What are the categories that exist in the community, for codification in the cooperative by-laws

What are the categories that exist in the community, for codification in the cooperative by-laws?   These are all or most of the categories and subdivisions which do exist in and of the community; as of this initial review currently, circa June 2018, by Ahgamen.

By using the three columns, we can identify the status of each individual according to three aspects of interaction with the community.  By using the three or four rows, we can identify the status according to application, acceptance by group consensus.  Each and every individual will belong to multiple areas, at least one in the columns and at least one in the rows.  This is not a linear or one-dimensional perspective on our experiences; this is a multi-dimensional analysis, giving us a bigger picture of all the interactions and possibilities.

Let's take several specific individuals and find their position by using the diagram.
For example, Kevin S.:

Community category of Kevin S.

In the above diagram, the colourized areas designate what type is this individual.  Kevin is according to the first column: a resident, full-time.  He is in the second column: a worker, full-time.  He is also being paid and has decision-making with the funding monies.

Example #2, Nadette:

Example #3, Dominick:

Example #4, Valeria:

Example #5, Michelle:

Example #6, Katie:

There is a need for more exploration.  These are rough diagrams for informational purposes only.

Vetting Process for membership, etc.

Some of my thoughts currently, as I've been asked to offer my opinion on this needed element for the Cooperative:

Visitor and Guest and New Membership to Cooperative - Vetting Process

(after such date if and when approved by consensus, these rules should be implemented through signing by all full, founding members and circulated to those interested, who are potentially visitors, guests and future members)

VISITORS:  Wherever the cooperative at the Solidarity Farm and other locations does function, visitors can be allowed entry during posted, designated hours.  Visitors are defined as any human person(s) who arrive unnannounced, finding the cooperative ramdomly or by other means of knowledge, and who have not been invited nor have acquaintance with anybody in the cooperative.  Visitors are able to be supervised during their short visit by a member operating as public facilitator. The visitor must sign the guest log and provide ID.  The facilitating member shall be responsible towards the visitor(s) and may provide information, goods, or services as the cooperative is formally offering. This member also has the power to expel the visitor for any unfavorable interactions, whether it be verbal or physical, wherefore that member is responsible for justifying the implementation of such extreme precautions. A formal record must be recorded of any visitor incidences, whether it be a favorable visit or an expulsion.

GUESTS:  Full members of the cooperative shall be able to host their guests within the cooperative, by providing a one day notice to the office of space management.  The member who is hosting shall be responsible for the guest's action and conduct.  The guest shall be able to remain within the cooperative for up to 6 days or until such a time that there is a need to make room for other members, by vacating the limited accomodations/rooms.  The exception is campers who are in the open fields or forests, in that these guests are not occupying any of the limited indoor spaces.  Upon the completion of the 6th day the guest agrees to finish their stay and depart on good terms, or request an extension for reasons of gaining membership. At any such time, during the stay of the guest, that a member is disturbed by their presence, that member must lodge a formal complaint to space management and there will be a decision amongst a minimum of three full members to discipline the guest or implement their expulsion, thereby overriding the initial host.  Thereafter, a formal record of such incidence will be presented to the entire cooperative and justification should be provided.  If justified, the host will incur a strike against their membership-standing, because of their guest. If during the time of discipline and requesting their departure, if the disagreement escalates, there can be a decision by at least two full members to call upon a civil-assist involving law enforcement officers, but only as a last desperate measure.  It is to be emphasized that the involvement of outside authority is not the modus operandis of the cooperative nor of any sustainable community.  As a group, the cooperative shall empower itself with soverignty and the abilty to create solutions internally.  Obviously, in any unforseen violent situation, the criminal force should be dealt with immediately.  This entire process will require training of the full members on how to deal with issues effectively and only when necessary.  Preventative measures will be used first and foremost. The promotion, circulation and study of our community's shared values is required and shall be continuously available.

NEW MEMBERS:  Full members in good standing shall be able to initiate new membership into the expanding cooperative-population.  The vetting process for each new member shall be either an initial guest-stay or bypassing that status and the individual shall start a new membership induction.  They may begin by expressing a sincere interest to the group, lodged formally into the record book.  This will be sponsored by at least one full member in good standing and another member who shall second the motion.  The new person will state three goals wherein they can express/prove their intentions to belong within the cooperative harmoniously and in a positive manner.  The sponsoring member shall be responsible and supervising the new person during the entire trial period.  Their trial period shall be from two weeks minimum and up to four weeks (not longer), when they will be approved and initiated as a new member, by unanimous consensus of the other members. The new person, intending to become a new member is under the same restrictions as the GUEST category. 

