10.0 –18.0 Membership
10.0—Membership Process
Community vote, September 1995
Amended by petition, August 1998
Amended, October 2003
Amended, May 2004
I. General Considerations
Amended by community vote, October 2018, Membership Manager
Membership selection matters will be decided only through the process described in this legislation; however, two-thirds of the full members can override any decision as provided in the by-laws. Other community decisions do not have priority unless they specifically suspend or do away with this legislation.
The membership manager (mm) shall administer this legislation; however, in the event that there is no membership manager or mm is not available, a member appointed to act in mm’s place shall administer it.
II. Votes on Associates and Provisional Members
Amended by petition, August 1998
Amended by community vote, late 2017, Liuda
Amended by community vote, July 2018, Airik
Amended by community vote, October 2018, Membership Manager
Updated with Board interpretation, March 2019
Amended by community vote, July 2020, Richard
Renamed by Board request, April 2023
A. Requests for Votes: A Full Member may request a vote on a PM or Associate.
The request is made to the membership manager. Requests for votes may be made at any time.
In order for the request to be accepted, it must be written, signed by the FM, and include reasons for the request.
The request will not be confidential unless indicated by the FM, however, the names of FM’s who request votes will become public once the number of requests reaches 25% (of FM’s not on leaves of absence) unless, in the opinion of the Board, there is likelihood of harassment or abuse.
It is the responsibility of the Membership Manager to give information to a FM requesting a vote about how the community can help to resolve a problem between a full member and a PM or associate. Offering this information is intended to show the full member that problems can be dealt with in more cooperative ways. It is not intended to advocate for anyone. It is intended as a way to decrease festering tension.
B. If 25% of the FM’s request a vote on a PM or Associate, a vote will be held to determine if the individual should lose their status and leave the community.
1. Within 36 hours of receiving the required number of requests, the Membership Manager announces that a vote will happen, announces who requested the vote, and posts a summary of the reasons for the requests.
2. There will be a one week waiting period between the announcement of the vote and the commencement of the vote. If, at the end of the waiting period, requests for a vote amount to 25% of the FM’s, the vote will commence. The voting period is for five days.
3. Votes may not be held while the person being voted on is away on leave of absence. There will be an attempt to inform such persons that a vote will be held when they return.
4. All FM’s not on leaves of absence will be eligible to vote. FM’s not on the premises may relay their vote via proxy.
5. The vote will be ballot.
The ballot will read as follows:
At least 25% of Full Members have requested a vote on _____. If you would like for this person to continue to live at East Wind, vote yes and return this ballot to the ballot box. If not, vote no.
At least half of the FM population not on leaves of absence must participate in this vote for any action to be taken. If less than 50% participate, a re-vote will automatically occur until a decision is reached. If there are more yes than no votes, membership status is maintained. If there are more no than yes votes, the PM or Associate status ends. The individual must leave within a period determined by membership policy. Tallies will happen immediately following the conclusion of the voting period. Announcements of vote outcomes will be posted as soon as the ballots are tallied.
Votes will occur once a week for a minimum of three times. Simple majority will rule on the third re-vote.
6. If a Provisional Member is not rejected, then co continues as a PM. If an Associate is not rejected, then co maintains their status and may continue their residency period.
C. Concerns on Visitors: If at any time 15% of the FM’s request in writing that a visitor leaves the community, that visitor will be informed by the Membership Manager or the Board that co must vacate the premises of East Wind no later than 24 hours after the notification.
IV. Voting on PMs to Become Full Members
Petition, 2006
There will be a vote on all PMs before they become full members. Ballots will be given to every full member two weeks before the PM’s anniversary date by the Membership Team. The voting period will last one week.
The ballot will read:
1) Do you want _________________________ to become a Full Member now?
yes no
2) If the result of question #1 is no, would you allow a 6 months PM extension?
yes no
Be sure to vote on BOTH questions for your vote to be valid
The option with the most YES votes will pass, as long as at least 25% of the full members vote YES. If no option receives at least 25% yeses, the vote will be extended by two days, and if necessary two more days, until an option passes. A person’s provisional membership can only be extended two times. On the third vote, the options will be limited to “Full Member” and “Drop membership.”
V. Voting on Provisional Members at Six Months
Community meeting, June 2017, Kara Jo
Amended by community vote, October 2017, Peter
Amended by Board interpretation, November 2022
Augmented with Membership Committee policy, April 2024
This vote will be restricted to Full Members only.
The vote will be put out 1 week before PM’s 6 month date (This is when PM’s get medical coverage.).
The vote will last for 1 week.
The vote will only ask those who wish said PM to not become a six-month PM to vote no.
If said PM receives less than 15% FM no vote, the total amount of no votes will not be posted.
If said PM receives at least 15%, but less than 25% FM no votes, there will be a community discussion meeting scheduled, by the Board, to promote openness, and clearness regarding these FM no votes. This meeting will not end in a vote.
If said PM receives at least 25% FM no votes, there will be a community meeting, within a week, to discuss the no votes, followed by another vote. The second vote will have a yes and no option, needing 25% FM’s voting one way for it to pass, with the option that gets majority passing. If no option receives at least 25% FM votes, the vote will be extended two days, and if necessary two more days until an option passes. If after this vote, said PM receives majority no votes, their membership is terminated immediately, and they will have 1 week to leave community. If said PM receives majority yes votes, they are able to continue membership.
In no way does this process eliminate the calls to vote process on PM’s, which can still be used at any time during a PM’s PM-ship.
Policy: If the vote results in a meeting, Membership will share comments on the ballots verbatim (without the name of the voter) with those in the room to provide feedback on why some people voted no. The comments are meant for constructive criticism on the provisional member and are not meant for social issues or personal grievances that someone may not want to read aloud to a room full of people.
10.0a—Visitor Period Labor Requirements
Community meeting, August 2012, Jeremiah
Amended by community vote, October 2018, Membership Manager
Updated with Board interpretation, May 2021
1. Visitors must be on the farm for 21 consecutive days during a visitor period to be eligible to become a PM. No visitor is eligible for PM status if they leave the farm for more than 24 consecutive hours. The Membership Manager must rule on unforeseeable exceptions publicly, and subject to concerns.
2. Visitors must at the end of the 21 day visitor period have accumulated labor hours that equal labor quota for the 3 week period they are on the farm.
3. Visitors cannot give or receive p.s.c.'s.
4. Visitors are not allowed back hours.
5. Visitors cannot turn in p.w.l.'s.
6. Visitors are allowed during 21 day visitor period up to 15 sick hours, if over 15 hours up to 30 hours a 1 week period will be added to visitor period to meet labor requirements. If over 30 hours are claimed a visitor must do another visitor period.
7. Visitors with a negative labor balance at the end of their visitor period do not become PM's.
8. If a visitor’s labor hours are negative at the end of the visitor period, a 1 week extension may be granted by the Membership Manager, to meet labor requirements. The Labor Manager and Membership Manager will confer with other managers to verify the visitor’s labor hours. If labor hours meet requirements after the extension, the visitor is allowed to transfer to PM. If hours are insufficient or indeterminable then the visitor must leave.
The Board has interpreted that condition 7 does not apply to labor that the visitor failed to work before the visitor period and only applies to the work they are expected to complete during the visitor period (see condition 2). The Board did not find that the Labor Manager has the authority to hold a membership visitor to a positive or negative labor balance accrued before the start of the visitor period. Consequently, when someone drops membership, they are zeroed out and come back with a fresh slate; a person does not keep the hours they had when they were previously a member.
10.0b—Policy on Calls for Votes on PMs and Associates
Membership Policy, September 1995
Calls for votes must be made for each individual person. Standing calls for votes are not allowed. Calls for a vote made during the visitor period continue to count toward the 25% required for a vote until withdrawn.
10.0c—Posting News About Membership Transitions
Membership Policy, September 1995
The membership manager will post notes indicating that visitors have become provisional members or associates or that provisional members have passed into full membership.
Associates may become provisional members at any time during a residency period by informing the membership manager of co’s intention. The membership manager will post a note informing the membership. The provisional membership period will last one year as is the case with a visitor who becomes a PM.
