Local Councils.  The Association shall seek to form local councils throughout the state, to nurture their development, and to encourage their active affiliation with the Association.  Before a group can become a local council affiliated with the Alabama Reading Association, the group must first meet the International Reading Association's requirements for becoming a local council and be recognized by IRA as an affiliate. To remain a viable council, the local council must continue to meet all International Reading Association requirements.  The president of each local council shall serve as a voting member of the Board of Directors. 

Special Interest Councils.  The Association shall seek to form special interest councils, to nurture their development, and to encourage their active affiliation with the Association.  A group wishing to form a special interest council must first meet the International Reading Association's requirements for becoming a special interest council and be recognized by IRA as an affiliate.  To remain a viable council, the special interest council must continue to meet all International Reading Association requirements.  The president of each special interest council shall serve as a voting member of the Board of Directors.

MEMBERSHIP AND DUES

Eligibility.  Membership in the Association shall be open to all persons engaged in the teaching or supervision of reading at any school level, to parents, and to all others interested in the purposes of the Association.

Active Members.  Membership in the Association shall become effective upon payment of dues.  The renewal date shall be the anniversary of the date on which dues were last paid. 

Association Dues.  Dues for annual membership shall be set by the Board of Directors with the approval of members attending the Annual Meeting.  Reduced dues shall be set for full-time undergraduate and graduate students. 

Local Council and Special Interest Group Membership.  The Association shall strongly recommend that its members also become members of a local council or special interest group of the Association.  Officers of local councils and special interest groups must be current members of both International Reading Association (IRA) and Alabama Reading Association (ARA).

International Membership.  The Association shall strongly recommend that its members also become members of the International Reading Association.