Membership: Participation in the Coalition

Participation in the Coalition is open to all sectors including commercial, cultural heritage, educational, central and local government, and research. Members of the Coalition must be collective or not for profit organisations who can subscribe to the public mission, goals and principles of the Coalition but other organisations can participate in alliances and sponsorship. Membership is also open to other "membership organisations" with UK members but in this case the rights and benefits of membership only extend to the staff and officers of those organisations, and do not flow through to their own members.

Classes & Criteria

There are three classes of participation: Full Members, Associate Members, and Allied Organisations or Individuals. Organisations can also sponsor Coalition activities, or projects and events to be undertaken by the Coalition.

Full members are eligible to have a representative on the board of the Coalition, full voting rights at the DPC Annual General Meeting and their staff and officers participate in all Coalition activities.

Associate Members have full voting rights at the DPC Annual General Meeting and their staff and officers participate in all Coalition activities.

Allied Organisations are organisations who collaborate with the Coalition on specific activities and goals and participate by invitation in selected activities. They can include individual commercial organisations who work with the Coalition to promote a dialogue with industry on digital preservation issues, and developing solutions and standards.

Allied Individuals are individuals with specific expertise and experience invited by the Coalition to contribute to the Advisory Council and/or other selected activities.

Sponsorship - All organisations can offer funding to sponsor the Coalition or fund specific projects and events to be undertaken by it.

Criteria for Membership

The Board decides on all applications for membership and retains discretion to refuse membership to any applicant. Membership fees are reviewed annually by the Board and are payable for each year to 31 July.

Allies

The Coalition actively seeks partnership with other organisations and the participation of other individuals who are able to provide specific expertise or experience to the Coalition.

Allied Organisations are organisations who collaborate with the Coalition on specific activities and goals and participate by invitation of the Board in selected activities. They can include inter alia individual commercial organisations who work with the Coalition to promote a dialogue with industry on digital preservation issues, and developing solutions and standards, or other national and international organisations. Partnership with an allied organisation may be for a finite period of time and/or for specific activities as agreed between the Coalition and the allied organisation. Where appropriate it may be open-ended and termination of partnership would be by six months' written notice on either side. Allied organisations may be expected to contribute agreed levels of funding and/or staff resources for shared activities and/or access to Coalition events or resources. Depending on the nature of the partnership, this may involve the payment of a subscription. The level of subscription, where applicable, will be determined by the Board of Directors.

Allied Individuals are individuals with specific expertise and experience invited by the Coalition to contribute to the Advisory Council and/or other selected activities. Appointment as an allied individual is for a period of 12 months and is renewed automatically annually unless written notice is given on either side.

The Board decides on all Coalition alliances and partnerships and retains discretion to negotiate appropriate terms or refuse participation to any organisation or individual.

Benefits of Membership and Participation

Through investment and active participation, the members and allies ensure the strength and direction of the Coalition and achievement of its goals. Members and allies are typically investing significant resources in creating and disseminating digital information, digital archiving and curation, or in developing software and hardware products. There has a been a strong desire that the challenges of digital preservation should be addressed collaboratively and strategically, and prospective Coalition members have expressed their desire to provide funding for establishing the Coalition and begin addressing its mission and the common benefits it provides.

Other benefits for Coalition members include:

• For full members, eligibility for a seat on the Coalition Board and the opportunity to help shape the strategic direction to the Coalition
• For all members participation in the Forums and Annual General Meetings (members only and invited guests) and the discussion of proposed Coalition activities
• Shared membership on a common issue with organisations, drawing world-class expertise in the field from the archive, cultural heritage, education, IT, industry and library sectors
• Access to resources and events restricted to members only and invited guests such as the DPC Forums, resources on the private members site and other members info services.

How to apply for Membership or Alliance with the Coalition

• Informal discussion. Organisations interested in participating in the Coalition in the first instance should discuss membership criteria or alliances informally with Frances Boyle (see contacts details), Executive Director to the Coalition.
• Print off a copy of the Membership Application Form (rtf 546KB)
  • Fill in the blanks with information required.
  • Have the Application Form signed and dated by an appropriate individual with fiduciary authority.
• Submit your completed application form to Frances Boyle, DPC Executive Director, for discussion by the Board
• Arrange Payment. Once your application for membership is accepted by the Board you will receive notification and details of membership fees and payment method. Payment, in GB pounds of the agreed fee, must arrive within 30 days of acceptance of an application by the Board. While not required, prepayment of multiple years is accepted.