
First understand the purpose for which the organisation was founded and what activities it actually carries on at present. An organisation's name or the number of its members does not necessarily show whether it suits your community; you may read its charter, public announcements and recent activity records, and if necessary ask the organisation's contact person.
Confirm the conditions of membership, membership fees or other resource requirements, obligations of attendance and voting, the qualifications of representatives, the way information is used, and the procedure for withdrawing from or suspending membership. If formal commitments are involved, those entitled to decide should first be informed of the content, and an authorised representative should then submit the application or sign the documents.
Assess whether you have the manpower to take part on a sustained basis. If after joining no one responds, attends or fulfils obligations for a long period, it may make work difficult to arrange for both your own state and the organisation. Rather than joining many organisations at once, it is better to take part first in one or two cooperative projects that genuinely match your goals.
If you have questions about an organisation's aims or rules, you may raise them before joining. Organisations differ in their principles and institutions; making a choice on the basis of information and respecting their decisions is part of sound participation in the international community.
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