Membership Meeting Guide

  1. During the Meeting:
    1. All current members introduce themselves.
    2. Explain coop values (Grand vision, positive nuts and bolts, expectations and obligations).
    3. Explain decision-making process for acceptance (see point 6 of membership process).
    4. Questions that they have for us.
    5. Questions that we have for them. For example,
      1. What’s an example of a conflict that you have encountered with people that you are living with, and how did you resolve it?
      2. What contributions do you feel you can make to the co-op?
      3. What are the key differences/similarities between their current housing situation and what they perceive the co-op to be?
    6. Explain how to sign for he house/co-op (see point 7 of membership process).
  2. After the meeting,
    1. There is an anonymous poll in which all members write “yes,” “no,” “stand aside” and put it in a vessel.
    2. Group looks at results and discuss applicant.
    3. Final casting of anonymous votes (as above).

Membershipping process

  1. Before the meeting:
    1. Prospect attends at least two coop events (potlucks, dinners, parties, etc).
    2. Prospect fills out membership application. This gets sent over the listserv/posted on corkboard. Membership coordinator contacts references by phone or email.
    3. Prospect arranges membership meeting with at least 7 current members with at least one representing each house, including someone from the membership committee.
  2. During the Meeting:
    1. Introductions.
    2. We explain coop values (grand vision, positive nuts and bolts, expectations and obligations).
    3. We explain co-op decision-making process.
    4. A chance for prospect to ask us any questions.
    5. A chance for co-op members to ask prospect any question. For example,
      1. What’s an example of a conflict that you have encountered with people that you are living with, and how did you resolve it?
      2. What contributions do you feel you can make to the co-op?
      3. What are the key differences/similarities between their current housing situation and what they perceive the co-op to be?
    6. We explain how to sign.
  3. After the meeting:
    1. There is an anonymous poll in which all members write “yes,” “no,” “stand aside” and put it in a vessel.
    2. Group looks at results and discuss applicant.
    3. Final casting of anonymous votes (as above).
  4. Based on the membership meeting:
    1. If a consensus is reached immediately, the applicant is informed of their acceptance.
    2. If at least one person objects, the applicant is informed that they have not been accepted.
    3. If at least one person stands aside, the question is put up for deliberation. Members further consider the potential applicant and any reservations about him/her. The current members re-convene within one week and re-consider the applicant. At this point the applicant is only accepted if complete consensus is achieved.
  5. If and when the prospect is accepted (consensus by at least 7 current coopers within a week), they can then sign (simultaneously) the BCL Membership Agreement (with deposit of $525, which is given to treasurer) and the house lease and any other tenant information, and the prospect then picks a room.
  6. By the end of the membership process, the new member should have signed three papers: membership agreement, lease, and income disclosure form.

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