[sudo-discuss] Fwd: [omni-consensus] 2 new proposals for Thursday

Mon Sep 17 14:57:42 PDT 2018

heads up!
2 new omni proposals that change our obligations to remain a collective @
omni commons
plz read &/or comment on list or at 2nd wednesday meeting flavored party
thank you 4 hacking

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Laura Turiano <scylla at riseup.net>
Date: Mon, Sep 17, 2018 at 2:41 PM
Subject: [omni-consensus] 2 new proposals for Thursday
To: "consensus at lists.omnicommons.org" <consensus at lists.omnicommons.org>

*Two Proposals for 9/20 Delegates Meeting*

The second proposal is for a new process to evaluate new potential member
collectives. The goal was to make it clearer for everyone, fairer, and
shorter.

The first proposal is for specific criteria that new and existing MCs must
have and maintain. This appears to be much more controversial than the
process proposal - it has many comments and the process proposal has almost
none.

These will be on the pad for their first discussion. Here is the link to
the google doc of both proposals with comments:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QV6vAXjWXfxcVNn7othRLbGv
b2ozFb9VxKpWZCV9PXU/edit?usp=sharing

Text of both proposals pasted here, but I suggest you read it on the doc so
you can see the comments:

*Proposal 1: Criteria to become and remain an Omni Commons Member
Collective*

* 1. Have a minimum of 5 active members. Active members are those who
participate in the organization’s decisions by participating in meetings,
responding to email or other online decision-related discussions,
performing administrative work, and leading programmatic activities. People
who only attend events are not counted as active members. 2. Be a
collective: a non-hierarchical group (5 members) with a participatory
decision making process. 3. Fulfill requirements to delegate a board
member, and to send members to serve on Omni working groups: 1. Each member
collective should have a minimum of 2 members active in working groups
<https://omnicommons.org/wiki/Working_Groups>. Collectives should make an
effort to send 1 additional WG participant for every 10 active members. 2.
(Previously: Each Member Group of the Omni will be required to populate at
least 3 seats in at least 3 committees. Member Groups with more than 12
members will be required to populate at least 5 seats in at least 3
committees. (Passed 2014/08/28 Delegates Assembly)) 4. Endorse the Omni
Commons statement of solidarity
<https://omnicommons.org/wiki/Statement_of_Solidarity>, statement of
purpose <https://omnicommons.org/wiki/Founding_Document>, and safer space
policy <https://omnicommons.org/wiki/Safer_Space_Policy>, and demonstrate
how the activities of the collective contribute to them. Also, this song
<https://youtu.be/Hx4TmaY3alE>. 5. Be either a tenant or a fiscally
sponsored project of Omni Commons. 6. Contribute materially to the Commons
via rent, fiscal sponsorship fee, or other resources. If a collective fails
to uphold their material commitments for more than 2 months, they are
considered “inactive” and forfeit any benefits provided by their membership
(such as use of common space and a vote at Delegates Council meetings)
until previous commitments are met. *

* (Note 1: If an existing member collective's meeting schedule doesn't fit
into the delegates meeting schedule for a new member application, it MUST
hold a special meeting/consultation to deal with the application, out of
respect for the new applicant group.) (Note 2: Groups using space at Omni
Commons can also be just tenants or fiscally sponsored projects without
having the additional benefits and responsibilities of being a member
collective. However, it benefits OC to have as many groups as possible
contributing to the work and decision-making, and we should set a maximum
ratio of non-member resident groups to member collectives, perhaps 1:4.) *
-----------------------------------------------------

