APDC Bylaws: Let's Make Some!

Danibelle · January 6, 2024, 7:30pm

I’ve taken the liberty of utilizing ChatGPT to program a Research Assistant called Lawful Insight to help get us started in crafting the Bylaws.

We can use this forum to transparently review, revise and support the process of establishing Bylaws for the APDC.

Here is the first draft!

BYLAWS OF ASOCIACION PUENTE DIAMANTE COLECTIVA (APDC)

Membership
- Eligibility and Categories: (Constitution Article Six) Define membership categories as Founders, Active, and Honorary.
  - Recommendation: Detail the process for becoming a member in each category, with specific criteria for eligibility.
- Rights and Responsibilities: (Constitution Articles Nine and Ten) Founding and Active members have rights to vote and participate in assemblies; Honorary members have speaking rights but no vote.
  - Recommendation: Outline specific responsibilities, like adherence to APDC’s mission and active participation in activities or meetings.
Governance Structure
- General Assembly: (Constitution Articles Twelve, Thirteen, Fourteen) Describes the composition, types, and meeting schedules of the General Assembly.
  - Recommendation: Include detailed procedures for conducting meetings, including notice requirements and agenda setting.
- Board of Directors: (Constitution Articles Fifteen, Sixteen) Details the composition and roles of the Board of Directors.
  - Recommendation: Clarify the process for electing Board members, their term lengths, and the procedure for addressing mid-term vacancies.
Decision-Making Process
- Recommendation: Formalize the sociocratic decision-making process, ensuring it aligns with the Constitution’s principles. Define how decisions made by Councils are ratified by the General Assembly or the Board.
Meetings
- Frequency and Notice: (Constitution Article Twelve) The Assembly meets annually; Extraordinary meetings as needed.
  - Recommendation: Define the minimum notice period for meetings and acceptable methods of notification.
Financial Management
- Recommendation: Establish guidelines for financial management, including budget approval, financial reporting, and oversight responsibilities of the Finance Administration Council.
Amendment of Bylaws
- Recommendation: Set forth a procedure for amending the bylaws, including how proposals are submitted, discussed, and approved.
Conflict Resolution and Disciplinary Procedures
- Disaffiliation: (Constitution Article Eight) Outlines reasons and procedures for disaffiliation.
  - Recommendation: Develop a comprehensive conflict resolution procedure, ensuring fairness and transparency.
Dissolution Clause
- Recommendation: Include a dissolution clause in line with Costa Rican law, detailing the distribution of assets.
Compliance with Laws
- Recommendation: Explicitly state adherence to applicable laws and regulations.
Miscellaneous Provisions
- Recommendation: Add clauses as necessary to cover data protection, confidentiality, and other operational specifics.

These recommendations aim to provide a clear, structured, and comprehensive set of bylaws in alignment with the Constitution. The bylaws should be drafted to ensure clarity in the Association’s operations and governance, filling in gaps where the Constitution might lack detail, particularly in procedural aspects. It’s advisable to have these bylaws reviewed and approved by the General Assembly, and possibly vetted by a legal expert in Costa Rican association law for compliance and effectiveness.

Danibelle · January 6, 2024, 8:53pm

Based on a comprehensive review of the APDC Constitution and the Costa Rica legal requirements for a Sociedad Anonima (SA), here the specific elements of the Constitution and the Bylaws that should be addressed at minimum:

To future-proof the Constitution and minimize the need for future amendments, consider incorporating flexible, overarching principles in the Bylaws that can adapt to changing circumstances without requiring constitutional changes. For instance:

Role of Legal Representative and Board Officers: Instead of detailing specific responsibilities in the Constitution, state that these roles will operate as per the detailed descriptions provided in the Bylaws. This allows for adjustments in the Bylaws as needed without constitutional amendments.
Procedural Flexibility: Include a clause in the Bylaws stating that operational procedures, meeting formats, and decision-making processes can be adapted as necessary, within the framework of the Constitution.
Amendments and Interpretations: Allow for interpretations and clarifications of the Constitution to be addressed in the Bylaws, giving room for adapting to legal or operational changes without altering the Constitution itself.