10.1b—Child Members Becoming Full Adult Members
Membership Policy, March 1995
A full child member between ages 16 and 18 ½ may apply for full adult membership. At no later than age 18 ½, co will become a full adult member or drop membership. There will be no vote.
Full child members will not be required to go through a period of provisional membership.
10.2—Responding to Membership Concerns
Board Policy, May 1995
Revised, September 1995, Membership Manager
[This policy replaced automatic concerns meetings]
If the membership manager receives any calls for a vote on or concerns about a provisional member, the PM will be offered the following choices by way of response:
– In person if the concerned member and the provisional member are willing to meet together (with or without the membership manager or someone else facilitating). Other members may be invited to meet with them if the concerned member and the provisional member are agreeable.
– In a note written by the provisional member and delivered to the concerned member by the membership manager.
– In notes taken by the membership manager when meeting with the provisional member, which will be posted.
– In writing on the backboard.
– In a community forum facilitated by the membership manager or another person acceptable to the provisional member. The provisional member may choose to just speak or may offer to answer questions from the group. Members will never-the-less have a chance to express their concerns.
The provisional member may choose one or more of the preceding avenues of communication or may choose not to respond to concerns; the choice may be mentioned, if appropriate, in notes by the membership manager.
10.21—Visitor Period Concerns
Board Policy, June 2017
Concerns do roll over from a Visitor Period to a Working Guest. Working Guests that are concerned out keep their spot on the waiting list and are invited back.
10.3—Time to Pack
Board Policy, September 1993
Those who have been rejected for membership, full or provisional, or expelled will have one week to make such arrangements as they need and leave.
10.4—Loans to Departing Members
Board Policy, November 1996
All loans to departing members or associates must have been posted as a concerns note one week in advance and have been approved by both the Board and Finance Management.
Amended Community Meeting, 2 September 2006:
All loan or AR requests $500 or more must go to community meeting and be voted on via ballot. The voting period will last 7 days.
10.5—Provisional Membership and Associate Labor Trouble
Community Meeting, May 2001
Amended by Community meeting, September 2001
Amended, May 2004
Part I
The following actions will be taken when it appears that a Provisional Member’s labor balance has fallen more than 60 hours in the hole:
The member will be notified by the Labor Manager of the situation and be given the opportunity to submit any changes that would affect the member’s balance. The Labor Manager will then make a de-termination of the member’s correct balance.
If the correct balance is more than 60 hours in the hole, the Labor Manager will inform the Membership Committee, which will in turn notify the member that co has 15 days from the date of the informing to raise co’s balance above 60 hours in the hole and that failure to do so could result in expulsion, demotion, and/or a labor contract.
The member will also be informed that at 15 days from the issuing of this warning, the member’s labor balance must be above 60 hours in the hole, even if the member’s labor balance had been above 60 hours in the hole at any point during the 15-day period.
The Labor Manager will make every effort to find work for the member.
The Membership Committee will ask the Medical Committee to make a determination of the member’s ability to work, and report back.
The Medical Committee will determine whether the member is able to work. It will report this to the Membership Committee.
If the Medical Committee determines that a member is unable to work quota, it may make a partial or full work exemption for the member. If so, it will report this to the Membership
Committee, which will cancel the 15-day warning period, and not take further action until the member has been determined able to work again.
Part II
After the above actions have been taken, and it is determined that the member has been able to work, and the member is still more than 60 hours in the hole at the end of the 15-day warning period, the Membership Committee will notify the member that a community meeting is to be held and a vote taken on the question of expulsion, demotion, and/or labor contract. (If the member who has been warned raises co’s labor balance above 60 hours in the hole during the warning period, but allows co’s labor balance to fall below 60 hours in the hole by the end of the warning period, then the warning period is violated and the procedure described herein will continue.) After this notification, there will be a period of at least one week and no more than three weeks. This is intended to give the member time to prepare for the meeting, or to choose to resign co’s membership. If co does not choose to resign, the following process will happen:
A. A community meeting will be held to discuss the matter.
B. Following the meeting, Full Members will vote on three separate actions to take:
Whether or not to expel the member.
Whether or not to demote the member to a day 1 PM and place said member on a mandatory labor contract designed to help said member out of the hole.
To allow member to retain current membership status, but be placed on a labor contract designed to help said member out of the hole.
C. If 51% or more of the Full Members vote to expel, then the member will be expelled from the community, regardless of the vote to demote. If less than 51% vote to expel, but 51% or more vote to demote member to day 1 PM status and place member on labor contract, then member is demoted to day 1 PM status and immediately placed on a labor contract. If less than 51% vote for either expulsion or demotion, and 51% or more vote to allow member to retain current membership status and be placed on a labor contract, then member will automatically be placed on contract at the end of the vote. If less than 51% of Full Members vote to carry out any of these three options, then, member more than 60 hours in the hole will automatically be scheduled for another community meeting and the voting process will repeat until 51% of Full Members vote to take some action concerning said PM’s labor situation.
D. Labor contract should include:
– What constitutes violation of labor contract.
– Who deals with labor contract violations.
– What appeals process, if any, will be followed if violation occurs.
Labor contract can provide for no more than one revote on member’s status, as outlined in this proposal. Subsequent violation will be considered grounds for immediate expulsion. Labor contract will be designed at the meeting concerning the member in violation, and will be approved by straw poll at same meeting.
Part III
This legislation is not intended to, nor can it, preclude any other proposal to expel, demote, or place on labor contract, that does not follow this process.
Part IV
Only one 15-day warning period will be allowed per calendar year. That is, any verified repeat occurrences of member falling more than 60 hours in the hole during any one calendar year will result in a meeting, followed by a vote as described above, without a 15-day warning period.
Part V
Part VI
Part VII
Any Provisional member or associate who goes three weeks or more hours in the labor hole (barring mistakes by the labor accountant) is automatically expelled. 7 days are allowed to pack. No back hours will be accepted after hitting the three weeks in the hole (meaning co’s labor quota times three) mark.
Part VIII
In the absence of a Labor Manager, a Membership Committee, or a Medical Committee, the responsibility of carrying out any action prescribed to these entities will fall to the Board of Directors.
11.0—Returning Former Members
Membership Manager, September 1995
Updated with Board interpretation, July 2023
If a former member who may be controversial wants to return for a visitor period, Membership will put up a note asking for feedback. Responses to the poll will be discussed with the membership manager. If 25% of the full members say they would call for a vote on the returning former member, Membership will automatically deny a visit. If less than 25%, Membership will use co’s discretion, giving consideration to the strength of negative or positive feed-back, previous history of returning member, etc.
11.1—Drop-Ins
Community Meeting, 2007
Amended by community vote, October 2018, Membership Manager
“Drop-ins” will not be accepted as guests or visitors. A “drop-in” is defined as:
Someone that no member knows
Someone that arrives at East Wind without any formal scheduling (Concerns process, correspondence with Membership)
11.2—Housing and Membership Limit
Community Meeting, September 1993
Amended by community vote, October 2018, Membership Manager
Amended by community vote, May 2020, JB
Amended by community vote, September 2020, Membership Committee
East Wind’s active membership may not exceed the number of standard private spaces we have and such doubles as may be designated by the Board. The Board may choose to set the member-ship limit below the number of spaces we have.
1) When there are more people who have been accepted for membership than there are rooms and spaces to house them, there will be a waiting list.
2) When there is a gender imbalance we will accept members according to this proposal until no one gender is greater than 50% of the population.
3) If there is a waiting list and a gender imbalance in which one gender is greater than 50% of the adult population, the minority genders will be given available housing at the rate of three of the minority genders to one of the majority gender.
4) This legislation does not expire upon reaching gender balance but will come into effect and go out of effect according to conditions indicated above.
5) If there is a gender imbalance and there is no one of the minority genders on the waiting list or none willing to return at that time, the Membership Manager may hold a place for a person of a minority gender (either on the waiting list or prospective member) for up to one month, providing there is a likelihood of that person being able to occupy the space within that time. If not then the Membership Manager must give the room to the next person on the waiting list. The Membership Manager will, in these circumstances, attempt to maintain a maximum of 60% of the majority gender over time.
6) The Board or its designated deputy will determine what housing spaces are standard. The Board or its deputy may make additional policies to administer the membership ceiling and the waiting list.
