Aed national membership. Alpha Epsilon Delta: Comprehensive Guide to AED Membership and Benefits

What is Alpha Epsilon Delta. How to become a member of AED. What are the requirements for AED membership. How does AED promote excellence in pre-health education. What benefits does AED membership offer. How does AED support networking among health professionals. What are the service award opportunities in AED.

Understanding Alpha Epsilon Delta: The World’s Largest Pre-Health Honor Society

Alpha Epsilon Delta (AED) stands as a beacon of excellence in the realm of pre-health education. As the world’s largest organization dedicated to pre-medical education, AED plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of healthcare professionals. With a membership exceeding 120,000 individuals spread across 171 chapters, this honor society has established itself as a cornerstone in the pre-health community.

AED’s primary mission revolves around encouraging exceptional scholarship among its members. By setting high academic standards and fostering a culture of continuous learning, the society ensures that its members are well-prepared for the rigorous demands of health-related professions.

The Significance of Health Education in AED’s Philosophy

AED places a strong emphasis on the importance of comprehensive health education. This focus extends beyond traditional classroom learning, encompassing a wide range of experiences and opportunities that contribute to a well-rounded understanding of the healthcare field.

• Promoting interdisciplinary knowledge
• Encouraging research and innovation
• Fostering ethical considerations in healthcare
• Supporting community health initiatives

Through these efforts, AED members gain a holistic perspective on health education, preparing them for the multifaceted challenges they will face in their future careers.

AED Membership Levels: National and Affiliate Options

AED offers two distinct levels of membership, catering to students at different stages of their academic journey: National Membership and Affiliate Membership. Each level has its own set of requirements and benefits, allowing students to choose the option that best aligns with their current academic standing and future goals.

National Membership: Requirements and Benefits

National Membership in AED is designed for students who have demonstrated consistent academic excellence and a strong commitment to pursuing a career in healthcare. To qualify for National Membership, candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Completed at least 3 semesters of college education
• Maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.4 or higher
• Achieved a science (BCPM – Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math) GPA of 3.2 or higher
• Submit a completed AED application
• Pay a one-time membership fee of $75

National Members enjoy full access to AED’s resources, networking opportunities, and leadership positions within the organization. This level of membership is particularly beneficial for students who are firmly committed to pursuing a career in healthcare and wish to maximize their involvement in pre-health activities.

Affiliate Membership: A Stepping Stone to Full Participation

Affiliate Membership serves as an entry point for students who are interested in AED but may not yet meet the requirements for National Membership. The criteria for Affiliate Membership are more accessible:

• Maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Achieved a science (BCPM) GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Pay a one-time membership fee of $10

Affiliate Members have the opportunity to participate in many AED activities and events, allowing them to experience the benefits of the organization while working towards meeting the requirements for National Membership. This level is ideal for students who are in the early stages of their pre-health journey or those who need additional time to improve their academic standing.

The Role of AED in Fostering Professional Cooperation and Networking

One of AED’s core objectives is to promote cooperation and networking among healthcare professionals. This focus on professional relationships extends from students’ pre-health years through their careers, creating a robust network of support and collaboration.

Building Bridges in the Healthcare Community

AED facilitates connections between:

• Pre-health students and healthcare professionals
• Students across different health-related disciplines
• AED alumni and current members
• Healthcare institutions and academic programs

These connections provide invaluable opportunities for mentorship, career guidance, and collaborative research projects. AED members often find that the relationships they forge through the organization play a crucial role in their professional development and career advancement.

Networking Events and Opportunities

AED chapters regularly organize networking events, such as:

• Professional speaker series featuring healthcare leaders
• Alumni panels and career fairs
• Interdisciplinary workshops and seminars
• Regional and national conferences

These events not only expand members’ professional networks but also provide insights into various healthcare specialties and career paths, helping students make informed decisions about their future in medicine.

AED Membership Requirements: Ensuring Active Participation and Commitment

Maintaining active membership in AED requires ongoing commitment and participation. The organization has established a set of requirements designed to ensure that members remain engaged and contribute to the society’s goals. While specific requirements may vary slightly between chapters, the following guidelines are generally applicable:

Annual Renewal and Dues

Members are expected to:

• Fill out a membership application each year
• Pay annual dues of $20 (subject to change)

These annual procedures help maintain accurate membership records and support the organization’s activities.

Service and Participation Requirements

Active involvement in AED activities is crucial. Members typically need to:

• Complete 15 service hours per semester (no limit on hours from outside sources)
• Attend at least one social event per semester
• Participate in at least one fundraising event per semester
• Attend a minimum of 3 out of 5 general meetings each semester

These requirements ensure that members are actively contributing to the organization and benefiting from its various offerings.

Attendance and Communication

Consistent attendance and clear communication are vital. Members should:

• Attend all events they have signed up for
• Communicate any scheduling conflicts that prevent meeting attendance
• Be aware that membership may be terminated if more than 3 meetings are missed without notification

These guidelines help maintain the integrity and effectiveness of AED’s programs and events.

Adapting to Challenges: AED’s Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

The global COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated changes in how organizations operate, and AED has demonstrated flexibility in adapting its requirements and activities to ensure member safety while maintaining its core mission.

Modified Requirements During the Pandemic

In response to the challenges posed by the pandemic, AED implemented several changes to its membership requirements:

• Reduction in service hour requirements (e.g., from 20 to 12 hours per semester)
• Transition of social and fundraising events to online platforms
• Increased flexibility in meeting attendance and participation

These modifications reflect AED’s commitment to supporting its members during difficult times while still maintaining the integrity of its programs.

