[Noisebridge-discuss] proposal to increase membership at noisebridge by changing the rules

Jake jake at spaz.org
Mon Oct 14 00:38:39 UTC 2013


currently noisebridge is used by 99% non-Members, 1% Members.

currently, 99% of noisebridge Members do not use noisebridge.

currently, Membership at noisebridge requires ongoing cash flow into 
noisebridge either by tradition or rules, it is not clear which.

I think this is not working out.  Noisebridge's rent gets paid but the 
people who come to noisebridge have zero motivation to become a member, 
and so they don't bother.  We should be adding several new members weekly.
Membership at Noisebridge should be a valuable tool to encourage 
cooperation and a sense of belonging, while reinforcing accountability 
and support between users of the space (including Members and Guests)

There is no reason for membership to be tied to giving money to 
noisebridge.  If someone is excellent and wants to be a part of 
noisebridge, and no Member blocks them, they should be allowed to join. 
Members should remain in good standing regardless of their financial 
contributions as long as they are remaining excellent and accountable for 
their actions, and those of their guests.

I propose that Noisebridge change the rules of Membership to do away with 
the cash flow requirement, and to expressly do away with the informal and 
inappropriate "bribe", which defeats the purpose of asking the potential 
member to step out while their membership is consensed upon _or_not_.

We agreed last week to close noisebridge to non-Members from 23:00 to 
10:00 every day, with the exception of guests of Members and 
Members-in-Application who have two signatures.  We will be able to take 
advantage of this policy by encouraging more SUPPORTERS of noisebridge to 
become Members.  We can do this by removing the payment requirement.

If people want to support Noisebridge with money, they should feel free to 
do so, whether they are Members or not.  If people want to support 
Noisebridge with their presence, excellence, and accountability to one 
another, they should feel free to do so, whether they are in a position to 
supply cash or not.  I think this should be obvious.

I ask that absentee Members, who have been unable or unmotivated to offer 
their support in the form of their presence, excellence, and 
accountability, please stand aside from this proposal if they have 
objections (or offer friendly amendments in the spirit of problem 
solving).  People who are not regularly using the space should not stand 
in the way of improvements to be made by those who do use and contribute 
to the space regularly.

The proposal should be worded as follows:

Membership to Noisebridge should no longer be dependant on a person's 
ability or willingness to pay money to noisebridge, or to bring food or 
beer to a meeting, but only on their ability to acquire sponsorship 
signatures and be consensed upon at a meeting, after leaving the meeting 
to give opportunity for any objections to be discussed before they return.
Members will thus enter and remain in good standing without regard to any 
financial contributions they do or do not make in that time.

-jake



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