[Noisebridge-discuss] Bylaw structure consensus

[Rachel McConnell]

Arg, didn't complete the thought.  Let me write that all out again:

I think we want to keep "contribution" deliberately undefined, or more 
accurately to let every individual define it themselves.  It's 
reasonable to assume that someone will continue, as a member, in more or 
  less the same way they behaved as guests or proto-members.  So this is 
just to give the existing membership a chance to get to know them and 
get a sense of what they'd be like as a member.

The idea of 'contribution' is to give the existing members a guideline 
for the decision.  Let's say my friend Joe happens for some reason to be 
friends with most of the existing membership already.  Just because we 
all like him doesn't mean we should necessarily accept him as a member. 
  We also have to believe that he'll be a useful and interested member; 
that he will contribute to the organization.

R

Rachel McConnell wrote:
> I think we want to keep "contribution" deliberately undefined, or more 
> accurately to let every individual define it themselves.  It's 
> reasonable to assume that someone will continue, as a member, in more or 
> less the same way they behaved as guests or proto-members.  So this is 
> just to give the existing membership a chance to get to know them and 
> get a sense of what they'd be like as a member.
> 
> Rachel
> 
> Mark Cohen wrote:
>>
>> I really wish I could have been there today, so please forgive my 
>> questions.
>> 1. When you say "Sustained contribution over a period between 2-3 
>> months" do you mean Financial or Volunteer contribution.
>> 2. Can you define "Hanging Out"- Do you mean physical presence, or 
>> actually doing something. (by something, I mean for the greater good 
>> of the organization)
>>
>> so far though, everything seems above-board to me.
>>
>> Thanks for all of your hard work, and I hope to make more meetings now 
>> that my "busy" period is over.
>>
>> -Mark
>>
>>
>>
>> On Apr 27, 2008, at 8:19 PM, David Molnar wrote:
>>
>>> Hi everyone,
>>>
>>> Here's my understanding of the consensus we came to at the end of 
>>> today's meeting about bylaw structure. Please speak up if you see 
>>> something I got wrong, something is unclear, or you have other 
>>> thoughts. The next step is to update the bylaws on the wiki to 
>>> reflect this consensus, then incorporate.
>>>
>>> ----
>>>
>>> 0) There will be a 5-person Board of Directors: the three execs plus 
>>> two others. The reason for 5 is to make quorum issues easier. The 
>>> role of the Board is to moderate and to execute the will of the Members.
>>>
>>> 1) Every person who makes a sustained contribution over a period of 
>>> between two-three months (exact time TBD) to Noisebridge will have 
>>> the opportunity to be a capital-M Member, unless there are objections 
>>> from current members. We will not have two classes of long-term 
>>> membership. All will be legal Members of the corporation, with the 
>>> power to call meetings, turn out the Board if needed, etc.
>>>
>>> 2) Specifically, a person will become a member after hanging out at 
>>> Noisebridge for two-three months, usually as a guest of a current 
>>> member, then having the current members agree to accept the person. 
>>> There will be a membership meeting or other specific point where a 
>>> new person becomes a member. The Secretary will keep a current list 
>>> of members.
>>>
>>> 3) Members pay dues. People who guests or new people do not.
>>>
>>> ---
>>>
>>> We also discussed other issues, such as the need to have an 
>>> explicitly spelled out policy for removing members (by law and just 
>>> as a good idea) before renting a space. For right now, though, the 
>>> priority is finishing the writing of bylaws so we can incorporate and 
>>> get things going.
>>>
>>> -David Molnar
>>>
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>>
>>
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