Leveraging Technology for Continued Engagement

AED has embraced digital solutions to ensure ongoing member engagement:

• Virtual general meetings and workshops
• Online networking events and speaker series
• Digital platforms for tracking service hours and participation

By adapting to a more virtual environment, AED has demonstrated its ability to evolve with changing circumstances while continuing to provide value to its members.

Beyond Basic Membership: AED’s Service Awards and Recognition Program

AED goes beyond simply acknowledging basic membership by offering a robust system of service awards and recognition. This program is designed to motivate members to exceed the minimum requirements and make significant contributions to the organization and their communities.

Recognizing Exceptional Service

Members who go above and beyond the required number of service hours are eligible for special recognition. These awards typically include:

• Certificates of achievement presented at the annual AED banquet
• Special mention in AED publications and communications
• Opportunities for leadership roles within the organization

This recognition not only honors the dedication of individual members but also inspires others to increase their involvement and impact.

Pledge Member Achievements

AED also acknowledges the contributions of its newest members. Pledge members, defined as those with less than two semesters of continuous membership, are eligible for their own set of awards and recognitions. This approach ensures that even the newest members of AED feel valued and motivated to participate fully in the organization’s activities.

The Impact of AED Membership on Pre-Health Career Trajectories

Membership in Alpha Epsilon Delta can significantly influence a student’s pre-health career path. The organization’s focus on academic excellence, professional development, and community service provides members with a comprehensive foundation for success in healthcare professions.

Academic and Professional Preparation

AED membership contributes to career readiness in several key ways:

• Encouraging maintenance of high GPAs, crucial for competitive medical school applications
• Providing exposure to various healthcare specialties through speaker events and workshops
• Offering opportunities for research involvement and presentation
• Developing leadership skills through organizational roles and project management

These experiences help members build strong applications for medical school and other health professional programs.

Long-Term Career Benefits

The impact of AED membership extends well beyond the undergraduate years:

• Alumni network connections that can lead to mentorship and job opportunities
• Enhanced understanding of healthcare systems and interdisciplinary collaboration
• Development of a service-oriented mindset, valuable in patient care settings
• Improved communication and teamwork skills essential for healthcare professionals

Many AED alumni report that their involvement in the organization played a crucial role in shaping their career paths and professional identities.

In conclusion, Alpha Epsilon Delta offers a comprehensive platform for pre-health students to excel academically, develop professionally, and contribute meaningfully to their communities. Through its diverse programs, networking opportunities, and recognition of excellence, AED continues to play a vital role in shaping the future of healthcare by nurturing the next generation of medical professionals.

ALPHA EPSILON DELTA

AED is a health pre-professional honor society encouraging excellence in scholarship.
It emphasizes the significance of health education and promotes cooperation and networking
among professionals.

Today, Alpha Epsilon Delta is the world’s largest body devoted to pre-medical education.
Membership exceeds 120,000 in 171 chapters. Approximately half of these chapters are
in professional schools.

MEMBERSHIP IS AVAILABLE AT TWO LEVELS:

REQUIREMENTS | UTD AED

MEMBER REQUIREMENTS

**Update for Spring 2021 Semester Requirements**

**Update for Fall 2020 Semester Requirements**

All members are expected to:

1. Fill out the application for membership each year.

2. Fulfill AED’s 15 hours per semester requirement. (NO LIMIT on hours from outside sources) (Forms Required)

3. Attend 1 social event per semester (events will be online).

4. Attend 1 fundraising event (events will be online).

5. Pay the $20 annual dues.

6. Attend at least 3 out of the 5 general meetings each semester.

   • If you have a schedule conflict such that you are unable to attend the meetings, please email [email protected] and either send us your schedule or explain why you are unable to attend.

   • Your membership may be terminated if you miss more than 3 meetings without informing us.

7. Show up to all events you signed up for.

​

​

All members are expected to:

1. Fill out the application for membership each year.

2. Fulfill AED’s 12 hours per semester requirement. (NO LIMIT on hours from outside sources.)

3. Attend one social event per semester (events will be online).

4. Attend fundraising events (events will be online).

5. Pay the $20 annual dues. 

6. Attend at least 3 out of the 5 general meetings each semester.

   • If you have a schedule conflict such that you are unable to attend the meetings, please email [email protected] and either send us your schedule or explain why you are unable to attend.

   • Your membership may be terminated if you miss more than 3 meetings without informing us. 

7. Show up to all events you signed up for.

​

​

Previous Requirements:

All members are expected to:

1. Fill out the application for membership each year.

2. Fulfill AED’s 20 hours per semester requirement. (Up to 8 of these hours may be from outside sources.)

3. Attend one fundraising event per semester.

4. Attend one social event per semester.

5. Pay the $25 annual dues. The dues includes the price of an AED T-shirt.

6. Attend at least 3 out of the 4 general meetings each semester.

   • If you have a schedule conflict such that you are unable to attend the meetings, please email [email protected] and either send us your schedule or explain why you are unable to attend.

   • Your membership may be terminated if you miss more than 3 meetings without informing us. 

7. Show up to all events you signed up for.

​

Failure to meet these minimum requirements will result in the loss of membership. Members will no longer be placed on probation. Members who have lost their membership may choose to rejoin AED starting at the pledge level.

Service Awards

Members that have gone above and beyond the required number of hours will receive special recognition and a certificate indicating their achievement at the end of the year at the AED banquet.

