1. We are an intentional family of sorts, who regardless of gender, faith or age, tend to believe in something greater than ourselves, in a just and loving Creator if you will, each in our own way. We have come together to navigate the extraordinary times we find ourselves in. And just like any family, we may have our challenges. Therefore we commit to consciously and methodically building our various systems together and work our way toward exactly what we want. A smart, resourceful group of like minded people who get along well and are able to pool our resources to do good things in our neighbourhood together. We commit to each other that this relationship has an elevated status in our lives (not THE most important of course, but somewhere up there). I am building something with them, and they with me. I commit to giving this experiment my level best. I think it’s worth it to see where things may go.
2. All members must agree to our Small Group Constitution, our Rules and Code of Conduct. Joining our group at Midtown Freedom Friends indicates acceptance to our collective agreement. Updates to the documents that hold us together in spirit must be agreed to by all as well.
3. Members must make a solemn promise to other members, to keep certain types of information strictly private and confidential if requested. This includes email, phone, address, picture, certain resources and anything not agreed. And members must abide by any paper only communications decree. A breach of these privacy rules could be reason for termination of membership.
4. A Quorum consists of 2/3 of the group as it currently stands at any physical meeting.
5. The group can decide at any time to use any decent method of voting to decide any issue (including anonymous like for Chair, Treasurer and Secretary).
6. Members agree to not disclose membership outside of the group, only with another member(s)? < Should this be a rule? Let’s debate.
7. We come clean with any less than optimal exchanges with other members, sort things out, apologize if necessary, but find a way to move on in good faith. Go for a walk together, grab a beverage together, give them a call, send them an email. Don’t let things fester. This is a weakness we must overcome.
8. The group can respectfully ask a member to clarify something on behalf of the group if it’s in the group’s best interest. The remedy is for members to publicly come clean with a quorum present if asked about something that may affect our well being as a group. Sort things out, apologize if necessary, we can forgive and forget, but find a way for accountability and transparency to be empowering and community building. Agree to disagree if you have to, but find a way to move on in good faith. This kind of fail safe mechanism keeps things above board and in a good place. We just don’t do things that could compromise the group. Why bother.
9. This effort requires that we all strive to be as thoughtful, compassionate and grown-up as possible with each other. We agree to do so to the best of our abilities Like a great soccer team of 11 players, everyone doesn't have to be best friends forever for this to work (not at all realistic). We can and will create an environment where trust, confidence, loyalty etc. are built up over time and we work together to achieve our common goals. Undoubtedly, some great new and authentic relationships will emerge among us.
10. We must protect vigorous discussion, but we pledge to be kind, respectful, honest and decent with each other, when in conversation. Don’t scratch at someone else’s shortcomings, as we all have our own. None of us is perfect. Back off if things get a bit hot. Avoid pressing someone’s buttons beyond a playful tease. Try to be as helpful and playful as we can with each other. Let’s make this as fun and worthwhile as it can be.
11. We will strive to build a pool of various kinds of resources that are beneficial to all of our members (like edible plants and fruit trees in the neighbourhood, great produce / food resources, good services and so much more is possible). We pledge to participate and contribute to this communal effort to the best of our abilities, and, fun stuff aside when we do so, we give and share the best we’ve got. We never spam our community, ever.
12. When using email, we do not BCC each other, as it typically doesn’t work to build trust or encourage comments and interaction in this environment. BCC can be used for a larger group that does not know each other well enough for open communications.