Governance Structure and Community Initiatives
General Model
Generally based on the Sociocracy model (Dynamic Governance): This model uses multiple levels of interconnected leadership committees. It’s designed to ensure effective decision-making and flow of information throughout the organization.
Sample bylaws and governance documents using the Sociocracy model here.
Should the community wish to create revenue-generating possibilities with Sage Woman Tea Co., Greater World Uni and The GWCC web shop, it would make sense to incorporate aspects of a co-op and/or non-profit organization structure into the basic Sociocracy model.
Committees
“Circles within Circles”
(Heȟáka Sápa Black Elk - vision quest (Community, circles within circles)
Committees are a way for those with special skills or interests to lead or contribute to projects of various kinds as they wish.
The project lead may be the person who suggested the project or another who chooses to take the role on.
The project lead is responsible for general organization and management of the team, assigning tasks to team members, hearing feedback and representing the team in monthly meeting check-ins.
Committees communicate via the Community Management Forum (ie NextDoor* which replaces WhatsApp for many things) and Project are managed through the Project Management Platform (ie BaseCamp)
Examples of Committees :
Horticulture Club - what plants are best for in and outdoors here and how we may most responsibly and effectively seed the land with non invasive species to further beautify, mitigate erosion and invite pollinators)
The E-Team - in charge of emergency planning incl. posting to specific emergency WhatsApp group (and/or Nextdoor) for alerts, reroutes, extreme weather warnings. Who? Those who generally keep an eye out for news and weather, ham radio operators What? Emergency and preparedness how-tos, bug out bags, etc.
"GWCC Community Garden” newsletter - In charge od editing and calls for submissions in the following categories: sky watch/astro updates, history about the land and its original indigenous inhabitants and pioneers, local exploration, must try experiences, community building, health & wellness, living (present or past) examples of exceptional heroism and/or leadership, local art or music… as just a few examples.
Goodwill Crew - In charge of welcoming new neighbors with CG newsletter interview, gift baskets, directing to resources, invitation to next event… (in lieu of neighborhood gossip crew ; )), checking in on those who may be experiencing challenges, organizing social events, rallying support for community-building initiatives, “peace policing” where there may be misunderstandings or general issues with certain neighbors or work crews…
Neighborhood “Planning Commission”- simply the team interested in creatively responding to issues (such as mail receiving issues, speeding and continued use of neighbor’s property despite requests not to any more) with creative solutions like installing community mailboxes for rent with pergola and communication board, engaging/humorous/ulpifting road signage, “Trail Blazers” trail forging crew to establish trails within our community’s boundaries not on privately owned properties along with other useful development of community lands incl. design of community garden, establishment and management of “Tool Shed” free materials and tool rental shop, outdoor theater/gathering space with bonfire pit and goat and chicken yard at barn??!
“Nerd Squad” - Go-to for looking up and interpreting various policies, checking with authorities on specific issues, formalizing documents, filing with SOS, doing all that is required to attain 501(c)(3) status…
“Demo” Crew - In charge of designing, filming/editing and posting various kinds of earthship/off-grid related instructional and DIY videos (ie how to build a bottle wall, rocket stove, earthship hacks, hydroponic and vertical gardening tutorials, pest abatement tips and tricks, sprouting and micro greens tutorials…) for our subscription base (one idea for supporting others while supporting our own income generation)
The Council
The Council is a leadership panel that acts much as the board members do for an HOA. A small community council may consist of 3, 6 or 9 with at least 2/3 being FT resident status.
Role:
Lead/Manage community meetings - Council members meet monthly with team leaders representing each Committee to hear progress on any active projects, what may be needed, any snags or questions that may arise in the process. Each committee lead is given 15 minutes though more time can be requested for situations that require more time for input and conversation. Questions that cannot be answered with confidence in these meetings will be followed up on through the forum posts. Community meetings are available for live viewing via Zoom and on the website posted after with transcriptions and/or minutes.
Responsibilities:
+Meet together to discuss and formulate poll questions to receive community member feedback concerning order of priorities, shared interests and goals as well as funds allotment for special projects and large purchases.
+Take the community’s pulse from time-to-time, especially after heated discussion or upsetting news that could compromise the collective morale.
+Logistics - budgeting, scheduling and admin management + working with outsourced providers (ie for bookkeeper or legal)
Voting
Council members are democratically elected using 3rd party encrypted voting software (ie Election Buddy) with each property counting as 1 vote for FT residency, 1/2 vote per PT residency and 1/4 vote for rental property.
Member voting applies to elections, special projects expenditures, amendments to any documents and agreements… as outlined in the community’s Bylaws.
Communication
Notifications:
Depending what platform(s) we go with, there may be text and/or email alert options for voting, polling, emergency alerts, events, donation requests, special projects, reminders, Community Garden posts, etc. Even multiple WhatsApp groups would serve us fine for most notifications.
The analog backup is the communication board at the mailboxes (assuming we go with that) which, in the very least, serves to communicate mail drop/pickup days and special situations (ie for packages too l are to leave) and general community reminders.
*NextDoor would be an excellent forum for all surrounding communities to get involved in together. Nextdoor's focus on hyperlocal information and community engagement makes it a valuable tool for communication in small communities. Facebook would be the obvious alternative though many do not use FB and ND could be more engaging/accessible and pertinent depending on if and how it's used.
Examples of how Nextdoor facilitates communication:
Local News and Alerts
Nextdoor provides a platform for local news publishers to share information and for neighbors to receive real-time alerts from trusted sources like fire departments and weather services.Community Engagement
Neighbors can use Nextdoor to connect over shared interests, organize events, and participate in local conversations.Business Recommendations
Nextdoor allows neighbors to ask for and share recommendations for local businesses and services, which can be helpful for residents of smaller communities.Public Agency Communication
Local government agencies can use Nextdoor to share information and engage with residents, making it a useful tool for small towns.Safety and Security
Nextdoor features a safety section where neighbors can report suspicious activity, which can be particularly important in smaller communities where residents may be more vulnerable.For Sale and Free Listings
Nextdoor's marketplace allows neighbors to buy, sell, or give away items, fostering a sense of community and resource sharing.