Membership Status

The following is an explanation of various statuses of O.T.O. membership.

Although not a class of O.T.O. membership, Corresponding Association is available to persons at least 18 years of age who wish to associate with the Order through the mail. Corresponding Associates receive The Magical Link and may attend OTO functions which are open to the public. Corresponding Association costs $10.00 per year. For more information about Corresponding Association, please contact the International Treasurer General at tg@oto.org.

Active Initiate

This category includes all initiate members of Minerval degree or higher, who have not been assigned to any other status listed below. Dues for active members continue to accrue annually according to the published schedule. Minerval initiates, though active initiate members of O.T.O., remain "welcome guests" of the Order until they achieve full membership status by taking the First Degree. Minervals may not hold office in any local body.

Demitted (or "Expired")

A Minerval member who has not paid dues or otherwise contacted Grand Lodge for over six months is subject to demitted status, by determination of the Grand Treasurer General. An attempt will usually be made to contact the member by mail at the last known address before making the final determination to demit. Demitted members may not attend initiations or members-only events, vote in O.T.O. meetings or elections, serve as officers in a local body or other official O.T.O. group, or represent O.T.O. in any way.

A demitted Minerval may only re-join the Order by taking his or her First Degree initiation. No back dues or extra fees are required from demitted Minervals who take their First Degree.

Inactive

A member of First Degree or higher who has not paid dues or otherwise contacted Grand Lodge for over twelve months is subject to inactive status, by determination of the Grand Treasurer General. An attempt will usually be made to contact the member by mail at the last known address before making the final inactive determination. Inactive members may not attend initiations or members-only events, vote in O.T.O. meetings or elections, serve as officers in a local body or other official O.T.O. group, or represent O.T.O. in any way.

An inactive member may re-join the Order in one of two ways:

To reactivate membership at the current degree, pay two times the current dues rate for the degree. For example, an inactive Second Degree would have to pay $168 (2 x $84) to reactivate as a Second. Membership is reactivated for one year following receipt of payment. If partial payments are made, membership is not reactivated until the full amount has been received.
Membership can also be reactivated by taking the next degree. In this case, the inactive member must pay one year of dues at the current degree in addition to the normal dues and fees for the degree he or she is taking. For example, an inactive Second Degree would pay $84 (Second Degree dues) plus $210 (Third Degree dues and fees) to reactivate as a Third. Membership is reactivated for one year following the initiation. Full payment is due before initiation can proceed.

NOTE: Reactivation takes effect only upon receipt of full payment and approval by the Grand Treasurer General and is subject to verification of Good Report. For any questions concerning membership reactivation, please contact the GTG.

Sabbatical

Active members who are dues-current may request a leave of absence from active membership for a specified period of time. If you are not dues-current, you must pay the minimum amount of dues owed in order to be granted sabbatical status. While on sabbatical, no additional dues will accrue. Members on sabbatical may not attend initiations or members-only events, vote in O.T.O. meetings or elections, serve as an officer in a local body or other official O.T.O. group, or represent O.T.O. in any way. At the end of the sabbatical period, you will return to active membership automatically unless you request an extension of your sabbatical. To request this status, please write or email the Grand Treasurer General and state the length of time you wish to be on sabbatical.

On Notice (of Pending Bad Report)

A member may be placed "on notice" for good cause by a local body master, thus curtailing specific membership privileges such as attending events at a particular location. Such notice must include a specific time limit which may not exceed one year. Notice is reported to the member's sponsors and to the Electoral College for recording. It is not reported to the Executive Council unless the member on notice fails to comply with the terms and conditions of the notice. Failure to comply with such terms and conditions may result in the member being placed on bad report status.

Bad Report

A member, or a non-member applicant, may be placed on bad report status for good cause. A member on bad report is disqualified from advancing to the next degree, and may have one or more membership privileges curtailed, until such a time as the bad report status is lifted. The Executive Council or its designee shall specifically set forth the conditions and restrictions of the bad report status.

Suspended

A member may be suspended from the Order for good cause provided reasonable effort is made to serve the member with notice of the proceedings against him or her and the member has been given an opportunity to be heard in his or her own defense. In case of emergency, in the unanimous opinion of the Executive Council, a member may be suspended without prior notice provided reasonable effort to serve written notice is promptly made. The Executive Council, Grand Tribunal, or their designee shall state the duration of said suspension. Upon suspension, all rights and privileges afforded by membership in O.T.O. are suspended. Suspension may be appealed to the Areopagus with the sanction of a member of the Electoral College. Such sanction may be requested by writing to the Secretary of the Electoral College.

Resigned

Any member may resign from active membership at any time by sending written notice to the U.S. Grand Secretary General (gsg@oto-usa.org). All Order rituals, charters, documents, and other materials in possession of the member must be returned to the GSG. Resignation entails automatic bad report status and curtailment of all membership rights and privileges. Resigned members who wish to be readmitted to the Order must petition to the Executive Council in writing, care of the GSG.

Expelled

A member may be expelled from the Order for good cause provided reasonable effort is made to serve the member with notice of the proceedings against him or her and the member has been given an opportunity to be heard in his or her own defense. An expulsion is carried out by authority of the National Grand Master General or the O.H.O., and is subject to reversal only by the O.H.O. Upon expulsion, all rights and privileges afforded by membership in OTO shall cease. Expulsion may be appealed to the Areopagus with the sanction of a member of the Electoral College. Such sanction may be requested by writing to the Secretary of the Electoral College.