| RingWood Charter |
Agreements may only be changed with the unanimous consent of all full members living on the land. Residents (see below) must be at least 16 years old. Only members and residents may speak at meetings (although they may represent guests and others). Only members may vote. Gatherings/meetings will be held at least once each quarter, in conjunction with a communal meal. An Annual General Meeting must also be held (in accordance with legislation). A non-regular meeting may be called at any time to determine urgent considerations, but must conform to the general guidelines for meetings. A facilitator will ensure all decisions are made using true consensus; all members must make their position clear in their turn, verbally, before consensus or unanimity can be said to be reached. A new facilitator must be appointed for each meeting. All members, residents and others will follow directions of the meeting facilitator. The facilitator must ensure that only one person speaks at a time, that no-one is interrupted, and that all Members and Residents have their say and are heard fairly; they must also ensure that no-one dominates any meeting. A meeting may replace any facilitator or minute-keeper if it decides they have failed to perform their duties at any time, by consensus decision or (simple majority) vote. A minimum quorum of 75% of all members is required to bind decisions. The facilitator must nominate a minute keeper. Minutes must be kept under lock and key with the signed copies of these Agreements and other relevant RingWood records. If verbal unanimous consent is not reached, a vote may be taken. In this case the facilitator and members decide on an open or closed ballot (facilitator's decision is final), where generally a three-quarters majority is required to pass a vote. Some decisions must be subject to unanimous agreement by all members of RingWood, i.e. where the vote is to change agreements or to admit Residents to full membership; other decisions requiring unanimity are outlined below. Signed proxies may be accepted (a maximum of 50% of members may be represented in this way at any meeting), but these must deal with the specific issue/s covered and be kept with the minutes after the vote is taken. A meeting may decide by a 75% majority vote that any single member is ineligible to vote on one specific issue before the vote is taken, for reasons of demonstrable conflict of interest, vexatious disruption of the meeting or any other similar valid reason. The excluded Member must be asked (and encouraged) to respond before the vote determining their eligibility is cast and their opinion must be considered by the meeting. Members who are excluded from voting are not counted where decisions requiring unanimity apply. RingWood must not be disrupted by incessant meetings. Decisions that do not require a meeting in accordance with these agreements will be made without an official meeting. Decisions that can be held over until a quarterly meeting will be so deferred. When members know they will not be able to attend a meeting they must endeavour to pass their intentions (in the form of signed proxies) on to a member who will attend, where possible. All Residents, Members and guests must make a regular contribution (at least once a month in arrears) amounting to 10% of their income. Those with no (or demonstrably inadequate) monetary income must undertake to do some form of work or find some other way to contribute; the work must be arranged with consent of a meeting and the individual concerned, be suited to the individual and must not be onerous. These moneys must be used to pay all fees and charges incurred by RingWood and to maintain RingWood-owned structures and infrastructure before being used for any other purpose. Equipment or (non-real estate) property owned by RingWood (including structures) may not change title of ownership without unanimous agreement of all Members (proxies may be used as above). Land purchases by RingWood are subject to unanimous agreement by a quarterly meeting. Private structures on RingWood may only be sold or otherwise passed on or disposed of to another full Member. This includes the passing on of property now or in the future by inheritance or any other means. Children raised on RingWood will be automatically given Residency after three months, provided no valid reason that they should not be is demonstrated to a meeting, and that meeting subsequently decides otherwise. Children will automatically receive full membership at the age of sixteen if they have not repeatedly or wilfully breached these RingWood agreements in the preceding two years. Buildings, Structures and Equity Members retain individual equity in RingWood property or accounts only in regard to contributions they have made that are not donations, regular fees, contributions or standard payments to RingWood. Members own whatever structures or equipment they have brought to RingWood land or have built themselves. Structures are owned by whoever has supplied and erected them. Proportions of ownership (where applicable) will be determined and recorded at a meeting, prior to construction. These artefacts may only be erected or introduced after agreement at a meeting. Immovable structures and fixtures may only be sold or otherwise passed on to other members, with approval by a meeting (see below). RingWood may purchase, build and retain ownership of buildings and structures on behalf of the community. No individual owns any individual portion of RingWood land (private structures are subject to �vertical subdivision�), which is held in perpetual trust by a legally appointed Trustee. Land will not be subdivided, sold or leased nor otherwise disposed of, temporarily or permanently by RingWood, including to individual Members. Materials sourced or taken from RingWood land are RingWood property and may only be moved or taken with permission granted by a meeting. RingWood may only borrow funds or other property from Members; no external debts will be knowingly incurred by RingWood. Loans to RingWood must be duly recorded and are credits to (equity of) the lender and are not considered debts to be available on-call from RingWood. Buildings or other fixed structures owned by individual members on RingWood land may only be sold as follows (unless a meeting determines otherwise by unanimous vote); RingWood is to be provided with first option to purchase. RingWood has 12 months to take up this option, after which they must otherwise allow a guest of the owner's choice to occupy the property. The guest must understand and abide by these RingWood agreements. If RingWood undertakes to purchase the property; after 2 years RingWood must provide 20% of the purchase price or loan to the vendor; a further 20% must be paid annually thereafter until the amount is paid in full. No interest may be charged to RingWood for such loans or purchases. Outstanding loans of money or property or other payments owed to Members will be made by RingWood over a period of five years, using the same formula, unless a meeting determines otherwise by unanimous agreement. |
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| Methods of Agreement |