First step: Contact

Interested Person

 

Option 1: A person comes in contact with us by email (through a friend, our website, our newsletter, our profile on ic.org, etc. ).

 

One of our members is responsible for “monitoring”. (godmother, godfather, a “buddy”)

1. The first steps often begin with a meeting by telephone or in person to explain Le Manoir’s project. Then, we often recommend visiting the website to get an understanding of our project.
2. If the person shows further interest, here are the basic documents to read:
   1. Vision and 5 Principles
   2. All items in the category "Le Manoir:  Explanations"
   3. we recommend 1 or 2 items in the “Reflections/Thinking” category
   4. list of references to consult about communities to see if something specific interests the person (under readings and video)
3. The person must send us a cover letter send of  to come for a 2-week stay.

 

The “person who monitors” announces the interested person’s visit and makes the letter available for all members to read. The “person who monitors” is responsible for ensuring that everything is in place for the reception of the person (ie: there is a room available, she will have the opportunity to meet all the members and other logistical considerations). If all goes well, the person will be automatically accepted. If any member feels discomfort / has concerns about the interested person, a meeting will happen to determine whether or not the person is accepted for a 2-week visit.

or

2nd Option: a person meets us in person by chance and chooses to stay with us. After 2 weeks she has to leave and write a cover letter.

or

3rd  An unknown person meets us in person by chance and chooses to stay with us, or contacts us via email (through a friend, our website, our newsletter, our profile on ic.org, etc.). After 2 weeks (or advance if she already knows) the person must indicate that co only wants to stay for a certain period of time, for the summer for example. She should still leave for about 5 days (to enable us to make a good decision) and write us a letter stating her intentions. The group decides if they want the person to stay or not.

This status is different (eg WWOOFer). In this case, if there is a limit or not enough space available, members or potential members have priority. Thus, if during the summer, someone wants to move in, there would be the risk that the person must leave or move to a different space. The person will be notified of any change, and additionally, after one-and-a-half months, the woofer must have a meeting without it (???) to see if it is suitable for everyone. A person will be designated to transmit information to the WWOOFer. This is a similar process to the 3-month provisional member.

 

For consideration

We decided that for the summer, we'll try something and analyze whether it worked well.

• We mainly accept friend / family / people we know.
• and people that propose a project that is relevant, such as WWOOFing.
• we accept pleasant travelers provided we are not too crowded, and only for a night or two
• We create a visual system like a calendar to see what’s happening when
• We don’t advertise for WWOOFers this year

We decided that we are not accepting provisional members during the summer (with the exception of JF). If people want to come earlier, they can, but their provisional membership will start in September.  

Step Two: The Visit

Why A Visit?

We must first meet.  The person must experience life in our group, and begin to familiarize themselves with our daily life and culture. The group, in the meantime, wants to meet this new person, discover co’s personality, learn about co’s dreams and aspirations, co’s path, strengths and skills. We want to know if we can live well with a person:

 

• with whom we get along

• who communicates well

• who works well

• a person who brings something, who makes us grow (individually and as group) and to whom the group can bring something and help them grow

 

This is also the time to make sure the person understands our vision and adheres to it. Finally, it is a time to become aware of information that could have a significant impact on the community. This could include things like depression, suicidal tendencies, debts or financial obligations, logistical issues such as citizenship, health problems, etc.

The 2-Week Visit

• Towards the end of the two weeks, there will be a formal meeting in which all members are present and the survey questions would be asked. The aspiring member can read the questions ahead of time to prepare. Co’s “buddy” (person who monitors) can help guide co through the process.
• Home conditions
• our expectations
• We provide the food
• we are expected to participate in chores, tasks, work in connection with the Manor (gathering, organizing events, etc. ). At the same height as the rest of the mansion
• is in charge of at least one meal during the 2 weeks and should help with the cooking times
• for hours of his time allocated to learning or integration of the culture of community (such as Twin Oaks). For example, read our documents, understand and discuss the various elements of the vision, etc.
• can participate in our meetings as an observer.
• is offered to
• The best of what remaims.
• a godfather or a godmother.
• a bike amongst all community bikes

Then

In most communities, there is a time when the person has to leave after the visit and before being accepted as a probationary member. It is also, for some communities, a way to demonstrate that they are not a cult, and that they allow its members to keep in touch with their world!