7) FMs returning from leave may choose to camp or double with another member who offers this accommodation if a room is not available. The first available room will go to the FM returned from leave.
8) Associates will not be guaranteed standard housing. The Board may make additional policies concerning Associate housing.
10) The Membership Manager will have responsibility and authority to:
- Maintain the waiting list
- Make recommendations to the Board for additional policies regarding population capacity
- Hold a space for a prospective member of the minority genders for up to a month in order to better maintain that the majority gender does not have a percentage greater than 60.
11) In the event that the population of any gender is less than 15% of community, individuals of that gender will be given priority on the waiting list if they so choose.
11.3—Waiting List Guidelines
Membership Policy, September 1993
Revised by the Membership Committee, December 1996
Amended by the Membership Committee, October 2016
Amended by community vote, May 2020, JB
All potential and incoming visitors will be told in correspondence that we have a waiting list in effect.
If there is not space available for a new member or a member wishing to return from leave, co will go on a waiting list until space is available.
Full members on Leave of Absence of more than two months will go to the top of the waiting list, regardless of gender. If there is no housing available when they wish to return and they prefer not to live in a tent or camper, their leave of absence may be extended by the Membership Manager if necessary.
Gender balance is when no one gender is greater than 50%. The legislated guidelines are that the minority genders will be given preference at the rate of three to one. This will be followed until there is no one majority gender. When there is a majority gender (a population of more than 50% of one gender), this legislation will be in effect. When there is no majority gender, new members will be given housing in the order of joining without regard to gender until one gender reaches more than 50% of the adult population.
When a new person is added to the waiting list, they are added at the bottom of their section (full members, women, men). If more than one person is added to the list on a certain day, their order on the list will be determined randomly.
As space becomes available while the waiting list is in effect, the Membership Manager/Committee will contact the next person on the list who is eligible for a space and ask them to respond within 1 week (7 days), to let us know if they will be returning to occupy the space. Said spaces can be held for up to one month. If person/s on the waiting list cannot return at the time the offer of space is made, they will be moved to the bottom of the waiting list. The next eligible person on the list will then be contacted and offered that particular space.
Members on the waiting list who clearly indicate they will not be returning to East Wind for residency will be dropped from the list.
Men and women who are in committed relationships and wish to begin their residency together have the option of waiting until the man is eligible to return, if there is sufficient space available [see 11.31]
While a waiting list is in effect, Associates will not be able to return for residency periods. Members who become Associates may keep their rooms until they leave. The following exception will be made: Associates who have children and grandchildren in the community may return for residency periods if they tent or camp.
11.31—PMs on the Waiting List as Working Guests
Replaced by community vote, December 2014, Rin
PMs on the waiting list may be guested by membership between March 1 and November 3.
*Between November 3rd and March 1st, PMs on the waiting list may be guested by a member, provided that co agrees to share their room with the guest.
They will be working guests for the duration of their stay. Their labor balance will carry over if/when they transition to an on the system PM. They do not accrue days on the system until they get a pop cap space.
Working guests of membership who are also PMs on the waiting list are expected to work quota for the days they are here, but are allowed to come and go as long as they inform Membership of their plans and Membership keeps up to date public records of who is guesting on what dates.
They will not earn a DF while working guests, but will not be held to EW property rules while they are working guests.
Whether or not a PM is a working guest will have no bearing whatsoever on their position on the Waiting List (meaning that staying at EW as a working guest does not move you up or down the list).
Unlike other working guests, it will require 10 concerns to bounce a PM on the waiting list who is a working guest of membership. This is an exception to the normal procedure in the Omnibus Guest Policy. Being bounced as a working guest on the waiting list in no way interferes with co’s membership status, and normal membership procedures must be followed to revoke co’s membership (meaning calls for vote).
11.4—Personal Shelters: Building, Waiting List
Membership Policy, September 1993
When a shelter becomes available through vacancy, the option for occupancy is given to members in residence not on the waiting list through room assigning process. Vacated space is also allocated according to room assignment policy.
When a new personal shelter is constructed, first option is given to the builder. Members on the waiting list will not be approved to build new shelters.
11.52—Membership Ceiling, Substandard Spaces, & Designated Doubles
Board Policy, March 1998
Revised, September 2002
Amended, September 2003
Amended, December 2003
Amended, December 2008
The Board has the authority to set the number of standard spaces. The Board will review the membership ceiling every three months.
Membership ceiling (pop cap) was set by the Board at 73 in September of 2010.
11.6—Families and Waiting List
Membership Policy, August 1994
Amended by community meeting, May 2020, JB
Whereas currently 2 co-parents with a child or children are presented with an obstacle to joining as an intact family group because of the current gender ratio policy,
We as Child Board and Membership Manager propose that the policy be amended thusly:
The family will be treated as one entity as regards to the waiting list.
If one or both co-parents are not of the majority gender, the family (including all members) would be placed at the end of the waiting list for minority genders.
If both co-parents are of the majority gender, the family, including all of its members will be placed at the end of the majority genders waiting list.
Regarding waiting list placement by first name initial:
If one copartner is female, the alphabetical placement will be by the woman’s first name.
If both co-parents are female, or if both co-parents are male, the alphabetical placement will be by the earlier letter (example: “Dave & Fred”, the placement will be by D).
11.7—Housing for Visitors
Community Meeting, May 2020, JB
For people who have a preference for non-gendered accommodations, housing will be made available.
Housing ideas:
- the Death Trap (once the room is vacated, and any necessary repairs can be made)
- Tents
- Other available housing
12.0—Conditions of Associate Status at East Wind
Community Meeting, July 1988
Amended, September 1995
Amended by community vote, April 1998
Amended by community vote, (2009?)
Replaced by community meeting, December 2019
Associates are not members. Associate Status is open to people who are full members, or who were full members within the last 3 years. If co is not a member currently, co must complete a visitor period to become an associate. Associates may not change back to Full Member status, but may switch to become day one PMs. These status changes may be made simply by informing membership (via status change sheet). An individual with any outstanding debt to community (money or labor) may not become an associate member until said debt is settled.
Associates go on “Associate Leave” when off-the-farm for 14 days or more. Associates may not take leave if they owe community money or have a negative labor balance – doing so will be grounds for losing membership. Associates who have lost membership status may apply to join the next visitor period (acceptance is not guaranteed) or be guested by a member. Failing these, the individual must leave East Wind.
Associates are required to be on the system (“resident”) for a minimum of 60 days in a given year. This requirement may be split into 2 sections of 30 days each. Stays of less than 30 days will not count as a “residency.” Associates are required to be on Associate Leave (“non-resident”) for a minimum of 60 days in a given year. This requirement may be split into 2 sections of 30 days each. Associate Leaves of less than 30 days will not count as being “non-resident.” Associates are expected to give advance notice to membership manager about their intended date of return and approximate length of stay before arriving for residency periods.
Membership Manager shall prioritize FMs and PMs who have had time on the system above housing Associates. However, associates shall be prioritized above day one PMs. Associates may only be on the system when a room is available for them, therefore associates are not guaranteed a residency period, specific accommodations, or even the right to return to community at any time that they wish. Associates who go on leave immediately lose their rooms.
Associates are subject to East Wind’s Labor Agreements but not to East Wind money and property rules, with the following exceptions:
– Associates will not be allowed to drive community vehicles.
– Associates may use personally-owned vehicles while in residence at East Wind. East Wind will not be responsible for the cost of insuring and maintaining such vehicles, and the community will not pay for gas. Associates may use the tools in the auto shop, but should buy their own parts and supplies. Associates may not lend their personal vehicles to individual members in residence. In other words, an Associate must be driving the vehicle when it leaves the farm.
– Associates are not to use money earned outside of community while in residence at East Wind, except for insuring, maintaining, fueling personally-owned vehicle and non-work related medical expenses.
– The Community will make available medical care for work- related injuries and first aid and transport for non-work-related medical emergencies up to the current PEACH deductible (currently $5000).
– Labor Exchange does not apply to Associates.
– Associates are not eligible for managerial positions or Community officers’ positions and do not have a vote.
