY OF THE FOLLOWING
(mark those that apply with an X):
Be an issue monitor for a particular topic [ ] (specify): _______________
Work with the web site [ ]
Write for the newsletter [ ]
Edit articles and publications [ ]
Develop educational materials for adults and/or children and youth [ ]
Mentoring for choice of studies and careers [ ]

* We have a youth category of membership for those under 21 who are not eligible to vote but are otherwise full members.

** Membership entails the right to vote and be voted for, and consenting to be listed with full contact address and background and interests in the annotated directory sent to all members, and posted (without address) on the IEF web site. Members are expected to adhere to the Statutes of the IEF. Associates will only receive the newsletter. The Board will keep a list of associates for internal use, and associates can participate in working groups and other activities. Associates will not be listed in the directory. 

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[Version for copying and e-mailing to ]

MEMBERSHIP QUESTIONNAIRE FOR THE
INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT FORUM

DATE:

NAME:
ADDRESS:
COUNTRY:
TELEPHONE: +
FAX: +
E-MAIL:

I HAVE ACCESS TO INTERNET: [  ] Yes   [  ] No

AGE ABOVE 21:  [  ] Yes   [  ] No: year of birth ___________

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

SPECIAL ENVIRONMENTAL INTEREST:

I WISH TO BECOME: 
a) A MEMBER [  ] 
b) AN ASSOCIATE [  ]

I AM A MEMBER OF THE BAHA'I COMMUNITY OF:

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Last updated 10 November 2009