Question

We would like to generate interest among potential new members for our association. We have now come up with the idea of making our next general meeting accessible to the public and inviting interested parties and media professionals to the occasion. Are we allowed to open up the general meeting to non-members?

Answer

There are no legal provisions in this respect unless something is governed under your articles of association or regulations.
Otherwise, the association is free to also invite non-members. This can be quite useful. Potential members, relatives, representatives of authorities or financial backers, specialists, media professionals - they can all be invited as guests. It is advisable to provide guests with allocated seating so that it is clear who is and who isn't permitted to vote.

For invitations of this kind, the event should be sufficiently attractive for the guests and be significant in terms of its content. Nobody wants to simply listen to items of business relating to the association's articles of association. An invitation with an interesting and varied programme is helpful. And, of course, be sure to extend a special welcome to the guests at the meeting.