– Associates receive discretionary funds equivalent to that of Provisional and Full Members, but are not entitled to profit sharing.
– Associates may not bank more than 3 weeks’ worth of hours.
– Associates are eligible only for Social Emergency Leave and Associate Leave. No community funds will be made available to Associates on Social Emergency Leave.
12.1—Room Assignments to Associates
Board Policy, January 1992
Updated with Board interpretation, July 2023
The Membership Manager shall ensure that there are enough spaces for members. When an associate has been assigned a room, co shall be permitted to use that room until co takes Associate Leave. When rooms become scarce, members will be assigned rooms before associates are. At such times any associates requesting to return should be given clear understanding of what sort of housing they are likely to find available. Under this policy, associates in standard space will be counted in determining the membership ceiling.
12.2—Associates and the Waiting List
Membership Policy, July 2013
Associates will no longer be dropped when they are not able to return to East Wind due to a waiting list.
12.5—Policy on Dual Membership
Membership Committee, March 1998
Amended by Membership Committee, December 2016
A dual member is a member of two FEC communities who spends at least three months of any given year in each of the communities. Dual members are fully participating members while in residence at either community, and retain certain rights while not in residence. A dual member must have attained full member status at their first (home) community before applying to become a dual member, and must be approved by both communities.
Becoming a Dual Member:
Any full member of an FEC community may apply to become a dual member of their “home” community and another FEC community. In addition to the usual visiting and membership procedures at the second community, co must also be approved by the appropriate body at both communities in order to become a dual member. At East Wind, co can apply for dual membership by either appealing to the Membership Committee or doing a petition of 2/3 of the full members. Any request for becoming a full member must include a short explanation of the reasons co wishes to be a dual member, and a rough plan for how co will complete their provisional member-ship at their second community and what their plans are for their first year of residency in each community. If co is hoping to be a dual member with Twin Oaks, co should put up a concerns note regarding their dual membership plans after co has put in a total of six months at East Wind. If 25% of full members submit official, written concerns to the Membership Committee at that time, a vote will be held on co’s dual member status. (Co may still be eligible for full membership at East Wind, however, and that process will follow the current legislation regarding full membership, stated elsewhere.)
Co may do their provisional membership in up to four separate time periods of at least one month each. PM period must be completed within four years.
Co may, at any time, surrender their status at one community and become a regular member of the other community, assuming that the membership process at the chosen community is going smoothly (i.e., there is not a vote pending). Membership [Committee] recommends that a provisional dual member check in with a [Membership] Committee member to see if there are any concerns on them before making this decision.
Because of tax, property code, membership guidelines, citizenship, and other legal considerations, a dual member will choose one community as their primary community to be used in these matters and the other as their secondary community. Co may change their primary community status at any time with approval of both communities.
So long as co is maintaining a minimum of three months of residence at each community in the calendar year, co may change residence at any time co chooses. Co need only give two weeks’ notice to each community for housing and work purposes. During the first year co becomes a dual member, co must spend at least 25% of the remainder of the year at each community.
While in residence at a community, co shall be regarded like any other member on the system as far as money, voting rights, labor, vacation, etc. (see below for medical). Because East Wind al-lows members to take leaves with a much greater flexibility than many other communities, any leaves co wishes to take that would normally be at co's discretion can only be on East Wind’s time unless approved by co’s other community. (In other words, co’s PA leaves could only last nine months unless the other community approves the leave as well. If co does take a leave, that time will count toward that year’s residency requirement, and active membership can be resumed at East Wind just like any other member returning from a leave.) Dual members are subject to all the usual regulations around leaves.
Dual members who have primary membership at East Wind retain room rights while doing residency periods in another community in accordance with their status. If co is a PM, co will have room rights as if on PM leave; if a FM, co will have room rights as if on PA leave.
A returning dual member will be considered for the waiting list based on their status (provisional or full member). Dual members are encouraged to communicate with membership to ensure a room will be available for them. Due to logistical considerations of coordinating dual membership, in the event of a dual member attempting to return when there are no spots on the system available, the Board can approve a temporary raise in population capacity (see 11.2 Housing and Membership Limit and 11.3 Waiting List Guidelines).
Once co is covered (see Medical Committee for those guidelines), medical and dental costs will be shared by the two communities in the following way: The communities will split the costs of coverage in the same proportion of co’s residency at each community in the past twelve months, except that the community co currently resides at will be responsible for the first $50 of medical and dental incurred during that residence period. While a person is not yet covered at their new community, co’s home community assumes responsibility for emergency costs. When there is time, the medical managers from both communities should talk about whether they’ll approve the costs together. (The Medical Committee will have the authority to change this paragraph to be consistent with other community’s policies. People applying for dual membership should also be aware of any PEACH guidelines that affect dual members).
East Wind will allow children to be dual members, but approval for such an arrangement must go through Child Branch in addition to the normal community process around dual members, and families exercising this option will be expected to make specific plans well in advance and stick to them. Families will also be expected to allow the use of any rooms in Lilliput they would other-wise retain rights to as space for guesting and visiting families immediately upon departure. Child Branch can set limits on clothing and other kid-related expenses for dual member families.
*This policy replaces all pre-existing legislation on Dual Membership. (The only thing we can find is from 1974. Seemed like time to update.)
12.6—Obtaining Membership at Other Communities
Manager Policy, October 2014
Those trying to obtain membership with communities other than East Wind cannot claim East Wind labor credit or Labor Exchange hours while doing so.
13.0—Messes and Fair Share
Community meeting, June 1991
Anyone who does not take responsibility for cleaning up their own mess in a public space or the mess in a public space of a child in their care shall be liable to a charge of violation of fair share.
13.1—Theft Policy
Board Policy, April 1992
Article II, Paragraph 2-C-(3) of the by-laws shall be construed to include any theft by a member or associate of property from anyone, member or non-member.
13.2—Social Security Numbers Required
Community Meeting, February 1986
[the second and third paragraph were added by board policy, 22 Oct 1996 and 12 Nov 1996, respectfully]
All provisional and full members are required to provide their social security number to the community for purposes of filing the community’s income tax and unemployment reports. Any exception to this must not endanger the community or someone other than the individual, and will be decided by a community meeting.
East Wind will need proof of legal name and Social Security number for all members and associates who are on the system, and therefore have taxes paid for them by East Wind.
If a member refuses to provide [an SS number] there’s a form co can sign that will keep EW legally out of trouble. We’ll collect SS#s visitors prior to their becoming PMs or Associates.
14.1—Last Day of a Leave
Community Meeting, August 1987
Allow the last day of a leave to be taken on the farm.
14.2—Personal Affairs (PA) Leave
Community Meeting, May 1996
Amended by Petition, 2006
A member is eligible for the first PA (Personal Affairs) Leave as soon as co becomes a full member.
People will have the option of taking either a one-year PA Leave or up to one-years’ worth taken in 4 parts every 5 years, in monthly increments, rounded up (i.e. 2 months and one day equals 3 months). Members are not required to take PA Leaves, and members-on-leave may return at any time (although people are encouraged to keep in touch with East Wind about their plans). A full member on PA Leave is not bound by East Wind’s labor, economic, and property agreements. Consequently, time spent on PA Leave does not count toward earning profit sharing, DF, or Guaranteed Vacation (120 hours per year).
PA Leaves shall operate on five-year intervals, as explained below:
If taking a one-year PA Leave, eligibility for the next PA Leave is five years from the departure date of the last PA Leave.
One-year PA Leaves are not cumulative, i.e., if no leaves are taken in ten years, one is not entitled to two years leave. If you take a one-year PA Leave, you are eligible for your next PA Leave five years from the departure date of your last PA Leave. One-year PA Leave are not cumulative, i.e., if you wait ten years, you are not entitled to two years leave.
If you take two six-month PA Leaves, you are eligible for your next PA Leave five years from the departure date of the first six-month PA Leave. Six-month PA Leaves are not cumulative, i.e., if you take one six-month leave in a five-year interval, you are not entitled to three six-month leaves in the next five-year interval. In each five-year interval, the second six-month PA Leave must end at least six months before the start of the next five-year interval.