These awards include:

Pledge Members:

Pledges have less than 2 semesters of continuous membership with AED. This is the most basic level of membership in AED. 

Dues: $25 annually, to be paid when the pledge member applies for membership. 

Associate Members:

Associate members have more than 2 consecutive semesters of membership with AED. Associate members have all of the priviledges given to pledges, but in addition have the opportunity to participate in other events that are not available to pledges, such as attend the AED National Convention, and can apply for National Membership.

Associate members who have been active for at least 2 years by the time of graduation will be given special AED cords to wear over their cap and gown. Members must be active at the time of graduation to be eligible for a cord.

Dues:

$25 annually, to be paid in the 3rd consecutive semester (2nd year) of membership

National Members:

National Membership includes acceptance into the national AED organization. After their third consecutive semester in AED, Associate members can apply for National Membership.

Members who wish to apply for National Membership must

• Print and fill out the National Membership Application form, and turn it in to the HPAC office with the $75 membership fee by check.

• Prior to filing your application for National Membership, please file the associate application for this year.

Benefits of National Membership include (in addition to the benefits of Associate Membership)

Dues:

$75 one time fee when applying for national membership 

$25/year each consecutive year

Alpha Epsilon Delta : Alabama Zeta

The mission of Alpha Epsilon Delta is to encourage and recognize excellence in premedical
scholarship; to stimulate an appreciation of the importance of premedical education;
to promote communication between medical and premedical students and educators; to
provide a forum for students with common interests; and to use its resources to benefit
health organizations, charities and the community.

Alabama Zeta Chapter

The Alabama Zeta Chapter of the University of South Alabama consists of more than
500 members. To prepare its members for their professional aspirations within healthcare
fields, the Alabama Zeta chapter coordinates a variety of opportunities. For example,
members attend biweekly meetings to learn from providers such as physicians, physician
assistants, pharmacists, dentists, optometrists, therapists, administrators, and more
working in a variety of fields. Additionally, members practice clinical skills through
suturing workshops, CPR certification classes, and more. The Alabama Zeta chapter
hosts its own vitals clinic on campus where members are able to monitor blood pressure,
check respiration rates, calculate BMI, and perform vision screenings. The chapter
also coordinates a shadowing program so that members can observe local providers throughout
the community.

Each year, active members earn 30 service hours, support 10 fundraising projects,
and contribute to the operation of the chapter’s philanthropy event, Mega Musical
Chairs (MMC). Our chapter’s ongoing service events include volunteering shifts at
USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital, tutoring at Wilmer Hall Children’s Home, contributing
to Habitat for Humanity Projects, and participating in a Student Run Free Clinic.
Additionally, chapter members volunteer at local, annual events such as Project Homeless
Connect, Coastal Cleanup, Heart for Athletes, Greek Fest, and Martin Luther King,
Jr. Week of Service opportunities.

The Alabama Zeta chapter of Alpha Epsilon Delta (AED) has been recognized for its
service locally, nationally, and internationally. Most recently in 2019, the Alabama
Zeta Chapter at the University of South Alabama has been awarded the university’s
Student Organization of the Year Award at the Student Activities Awards ceremony.
Also, during these annual ceremonies, many AED officers have been received leadership
awards due to their contributions to the organization. In 2016, AED’s philanthropy,
Mega Musical Chairs, received both the Outstanding Program of the Year award at the
university’s Student Activities ceremony and the prestigious International Student-Driven
Program of the Year Award at the ACUI Annual Conference in New Orleans, LA. Alabama
Zeta has also been covered in multiple media sources such as al.com, WKRG, local radio
stations, and more.

National Office

Alpha Epsilon Delta (AED) is a National Health Pre-Professional Honor Society composed
of students engaged in the pursuit of a professional healthcare career, including
medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary, optometry, public health, and more. Alpha
Epsilon Delta welcomes all students interested in these professional pursuits, making
it the world’s largest Honor Society exclusively serving premedical education, with
a membership exceeding 144,000 in 186 chapters. Also, AED functions as service organization
in addition to its commitment of educating prospective healthcare professionals.  As
a result, AED’s passionate dedication to service led to its official designation as
a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in February of 1962.

The first chapter of Alpha Epsilon Delta was formalized at the University of Alabama
on April 28, 1926. However, in order to adequately oversee the operations of each
local chapter, the National Office of AED was developed. Chapters may be established
in four-year degree–granting accredited colleges and universities. This office regulates
the succession of Regional Directors, who are elected by delegates of local chapters,
who assist the National Officers with chapter installations, contacts and visits,
conventions, and scholarship programs. General administration of Society activities
is conducted through the office of the National Secretary.

AED national conventions, held biennially, serve as the governing bodies of the organization.
Each member is invited to attend and participate in its program. Individual chapters
send delegates to represent their chapter at each convention, which have been held
at cities such as Nashville, TN, Houston, TX, Bethesda, MD, and others. The official
chapter delegates constitute the voting members at the business sessions during the
convention.

AED is affiliated with the American Association for the Advancement of Science and
is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies.

Contact us:

If you would like more information regarding the organization, please contact the
Alabama Zeta Chapter of Alpha Epsilon Delta by emailing [email protected].  

Sponsors

Numerade is the place to get homework and study help from real professors in subjects including
physics, calculus, chemistry, and more!

Alpha Epsilon Delta Rating, Reviews and Requirements. Is it worth it?

What is the history of Alpha Epsilon Delta?

