SDAO membership is available to Oregon special districts, intergovernmental organizations, statewide or regional associations of local government, or any other public entity which qualifies as a political subdivision or municipal, quasi-municipal, or public corporation. Each entity type falls into one of the following sub-categories of membership: political subdivision or municipal, quasi-municipal, or public corporation. Each entity type falls into one of the following sub-categories of membership:

Regular Membership
Any special district authorized and regulated by Oregon Revised Statute Chapter 198.

Regular members have voting privileges at the annual meeting and are eligible to have a representative serve on the SDAO Board of Directors.

Associate Membership
If an entity does not qualify for regular membership as a special district, it may qualify for associate membership under the following:

a. Any intergovernmental agency, department, council, or other like entity which is created under ORS 190.003 to 190.110, and which does not act under the direction and control of any single member government, or

b. Any statewide or regional associations of local government or any other public entities which qualify as political subdivisions or municipal, quasi-municipal, or public corporations as those terms are contemplated in ORS 30.260.

Associate members do not have voting rights at the annual meeting and are not eligible to have a representative serve on the SDAO Board of Directors.

SDIS Programs
SDAO members have exclusive access to SDIS programs including property, liability, automobile, crime, boiler and machinery, workers’ compensation, health, dental, life, and disability insurance. Eligibility for participation in these programs varies with member type and can be referenced below.

Regular SDAO Membership Participation Eligibility

• Property and Liability Self-Insured Pool - Yes
• SDAO Workers’ Compensation Service Group Through SAIF - Yes
• Employee Benefits Self-Insured Pool - Yes

Associate SDAO Membership Participation Eligibility

• Property and Liability Self-Insured Pool - Cities, counties, school districts, community colleges, charter schools, and 190 entities that do not have special district members are not eligible. All others are subject to underwriting review.
• SDAO Workers’ Compensation Service Group Through SAIF - No
• Employee Benefits Self-Insured Pool - Cities, counties, and 190 entities that do not have special district members are not eligible. All others are subject to underwriting review.

Affiliate Memberships
SDAO does not offer affiliate membership to outside organizations that do not qualify for regular or associate membership. To get involved, please consider sponsoring at our annual conference, sponsoring at our annual member scholarship golf tournament, and/or contributing to the SDAO Scholarship and Grant Fund.

More Information
For more information about our programs and services, please view our membership guide.

If you have any questions or would like a membership application, please contact SDAO Membership Services.