Guild Membership

The Educator brings astrology to life for the student and ensures that astrology continues to be promoted for future generations.  Without the educator, there is no astrological community.  The Guild places the astrological educator at the centre of any education system.  For these reasons the Guild considers that any international exam system must, in its policies and structure, acknowledge, involve and assist the educator.

Therefore the Guild:

• Involves all members, if they choose, in the setting of syllabi and exams

• Each member of the Guild has a voice and a vote in these decisions, which must be reviewed every two years.

• The style and format of the various exams is likewise selected by all Guild members although the Council has responsibility for setting and conducting exams.

• Members therefore encounter the ideas and techniques of fellow educators.

• Enables each member to present their students a tiered professional exam system, confident that all markers are qualified professionals who are actively continuing to develop their professional knowledge.

• Enables all members who use the exam system to be involved in the marking process.  Payment and marking is proportional to the number of students that the educator puts through the system.

Types of Guild membership:

Faculty – is an educator who intends to use the Guild’s exam system and who has successfully placed at least two students through a recognised astrological exam system.  Faculty members are entitled to use after their name, Faculty, AGE In as well as the Guild Imprimatur on their professional correspondence, advertising and promotional material.

Member – is an astrological educator who chooses not to use the Guild exam system and/or has not yet had students successfully attempt a recognised astrological exam.  Members are entitled to sue after their name, Member AGE In as well as the Guild Imprimatur on their professional correspondence, advertising and promotional material.

Guild members receive a Certificate of Membership to display.

Advantages of Guild Membership

The Guild offers the professional astrological educator a number of advantages which include:

• Use of the Guild’s Imprimatur in promotion of the member’s astrological business.  This is a symbol promoted internationally of a high standard of astrological excellence.

• Collective advertising and promotional opportunities

• Identifying membership in professional correspondence, advertising and promotions.

• A role in the development of the Guild’s international exam system.

• Opportunity to offer students at the Diploma level the Continuous Assessment option.

• Membership of an international; fraternity/network of astrologers and astrological educators.

•  Membership Certificate which can be displayed.

The Guild has a wide network of both members and non-members, who support the Guild’s objectives and principles in astrological education.  This network extends to the United Kingdom, Europe, the USA and Australia.

Obtaining Guild Membership

Both types of Guild membership require that a prospective member must:

• Hold a professional astrological qualification – based on a structured exam system which acknowledges up to four years of study or a qualification which is based on the proposed member’s astrological work.

• Practice as an astrological educator either teaching in their own school or with others for a period of no less than two years.

• Have a registered astrological business or have a business licence either being the proprietor of an astrological business or produce a letter of support from the school/organisation which employs them as an astrological educator.

• Have a proposer sign their membership application.  The proposer must be a current Guild member.

Maintaining Guild Membership

In order to maintain Guild membership, all members must meet the following conditions:

• Comply and uphold Guild’s Code of Ethics;

• Undertake a Continuing Professional Development program and submit annual journal of activities; and

• Pay the annual membership fee.

All members must reapply for membership every year and unless all conditions are met, the Council may decline membership.  Should this be the case, any money accompanying the membership application will be refunded.

Annual Fees

Members at every second AGM set the current annual membership fee.

Certificate of Membership

Membership Certificates will be issued initially and every year thereafter, a current validation will be issued based on the Member meeting the 3 criteria to maintain membership.
 

Membership Listing

Guild members are also entitled to list their business and contact details on the Guild website.

The listing will be updated quarterly and can include business name, location and postal addresses, telephone and fax numbers as well as website or email links.

Conditions for the Use of the AGE INT. Imprimatur

Conditions of Use
The Imprimatur can be used in all advertising which is solely focused on your astrological business. It is available for use on business cards, letter head, “with compliments” slips, receipts, charts and media advertising.

The Imprimatur is not to be used on business cards, letter head or advertising which contains the promotion of non-astrological skills.

Authority to Use the Imprimatur
Members or graduates are required to submit proofs of the intended use of the Imprimatur. The Guild will then give written authority for the use of the Imprimatur in the way indicated by the member or graduate. Any printing undertaken before this authority is received may be required to be destroyed or confiscated by the Guild.

Visual Appearance of the Imprimatur
The Imprimatur is not intended to be the principle logo but is targeted as a secondary logo generally located in close proximity to the qualifications or membership statement that it supports, as shown in the example business card on this document.

As a secondary logo it is anticipated that maximum height would be 8 mm and length 12 mm or on advertising larger than letter head or business card, no more than 15% of the width of the sign, banner or advertisement. The Imprimatur should be printed in one colour over a contrasting background. This colour should be the same as the text of the document or card.

Code of Ethics

The Code of Ethics (download a copy as word document) is the cornerstone upon which members professional behaviour is based.  The Code of Ethics emphasisies professional behaviour in relation to colleagues and students.

Membership is conditional on the candidate accepting and abiding by the Code.

The members of the Astrological Guild of Educators shall:

1. Be guided constantly by the pursuit of public interest in astrology through truth, accuracy, good taste and fairness -

• following  good judgement in releasing information

• not intentionally disseminating misinformation or confidential data

• avoiding actions which lessen personal, professional or organisational reputation

• cooperate with other astrological associations

• object to untenable or unethical policies or activities

2. Give primary loyalty to the principle of maintaining and encouraging a high standard of astrological education-

• valuing the worth and dignity of every person, the pursuit of truth, devotion to and excellence in the acquisition of knowledge

• valuing the freedom to learn and to teach and the guarantee of equal opportunity for all

• striving for professional growth and seeking to exercise the best professional judgement  and integrity

• developing a primary professional concern for the student and for the development of the student’s potential

• maintaining the respect and confidence of one’s colleagues, of students and of other members of the astrological community by sustaining the highest level of ethical conduct

• respecting the diversity in educators, students and astrology as well as the relationship between a tutor and their students

3. Be aware of personal influence, avoiding promises or granting of unprofessional advantages to others -

• refraining from accepting special consideration for influence on organisational decisions

• avoiding unauthorised use of organisational facilities, resources or professionals services for personal gain or for promotion of the candidacy of aspirants for elected offices

• foregoing derogatory acts or utterances against other astrological professionals

4. Recognise that effectiveness is dependent upon integrity and regard for ideals of the profession-

• not misrepresenting professional qualifications

• giving credit for ideas and words borrowed from others

• cooperating with professional colleagues to uphold and enforce this code

Continuing Professional Development

Continuing Professional Development or CPD is a process enabling members to demonstrate their commitment to furthering their astrological knowledge by keeping up with new information and developments through further study.

CPI is a prerequisite to membership.

Members must accrue a set number of professional points annually and these are awarded for:

• Membership of other astrological associations

• Attendance at, or delivery of lectures/ workshops

• Publication of astrological material

• Attendance at or delivery of lectures/workshops at astrological conferences

• Involvement with the work of astrological organisations

• Upgrading astrological qualifications through undertaking astrological courses.

A full listing of CPD points is available in a separate document available on request.

Members are expected to maintain a CPD Journal listing the year’s activities and where CPD points are tallied.  The journal is sent out annually to members and must be completed and returned each year with the membership application.

For more information email admin