On April 28, 1926, fifteen premedical students at the University of Alabama met with Dr. Jack Montgomery, premedical adviser and professor of organic chemistry, to formalize the organization of a new premedical honor society. Baylor University, Samford University, The University of Texas, and the University of South Carolina established chapters in 1928/29. At the first national convention at the University of Alabama on April 18, 1930, ten members representing five chapters and one petitioning group were in attendance.

 In February 1929 the first two women were initiated as members, making Alpha Epsilon Delta one of the earliest co-educational honor societies established. In 1949, AED was incorporated in the State of Michigan. In February 1962, the Society was reincorporated in the District of Columbia as a nonprofit, educational organization. The business of the Society is conducted by the National Officers, Regional Directors, and active chapters, with authorization of the national convention, held biennially.

Alpha Epsilon Delta (AED) has today become the world’s largest Honor Society exclusively serving premedical education, with a membership exceeding 144,000 in 186 chapters.

 What are the requirements to be in Alpha Epsilon Delta?

Undergraduate Students:

• Membership is open to students currently enrolled in chosen health professions including careers in medicine (allopathic and osteopathic), dentistry, optometry, podiatry, veterinary medicine and other health care professions requiring post baccalaureate study leading to an advanced degree.
• Potential members must have completed at least 3 semesters or 5 quarters of health pre professional studies work with an overall cumulative GPA of at least 3.20 on a 4.0 scale (A = 4.00) and also with a cumulative GPA of 3.20 in the sciences – biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics.
• Potential members who meet the GPA and are transferring from one school to one with an active chapter will be eligible for membership after the completion of one semester or two quarters at the new school. The grade point averages used to determine scholastic eligibility at the new school will be determined by averaging all grades from both old and new schools.

 What are the key benefits of being a member of Alpha Epsilon Delta? 

•  Public recognition of outstanding pre-health scholarship.
• Opportunity to be part of a national group of students interested in professional health as a career.
• Publications of the Society are devoted to the interests of students in the health professions.
• Opportunity to participate in activities that promote interest in pre-professional health.
• Interaction with other chapter members throughout the United States.
• Participation in the national convention and meetings of the Society.
• Opportunity to establish and pursue contacts with health professionals.
• Pleasure and satisfaction of life-long membership in an active organization devoted to the education of pre-professional health students.
• Consideration for AED scholarships.

 Based on the information, here is our review:

 Our first observation is: that this society provides an opportunity to participate in activities that promote interest in pre-professional health.

Our second observation was: that this GPA requirement seems to be a little higher than other societies, which makes sense given the field of work. 

Our third observation was: that membership is open to students currently enrolled in chosen health professions including careers in medicine.

ABOUT | UNC Alpha Epsilon Delta

Alpha Epsilon Delta (AED) is a national pre-professional pre-health honor society, with chapters at universities across the country. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is home to the NC Beta Chapter, founded in 1926. Our goal is to provide our members with valuable resources and experiences that help guide them on their way to professional careers in health care, while also forming valuable friendships within the organization.

AED has three pillars of membership, including Academics, Service, and Social. Each of these areas plays an important role in a member’s experience in our organization.

Our academic resources include regular lectures from health professionals, test prep courses, study groups, peer mentoring, and more. We have also been able to guarantee the opportunity to shadow a clinical health professional at least once during a member’s time in AED. Each Fall, our organization co-hosts a Medical School Deans Panel, made up of deans from major North Carolina Medical Schools (UNC, Duke, ECU, Wake Forest, etc.). These resources allow our members to network with professionals, explore different careers within health care, and to gain experience in fields in which they are most interested.

AED is also dedicated to service, and provides a large variety of opportunities for students to volunteer on campus and in the local community. We have partnered with a wide variety of organizations in Chapel Hill for small and large service projects, including UNC Health Care, Orange County Habitat for Humanity, Ronald McDonald House, TABLE, MedWorld, Hope Gardens, and more. AED also hosts two on-campus philanthropy events each semester. In Fall 2017, our members put on “AED for the Kids,” a talent show for performance groups on campus to raise money for NC Children’s Hospital, and “Shaved by the Bell,” an event raising money for St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to childhood cancer research. While giving back to our community, our members work together, get to know each other, and foster connections that strengthen our brotherhood.

​

AED hosts a number of social events throughout the semester for our members to spend time together outside the classroom, and to get to know each other better. Each year, members are invited to cocktails, mixers with other pre-professional organizations, a retreat, and a spring formal. Smaller events include dinners, YoPo nights, game nights, and more! Our Big/Little mentoring program also partners new members with older members, allowing for fast friendships and guidance through the challenges of being a college student.
 

AED has a lot to offer, and we invite you to explore our website and participate in Fall or Spring Recruitment if you are interested in becoming a member. Please feel free to contact the Executive Board with any questions about our organization – we look forward to hearing from you!

The Alpha Epsilon Delta | American University, Washington, DC

Alpha Epsilon Delta

Begun in 1926 at the University of Alabama, Alpha Epsilon Delta is the largest honor society serving pre-medical education, with over 144,000 members in 186 chapters throughout the country. AED functions as both an honor society and a service organization. The mission of AED is:

• To encourage and recognize excellence in premedical scholarship;
• To stimulate an appreciation of the importance of premedical education;
• To promote communication between medical and premedical students and educators;
• To provide a forum for students with common interest;
• To use its resources to benefit health organizations, charities, and the community.

