The purpose of RIO is to promote excellence in review writing, to help reviewers of all genres become established in their writing fields, and to provide continuing support within the reviewing community. RIO shall offer encouragement, through quality reviews, in addition RIO will offer a friendly, collegial atmosphere between reviewers and authors. RIO will support the publishing industry by awarding the annual RIO Awards to authors for excellence in writing.

The goals of RIO include, but shall not be limited to, the following:

• To encourage and maintain high quality in the art of reviewing.
• To uphold ethical standards of fairness and integrity by defining, maintaining and encouraging such standards and pursuing goals toward education and professionalism in its membership.
• To provide support and encouragement among its members.

The membership of the RIO shall be composed of those persons actively and seriously pursuing book reviewing and other related professionals such as web site editors, print publication editors, and others on the staff of review publications and websites.

General Membership shall consist of those reviewers whose reviews are published at least six (6) times a year in any medium.

Associate Membership shall be open to those who are no longer active in reviewing, regardless of the reasoning, own or edit a web site, magazine, newsletter, or other means by which they are maintaining a quality relationship with reviewers, regardless of RIO membership, or have a reviewer who is an active member of RIO on staff.

Membership in RIO is obtained by submission of a completed application form, obtainable on the RIO website, submission of the appropriate dues, submission of a $5.00 non-refundable application fee, and submission of appropriate references. (Please note that this fee has been waived for current members of the Review list who join RIO on or before Decmber 31st 2001.)

Membership will be extended only after completion and approval of an appropriate membership application, reference check, and payment of the RIO dues.

• No person shall be denied membership because of race, color, sex, age, religion, or national origin.
  

Resignation from RIO: Any member desiring to resign from RIO, shall present, in writing, a letter of resignation to the Vice President of Membership. The resignation will be presented to the next board of director's meeting and immediately accepted.

Dues for the initial year of full membership will be pro-rated quarterly as follows:

- Jan-Mar $20.00
- Apr-June $15.00
- July-Sept $10.00
- Oct-Dec $25.00 (which will include the next year's dues)

All RIO members are encouraged to attend every meeting.

All General members, in good standing, have the right to vote in RIO elections and RIO business as defined in the Bylaws.

Associate members have no voting rights in RIO, except for the RIO Awards.

The Executive Board of RIO shall be composed of the five elected officers and three Directorships: Web Designer, Public Relations, and RIO Awards Chairperson. An appointed Parliamentarian will also sit on the Executive Board as a non-voting ex-officio member.

Rules contained in the current edition of ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER, NEWLY REVISED, shall govern this organization in all cases where applicable and when they are not inconsistent with the RIO Bylaws.