DISCIPLINE OF MEMBERS:

EXPLULSION OF MEMBERS:

STATUS OF MEMBERS, DEFINITIONS, CATEGORIES: 

(to be continued)

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Joining a community and cooperative

Hello friends and fans of Solidarity Farm at Maybrook Lodge,

Seeds are in the ground!

We are growing vegetables AND creating a partnership/cooperative with Dominik (the exisiting owner) working towards taking title ownership of the property by July. To this end, we had a successful first meeting with Dominik, Kevin and lawyer, Valeria A. Gheorghui, on May 11th. Kevin and Nadette connected with our beloved Jim Johnson (a friend of Ganas with expertise with cooperatives) and we look forward to consulting with him again, after a second meeting with Dominik and Valeria, where we plan to invite potential stake holders to the table.

According to Kevin:

“We need to find the right legal structure(s) that allows us to:

1) Own the land in partnership with the current owner in a democratic way - something that allows for his majority ownership stake (for now) while giving all shareholders equal voting, regardless of percentage of ownership.

2) Create sweat equity ownership opportunity

Some people involved will be equity owners but not workers, others will be equity owners and workers, and some will be workers but not necessarily equity owners at first, but maybe over time as the worker ownership share grows.”

If you liked us on Facebook - THANK YOU! Today we reached 100 likes - WOO HOO!

If you haven’t liked us on Facebook, please do!

https://www.facebook.com/SolidarityFarmatMaybrook/

Also follow us on Instagram: solidarity_farm

and most importantly

JOIN US!  COME TO THE MEETINGS!  VISIT THE FARM!

NEXT UP

1) NEXT FARM MEETING:

MONDAY EVENING  MAY 21, 2018

7 PM

Thank you to ELLERY HOUSE, an intentional community in North Bed-Stuy, for hosting the meeting!

ELLERY HOUSE

197 Ellery St, Brooklyn, NY 11206-5205

Agenda (TBD)

PLEASE RSVP

2) MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND OPEN HOUSE/CELEBRATION/POTLUCK AND BBQ

FRIDAY MAY 25 - MONDAY MAY 28, 2018

FACEBOOK INVITE: https://www.facebook.com/events/221352528641884/?active_tab=about

Share invite liberally!

People should feel free to come anytime, work, play, eat, mingle, bring food to share, bring drinks to share, bring friends or just bring yourself - WE WILL WELCOME YOU!

Saturday - Work Day

Sunday  - Potluck and BBQ

Informational Meetings - TBA

Potential Stake Holders Meeting - TBA

Tours - TBA

Spontaneous Dance Parties - TBA

Campfires - TBA

Music Jams - TBA

Carpools to Water holes - TBA

Solidarity Farm at Maybrook Lodge

5728 Route 209

Kerhonkson, NY 12446

Kevin: 347-820-2947

This will be a great weekend to visit and get involved, PLEASE JOIN US!

If you plan to make the trip up from the NYC area and do at least 2 hours of work, please note that Dominik has graciously offered to sponsor anyone coming up by bus, in order to support the use of public transportation. That means you will be reimbursed for your bus ticket.

There are buses from Port Authority via ShortLine: www.shortlinebus.com that go directly to Kerhonkson. One way fare is $32 and RT is $64. The "official" stop in Kerhonkson in the Sunoco Mart 6337 Rt 209. We had previously written that you can request that the bus driver drop you off at Maybrook Lodge, 5728 Route 209, THIS IS UNFORTUNATELY NOT CORRECT!

However, if you call Kevin, we can get someone to pick you up at the Sunoco Mart.

If anyone is planning to drive up, keep Nadette in the loop. So she can coordinate car pools and such!

If you want to spend the night at the farm, you are welcome! Let Kevin or Nadette know. There are rooms available or you can bring a tent.

We look forward to seeing you at the farm!

with gratitude and in solidarity,

Nadette and Kevin

Nadette Staša: nadette.stasa@gmail.com or 917-535-1989

or Kevin Skvorak: k.skvorak@gmail.com or 347-820-2947

Joining a community.  What's it all about?  It's usually more formally called an "intentional community"; but what does that mean?  Let's roll this back to the more general, the inherent need for basic community, for all human beings (if indeed it is a need, a required-necessity).

Community also semantically seems to be a word comprised of two words: common and unity. What do we have in common which unifies us as a group?

The academic etymology would be important to touch upon.  Let's start with the popular wikipedia source, although not to rest on its purported authority.  "A community is a small or large social unit (a group of living things) who have something in common, such as norms, religion, values, or identity. (and) ...a community is a group of people living near one another who interact socially." 

read more at the dedicated page, entitled the same...