Before you depart on a PA Leave, you must declare to the Membership Manager (or the Board, if there is no Membership Manager) whether you are taking a six-month or a one-year PA Leave. If you declare a one-year leave but return within six months, you can switch that leave to a six-month leave. If you are on a PA Leave for more than six months, it will be considered a one-year leave.
People who have taken a PA Leave since June, 1991, will be eligible for their next PA Leave starting five years after the departure date of their last PA Leave.
[See document 41.3 PA Leave Room Arrangements, Community Meeting, Dec. 11, 1993]
14.21—Managers and Leave
Board Policy, September 2016
When a member places themselves on Leave for more than two weeks they voluntarily resign any and all managerships and elected positions. Social emergency leaves will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
The Board will begin the Interim Elections process as soon as co begins said leave.
14.3—PM Leave Policy
Membership Committee, November 1996
Amended by Membership Committee, December 2023
PM leave may not be taken once a person is a full member. Members are permitted only one PM leave per lifetime of membership, which means that a full member or associate cannot get another PM leave by changing back to PM status, only by dropping all status and starting over as a visitor. If leave is taken within 1 month of becoming a member, leave can last up to one year. If leave is taken in the second month of membership, it can last up to one month. If the leave is taken at any other time during provisional membership it can last up to two weeks.
If a PM declares they will be gone for a year, or can be, their room will go up for roll immediately. Otherwise, a room is held for a PM on PM Leave only for the amount of PM Leave they have.
14.4—Social Emergency Leaves and Use of Funds
Social Manager, April 1991 (now Membership policy)
Updated by concerns process, 2008
Updated with Board interpretation, July 2023
These guidelines provide for the granting of leaves of absence and funds requests so members may give emergency assistance to people with whom they have a close relationship. At the same time, the guidelines attempt to narrow the range of such requests so that they are fair and reasonable from the community’s point of view. Social Emergency Leaves and funds requests will be approved provided the following conditions exist:
The emergency must deal with persons of the member’s immediate family; parents, children, siblings, spouses, long-time partners. Persons with whom the member had intimate or interdependent ties of long duration as if they were family may also qualify. These persons must not be current residents of East Wind and physically present.
The emergency must be of a nature where the member’s attendance is necessary because there is no one else to provide support, or if the emergency’s outcome would result in major consequence for the life of the member, or if the member’s attendance would be greatly appreciated.
The emergency must be an occasion of great distress or life transition for the individual(s) mentioned in paragraph 1. Furthermore, the emergency would be an occasion in which there would not be adequate advance time to plan a course of action. Examples could include death and dying, severe illness or injury, dislocation, severe legal troubles, situations in which the person(s) might bring great harm to themselves or come to great harm, etc. No list of examples could be complete.
Emergencies in which the member is the subject do not qualify for leaves or funds requests under this policy. If a member’s illness requires treatment elsewhere, Medical Committee deals with that. Membership may be resource person for crisis intervention, counseling, information, and advice but time away or funds requests for personal emergencies should be referred to another appropriate community agency.
The Social Emergency budget will be a reimbursement fund. Full or Provisional members requesting social emergency funds will apply to the Membership Manager. Travel expenses will be paid out of a members DF or AR first; then at the end of the fiscal year the money in the Social Emergency budget will be divided evenly among all those who applied for funds. Members granted reimbursements will need to provide all corresponding receipts either through a town trip or check. Members requesting social emergency funds should understand that funds are supplements and are not meant to cover the entire cost of attending to an emergency.
Social Emergency funds allotments are used to offset expenses incurred by the member in attending to the emergency travel, phone calls, food, etc. and should not be used to directly benefit other persons.
If the duration of the Social Emergency Leave is expected to be short, say, not more than a week, then the member may continue to enjoy all rights and benefits normally accorded members not on leaves of absence. If, however, the Social Emergency Leaves exceeds a week, then the rights and benefits of membership are suspended as in other leaves of absence. Social Emergency Leaves will not exceed one year. This is Board policy.
Membership will determine if the above conditions are met, have an understanding of the details and arrangements, and deal with the requests in a sensitive and compassionate manner.
14.5—Jury Duty
Board Policy, October 1994
The community’s civic support budget will pay for the expenses of members on jury duty. Any reimbursement received for jury duty shall be deposited in the civic support budget up to the amount of expenses, and any remaining reimbursement deposited into the community’s miscellaneous income account. Members may claim up to 7 hours a day for the time they spend on jury duty, including transportation time.
14.55—Police Report Policy
Board Policy, March 2023
The Board of Directors, not an area manager, is responsible for discussing, generating lists of stolen items (when theft is involved), and delegating a community member to file police reports involving the community or community property. Efforts should be made to keep the community as a whole informed in and involved in communications with the police. Other persons are not permitted to speak for or represent the entire community without process. Individual persons have the right to involve the police in personal matters.
14.6—On Educational Leaves
Policy, May 1984
Population committee has come up with a set of minimum criteria for educational leaves, the granting of which will be administered by Population Committee. Beyond the basic makeup of the leave, which is outlined below, each leave, to some extent, will be tailored to the individual’s and Community’s needs at the time the leave is requested.
Criteria.
A member requesting an Ed. leave must have been a member for at least 3 years and not have a negative labor balance.
The field of study must be such that it will benefit the community when co returns from leave.
Leaves shall be granted for degree or certificate-type programs at specific institutions. Course work (non-degree) can be approved if the Branch to which the courses would relate O.K.’s the need for such courses.
The basic makeup of an Educational Leave is real similar to a Personal Affairs leave: Full membership rights, no voting rights, loss of co’s room, etc. Except that weekly disc. funds (but not yearly) can be received if co is on farm visiting for at least four consecutive weeks.
Also, until East Wind strikes it rich, community will not pay education, medical, or living expenses while a member is on Educational Leave.
14.7—Education Leave
Date unknown, Sponsor unknown
Educational Leave will be decided/granted by the Membership Committee on a case-by-case basis.
Minimum requirements - minimum amount of time as a full member is three years
Member must be in good labor standing (above 0) for at least 6 months prior to request for educational leave the education must directly benefit community.
Process - post a paper on the back board telling Community about the educational plans. This will be in the form of a proposal to the membership committee. Two weeks after the proposal has been posted, the membership committee will meet with the person, consider the proposal, consider feedback received, and give a decision to Community.
Rights Retained by Member While on Educational Leave - remains a full member with no loss of seniority - their room is lost - when co returns to the farm on vacation, co will be the first person on the next matrix for a room - retains member vote and community meeting vote when on the farm (no proxies while away at school).
If co will be on the farm at least four consecutive weeks, they will get their weekly allotment of Discretionary Funds. Time spent on educational leave will not count toward receipt of yearly Discretionary funds. When co comes off of educational leave, the time count will resume for yearly DF moneys.
Vehicle - If co has a vehicle on loan to Community, co may take the vehicle on Educational Leave. When co returns to the farm, the vehicle reverts to previous loan status (includes vacations from school)
Income While on Educational Leave - Any income earned or unearned by the person on leave can be spent at co’s discretion as needed for educational and living expenses.
Break/Study Time - a person on educational leave and on the farm has up to 10 hours a week for study time within quota. This labor cannot be accumulated.
While on the farm, taking an official vacation from school, the first three days the person will be off the system.
Only 5% of full members can be on Educational Leave at a time.
No medical expenses will be paid for while on Educational Leave.
14.8—Medical Leave & Work Exemption
Medical Committee, June 1994
Updated with Board interpretation, September 2021
The process for granting a medical leave or work exemption is that Medical Committee recommends and Management team grants.
In recommending medical leave or labor exemption for emotional health reasons, Medical Committee will consider the following:
Has co been taking advantage of counseling opportunities at E.W.?
If counseling, has co talked this over with the counselor? What is the recommendation of co’s counselor on the appropriateness of the proposed leave/exemption? Member may appeal the counselor’s decision to a meeting of the Medical Committee and the counselor.
Is the destination a treatment center?
Co should come to a Medical Committee meeting to request the leave and state the number of days co expects to be gone. Upon return, co is asked to check in with Medical Committee about the experience.
In recommending labor exemption for physical health reasons, Medical Committee will consider the following:
Is there obvious disability? Has there been a recommendation by an outside health professional?