The American University chapter of AED (DC beta) was originally begun on the AU campus in 1984 by Dr. Marvin Pizer and continued until 1989. The AU chapter was re-instated with the national organization in 2004, with 20 new members inducted in April 2005.

Membership Criteria

Students interested in careers in the biomedical or health fields are encouraged to apply for membership. Applicants must have a cumulative overall GPA of 3.2, as well as a cumulative science GPA of 3.2, along with completion of at least three semesters of pre-professional health work. Freshmen may participate in chapter activities as affiliate members until they have completed the required coursework.

The AU chapter of AED engages in a number of activities, including educational or professional seminars, fund-raising events and charity events. Our chapter is associated with Luther Place, a homeless shelter for women, and Children’s Hospital. In the past, we have organized personal hygiene item and canned food drives for Luther Place, and done “Trick-or-Treating” on the floors at Children’s Hospital to help brighten up the patients’ Halloween. In addition, we have welcomed speakers on such topics as the ethics of death and dying, osteopathic medicine and research opportunities for undergraduates and post-baccalaureate students at the National Institutes of Health.

Officers and Contact Information

President: Evan Ewers
Vice-President: MeLisa Creamer
Secretary: Zee Elovich
Membership Coordinator: Zantisha Winston
Historian: Andrew Surmak

The faculty advisors are Dr. Lynne Arneson and Dr. Fred Carson. For more information, please contact:

Dr. Lynne Arneson, 202-885-2186

Alpha Epsilon Delta | Health Professions Advising

NEW MEMBER APPLICATIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED!

Health Professions Advising is now accepting applications from eligible students for AED. Please review the followng criteria and if interested and eligible, please complete this application (please DOWNLOAD it to access the fillable pdf) and upload it to this Google Form. Deadline is April 30, 2021.

1. Must be enrolled in program designed for preparation for post baccalaureate study leading to an advanced degree in health professions
2. Must have completed 3 semesters of health preprofessional studies with an overal cumulative GPA of 3.20 and a cumulative GPA of 3.20 in the sciences (biology, chemisty, physics and math)
3. Must have demonstrated an interest in health professions by shadowing, service/volunteer, research or club invovlement relevant to healthcare

ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE EMAIL LISA HANSINGER AT [email protected].  

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Alpha Epsilon Delta is a national honor society founded in 1926 to recognize and to encourage excellence in students seeking careers in the health professions. The society now boasts 190 chapters and over 160,000 members of which about 7000 are current undergraduates. Saint Joseph’s began the Pennsylvania Eta Chapter of AED in 1968 and has inducted over 1300 members in the past 51 years. Membership is selective and students must meet the academic standards of the organization by maintaining a minimum 3.3 grade point average in both their science courses and overall curriculum, as well as demonstrating a commitment to the health professions. Students are eligible for membership beginning in the spring semester of their sophomore year.

For the Fall 2020 issue of the Scalpel Magazine, please click here.

For more information about the SJU chapter, please contact Lisa Hansinger, Assistant Director for Health Professions Advising, at [email protected].

For more information on the national AED organization, please visit here.

Membership

Permanent Representative to the OSCE described Europe’s attitude to Ukraine’s NATO membership :: Politics :: RBK

Alexander Lukashevich

(Photo: Sergey Fadeichev / TASS)

In Europe, they are “cool” about Ukraine’s demand to grant NATO membership as soon as possible, believes Aleksandr Lukashevich, Russia’s permanent representative to the OSCE.He announced this in an interview with RIA Novosti.

According to Lukashevich, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy demands to grant the country membership in the North Atlantic Alliance as soon as possible, as he is keen on “such a maniacal idea about Russia’s aggression.” “Fortunately, in Europe, these plans are treated very coolly,” the permanent representative said.

Blinken assessed the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has consistently promoted the idea of ​​Ukraine’s membership in NATO.In March, he approved Ukraine’s military security strategy, which implies the country’s entry into the North Atlantic Alliance.

In May, the administration of US President Joe Biden announced that NATO was ready to accept Ukraine, but only if the country would comply with all the requirements for the members of the alliance, including not having territorial disputes with neighboring states.

What the NATO Membership Action Plan will give Ukraine | Ukraine and Ukrainians: A View from Europe | DW

Against the background of the increased danger of an escalation of the conflict in Donbass, the Ukrainian authorities are not only trying in every possible way to demonstrate their readiness to repulse pro-Russian separatists and Russia itself, but also seek to enlist the support of Western partners.During a conversation with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called the NATO Membership Action Plan (MAP) “the most pressing issue” for Kiev and a potential “real signal for the Russian Federation.” “NATO is the only way to end the war in Donbas,” Zelensky said.

Ukraine seeks to get a MAP in NATO already in 2021

Later, the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Andriy Taran specified the goal of Kiev.According to him, the country wants to get the MAP already this year. At the same time, he referred to the NATO summit in Bucharest in 2008 – they say, by providing Ukraine with the MAP, the alliance will accelerate the implementation of its own decision 13 years ago. Then the NATO countries promised Ukraine, together with Georgia in the future, membership in the organization, on the way to which the MAP was supposed to be the “next step”, as stated in the final declaration following the summit.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the MAP in NATO “the most pressing issue” for Kiev

For 13 years, neither Ukraine nor Georgia received MAP.Now Ukraine, not being a member of the alliance, already has a special status of cooperation with NATO – an Enhanced Opportunities Partner (EOP). The goal of this program is to enhance the interoperability of partner countries’ forces with NATO forces.

