This is a page where we can collect the ideas that have been suggested for providing a more formalized membership process. --Diane Schurr 15:10, 29 Nov 2007 (MST)

• At the second face-to-face gathering (within a 12 month time period) that an exploring member attends, she/he will be asked whether she/he wants to pursue membership at that time. If the answer is "yes", then she/he will be asked to answer some membership criteria questions (suggested questions that we have come up with so far are listed below). We still need to decide whether all of these questions need to be answered right away, or if some of them might be answered by e-mail later. Then we will request that all exploring members excuse themselves, so that the members can take some time to discuss the exploring member's request and to answer the membership criteria questions for themselves. The answer to the exploring member's request will NOT be made immediately, so that all members (even those not attending that particular face-to-face meeting) will be able to participate in the decision making process and so that there is adequate time to consider the membership criteria questions. In most cases the membership criteria questions, do not have "right" or "wrong" answers, and are intended to facilitate discussion that will help all members consider the question of whether the exploring member will be invited to become a member.

• These are the suggested questions (Do we want to have different questions for the Exploring Member to answer for themselves and for the Members to answer about the Exploring member?):

Does this person uphold the community's vision and mission?

Do they agree to other important community documents and agreements (behavioral ground rules, paying dues)?

What assets does this person have to offer the community?

What might be a challenge?

Can we imagine living with this person in community?

Does this person put out more energy than they take?

Are there any concerns about this individual becoming a member?

• If we have reached consensus on inviting the individual to become a member what are the practical things that need to happen, and who will do them?

The individual needs to be informed of the decision.

Is the person considered a member as soon as they accept the invitation or do we need to wait until we receive the agreed upon membership dues? (Experience has shown that it might be a good idea to at least wait for a confirmation from the new member that they are going to be able to pay the membership dues.)

She/he needs to be added to the membership e-mail list.

She/he needs to be given access to modifying the wiki.

Anything else?

• If we decide not to invite the individual to become a member, then we need to decide whether we are 1) Encouraging them to continue as a supporter or exploring member, attend another face-to-face meeting to get to know them better and to allow the members to give their request further consideration or 2) Declining to invite them to become a member, though they may continue to participate as a supporter. In either case, it needs to be decided who will be responsible for informing the individual of our decision. And are there any other practical implications of these decisions that we might want to have thought about and decided on procedures for ahead of time?