The Board has interpreted that members on Medical Leave do not receive a DF and do not have voting rights, but are still medically covered.
14.9—Community and Civic Support Leave
Community meeting, spring/summer 1998
Community and Civic Support Leave is a new leave category where a community member would be gone to:
support another community (i.e. co wants to spend an extended amount of time supporting Sandhill’s sorghum harvest, help Dancing Rabbit build buildings, or help a community that is struggling for a few months),
do a project that supports the Communities Movement in general (such as a major recruitment tour for the FEC, or help publish the latest Directory),
take part in a major civic support project (i.e. supporting an urban neighborhood project, a family farm which is in need, or a Native American reservation).
A person on CCS Leave cannot earn money beyond what co needs for daily living expenses while on leave—this is meant to support others, not to be of direct financial benefit to the individual granted a leave.
In order to qualify for a CCS Leave, co must have a positive balance in IQ, labor, and DF, and has been a member at East Wind for a minimum of 6 months (Associates are NOT eligible). Up to 10% of EW population may be on CCS leave at a given time (in this instance, “EW population” shall be counted as all adult members “on-the-system” plus all members already on CCS Leave). If more than 10% of the population wants to do this, there will be a waiting list, the order of which will be determined by who gets their proposal approved first.
To gain approval for a leave, co must write up a proposal explaining what co will be doing, where, the length of time estimated, and how this project fits the CCS guidelines. (Please note that this program is NOT designed to give someone a leave to go touring communities to look for another home, or just see what’s out there; there must be an intention to actively support others, and a specific plan for how co will do this.) Co should answer the following questions as part of the proposal:
In what way do you see this project aligning with East Wind’s mission? (Projects that in some way support the same things our bylaws do will be especially appropriate.)
How long do you expect the project to take?
What specific role will you be playing in this project?
What, if any, benefits do you see East Wind gaining from your having had this experience?
What is your motivation for wanting to do this project?
Attach to your proposal any written information you have about the project so that others can see what you’ll be doing.
Once the proposal is written, co will take the proposal to the membership committee, who will determine if it fits the guidelines and intent of CCS Leave. Once co has received Membership Committee approval, co must get 25% of the full members to sign it, supporting their leave for this particular project. In this way, CCS will be a community-supported leave, rather than something approved by a small committee or something an individual can simply decide to do. Once the signatures have been gathered, an informational note will be posted for the community (this is NOT a concerns note—once Membership and 25% of FMs approve it, co can go on leave). While on leave, co must stay in contact with Membership, at a minimum of once every two weeks, so that people at home know how it is going, and also to make sure that co is actually using co’s time away for the intended project. This is also a courtesy to any other people on the waiting list so that they can make plans. Not staying in touch may result in having co’s leave terminated (and be put back on the system at that point).
As with all leaves, a co on CCS Leave will not accrue a DF, have medical coverage or a vote, or any other normal membership privileges while on leave. Co’s room will be held only the normal amount of time (currently two weeks for PMs and two months for FMs, with FM rights retained up to a year).
CCS Leaves can last for up to one year, but co’s are encouraged to keep in mind other people’s de-sires to go on leaves when they are setting up the timeline (in other words, if it’s a project you can do in two months, don’t take six months off to do it!).
15.0—A Caring Society
Community Meeting, May 1988
To be a caring society, we will develop and maintain an approach to life in which:
WE TREAT EACH OTHER WITH RESPECT. Instead of classifying anyone on the basis of some “ism” (racism, sexism, ageism, classism, etc.) we look for the individual worth in each human being we interact with.
WE’RE SENSITIVE TO EACH OTHER’S FEELINGS. We pay attention to where our fellow Communitarians are at, take their needs into account, and give them supportive attention when they’re down. We make a special effort to get to know new people and make them feel at home.
WE GIVE EACH OTHER A GOOD SUPPLY OF “WARM FUZZIES”. We express appreciation and give plenty of positive feedback. We de sexualize affection in our minds so we can freely hug, hold hands, and otherwise physically express warmth and caring.
WE HANDLE CONFLICTS WITH RESPECT AND REGARD FOR EACH OTHER. When in conflict with someone, we try to work it through with that person (with the help of a mediator, if necessary) instead of letting it fester. We avoid both public yelling at our “adversary” and private downers on co. We give negative feedback gently and with respect; we receive it openly and with honest consideration.
WE’RE THOUGHTFUL OF EACH OTHER. We try to avoid doing things that would make extra work for someone, and instead to do our best to lighten the work load of others. We each take responsibility for our own possessions, and clean up our own messes.
WE EACH TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR SHARE OF THE WORK LOAD. We’re careful not to cop out on a responsibility and leave our fellow Communitarians to suffer be-cause it isn’t done. We’re willing to help without reward, because we know that helping each other makes it easier for all of us.
WE’RE CAREFUL TO CONSERVE OUR COMMON RESOURCES. We’re alert for ways we can save energy; we take good care of tools, we drive as if we had to pay for our own repairs. We guide our actions by the knowledge that wasting causes us all more work.
WE TAKE PRIDE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IN WHAT WE DO FOR IT. We strive for quality in our work and in our lives. We keep our agreements clear and strong. Instead of complaining about Community’s shortcomings we put our energy into actualizing it’s best potentials. We realize that the only way we can have a caring society such as this is for each of us, individually, to do our best to live up to these ideals. We know that none of us is perfect, but we believe a society of mutual caring is worth striving for in spite of our failings, and that we can forgive and help each other.
15.1—Dealing with Social Problems
Board Policy, July 1994
The purposes of this policy are to ensure a prompt response to social problems, and make certain that difficult issues are not glossed over; to encourage respectful communication, information sharing and problem solving; to support cooperation and movement on issues that are grid locked. The Board encourages the formulation and posting of statements on how we as individuals wish to be treated, specifically when others disagree with us. The Board or a designated committee might help in the formulation of such statements, which might be broad enough that a number of individuals can sign on. These statements will not be designed to shield us from criticism or grievances that others may have with us, but rather will suggest ways to criticize that are supportive to all parties.
The Board will schedule public discussion meetings at least quarterly. At these meetings disputes or grievances, obvious or under the surface, not being dealt with elsewhere will be discussed. After discussion the group might recommend further steps. In addition, critical issues will be promptly scheduled for discussion.
An individual may ask the community for help in dealing with conflict or mistreatment, their own or someone else’s. The community may offer help through the conflict resolution procedures. If these procedures fail, the Board may seek a position statement from the community on the offending behavior.
The Board will seek feedback and reevaluate this policy and the conflict intervention procedures, from time to time.
15.3—Sexual Harassment
Community Meeting, July 1989
Updated with Board interpretation, July 2023
In a society characterized by fairness and mutual respect, sexual harassment has no place. We agree to educate ourselves about sexual harassment, increase our awareness of when it happens, and be vigilant in seeing that it not continue.
Definition
Sexual harassment is defined as any act of a sexual nature directed at another person which that person finds offensive, providing that the person who commits such an act has been informed that the act is considered to be offensive. In line with this, the following three conditions must be pre-sent before a charge of sexual harassment can be made:
– Acts or expressions must be considered offensive by those subjected to them, and a complaint must be made to communicate this, either directly or indirectly, to the offender.
– The person acting in the offensive manner must be informed that either the specific act or the type of act was considered offensive by those subjected to it. A public notice is not sufficient to meet this requirement.
– The act must be determined by the Board of Directors to be sexual in nature.
The Board of Directors is charged with verifying these conditions and facilitating communication between those involved.
Some examples of acts which are likely to offend:
– When a person tries to use some perceived power over another to get them involved in sexual activity, e.g. when a member implies that a visitor should be involved sexually with co or others in order to get accepted for membership.
– Obscene advances, including words, jokes, gestures, actions, or unwanted touching. What is considered obscene will vary from person to person.
– Staring at or following someone uninvited. This is not only irritating, but can be demeaning or even very threatening.
– Repeated sexual advances, when the other person has made it clear through words or behavior that they are not interested in your company.
– Ridicule of another person’s sexual orientation.