The higher this compatibility, the more effective and simpler the participation of partners in the missions and operations of the Alliance. Specific benefits include regular political consultations on security issues, increased access to exercises and information exchange, and close cooperation during crises.Except for Ukraine, only five countries have EOP status: Sweden, Finland, Australia, Georgia and Jordan.

Close cooperation with NATO and without MAP

A “technical” membership action plan will not change much in cooperation between NATO and Ukraine, explains Jamie Shea, an expert at the Brussels think tank Friends of Europe, who previously worked in the structures of the alliance. He draws attention to the fact that NATO is already working extremely closely with Ukraine. According to him, there are practically no analogues to this cooperation in the world.

US military during exercises in the Lvov region, September 2020

“Ukraine already has a Ukraine-NATO commission. NATO has a representative office in Kiev. In addition, NATO has implemented a lot of MAP elements in a common annual program with Ukraine. Here include military doctrine, military exercises, equipment, scientific cooperation, and so on, “Shi listed in an interview with DW. According to him, de facto NATO is already fulfilling the MAP in relation to Ukraine, “without calling it that word.”

Shi believes that for Ukraine the meaning of the MAP is rather symbolic: “Because of the word ‘membership’ in it, to show the Ukrainian public and Russia that Ukraine is on the way to NATO and is actively moving along this path. in recent years they have joined NATO, they also had such a MAP – Montenegro, North Macedonia, the Baltic countries. ”

NATO MAP – a symbolic step forward

But even a symbolic step can be of real benefit, Bruno Lethe, Brussels expert of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, is convinced.“A country with a MAP receives the same standards and procedures as NATO. This distinguishes them from partner countries, because the partnership itself does not oblige you to anything,” he clarifies. “The final result of the MAP can only be membership, no other option provided “.

However, only membership can lead to significant changes in relations between Ukraine and NATO compared to those that exist today between the parties. “When a country becomes a NATO member, Article 5 of the NATO Charter applies to it, which states: as soon as one member country is attacked, the entire alliance will defend it.Given the conflict with Russia, this is a very attractive model for Ukraine “, Bruno Lete notes. there will be no timeframes for the start of actual membership for it after that. Experience in other states shows that the gap between obtaining the MAP and membership can last for years – there are no standards here. For example, in the case of Croatia it was six years, and in the case of with North Macedonia – 12 years.

“Membership is based on three criteria. First: is the country ready? In the case of Ukraine, not yet. Are the member states ready (to accept it. – Red . )? Given the difficult discussions in France , Germany and the Netherlands – no, they are not ready yet. Is the political situation in Europe ready for this? Can you afford to expand NATO without risking destabilizing Europe? NATO will try to find an answer to this question in the near future, “adds Jamie Shea.

But Bruno Lete may well imagine that Kiev will receive the MAP already at the next NATO summit in June in Brussels. “Even if Ukraine does not become a member tomorrow, and the process will last for years, it is very important from a political point of view – as a symbol. NATO in this way can demonstrate to Ukraine that it is covering its back,” Lete concluded.

See also:

• The European Union and NATO in the post-Soviet space

  Integration into Europe

  From the countries of the former USSR, only the Baltic countries are currently full members of the European Union: Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia joined the EU on May 1, 2004 of the year.Six more countries participate in the EU’s Eastern Partnership program: three of them – Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia – have signed an association agreement with the EU.

• The European Union and NATO in the post-Soviet space

  EU Eastern Partnership program

  The Eastern Partnership program, aimed at deepening ties between the republics of the former USSR and the European Union, currently involves six post-Soviet countries – Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova , Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.It is noteworthy that Belarus and Armenia are simultaneously members of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which also includes Russia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

• The European Union and NATO in the post-Soviet space

  Eastern Partnership at two speeds

  Recently, the division of the Eastern Partnership countries into two groups has intensified. The first includes Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, which have signed an association agreement with the EU. In the second – Belarus, Azerbaijan and Armenia, which did not conclude such an agreement.An associated state can get duty-free access to EU markets in exchange for reforms.

• The European Union and NATO in the post-Soviet space

  Who needs a visa to the EU

  Citizens of the Baltic states that joined the EU in 2004 enjoy the right of free movement and can work in any EU country on an equal basis with citizens of one or another EU state. Holders of Ukrainian, Moldovan or Georgian passports can visit Schengen countries without visas.Citizens of Russia, Belarus, Armenia and Azerbaijan still require a visa for these purposes.

• The European Union and NATO in the post-Soviet space

  Integration into NATO

  Of the republics of the former USSR, only three Baltic countries are also full members of the North Atlantic Alliance. Ukraine and Georgia have been granted the status of a “graduate student”: this means that the state has officially expressed its interest in joining NATO and received an invitation to join an intensive dialogue on membership issues

  Author: Alexandra Elkina

How to become a member of ISSN

Does your country want to establish an ISSN National Center? Below is the procedure.

• How to join – instructions
• Annual membership fees
• More information

How to join – instructions

Accession to the Charter of the International Center ISSN

First of all, read the ISSN International Center Statutes.

Your country must then designate an institution that will act as the ISSN National Center. This institution must have access

• to the aggregate of serials of your country,
• to legal deposit system.

Your government (Prime Minister or Minister of Foreign Affairs only) can then send a letter to the Director-General of UNESCO,

• specifying that the country joins the Charter of the International Center for Registration of Serials (ISSN International Center) and
• naming the official organization chosen by the country to serve as the ISSN National Center.