*Proposal 2: New Member Collective Application Process*

* (What follows is more or less what would appear on the wiki and in the
handbook as instructions to new potential MCs. It would be presented in a
more graphically clear format.) Decide if your group meets our basic
requirements. - Please read about our vision / governing principles
<https://omnicommons.org/wiki/Self-Governance>, to determine if your
collective is willing and able to collaborate within the structure and
culture we have co-created so far. - Review our criteria for becoming and
remaining a member collective. - If you don’t think you meet the Member
Collective criteria, there are other ways your group can participate in the
Omni. Talk to the Finance Working Group. -----> Let us know you are
interested in joining Omni Commons by talking to a delegate or the finance
 working group. - A process guide will be assigned to you to help you
navigate the member collective application process. - They will give you
the information you need and answer your questions. Write your application
using the questions below. Keep it as brief as possible while still
answering the questions: - What do you do that makes a difference in the
world? - Briefly recap your history as an organization. - What is your
incorporation status? (501c3? Unincorporated Association? etc) - How do you
make decisions? - State your goals for becoming an Omni member collective.
- How would your presence in the Omni contribute to its purpose and
Statement of Solidarity? - Explain how you will finance your Omni
membership dues/rent. - Describe what dedicated physical space (if any) you
need. What will you do in the dedicated space? What can you do in shared
space? Will you need to make any modifications of the building? Include
floor plans if that makes your proposal clearer. Application review
process: 1. Submit your application to the Omni Delegates in writing at
consensus at omnicommons.org <consensus at omnicommons.org> and
discuss at omnicommons.org <discuss at omnicommons.org> 2. Present your
application proposal at the next Delegates meeting (First and Third
Thursdays at 7pm). Delegates will ask questions and give you preliminary
feedback about the proposal. In the 2 weeks following the meeting,
delegates will discuss your proposal with their collectives. 3. Attend
collective meetings if invited to further explain your proposal.
Incorporate feedback into your application proposal. 4. Legal and financial
review 1. The Omni Finance Working Group will review your financials
(Budget, balance sheet, P & L), size, incorporation status, space needs,
and reach an agreement with you about your financial contribution and legal
relationship to Omni Commons. 2. If you need to make modifications to the
building, Finance may ask you to get preliminary inspections, consult with
the Building Working Group, or provide other information to determine if
the changes are possible and advisable. 3. If necessary, the Omni legal
advisor will advise about your legal relationship to the Omni. 4. Update
your proposal with this agreement. 1. Attend a 2nd Delegates meeting to
discuss your updated proposal. Ideally this would be the next Delegates
meeting, but if the delegates and you agree, it may be scheduled for the
2nd  meeting following. Delegates will report on and discuss the feedback
they received from their collectives, and if there are any blocking or
serious concerns that can’t be resolved at the meeting, contact information
will be shared so that further discussion can happen between you and the
groups or persons with the concern. 2. Before the next Delegates meeting,
attend collective meetings, and/or communicate with Omni members as needed
to discuss any remaining issues. 3. Attend the next (3rd) Delegates meeting
and present your updated application proposal for a final discussion. You
will be asked to leave the building and the delegates will reach a
decision. The process guide will notify you of the decision. If approved,
finalize your membership 1. Sign a contract with Omni Commons, either a
lease or fiscal sponsorship agreement. 2. Obtain insurance coverage as
described in your contract 3. Read Member Collective Handboo
<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lQrDIBz1zg5xUl2quCA3RBWvINBnABb6UkWHoVsq400/edit#>k.
(Sign document stating that the collective members read the Handbook?) 4.
Select a delegate to the Delegates Assembly (Board of Directors) 5. Pay
deposit/rent/fiscal sponsorship fee, per agreement 6. Move in! 7. Have at
least two collective members join an Omni Working Group
<https://omnicommons.org/wiki/Working_Groups>.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Considerations for Deciding upon New Resident or MC Organizations
- Does the group meet the member collective requirements? - Groups
consisting of affected people doing liberatory organizing should be
recruited and given priority. - The ratio of Member Collectives to
non-member collective resident organizations should stay above 4:1. - Does
the group understand the way OC works, especially the concept of the
commons, space sharing, limitations on locked space, and consensus process?
- A new collective is more likely to succeed at Omni if they have
previously existed, are well established, have experience with
consensus/participatory decision making, have spent time at OC (eg by
holding events or meetings), and/or the members have worked together
previously. - Consider if a new tenant or member collective should have a
trial period and get settled before doing any construction. *

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