Non-EU members can join the eV at any time (this answer has been given more than 5 times iirc), only the board is limited. Let me elaborate what is current and what is possible - Board which is 3 people (currently Chair and 2 Vice) accepting applications, handling funds, do paper pushing - close to everything can be delegated to other members, even signing privileges for "on behalf of" can be given to members. If you want to, you can have the Board being a sole "premium member" position (you then call those three fancy names like President, Vice-President and alike) and a CEO (that can be really anyone) be hired to do everything (really everything) on behalf. Some things require Board signatures, always - like opening a bank account etc. EDIT: I might did not answer the actual question correctly, you can easily have more power over the eV if you get the GA to support you (person or as group) - without becoming Board member - that is the keyhole - if you have the General Assembly on your side you can do anything (as long as legal - legal means German law + eV bylaws) you want. That is the German law on this, within legal boundaries the GA is in control of the eV, not the Board, the Board is only representatives (people signing papers). The whole idea of an eV is to have a group be a legal entity, not a single person or a board (HiFo does only consist of Board and Founders and was never meant to grow, the eV is) I hope this shed some light on it.