The following policy was submitted to the executive committee by the Committee on Honorary Membership chaired by Catherine Paulu. The Executive Committee has accepted the report and with its publication will follow these guidelines. Persons wishing to nominate someone for Honorary Membership during our 1978 Convention should read and follow these guidelines.
Nominees for Honorary Membership in the IDRS should be living persons who have contributed in a widely-recognized and significant manner to the advancement of the double reed specialty. A limit of two persons (one bassoonist and one oboist) per year may be approved by the Society.
Proposals for the lifetime status of Honorary Membership may be made only by members of the IDRS and shall be in the form only of a written statement of support presented to the President prior to the end of the first business meeting of the Annual Meeting of the Society. This statement should be a synopsis of the nominee and should include name, address, phone, and birthday if possible. The President shall not announce the names of the nominees at this time, but will appoint a committee to meet to decide on which nominee(s) will be presented to the Society for approval, which decision shall be ready for the following business meeting at the same annual meeting.
Honorary Members shall not be required to pay dues, shall receive all publications and notices of the Society, and shall be listed in the Annual Journal of the Society in order of their election. Nominee may be elected to Honorary status upon receiving two-thirds vote of the voting members at the Annual Business Meeting.
The status of Honorary Membership is of such importance that the Society should not consider it necessary to confer this distinction on a regular basis, rather only in cases of highest merit. It is hoped that selection of Honorary Members will reflect as many aspects of double reed activity as possible.
Lowry Riggins, President
Catherine Paulu, Chairman
Chris Weait
Earl Clemens