Membership Life Cycle Overview
In any Communal living situation, it is crucial that the people living together get along and are basically compatible. For this reason, there is a Membership process that allows prospective New Members and the Community to really feel each other out before committing to Membership.
The Membership process basically has 3 tiers:
Visitors, Volunteers & Interns must have a Mentor / Sponsor who is also a Member of the Community. This Member is basically responsible for them, assisting them in any way they need, such as learning the skills they came to learn, or learning about the Community. Visitors, Volunteers, and Interns pay the real cost of their room and board for being on the Community and can be asked to leave at any time if things are not working out. They have no further set responsibilities other than those they choose to engage in.
After 3-6 months of this initial getting-to-know-you period, during which motivated Volunteers & Interns may substantially acquire any skills they came to learn, they are eligible to apply for Provisional Membership. Membership is acquired by Petition. Provisional Membership is attained if 1/3 of the Active, Full Members like the prospective Member enough to sign their Membership Petition.
Provisional Members gain the right to participate in most of the Community's Governance process. There is a 6-12 month period of Provisional Membership during which the Community can see what it would be like to fully share power with this prospective new member. After 6 months, the Provisional Member can apply for Full Membership, which is attained if 2/3 of the Active, Full Members sign their Membership Petition
The Membership process basically has 3 tiers:
Visitors, Volunteers & Interns must have a Mentor / Sponsor who is also a Member of the Community. This Member is basically responsible for them, assisting them in any way they need, such as learning the skills they came to learn, or learning about the Community. Visitors, Volunteers, and Interns pay the real cost of their room and board for being on the Community and can be asked to leave at any time if things are not working out. They have no further set responsibilities other than those they choose to engage in.
After 3-6 months of this initial getting-to-know-you period, during which motivated Volunteers & Interns may substantially acquire any skills they came to learn, they are eligible to apply for Provisional Membership. Membership is acquired by Petition. Provisional Membership is attained if 1/3 of the Active, Full Members like the prospective Member enough to sign their Membership Petition.
Provisional Members gain the right to participate in most of the Community's Governance process. There is a 6-12 month period of Provisional Membership during which the Community can see what it would be like to fully share power with this prospective new member. After 6 months, the Provisional Member can apply for Full Membership, which is attained if 2/3 of the Active, Full Members sign their Membership Petition