Kuckucksmühle: Membership Definition
What criteria does one have to meet to be considered a member?
- Someone who agrees to our ideals
- Someone who wants to be a member
- Signs up to the members mailing list (kumembers@ecohackerfarm.org)
- Someone who brings value to the project
What is Value?
General definition of “value” - Improving the place somehow - work / financially / resources /…
Are there different kind of members?
Permanent Living Members (permies)
Live here: better half of the week-year Members living here permanently can decide which members can be permanent living members
Neighbors & Friends (regulars)
permanently involved, visiting more frequently (<1/month)
Visitors (birdies)
Adds value but no reliability
What are the rule and expectations from the members?
Agree to the ideals
Contribution and Responsibilities related to the member level
- Contribution definition: Participate in meetings, bring value to the project.
- Contribute in the amount possible and helping.
- Identify and reject individuals that abuse / misuse the benefits over an extended amount of time.
How to become a member
- Do something that brings value
- ask people on the mailing list of members if that is value
- If there are no vetoes s/he can become a member
- If there is at least one veto, members have to have a discussion about it (without applicant) and come to a decision.
- If there is no decision we should have at least 2 maximum of 3 discussions - independently at different times
- 1st meeting between members
- 2nd and 3rd meeting maybe including the applicant depending on subject matter
Membership communication
Mailing lists
| email address | access | use |
|---|---|---|
| kum_together@ecohackerfarm.org | public by subscription | used for public events, workshops… call for volunteers etc for people interested in what is going on here |
| kumembers@ecohackerfarm.org | not public - restricted to approved members | used for membership only business, making decisions on membership etc. |
| kuckucksmuehleev@ecohackerfarm.org | not public - restricted to e.V.-members | this is for the association: making financial decisions, tax returns, application for funding, purchase / renting property etc. |
Decision Making
Permies can make impromptu decisions on site that are related onsite issues that have to be done for example: repairing the car, replacing vital equipment etc.
Examples: Sheep or goats decisions: to get input from regulars when making time consuming and high resource decisions in order to make use of their skills and expertise but also to act as a control factor when it comes to time and resource allocation to the project. This should be a balance between personal interest vs communal goals / benefits
TODO: draw a decision making process to be approved at the next membership definition meeting. Important to remember that the association has the final say when it comes for financial input / output
Voting
Voting rights & weight of votes
- Birdies don’t get voting rights
- Regulars and Permies all get 1 vote each
- Permies can veto onsite decisions
Delegation of votes
- Possible for unspecified time limit
- Only permies can delegate votes
- Delegates should justify their decisions to the delegees
TODO: Process map for delegation of votes
Topics pending further discussion
- Benefits of membership
- Transparency for finances
- Formal joining and leaving process of membership
- …
Changes
These processes and definitions are not set in stone, if you see something you wish to change something initiate a discussion by contacting us on kuckucksmuehle@ecohackerfarm.org.