Corresponding Member
Receives quarterly bulletins, chapter notices, archive updates, and access to open lectures. May submit historical material and assist with transcription projects.
Membership & Chapters
Membership • training • meetingsCouncil membership supports archive preservation, regional meetings, public-safety materials, and supervised field documentation. Membership does not confer law-enforcement authority, wildlife-handling authority, access to restricted property, or permission to pursue reported subjects. Dues, renewals, and field-qualification questions are handled at membership@cockgoblins.org.
Field Member
Eligible for chapter field training and supervised observation assignments after completing the Council methods course and conduct acknowledgment.
Student / Archive Volunteer
Available to enrolled students and approved preservation volunteers. Field eligibility requires the same training as any other member.
Field Qualification
Minimum requirementsMethods Orientation
Two-hour introduction covering witness separation, original-file preservation, site notes, uncertainty language, and the distinction between observation and interpretation.
Safety Module
Review of culvert, roadway, abandoned-structure, weather, wildlife, and private-property hazards. Members must pass the written safety screen before attending a field watch.
Supervised Observation
Two field sessions with a qualified chapter lead. No baiting, playback, pursuit, trapping, entry, or staged object placement is permitted.
Annual Renewal
Field status expires each December. Renewal requires updated emergency-contact information and acknowledgment of current protocols.
Chapter Meetings
See the Regional Chapters Directory for coordinators and current standing.
Lehigh Valley: second Thursday monthly.
Delaware Valley: first Tuesday monthly.
Northwestern New Jersey: quarterly.
Wyoming Valley: six meetings annually.
Locations rotate among libraries, municipal meeting rooms, and member-provided facilities. Restricted case material is not discussed at public sessions.
Member Conduct
Members may not represent unresolved reports as verified zoological findings, contact witnesses outside assigned review, disclose private locations, or use Council affiliation to obtain access that would otherwise be denied.
Violations may result in suspension of field status or termination of membership.
Application procedure
Applications are reviewed by the nearest active chapter. Prospective field members are encouraged to read Safety Protocol, Field Glossary, and Scientific Objections before orientation. Membership is not required to report a sighting. Administrative questions are addressed in the FAQ.