Membership is always individual and at the discretion of the general membership. All members must publish or broadcast substantive reviews or critical commentary that exhibits considerable depth and breadth of knowledge in cinema. These reviews must be of newly-released films and must be presented/published on a regular basis. Reviews must involve considerations of artistic merit and entertainment value. Analysis from a specifically doctrinal or moral perspective does not qualify, nor do reviews of DVD's and/or videos. To remain members in good standing, members must also pay the annual membership dues, regularly update the Society web site, vote in the Association's end-of-year award balloting, and publicize the year end award results as well as any other pertinent film critic society business.

Members who fall into more than one of the three membership categories must meet the requirements of their primary category (e.g. a print critic whose reviews also appear on the ancillary web site must meet the print requirements).

1. PRINT

Reviews must bear the member's by-line and appear in one or more accredited, professional publications with a total minimum circulation of 7,500.

Each member must have published a minimum of 40 individual reviews and must remain current by publishing, on average, at least 2 similar reviews of new films per month, or no less then one substantial longer piece of commentary or criticism that looks at film in a broader context. Simple title listings with summaries do not qualify as reviews.

If a publication prints reviews by more than one critic, to be considered for membership an individual contributor must meet the above requirements in terms of by-lines, archived reviews and remaining current.

2. BROADCAST

Members must regularly broadcast on commercial or public radio of television outlets of substantial viewer or listener ship. Each member must ordinarily broadcast critical commentary on recently-opened films in one or more segments each week. A mere listing of weekly openings with incidental remarks does not qualify, nor does general entertainment reporting.

3. INTERNET

A member must publish reviews on a stand-alone site of professional quality devoted exclusively to film and DVD. The site must attract, on average, of at least 5,000 unique viewers per month. Blogs, sites hosted on free servers, and sites on which film reviews are secondary to the site's main focus do not qualify. Each member must have a minimum of 75 archived reviews and must remain current by publishing, on average, at least 2 reviews of new films per month or no less then one substantial longer piece of commentary or criticism that looks at film in a broader context.

If a site hosts reviews by more than one critic, to be considered for membership, the site must meet the viewer requirement and an individual contributor must meet the above requirements in terms of archived reviews and continuing publication.

DUES

Each active member will pay dues of $30.00 annually. Any change in dues must be approved by 75% of the membership. All monies collected will be expended on the costs of maintaining the web site, providing means for the announcement of the Association's awards, or undertaking other activities in furtherance of the Association's mission approved in advanced by the Governing Board. Any funds remaining at the end of the calendar year will be rolled over into the following year.

MAINTENANCE OF STANDING

An annual survey of the reviewing activities of all members will be undertaken by the Governing Board. Any member failing to meet the requirements for remaining current will be placed on an auxiliary list for six months. If at the end of that period he/she provides evidence that he again meets the minimum requirements, he shall be reinstated. If not, he shall be permanently removed from the membership roster. Reinstatement will require that the former member undergo the process for adding new members.

ADDITIONS TO MEMBERSHIP

To be considered for membership to the Houston Film Critics Society, please contact the President of the Society by email. Be sure to include your day and evening telephone numbers, as well as any other contact information. In addition, copies or links to film reviews should also be included. Any current member can recommend a new member, who will then be asked by the Governing Board if the wishes to be considered. If so, the Governing Board will assess whether the proposed member meets membership requirements, and if he or she does, will place the nomination before the entire membership. A 75% vote of the membership in favor will be required for the nominee to be added to the membership roll.

AMENDMENTS AND OFFICES

RULE CHANGES. Future alterations to membership requirements may be proposed by any member by submission in writing to the President or Vice-President. Passage will require the approval of at least 75% of the current membership when such changes are voted upon.

OFFICERS. The officers of the Association will be the President and the Vice-President. The President has the responsibility of collecting the annual dues and expending all revenues on approved Society activities, in particular insuring that the web site, which includes the screening calendar available to members, is properly maintained. If necessary the President may choose to employ a Society webmaster for this purpose. The Vice-President is responsible for maintaining the membership role and screening applicants nominated for membership. The President and Vice-President will also oversee the Society's end-of-year award balloting and the announcement of its results.

ELECTIONS. Elections for officers will occur in January every two years, beginning in 2007. There will be no term limits on re-election, and the candidate receiving the highest number of votes from the membership will be elected. Only members who volunteer for a position will be eligible to receive votes, and in the event only one member volunteers for a position, it will be considered filled without a vote being taken.

THE GOVERNING BOARD. The Governing Board of the Association will consist of the current officers and all former presidents who remain active members. The Governing Board will oversee elections, conduct the annual review of members, and undertake any other actions they deem necessary for the fulfillment of the Society's mission.

ETHICS GUIDELINES

The following ethics guidelines were established for members of the Houston Film Critics Society. Any breach of these guidelines may be punishable by censure or expulsion. The Ethics Guidelines are:

• Deliberate plagiarizing of material from other writers
• Stealing goods or services from studio representatives, theaters, or other HFCS members
• Using HFCS membership to demand special treatment (that includes demanding promotional items for personal use, demanding extra screening passes or demanding free passes to films that have already opened)
• Allowing gifts or favors to influence the content of reviews
• Reviewing films you have not seen
• Reviewing films in which you, or someone you know well, has a creative or financial interest without disclosing that information in the review
• Threatening or harassing artists, studio representatives, theater owners/employees or other HFCS members
• Falsely claming to be an official representative of the HFCS
• Unauthorized recording of theatrical releases
• Unauthorized copying and/or sale of studio screeners, including (buy not limited to) Internet distribution

The Governing Committee reserves the right to review and alter these guidelines as needed or upon the request of the HFCS membership.