This allows the person to return to his normal life and see if his business experience was not just a honeymoon, and she really wants to leave his old life and join the group. Similarly, the community back, and a space to reflect together on their willingness to welcome this new person.

 

The person share. (about 5 days)

The group decided in a meeting behind closed doors by consensus if the person can move to the third stage (like Acorn).

 

four possible positions

1. If a person is "Yeee" and the rest is " ok cool " it goes.
2. If the criteria are not met, or more "yuck" are raised and someone said "Yeee ", the group discussion and consensus gets to see if we accept the person as a probationary member .
3. If everyone was like "ok cool" but nobody says "Yeee!", it does not pass: it takes at least one person who says "Yeee!"
4. everyone says "yuck." The person is not accepted.

 

Eventually, it may that we have a waiting list if there's been room. The person is accepted but can not come live with us before vacancy appears.

People who are not accepted can apply again in a year's step:

Third probation

The member

In most communities there a trial period, both for the prospective new member, and for the community to see if one is right for another. This period usually varies from a few months to several months (3 to 12months).Other communities such as Las Indias, have an integration process that works more stages (must have established a profitable cooperative in the community and with support before applying for membership).

this probationary period usually involves incomplete wrong inclusion in the "daily" (lifestyle, work in the community, sharing of income for those it concerns, etc.). The difference is at the level of decision making: normally, probationary members do not have voting rights. It's easy to tell when a community works by majority vote ... it's more vague and elusive when operating by consensus. For example, the Morgan Farm when I visited there two years probationary members could attend meetings but do not have the right to speak (since it would influence the decision, which he did no access ...) for our part, we believe that the probationary members should be able to express themselves, express their ideas, their doubts, and all this information can be taken into account to ensure the group to make a more informed decision and takes into has the most data, but the decision and the choice of directions should return to members. For example, a doubt expressed by a probationary member must be noted, but the choice to linger or not the decision process returns to members. Part of the probation is also a "training" component, that is to say that sometimes expressed doubt, though relevant, could raise a misunderstanding of the vision or values, or ignorance of history of own approaches to a decision. He then returned to members, and more specifically, the godfather or godmother, send it questions by providing the probationary member of the documents or information necessary for a more complete and full participation in the process decision making.

3 months

During these three months, the aspiring e member is formed e-tools used by the community, including CNVs (and other communication tools) and consensus (and other decision-making tools ).

 

the person has a godfather or a godmother e-assigned, which can answer questions (it forwards the documents accompanying the progress of the various stages of integration, etc.) and is the group's voice (she who gives it the group's decision if elected or not, and give it the requests of the group if there is a problem, for example)

 

After 1 ½ months (half the stay so) a meeting was held with the aspiring member, to see if it goes well, on both sides. "Clearness process" (French word to define nest ... clarity?), Where the aspiring member will meet each individual members and begin a dialogue. The issues addressed are (example):

• The relationship between two people
• The role and participation of the aspiring member in the egroup
• Are goals in harmony with the vision
• the happiness of the person in the community

 

After the three months, members meet to "camera" to determine whether or not they wish to include the person as a new member

3 options are possible (as in Twin Oaks.):

• Yes "! Yeee" if at least one person said, and that in general, everyone is "okay, that's cool". objections must be raised and recorded, and the group can decide if it is sufficient and valid reasons for refusing aspiring member.
• No : nobody says "Yeee!", or criteria are not met, or more sufficient and valid objections are raised, and the group considers that they are irreconcilable3
• Extension of probation (minimum 1 month, maximum _ months).: if at least one person says "Yeee!", and that in general, everyone is "okay, that's the cool." raised objections and noted,  considered sufficient areand valid to deny this member. An aspiring member has 1 month to improve or to comply with requests frp, members.

 

If you went this far, you are now a full member!

Congratulations! You have the right to a party and a cake!