Establishment of the National Center ISSN

Once the country has been approved, UNESCO notifies the ISSN International Center.

After that, you can start creating the National ISSN Center.

The establishment of the center is confirmed by a bilateral working agreement signed between

• by the director of your country’s host institution designated to host the ISSN National Center,
• and Director of the ISSN International Center.

This agreement lists:

• Member duties
• duties of the International Center ISSN
• technical agreements: frequency of data transmission, technical method of their transmission

After signing the working agreement, the National ISSN Center of the country receives the documentation, working tools and training necessary to organize the working process.

Annual membership fees

Membership fees of countries are calculated according to the gross domestic product of each country. They are subject to approval by the member countries every two years by means of a vote.

Upon request, the ISSN International Center can calculate your country’s membership fees and provide you with this information.

This amount is not necessarily charged by the host institution where the ISSN National Center is located.It can be paid by an official organization designated by the government.

More details

For all questions regarding the procedure for joining and creating a functional ISSN National Center, please contact the ISSN International Center

You can also see the list of ISSN Network member countries and ISSN National Centers

Assigning an ISSN number if the country does not have a National ISSN Center
Pending the establishment of a National ISSN Center, ISSN assignment requests from publishers in your country are processed at the ISSN International Center.

To do this, they just need to fill out the ISSN Assignment Request Form

Upon request, the ISSN International Center may indicate the number of ISSN numbers assigned to publications in your country.

After the establishment of the National ISSN Center in the country, the corresponding ISSN records are sent to it.

Article 23. Membership in a political party / ConsultantPlus

1.Membership in a political party is voluntary and individual.

2. Citizens of the Russian Federation who have reached the age of 18 can be members of a political party. Foreign citizens and stateless persons, as well as citizens of the Russian Federation recognized by the court as incompetent , are not entitled to be members of a political party .

3. Admission to a political party is carried out on the basis of personal written applications of citizens of the Russian Federation in the manner prescribed by the charter of the political party.

4. Members of a political party participate in the activities of a political party, have rights and bear obligations in accordance with its charter.

5. Members of a political party have the right to elect and be elected to the governing bodies of a political party, its regional branches and other structural subdivisions, to receive information about the activities of a political party and its governing bodies, as well as to appeal against decisions and actions of these bodies in the order, stipulated by the charter of a political party.

6. A citizen of the Russian Federation can be a member of only one political party. A member of a political party can be a member of only one regional branch of a given political party – at the place of permanent or primary residence.

7. It is prohibited to demand from citizens of the Russian Federation that, when submitting official information about themselves, they indicate membership in a political party or lack thereof.

8. Membership of a citizen of the Russian Federation in a political party or the absence thereof cannot serve as a basis for restricting his rights and freedoms, as well as being a condition for granting him any advantages.

9. Members of a political party are not bound by decisions of a political party in the performance of their official or official duties, with the exception of persons working in the governing and control and auditing bodies of a political party, its regional branches or other structural subdivisions.

10. Membership in a political party cannot be limited on the basis of professional, social, racial, national or religious affiliation, as well as depending on gender, origin, property status, place of residence.Restrictions on the right to join a political party or the obligation to suspend membership in a political party may be established for certain categories of citizens of the Russian Federation by federal constitutional laws and federal laws .

Open the full text of the document

What it means to be a member of the organization

When I was about twelve years old, once a week we were forced to run cross-country at school.At the time, it seemed like an endlessly difficult distance, although it was only a few kilometers to run.

The hardest part was on the way back to school. My legs then started to hurt very badly. To force myself to overcome these last meters, I thought about someone who is even harder, and said to myself: “If he can withstand, then I can too.”

And I remember that one of those people I thought of was Lech Walesa. It was sometime in 1981, and he was occasionally talked about in the news as the leader of the Polish Solidarity movement, which operated despite martial law.I was inspired by his example.

Of course, I really had no idea what Walesa was doing. I was just mentally projecting the news report onto something that helped me make my way to the end of the cross in the green suburb of London, where the main concern for people was to get through the economic downturn. Walesa, whose example inspired me, belonged to another world, on the other side of the Iron Curtain that no one had seen.

When I was about twelve years old, once a week we were forced to run cross-country at school.At the time, it seemed like an endlessly difficult distance, although it was only a few kilometers to run.

The hardest part was on the way back to school. My legs then started to hurt very badly. To force myself to overcome these last meters, I thought about someone who is even harder, and said to myself: “If he can withstand, then I can too.”

And I remember that one of those people I thought of was Lech Walesa. It was sometime in 1981, and he was occasionally talked about in the news as the leader of the Polish Solidarity movement, which operated despite martial law.I was inspired by his example.

Of course, I really had no idea what Walesa was doing. I was just mentally projecting the news report onto something that helped me make my way to the end of the cross in the green suburb of London, where the main concern for people was to get through the economic downturn. Walesa, whose example inspired me, belonged to another world, on the other side of the Iron Curtain that no one had seen.

In this issue we listen to stories from people who know what they are talking about.These people were on the other side of the curtain and they can tell us what it really means to be in NATO. In the West, we take a lot for granted. The same cannot be said about people from countries that have joined NATO over the past twenty years.

I am very glad that among the people talking about what it meant to join NATO is NATO Review employee Marcela Zelnichkova. The magazine has been kept on it for almost ten years. She works tirelessly behind the scenes, and this is her first article.Once talking with her in the office, I suddenly realized that I was surrounded by people at NATO headquarters, who know from their own life experience what it meant for their countries to join NATO. In this issue, Marcela (along with colleagues from Hungary and Poland) recalls the day when they – and their countries – became part of the Alliance, which was often portrayed as “the enemy.”

