Clean Raul---ECA is the European Circus Association

Google in European Circus Association and it will take you to their home site. Below is an email I received in response to membership inquires, on May 13, 2008

Dear Wade

There are several forms of the ECA membership.
Full members are professional involved in the circus business. That can be
circuses, independent animal trainers, agents, circus festivals etc. They must
be seated in Europe.
Circuses, not seated in Europe can become associated member.

Also organisations with interests in the circus business ( like the Federation
of Professional Circus school - FEDEC) can become associated member.

The yearly costs for a ECA membership are € 400,-

It is also possible to become ECA board member. They have the same rights but
not the obligations as executive board members. The yearly costs are € 3000,-

Finally it is possible to become donor member.
The minimum contribution is € 250 a year.
This donor members can participate in ECA meetings and receive the same
information as full members, but they do not have the right to vote.

You can find registration forms to become ECA member on our website.

If you have any questions left, p[lease contact us.

Yours sincerely

Arie Oudenes
Managing director ECA


Here are my questions?  Of 28 countries, only 3 individuals,
not circus's or institutions have full membership and voting
privileges, and all 3 have been represented at the Monte Carlo
Circus Festival.  One of them who is a British subject has full
membership/representation in both Germany and England.  Yet it
states that a full member must be seated in in Europe, and if not
you can not have full membership with voting rights.  The best
an American can apply for is a donor membership, with the same
information as a full member, but no voting rights for about
$400.00 a year membership.  OABA, Feld Entertainment Inc., and
Animals Exhibitors Alliance-AExA with Joan Galvin, legal
council for Feld Entertainment, Inc. as contact person have
Associate membership.  I assume with no voting rights, unless
you are seated in Europe.  How do individuals get full membership
and voting rights, and organizations can't unless they are
seated in Europe.  Of what use is this organization to OABA?
Has ECA reciprocated with membership in OABA?  Were OABA members
given the opportunity to approve or disapprove association with
the ECA.  Individuals given full voting rights is suspect,
particularity when "seated" is not explained to mean "working in,
living in, or citizen of" a European Country/Federation.