Responses to sexual harassment
A person who has been the victim of sexual harassment may in some cases feel able to talk directly with the offender about it. The Board of Directors, if called upon, is prepared to question the accused individual about what happened, and to determine whether that person understands the community’s policy on sexual harassment. Based on the results of that conversation, the Board of Directors may recommend one or more of the following:
– No further action; assurance from the individual that co intends to abide by the community policy may suffice.
– Facilitated discussion involving both parties.
– Voluntary behavior contract, in which the individual agrees to abide by the community policy, and accepts specific consequences if co breaks the contract, such as leaving the community for a period of time or permanently.
– Community-wide concerns meeting.
– Resolution by community meeting asking offender to leave.
In a more general, preventative approach, the community should arrange for forums and workshops on sexual harassment and related matters. Support groups (men, women, or mixed) can be helpful in raising our consciousness about these issues, and in restoring a sense of safety for persons who have suffered demeaning or frightening experiences. It is the responsibility of all of us to work for a non-sexist, non-violent, caring society.
15.5—Sex Offenders Prohibited
Community Meeting, September 2003
When it becomes known or is confessed that any provisional member, associate, visitor or guest has ever been legally convicted of sexual crimes against children, their member, association, visitor period or guest period will be immediately terminated and [co] will have 24 hours to vacate East Wind’s premises. Any full member convicted or confessed of the same will immediately receive a call for a vote on membership. It will be the Membership Manager and/or Committee’s responsibility to notify the offender immediately of the request to leave or a membership vote. The notice will begin the 24-hour period for leaving.
15.7—Alcohol and Aggression
Full Member Petition, November 2003, Woody?
Three or more people can make a person leave public space if that person is displaying aggressive behavior while drinking alcohol. If the person does not agree to leave public space when re-quested, any one or more of the three above mentioned people can go to the Board and request an emergency meeting to deal with the incident. The Board will schedule an emergency meeting within 7 days. Consequences regarding the incident will be decided at Community Meeting.
16.0—Background Checks
Community vote, December 2022, Elise and Scumfucker
Background checks will be run on all incoming visitors within the fist week of their stay at East Wind. Running these checks and maintaining an account with a background check service is the responsibility of the Membership Manager(s). Information from the background check will be posted only if it is incongruent with what the visitor noted in their visitor letter. Anyone who wishes to stay at East Wind that has not lived here for at least 6 months within the last 5 years must also be willing to subject themselves to background checks (guests, working guests, etc.) as deemed appropriate by Membership or the Board.
As background checks contain sensitive personal information, they will be stored in a secure way: physical copies must be in a locked box and digital copies may not be saved on publicly accessible computers. All background checks must be saved either digitally or physically for a minimum of 5 years, or for the duration of a co’s membership.
If a member of community feels that they need access to a visitor or member’s full background check, they must first take their request to the Board, who can give approval for Membership to share said background check (albeit with addresses, names, and phone numbers censored) with community. This should only be done in situations where the additional information obtained is necessary for community to reach an informed decision about the membership of said co (expulsion votes, 6-month votes, etc.…).
Funding: Visitors will be asked to pay a $20 background check fee to be gathered at the visitor oreo or within a week of their arrival. They will be told in the visitor survey that Membership can waive the fee in cases of financial hardship. Membership can spend up to $25 per person to pay for background checks.
16.1—Security Deposit Policy
Membership Committee Policy, September 2023
Visitors and working guests who arrive at East Wind without the means to leave promptly (people who do not drive themselves) will be asked at the membership orientation to submit the cost of a Springfield car charge as a security deposit to fund the car charge in case they are concerned out. At the end of the visitor period, each visitor’s security deposit will be refunded to them.
17.0—Omnibus Guest Policy
Social Manager (now Membership policy), September 1993
Amended by community vote, October 2012, Amanda
Amended by community vote, July 2018, Airik
Amended by community vote, November 2021, Micah
Amended by community vote, July 2023, Membership Committee
Updated with Board interpretation, July 2023
Amended by community vote, April 2024, Mongoose
I. Discretion in Public Relations
Hosts are expected to be good judges of their guests and exercise discretion. If there is reason to believe that a guest will be offended by certain practices or interactions, the host should avoid showing the guest places where these are likely to happen or give advance warning that someone is touring through.
An example of a practice that might cause a guest offense: nudity. An example of giving advance warning: calling Rock Bottom before taking a guest south or posting easily noticed notes on the day board to announce where guests will be touring. Generally, people who stop in to buy community products should not be toured beyond the business area. Generally, discretion in public relations applies to the following categories of guests:
Tourists and Customers: Their stays are very short. They drop in to buy stuff or look at the place. A community products desk worker deals with them or else the desk worker recruits a volunteer to deal with them. Example: Cloud Nine people.
Business, Government People, the local public: They have an ongoing relationship with East Wind Inc. or are interested in some facet of the community’s operations or public relations. Their stays are generally short. They are hosted by the appropriate manager or the Board. They seldom drop in and their arrivals are usually prearranged and anticipated. Examples: Accountant, truckers, hired workers, politicians, outside consultants.
The following types of guests have access to the community’s premises and services in the same way visitors do:
Networkers: People from other intentional communities or allied organizations. Their stays vary in length. They are hosted by the Social Manager, FEC delegates, or the Board.
Friends of East Wind: Local people who socialize with us and who we know and trust. Their stays are short, but frequent. They can drop in and don’t need a host. Examples: Peg and Brannon.
Friends, Relatives, Former Residents of East Wind: The vast majority of guests. Their stays tend to be longer. They are hosted by residents of East Wind.
Members and associates on leave: They are hosted by residents of East Wind but are treated differently than guests
Child guests: Matters concerning guests who are legal minors are referred to the children’s program. Please consult the Child Board if you are considering inviting a legal minor or if children are included in your guest party.
II. Considerations in preparing for guest visits
What information to include in a guest note
If possible, post the note two weeks in advance of the guest’s anticipated arrival. The more advance notice, the better.
Arrival date or estimate of arrival date.
Who is the guest? What is your relationship to the guest?
If this is other than a social visit, state why the guest if coming.
If the guest is staying overnight, state where.
Discretion in public relations. If the guest is a tourist, customer, someone from the local public, or other individual not acquainted or possibly not sympathetic with the culture of the community, state where you want to tour this person or where this person will be working.
Guests who are hired to do work for the community usually don’t stay overnight but come back daily until their work in completed. In such cases, the host should include in the note information on how long such guests will be on the premises even if this is only a rough estimate.
When to ask for concerns in the guest note:
If the guest has been here before.
If you are hosting more than two guests.
If you have reason to believe the guest may be controversial.
If you don’t know the people you are guesting very well.
If your guest wants to bring a dog or similar pet.
If the guest has dropped in.
If the guest wishes to stay longer than three weeks.
Any other issue you feel may impact the community, i.e.: where to park an RV. By employing their knowledge of community rules, norms, culture, and expectations, hosts should be able to surmise what may be an issue and bring it to the community’s attention in the notification by including a willingness to receive concerns.
Summary of Host’s Responsibilities
Arrange for housing. The host checks with the person overseeing room assignments about available space for the guest. The community’s (members, visitors, associates) needs always take priority over the guest’s needs in housing arrangements. In addition, hosts should:
Familiarize themselves with this guest policy.
Explain relevant East Wind rules.
Orient their guests and show them what’s where.
Address any problems that might come up in sincerity; be sensitive to members’ concerns and be willing to deal with them.
Provide their guests with any information a guest might want or show a guest how to get this information.
Discretion in public relations: Make sure there is advance notice of when and where you wish to tour someone through our home or where the person will be working.
Inform the children’s program in advance, if there is a child guest.
Deal with special needs and issues in advance of the guest’s arrival, if at all possible.
Lengths of Stay
Generally, guests may stay up to three weeks. The guest period may be broken up, but the total recommended guest stay in a given year is three weeks.
Extended stays beyond three weeks may be arranged for guests. In such cases, it is important to include why the extended stay is desired when posting notification.
If a guest wishes to stay longer than originally planned, the host should post a note specifying how much longer the guest plans to stay at least three days before the original guest period is due to expire and ask for concerns over that three-day period. This should be done even if the original guest period is less than three weeks.