The issue also cites quotes from people who have joined NATO since the end of the Cold War, and includes press headlines showing how the event was perceived in those countries.

But NATO has stood guard over freedom not only for the past twenty years. April 2014 marks the 65th anniversary of the creation of NATO. We have produced a video report on the events of the world over the past 65 years, which, we hope, shows that it is not only about geopolitics, but also about protecting simpler things, such as the opportunity to protest and celebrate.

The 65th anniversary makes you wonder: what next? For an answer to this question, we turned to the former Secretary General Lord Robertson.We asked him how he thinks NATO will exist in another 65 years and, if so, what it will be like.

Finally, we look at the contribution made by another former NATO Secretary General, Manfred Werner. He passed away in office twenty years ago, but we are studying what he did during his lifetime. His strong-willed character, desire for change and strong, immutable principles aroused admiration from some, criticism from others, but were noticed by everyone. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the mark he left as Secretary General is still felt to this day.

Could this be a good example of inspiration for today’s 12-year-olds running cross-country?

Paul King

Georgia, EU and Associate Membership

On July 1, 2016, the Association Agreement of Georgia and Moldova with the European Union officially entered into force. We are talking about the harmonization of legislation, about the approach of the associated member countries to the norms and requirements adopted within the EU. However, what can the European Union offer Georgia, apart from European values ​​and numerous consultants and advisers?

July 1, 2016the Association Agreements of Georgia and Moldova with the European Union have officially entered into force. We are talking about the harmonization of legislation, about the approach of the associated member countries to the norms and requirements adopted within the EU. However, what can the European Union offer Georgia, apart from European values ​​and numerous consultants and advisers?

On June 27, 2014, an agreement was signed between Georgia and Moldova with the European Union on “Association and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area”. In the provisional application mode, the agreement was effective from September 1, 2014., but in full it entered into force, as promised, on July 1, 2016, when the procedure for its ratification was completed.

Associated membership, thanks to the very concept of “membership”, from the very beginning was more a PR action and a gesture than a real and developed program of action. The initiators of this propaganda move achieved their goal, having managed to lure the population of Moldova and Georgia with the prospect of full-fledged European integration. In these states (as well as in Ukraine and Armenia), many easily believed in the European perspectives of their countries, regarding associate membership as a step towards full membership in the European Union.However, the prospects for full-fledged membership are rather vague, given the large-scale crisis of the EU itself.

This is exclusively about the harmonization of legislation, about the approach of the associated member countries to the norms and requirements adopted within the EU. However, what will the Free Trade Zone give to Georgia, what goods within the framework of such a zone will the country be able to supply to the European Union? Is Georgia competitive in the European market? What can the European Union, in turn, offer Georgia, apart from European values ​​and numerous consultants and advisers?

The solution, according to the developers of the associated membership plan, could be the idea of ​​visa liberalization or the abolition of the visa regime between Georgia and the EU.In the mass consciousness, there is a substitution of visa liberalization and the right to employment in the EU countries, although these are two completely different issues. On the European labor market, no one will be happy with the appearance of many thousands of immigrants from Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia.

But the solution to this issue also rested on the European bureaucracy, as well as on the resistance of a number of countries led by Germany. According to A. Merkel, Germany is considering the development of a mechanism to suspend the visa-free regime if a large number of citizens of any country require asylum from the EU countries.Obviously, this is nothing more than an excuse, since nothing would prevent the EU from introducing a visa-free regime with Georgia at the same time as it was done with Moldova, that is, from April 28, 2014, again with reservations that imply the issuance of a voluminous package of documents. lack of the right to work and the ability to stay in the EU for no more than 90 days within six months. However, this was not done, and Georgia ended up in the same group with Ukraine and Turkey. And Germany and a number of other EU states are in no hurry to provide even such a truncated visa-free regime to these two countries.

The issue of visa liberalization for Georgia was to be considered on June 27, 2016 in Brussels by the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Internal Affairs. However, the meeting was postponed due to a referendum on Britain’s exit from the EU. But at the same time, on June 20, the EU Foreign Affairs Council returned the issue of visa liberalization to the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the EU countries. Only after him will this issue be considered by the EU Council of Ministers. But the problem is that the Committee of Permanent Representatives has already considered this issue three times and threw it over to the Council of Ministers, which, in turn, returned it back.It turns out a kind of game, reminiscent of table tennis.

Obviously, the solution to this issue is being delayed deliberately. And this despite the fact that, according to EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy Johannes Hahn, Georgia has fulfilled all the requirements and conditions of Brussels. Now the liberalization of the visa regime in Georgia, at the suggestion of some European officials, is expected before the parliamentary elections on October 8, 2016. Doubters hope that the visa regime will be canceled before the New Year. However, given the dynamics of this process, even they seem overly optimistic.

On July 7, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament approved a project to abolish the visa regime with the European Union for Georgian citizens. According to MEP Andrei Mamikins, the main vote will take place at the plenary session in September.

It seems that the Georgian political discourse is characterized by an overestimated and inadequate assessment of the role and place of Georgia in the world. If Brussels distributes a visa-free regime as a reward for democratization, there will be too long a queue in which, in addition to Ukraine and Georgia, Lebanon, Tunisia, Algeria and many other equally important countries that also have different agreements with the EU will stand.