A lot of the information about what it means to be a Dojo4 co-op member are enshrined in the original co-op formation documents (all of which are also open-sourced on Github):
The basic eligibility, privileges & responsibilities can be summarized as such:
Excerpted from the Bylaws:
- Eligible person shall have worked for the Cooperative on a part or full-time basis either as a partner, consultant, or contractor for six (6) consecutive months, and have been approved by the unanimous consent of all current Council Members, shall have satisfied all conditions precedent set forth in the Cooperative’s handbook, candidacy rules and requirements, and Class A Membership Agreement before being eligible to apply for Class A membership.
- Shall undertake such patronage responsibilities and activities, which may be prescribed by these Bylaws, by policies promulgated from time to time by Council Members, the Board of Directors, or by member agreements executed in the ordinary course of business;
- Agrees to purchase one (1) unit of Class A common voting unit in the Cooperative for a price per unit of $6,000.00 (the “Class A Membership Unit”), which price may be changed or increased from time to time by Council Members or the Board of Directors;
- Agrees to acquire and at all times hold one and only one Class A Membership Unit per person;
- Agrees to patronize the Cooperative pursuant to a Membership Agreement and such other policies and agreements as required by Council Members or the Board of Directors;
- Agrees to at all times maintain good standing as a member of one or more classes of membership in the Cooperative;
- Participates in Cooperative governance functions and responsibilities;
- Agrees to execute such instruments and agreements as may reasonably be necessary or advisable for the Cooperative to carry out its lawful purpose(s);
- Meets such other uniform conditions and qualification requirements as may be prescribed from time-to-time by the Board of Directors; and
- Agrees to at all times abide by these Bylaws, and the rules and policies as may be established and adopted from time to time by the Council Members or the Board of Directors.
Other than the eligibility requirements outlined above, will consider the following Council Members when evaluating potential Council Members. Not all of the following criteria need to be met by a potential Council Member in order to be accepted, but each is an important consideration for the health, conviviality and vitality of the Cooperative. Council Members are responsible for asking themselves and discussing the following questions when when evaluating potential Council Members:
- Does the person applying for membership exhibit an enthusiastic inclination toward self-sufficient problem-solving?
- Does the person applying for membership exhibit an interest in the general flourishing of the culture and inherent well-being of the Cooperative in such a way that it seems to supercede their own self-interest in what they might get out of being a Member?
- Does the person applying for membership exhibit a comfortability with risk-taking?
- Do you enjoy the company of the person applying for membership?
Excerpted from the Bylaws:
- Members are afforded one vote on any matter for which a vote by Class A Members may or is to be taken as prescribed in the Cooperative’s Bylaws.
- Members are entitled to distributions of residual proceeds resulting from a Liquidation Event on a pari passu basis.
- Members have right of first refusal for any work that comes into Dojo4. Work that is refused by Members can then go to non-members.
- Members are entitled to notice of all regular annual membership meetings, and those special membership meetings as determined by the Board.
- Find more information on these responsibilities and those of other roles in Roles, Responsibilities & Job Descriptions.
- Members must attend and participate in at least 30% of membership meetings, matters presented for electronic voting or actions proposed to be taken without a meeting.
- Members are responsible for voting on the following matters:
- Admission of new Council Members;
- Determining which roles are non-Council Member track and which are, and determining or amending trial period for prospective Council Members;
- Terminating Council Members;
- Electing members of Board of Directors;
- Accepting new clients;
- Annual review of existing clients;
- Amending the Bylaws and Articles of Organization;
- Change of control event: merger, acquisition, liquidation, demutualization;
- Successful petition by the Council Members to implement: new work standards (e.g. brick house vs wood frame house technique), new policies, or new business opportunities;
- Adoption of ethics code, statement of values and amendments or changes thereto; and
- Withdrawal of, refusal to cure, or any other action to intentionally relinquish B-Corp certification.