Goodenough Community
Membership Program
Purpose
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Our membership system is designed to meet these purposes:
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To know who the members of the community are and what we can expect of each other
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To have a transparent and understandable path for new people to become members, for people to move between membership tiers, and for people to find the right place for themselves in the community and in this membership system.
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Membership Tiers
Anyone who becomes a member at any level does so because they believe in the Vision and Mission of the community, agree to abide by the Code of Conduct, and agree to follow any Membership Agreement they sign.
Friend
Friends are people who care about the community but want a more peripheral role. This tier of membership is intended to be akin to a typical nonprofit membership program.
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Contributions
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A monthly donation of money and/or volunteer time as they are able
Benefits
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Can contribute to the Village View Newsletter
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Receive invitations to community events not open to the general public
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Participate in the election process for Member At Large positions on the General Circle
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Participate in the Annual Member Meeting, and any other meetings open to all members
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10% discount on lodging at Sahale, arranged in coordination with Sahale managers, not including programs or events
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Ally
Allies are people who feel more invested in the community than a Friend, and are either newer to the community, or who have a longer connection and care deeply about the community but want a less central role than a Steward.
Someone can be an Ally indefinitely, but it can also serve as a provisional membership on the way to becoming a Steward.
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Responsibilities
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Regularly participate in the social and cultural life of the community
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Provide a significant mix of money, labor, and/or responsibility contributions to the operations, programs, and other aspects of the community.
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The particular mix for each member will be worked out with the Membership Circle on a case by case basis, according to their means, skills, abilities, capacities, and interests. The goal is to create a set of contributions from each member that are both accessible and meaningful to that member and the community.
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Cooperate with any feedback or healing and reconciliation processes requested, and initiate such processes when a need is recognized
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Respond to requests for help or support that come from other members regarding community functions, even if it’s to say you can’t participate
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Stay at least minimally informed of what’s going on in the community and how the community functions, particularly regarding finances and governance, to be able to offer meaningful input when requested
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Annual check in regarding contributions and participation, to see how things went and what they want for the year to come, to keep these agreements alive and conscious. This check in could come in the form of a one on one with a rep from the Membership Circle, or a group check in process, or some other method determined by the Membership Circle.
Privileges
In addition to Friend benefits:
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Receive invitations to offer input on major developments or initiatives being considered by the community
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Serve on Daughter Circles in the community’s governance system
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Participate in organizational retreats or similar events
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Participate in decision-making processes by the Membership Body
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Visit Sahale for day trips (must check in with Sahale residents ahead of time to make sure there isn’t a group that needs privacy, or some other reason it isn’t a good time)
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25% discount on lodging at Sahale, arranged in coordination with Sahale managers, not including programs or events
Steward
Stewards are people who are invested and committed in fulfilling the Mission of the community and guiding its direction. They actively look for what needs doing and how they can contribute, taking a “whatever’s needed” approach to the community. They hold collective responsibility for making sure the community is in integrity with its values, that its relationships and culture are being tended, and that it has the operational and organizational capacity to thrive.
Responsibilities
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Actively participate in the social and cultural life of the community
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Provide a substantial mix of money, labor, and/or responsibility contributions to the operations, programs, and other aspects of the community.
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As the wording of “substantial” for Stewards vs “significant” for Allies implies, there is an expectation that Stewards are making a greater contribution, particularly in the areas of responsibility. This is also reflected below in the two key points of collective responsibility held by Steward members described below, as well as the responsibility to “stay fully informed.”
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The particular mix for each member will be worked out with the Membership Circle on a case by case basis, according to their means, skills, abilities, capacities, and interests. The goal is to create a set of contributions from each member that are both accessible and meaningful.
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Cooperate with any feedback or healing and reconciliation processes requested, and initiate such processes when a need is recognized
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Respond to requests for help or support that come from other members regarding community functions, even if it’s to say you can’t participate
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Stay fully informed of what’s going on in the community and how the community functions, particularly regarding finances and governance, to be able to offer meaningful input when requested
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Collective responsibility with other Stewards for ensuring effective governance and operations of the community, and that all Members are provided with adequate information about what’s going on and have opportunities to provide input
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Collective responsibility with other Stewards for ensuring the Mission of the community is being fulfilled through its programs, activities, and culture
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Annual check in regarding contributions and participation, to see how things went and what they want for the year to come, to keep these agreements alive and conscious. This check in could come in the form of a one on one with a rep from the Membership Circle, or a group check in process, or some other method determined by the Membership Circle.
Privileges
In addition to Friend Benefits and Ally Rights:
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Serve on the General Circle
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Serve on the Boards or as Corporate Officers
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50% discount on lodging at Sahale, arranged in coordination with Sahale managers, not including programs or events
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Process for Becoming a Member
Friend
Anyone who aligns with the Community's mission and Code of Conduct may become a Friend of Goodenough. After participating in at least one community event or program, a person simply needs to sign the Agreement and participate in a regularly scheduled orientation session coordinated by the Membership Circle.
Ally
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Criteria
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Participation in several community events or programs
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Volunteered time with a Daughter Circle or subcircle
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Active personal and relational growth practice
Process
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Makes a request to become an Ally member to the Membership Circle
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Initial welcome conversation with the Membership Circle
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Get assigned a Buddy
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Participate in currently required training, or have equivalent past experience. This could include training in such topics as facilitation, Sociocracy, conflict resolution, DEI, consent, NVC. etc. These trainings could be conducted internally by community members or be taken through external resources.
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Participate in at least two more community events
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Full membership interview, to include input from the prospective Ally’s buddy
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Decision by the Membership Circle
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Sign membership agreement
Integration
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Attend an orientation session
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Discuss contributions and participation with the Membership Circle annually
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Meet at least monthly with their Buddy (current Ally or Steward member) for 4 months
Steward
Criteria
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Have been an Ally for at least one year
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Continued active personal and relational growth practice
Process
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Interview with the Membership Circle
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Participate in a Clearing process with other community members
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Participate in currently required trainings, or have equivalent past experience
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Background check
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Note, the background check is meant to identify issues that could prove harmful to the community or its members. We recognize that the criminal justice system is often unjust, especially to POC, and this is not meant to exclude people simply because they may have a criminal background if it poses no danger. The point of the background check for Steward members is because of the privilege that membership status gives a person in terms of decision-making roles with legal implications.
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Decision by the Membership Circle
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Sign membership agreement
Integration
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Discuss contributions and participation with the Membership Circle
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​Join Us Today!
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