Parliamentary Society of Toronto (PST)

How to Become a Member

Becoming a member of the Parliamentary Society of Toronto is an easy two-step process:

• First, you will need to join our parent organization, the American Institute of Parliamentarians (AIP); just click on the link for more details. The current AIP membership dues, payable in US funds, are $55 per year for the first two years, and $70 per year thereafter, or $20 per year if you are a full-time student. AIP dues can be paid on line on the Association's website.

• The second step is to complete the PST membership application form, and give it to our Secretary (either in person at a meeting or at parliamentary.society.of.toronto@gmail.com). The PST annual dues are $20 CDN, separate from AIP dues, and can be paid to our Treasurer by cheque, cash or electronic funds transfer.

Benefits of Membership

The value of belonging to the PST, of course, is being able to attend our local monthly meetings, and participate in our educational activities.

Being a member of AIP, in addition, gives you access to many supplementary resources, including:

• A broader network of Canadians and Americans interested in parliamentary procedure;

• In-person and online workshops and correspondence courses;

• Subscriptions to the Parliamentary Journal (containing scholarly articles) and Communicator (information on current issues and events); and

• The ability to use the online AIP bookstore, and the resources available on the members-only section of the AIP website.

AIP membership also gives you the opportunity, if you are interested, in pursuing certification as a professional parliamentarian. The AIP is one of two international organizations that train, examine, and issue credentials to individuals seeking certification.

The two basic AIP credentials are Certified Parliamentarian (CP) and Certified Professional Parliamentarian (CPP), with an additional Teacher designation (-T) available at either level. Professional certification in AIP is based on the study of the AIP Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure; Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised; and Cannon's Concise Guide to Rules of Order (see the Resources page for more information on these books).

Although the PST does boast a few professional parliamentarians among its ranks, most of our members do not hold a parliamentary credential, and simply want to meet with other like-minded individuals to learn more about parliamentary procedure and rules of order. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned pro, we welcome you as a member!

How to Join Us as a Guest

Feel free to attend one or two of our meetings, with no obligation, to see if the PST is right for you. Just get in touch with our Secretary to make the arrangements:

parliamentary.society.of.toronto@gmail.com

If, on the other hand, you are ready to make the decision to join, please complete the membership application form now!