At the core of Foresters membership is our member-governed Branch network which focuses our efforts where they are needed most – on our members and their communities.

All Foresters members belong to a local Branch and have the opportunity to elect local leaders or to even stand for election themselves. There are three levels of governance:

Branch Council

When you join Foresters, you become a member of one of 50 Branches across the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States. As a Branch member, you can vote and hold office. Branches are led by a Branch Council comprising 10 elected member leaders called Branch Councillors. Branches help support and provide oversight for Foresters local community activities, volunteer projects and member activities. 

Regional Assemblies

We have five Regional Assemblies – three in the U.S., and one each in the U.K. and Canada. Each Branch belongs to one of these five Regional Assemblies. The Regional Assemblies bring together member leaders from across the region to collaborate and oversee the activities of the Branches within their area. The Regional Assemblies elect a Regional Council of 10 Regional Councillors and one Regional Council President. Regional Assemblies meet every two years to hold elections for Regional Councillors and Regional Council President, provide educational and leadership development opportunities for delegates and holding elections for Regional Councillors and Regional Council President.

International Assembly

Every four years, our highest governing body, the International Assembly, meets to review Foresters financial results, fraternal activities and governance highlights and vote on changes to the Constitution. In June 2013, member leaders gathered in Las Vegas for a successful and productive International Assembly. They elected the Board of Directors, including a new International Fraternal President, Brian Isabelle. The 190 delegates left with a renewed commitment to our purpose and ideas for bringing this purpose to life in their own roles and communities.

One of the benefits of Foresters membership is the opportunity to get involved in our democratic process, through participating in elections or nominating yourself or someone else for a leadership role as a Branch Councillor. These elected leaders provide a guiding hand, which helps to focus and support the impact that Foresters makes in member communities.

Foresters Constitution provides the framework of the laws and principles by which we operate and sets out the authority, responsibilities, and obligations of Foresters members, officers, and representative bodies. The Constitution is a legal document reviewed by representative members every four years at the International Assembly.

Every member of Foresters is entitled to a copy of our Constitution. You can read and print a printer-friendly version of the entire Constitution here.