|
New
Community Member Process
Anyone that is interested
in becoming a full-time Deeply Rooted community member will have
to go through this process. It is suggested that an interested individual
spend some time with the current members getting a general feel
for what Deeply Rooted is all about before they begin this process
to make sure it is something they are truly interested in committing
to.
The first step is submitting
a written proposal/ request for membership. This submission must
include, but is not limited to:
A basic introduction
about yourself
Past community experience
Religious background/base beliefs
Financial past/present/intended future
Reasons for wanting to get involved in an intentional community
Diet preference/restrictions
"bad" habits you have (drinking, smoking, other drugs,
etc.)
Long and short-term plans, where you want to be in 2, 5, 10, 25
years
Commitment level
House/living space plan
Health problems/medications, general health
Skills you can contribute
Resources you can contribute
Family background, current relationship with them
Current social relationships (spouse, significant other, etc)
Criminal/credit background (bounced checks, bankruptcy, any felony/misdemeanor
convictions)
After submission of the proposal a time will be scheduled for an
interview between the current members of Deeply Rooted and the prospective
new member. This interview will ideally be held at Deeply Rooted
but can be scheduled elsewhere if absolutely necessary. It will
last a few hours and is intended to address any issues brought up
in the written submission as well as ascertain if the individual
in question has the potential to complete the membership process.
Immediately afterwards the current members will retire and discuss
the interview and then inform the potential member if the process
will be continuing. If the community members believe it would be
beneficial to all involved to continue the process the next stage
will be scheduled.
If a potential member is approved for the internship process they
will be asked to schedule a minimum of 2 weekends a month for 3
months during which they will live and work at Deeply Rooted. (This
is the minimum required, additional days spent at Deeply Rooted
during the 3- month period is encouraged but not mandatory.) There
are only two, 3-month periods that this can be done during; February-March-April
and October-November-December. A preference/intent for one of these
periods should be included in the initial proposal. There are a
limited number of spots open for each period so apply ahead of time.
The potential member will have use of the community center as a
living space during the internship process as well as all of the
community's on-site resources. This is intended to give the potential
member a taste of what the weather is like during some of the harsher
times of the year at Deeply Rooted. After the 3 month period there
is another meeting/interview in which all concerned sit down and
discuss whatever is on everyone's mind. This is a time for concerns
by current and potential members to be raised and addressed as well
as any clarification that need to be made. If the potential member
still wishes to continue the process the last part of the process
is scheduled, the one week intensive.
The one week intensive
is a continuous 7 day period in which all of the current members
and the potential member live and work at Deeply Rooted. (Outside
trips are allowed but must be done as a group if its more than just
a run to town.) A potential time for this should also be indicated
in the initial proposal. It is understood that such a time commitment
is difficult to schedule in today's world but it is believed that
such a time period of living together is vital to finding out if
all concerned are compatible with each other. At the end of the
week there is the final interview during which any and all concerns
or questions are addressed and the requirements and expectations
of a new member are carefully explained (see Requirements and Expectations
of Deeply Rooted Community Members in packet) If, after the interview
is completed to everyone's satisfaction, the potential member is
still interested the current members will retire to discuss and
vote.
All voting done at Deeply
Rooted is done by consensus, which means everyone has to agree to
any given proposal or potential member and that if any individual
chooses to block then the proposal is rejected and/or the potential
member is denied membership. This is a very serious process and
membership will not be granted or denied lightly. The voting meeting
will conclude as fast as feasible possible and render their decision
to the potential member. If a potential member is denied membership
they are entitled to try again one year later. If a membership is
granted the Waiver is signed (included in packet) and all concerned
head out to the Stone Circle for a brief ritual of welcome. From
that point on the new member has all the rights, responsibilities,
and requirements of a full member of Deeply Rooted. No importance
or special privilege is placed on seniority or chronological order
in which people became members, when you join you are the total
equal of all the others already there. Then the building of your
living structure commences as outlined in the new member's initial
proposal and/or they move onto Deeply Rooted.
Requirements and Responsibilities of Deeply Rooted Community Members
Becoming a member of the Deeply Rooted community is a fundamental
lifestyle change. It is not a crash pad, not a place to escape outside
problems, its a place to live life to the fullest in the company
of others attempting to do the same. This means that everyone involved
has to be on a similar page, not the blind conformity of "mainstream"
society but a sense of commonality and willingness to work together
towards basic goals. With that in mind, this section is in three
parts:
- First is basic requirements
that are for the most part nonnegotiable, we believe that these
are core values and actions that are necessary for Deeply Rooted
to function properly. If there are any serious problems you have
with what is put forward in this category you might want to rethink
joining Deeply Rooted.
- Second is responsibilities
and benefits, basically this covers what the community expects
you to do for it and what the community will do for you.
- Third category is
that of recommendations and preferences, not required personality
traits and actions but ones that would be helpful and desirable
in making Deeply Rooted the best that it can be. The success of
Deeply Rooted will be based almost exclusively on the quality
of people involved and how they interact with each other.
Basic Requirements
Tolerant and respectful
of other community and church members
Living on-site at least half of the year
Commitment to a healthy and active lifestyle
NO illegal drugs of any kind, ever
Earth based spiritual/religious belief structure (very liberal
interpretation on this point)
Stable mature personality
Commitment to self-sufficiency and appropriate technology
NO participation in factious backbiting (a.k.a."witch wars")
Well kept, healthy appearance
Participation in community rituals
A basic understanding of consensus decision making
Active involvement in Deeply Rooted projects/events/daily activities
Constant and consistent honesty in all situations (a.k.a. brutal
honesty)
Basic Responsibilities and Benefits
Equal sharing of costs
as well as equal sharing of benefits with all other members
Maintenance of Deeply Rooted grounds
Neat and well attended exterior to your living space
Sanitary and clean interior living space
Equal sharing of day-to-day chores (weeding, cooking, cleaning,
etc.)
Use of all community resources (land, tools, food, equipment,
vehicle)
Paying attention and assisting with other community member's mood,
physical safety, attitude, general health problems, concerns,
etc. as well as having them looking out for you
Equal vote on Community Council
Use of clergy services
Existing as a representative of Deeply Rooted at outside events
Suggestions and Preferences:
(We are currently re-writing
this section!)
|
