[Noisebridge-discuss] Membership Changes by Almighty Consensus

[Tom Lowenthal]

Reluctant as I am to post to this mailing list, I am overcoming my
strong inhibitions to bring you this breaking news.

At around midnight, after extensive, constructive, engaged, and
productive consensus-building discussion, Kevin, JC, Monad, and I,
with the help of many community participants agreed the following:

> There shall be a new tier of membership, called an Associate Member. An
> associate member shall have all the rights and privileges of membership except
> that an associate member shall not be entitled to full participation in the
> consensus process. The process for becoming an associate member shall be the
> same as the process for becoming a member, except that four sponsors shall be
> required instead of two, and that it shall not require the consensus of
> Noisebridge for a person to become an associate member, but that the consensus
> of Noisebridge may reject an application for a person to become an associate
> member.

> Noisebridge's space shall be open only to members and associate members at any
> time. A member or associate member may at any time invite a person into
> Noisebridge and host that person at Noisebridge as long as that member or
> associate member remains at Noisebridge. No other person shall be permitted at
> Noisebridge at any other time.

> Neither members nor associate members shall be required to pay membership dues
> as a condition of such membership.


That took some doing, and I'd like to thank everyone who actively
listened and engaged with others' points of view to reach this
consensus. However, we're not done. We also agreed to continue
discussion at next week's meeting, particularly on the following
points:

1. The process for becoming an associate member.
2. The issue of whether members or associate members shall have to pay dues.
3. Whether someone shall have to be an associate member before
becoming a member.

But we should definitely discuss other issues or suggestions that folks have.

* * * * *

Yet wait, there's even more. This means things for you, yes you, dear reader!

There are currently no associate members, but a lot of non-members who
use the space regularly, and probably want to continue doing so. If
you're a member it's now extra-specially important that you be at
Noisebridge more often in the coming days so that you can help host
people, and vouch for them, and otherwise help build ties in our
community and move us towards a steady ratio of members and associate
members. If you're a regular who's not a member, please respect this
change, and try to communicate with existing members and arrange to be
in the space in the same time so that they can host you.

I plan to print out some new associate application forms with four
membership slots and so on, but until then, please feel free to use
the regular forms, but write the word "associate" on them somewhere
prominent, hack additional sponsor slots, and file them in the right
part of the binder.

* * * * *

I'm sure that there will be hiccups and edge cases and other whatnot &
malarkey with this change. Please -- out of respect for your fellow
bridgers -- bring these to the list constructively and with an eye
towards working together to improve Noisebridge.


Your humble servant,
Tom,
Noisebridge Secretary, and executor of the will of our President (long
may she reign), Empress of all Hackerspaces, and Protector of
Noisebridge.
--

May the blessings of Consenso be upon you.