Drop-ins: East Wind discourages, but does not forbid, drop-in guests. Hosts should tell guests who drop in to give advance notice next time. If someone drops in unannounced and is not a customer, tourist, or friend of East Wind, it is okay to host the drop-in provided:
The host and the drop-in knew each other previously.
The host judges the guest to not be controversial.
The relationship is one of harmony and trust.
The host should promptly post an announcement of the guest’s visit.
Controversial People: Notification of repeat visits by guests should include a willingness to receive concerns. As a general rule, don’t invite people who:
Actively abuse drugs and alcohol.
May pose a danger to themselves, others, property, or the community as in violence or theft.
You have trouble getting along with them.
You know they may have trouble being considerate to other people here.
Crowds: At times, the community has lots of guests. During such times, it may be necessary to space additional guest visits so as to minimize the pressure of crowding on our facilities. During such times, Membership will post an advisory.
Relationship with the Membership Area
If you know someone who is interested in exploring membership advise them to make arrangements with the visitor program in the same way as people who we don’t know. If they are approved to visit, it is okay to guest them before their scheduled visitor group. Guesting people who are interested in joining the community but who have not yet been scheduled for a visitor group is discouraged in order to prevent favoritism. The fact that they’re already here influences who can be invited for visitor groups.
Persons who are voted out or otherwise required to leave the community may be guested once they have been away from the community for at least a year.
Guest Labor
Guests shall be required to work full quota if their total stay with a given year has exceeded three weeks (21 days). If there is any reason why the guest should not work full quota this will need to be explained in a public posting. Membership may grant exceptions.
Guests that are former members or associates are required to work full quota if their total stay with a given year has exceeded seven days.
Guests who are members or associates on leaves of absence must work full quota during their stay.
Guest labor in the above categories is recorded as done time labor like the labor of other members and visitors.
Guest labor is not counted toward membership or associate status in the way that visitor labor is, even if the guest is an associate or member on leave of absence.
Membership determines if the guest is required to do labor for the community and communicates this to the labor accountant before the guest goes on the labor system.
All guests are encouraged to chip in and help out even if not formally required to work. Guests who are not required to work don’t have to record their labor.
Conflicts
Members should make an effort to be courteous to guests and considerate of their needs and vice versa. Sometimes, however, disagreements arise. In some cases, a resident may feel comfortable enough to discuss the matter directly with the guest. In all cases, it is useful for the resident to inform the guest’s host of what is going on. Hosts have the responsibility for being of assistance in working out problems.
If informal avenues for dealing with the problem are not satisfactory, requests for a guest to leave, concerns that a prospective guest not come, or concerns about a guest’s behavior may be relayed to Membership. They should be written and stipulate reasons. Host complaints that their guests are being mistreated may also be relayed to Membership. Membership will try to be of help in resolving issues concerning guests upon request.
If a guest receives four concerns, the guest must leave within 24 hours. If the host is attached to the guest, the guest may still stay for less than a week within a given year unless 10% of voting members put in concerns.
If a former member who is guesting receives concerns from 20% of voting members, the guest must leave within 24 hours.
“Members and Associations on Leave and working guests of Membership who are PMs on the waiting list are excepted from this process (see 11.31 – PMs on the Waiting List as Working Guests of Membership)”.
III. Guests and the Waiting List
New PMs on the waiting list cannot be working guests EXCEPT under the conditions set forth in 11.31 – PMs on the Waiting List as Working Guests of Membership.
17.1—Guest Housing Policy
Board Policy, September 1993
Updated with Board interpretation, July 2023
Guests and those on labor exchange from other communities will not be guaranteed a standard private space. Host members are responsible for finding or providing housing for them. Only if arrangements are made in advance with Membership can a space be promised, and only if it is not needed by other members or visitors.
17.11—Guesters must be Present
Manager Policy, October 2014
In order to host a guest, [the] East Winder must be on the farm for the duration of their stay.
17.2—Guidelines for Interns
Membership Policy, 1993
1. Applicants for internships must be active students at an educational institution and doing an internship at EWC must be relevant to their course of study, and a project that we (EWC) are interested in.
Materials, from a faculty advisor or other appropriate staff person at the applicant’s school, that outline the expectations and requirements of that institution in regard to the internship must be sent to the Membership Manager, along with the applicant’s introductory letter.
Prior to acceptance of the applicant by East Wind Community, a definite time limit for the internship will be established and agreed to in writing.
Interns will not be guaranteed a private room and can normally expect to stay in shared visitor space. Applicants will only be approved if there will be sufficient space available in the visitor rooms for the duration of the internship.
Interns will be expected to bring adequate resources to cover their financial needs while at EWC. They will be advised what current spending money allotments for members are and asked to use them as a guideline for their spending.
Interns will be asked to drive their personal vehicles as little as possible while at EWC and not loan such vehicles to members. They will not be able to drive community vehicles, but will be welcome to go on town trips or ride with members off the property.
Interns will not be covered for any medical expenses, except for work-related injuries.
Interns will attend the same community orientations the visitors do and they will begin their stay at EWC at the beginning of the visitor period. A contact person will be assigned to a new in-tern by the Membership Manager and that person will assist the intern during their stay.
Interns will be expected to work the same labor quota as members. If their stay exceeds three weeks, they will be assigned kitchen clean-up duties and expected to do hammocks production quota, if it is in force at that time.
Interns will not be eligible for membership during their internship. If they wish to apply afterwards, they must discuss this with the Membership Manager in advance. Rules and policies that apply to any candidate for membership will apply to them also.
Interns may be asked to leave if they engage in behaviors that are detrimental and/or dangerous to the community. Members may bring concerns they have about an intern to the Membership Manager, who will investigate the concerns and recommend a course of action to the community. Any intern having a conflict with a member, visitor, or a guest that cannot be resolved by the two parties is to refer the matter to the Social Committee.
17.3—Friends of Community
Board Policy, October 2019
Amended by Board Policy, October 2021
As per 17.0 — Omnibus Guest Policy, “Friends of East Wind,” also known as “Friends of Community,” are local people who socialize with us and who we know and trust. Their stays are short, but frequent. They can drop in and don’t need a host. Friends of Community are still guests and are still subject to the other regulations in 17.0, including that they can be bounced by four Concerns.
A list of Friends of Community will be posted publicly in RB and will be maintained by the Board.
A request for a person to be a Friend of Community will be presented to the Board at a Board meeting, by either the person themselves or a member of community. Upon request, the Board will hang a note stating that the request has been made, and that members then have ten days to put in written concerns to the Board if they do not wish for the person to be made a Friend of Community. The person will be added to the Friend of Community list after ten days unless concerns are expressed in writing to the Board by ten percent of the voting members.
Anyone with guests who do not fit the Friend of Community description (even frequent guests) are strongly encouraged to host their guest in accordance with the Omnibus Guest Policy as already written (hang a concerns note indicating how long they are staying and where they will be staying/sleeping, etc.). The list of drop-ins that don’t need a host or an announcement should be kept to a minimum.
Friends of Community status applies to the person’s name on the list only – if they intend to bring other people with them, or pets, the guidelines in 17.0 for members hosting guests must still be followed for these other persons/pets. Any concerns regarding Friends of Community during their stay, or other persons/pets they bring along, shall be made to the Membership manager.
A person can be removed from the Friends of Community list by Concerns to the Board from 10% of voting members. The Board will post this status change publicly.
18.0—Teen Member Status for Labor, Voting, & DF’s
Community Ballot, Sep 1996, Qik
[The original legislation also zeroed the labor balances for four teenagers—Marqis & Ma’ikwe]
Amended by community vote, Kara Jo, April 2020
For teenagers who choose not to go to school, labor quota is based on a graduated scale, as follows:
Age Hrs./Week
14 20
15 23
16 26
17 29
18 32
18 ½ 35
Current legislation (32.2) regarding graduated DF’s will apply to teenagers who follow the graduated labor quotas stated above.
The graduated labor quota and DF scale will not be applied retroactively.
Regarding voting on proposals brought to community meeting, when a provisional member with teenage status (ages 14-18 ½) has been a member on the system at East Wind for three months, co will receive a half-vote. Full members with teenage status will receive a full vote at age 18 ½.
Any child still in public high school after the age of 18 ½ can claim up to their quota in lesson hours until the age of 20.