Classes in this course are suitable for: Community Seekers | Community Starters | Community Residents

Course description and syllabus

Opening a community to new members might sound like an easy and obvious task, but there’s a range of pitfalls which can make this process not only challenging but also jeopardizes the community’s well-being.

In the Membership Process for Communities course, community and cooperative culture teacher and author Yana Ludwig will guide you through a solid understanding of the reasoning behind a fair and transparent membership process. From there, she will give you the practical tools to create the process of your own community.

Topics range from the mundane (how to think about balancing rights and responsibilities and how long it takes to reasonably get to know someone) to the truly sticky (how to end someone’s membership when it isn’t working, navigating inheritance laws, and how the first members become members who can then approve members). All the content is based on Yana’s extensive experience living in communities with both good and bad membership practices.

The Membership Process for Communities course has an underlying focus on practical, usable learning, while frequently referencing how membership processes relate to equity, justice and belonging. From membership processes to recruitment through to orientation of new members (and supporting them through the culture shock frequently experienced by people new to communal living), this course provides a full package of critical understanding and tools to smooth the journey for both the community and the individuals who make it viable.

This is an interactive course with practical exercises and time to exchange with your peers. Sessions will also have plenty of space for individuals and groups to customize the lessons to particular situations.

Live classes are hosted on Zoom. All classes are recorded and available on our learning platform within 24 hours after each class ends and through 30 days after the last class.

Classes and topics in the Membership Process for Communities syllabus include:

Individual classes starting at US $20

February 5:Membership Selection

• Vision-Membership-Decision Making triangle
• Reality vs PR
• What are we doing here anyway? A north satar for movement cultre
• High level membership process recommendations
• Pairing rights and responsibilities

February 12:Building Your Membership Process

• Social Skills to screen for (and how)
• An exploration of Justice, Privilege and Interpersonal Power – how to check your biases
  • Building just culture and belonging through good membership practices
  • types of diversity and how to relate to them in membership process
  • who does your group privilege?
• How membership ends
• Putting it all together
• The power of the waitlist
• The Chicken & Egg Issue with Founders

February 19: Recruitment Basics

• Matching member search to mission, decision-making and community needs
• You are not selling a car
• High tech and old school (with guest presenter: Jennie Lindberg)
• Who are your ideal members and how will you find them?

February 26: Bringing People in with Care

• Orienting new members
• Culture shock
• Essential trainings
• Mentors and buddies
• Debriefs and Feedback
• Mourning membership losses – at any stage

All Membership Process for Communities classes are held on Wednesdays from 8:00-9:30am Pacific / 9:00-10:30am Mountain / 10:00am-11:30pm Central / 11:00am-12:30pm Eastern. You can view your local time here.

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March 5:Q&A Session

• Ask any additional questions
• Get personalized help
• Networking

The Q&A session is optional and will take place from 8:00-9:00am Pacific / 9:00-10:00am Mountain / 10:00-11:00am Central / 11:00am-12:00pm Eastern. You must register for the full course to attend the Q&A session. The Q&A session will NOT be recorded.

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