By adopting this approach, the Bylaws become a dynamic document that can evolve with the organization, while the Constitution remains a stable foundation reflecting APDC’s core principles and legal structure.

Danibelle · May 1, 2025, 8:26pm

Including Non-Executive Director roles on Boards to represent the Voice of Nature:

“In August 2022, Faith In Nature became the first company in the world to appoint Nature
to its board. Why? Because everything we do has an impact upon the natural world, and yet
the natural world itself has no say on these decisions. We feel the repercussions of these
decisions in the escalating environmental degradation of our planet, and yet business as
usual continues.
So clearly ‘business as usual’ is not working, and business itself needs rethinking.
By voluntarily recognising the legal Rights of Nature within our structures, Faith In Nature
set out to forever reverse this injustice — seeking counsel from Nature in order to make
better, more responsible decisions that take the natural world into account.
But the intention was always to create a model that was replicable, practical and easily
implemented in as many other businesses and organisations as possible. Only when that
happens will the power of this move truly be realised.
We share this document freely to accelerate the adoption of Nature’s Rights in other
businesses, acknowledging that our own efforts are Version 1.0.0 of this movement. In time
they will be refined, improved upon, reimagined and reworked for other jurisdictions and
challenges. We welcome the evolution of this idea safe in the knowledge that there are a
great many wonderful, compassionate people who will make it their work — as we’ve made
it ours — to rebalance business’ relationship with the natural world.”

Please read full brief at link above

Danibelle · October 8, 2025, 11:04pm

OK here’s what I got from our conversation as a starter:

Proposal: Minimum Viable Membership Requirements and Benefits

For approval by the Extraordinary Assembly of the Diamante Bridge Collective (DBC)

Purpose

To establish a clear and inclusive foundation for active membership in the Diamante Bridge Collective (DBC), ensuring that all members share a common understanding of commitments, responsibilities, and benefits aligned with our Constitution, values, and the 8 Stages of Stewardship Protocol.

I. Minimum Requirements for Membership

1. Alignment & Intent

Endorse the DBC Vision and Values as defined in the Constitution.
Sign the Membership Covenant, affirming commitment to community stewardship, ecological responsibility, and cultural respect.
Complete the Membership Status Form (Join / Reconfirm / Pause / Resign).

2. Participation

Members agree to:

Participate in at least four (4) DBC or affiliate events annually that generate measurable social or ecological impact (examples: community service days, educational workshops, cultural exchanges, watershed restoration, or solidarity actions).
Attend at least two (2) Assembly or Council gatherings per year, in person or online.
Contribute feedback or proposals through established DBC communication channels (forum, assembly agenda, or working circle).

3. Engagement in Stewardship Pathway

Engage with the 8 Stages of Stewardship Protocol as a framework for personal and collective growth.
Begin at Stage 1 (Wayfinder) upon membership approval, and maintain a Stewardship Record (via Bloom or equivalent system) documenting learning, participation, and contributions.
Advance through stages by demonstrating commitment and peer recognition.

4. Contribution & Accountability

Offer at least one form of contribution per year in any of the 8 Forms of Capital (material, social, cultural, spiritual, intellectual, experiential, ecological, or financial).
Respond to annual membership review and update contact and contribution information.
Abide by DBC agreements on respectful communication, conflict transformation, and lawful conduct.

II. Benefits of Active Membership

1. Community Belonging & Representation

Recognition as an Active Member with voice and vote in General and Extraordinary Assemblies.
Eligibility to hold positions in working circles, councils, and the Junta Directiva.

2. Access to Support & Opportunities

Coordination and amplification by the DBC Social Impact Media Team, supporting members’ and affiliates’ projects through storytelling, event promotion, and regional visibility.
Inclusion in internal communication channels (forum, newsletter, coordination groups).
Access to educational resources through The Gift Academy and affiliated training programs.

3. Participation Tracking & Recognition

Participation and contributions tracked through DBC’s Commons Stewardship System.
Eligible for recognition through the 8 Stages of Stewardship micro-credits, certificates, and features in DBC’s social impact reporting.
Priority consideration for inclusion in funded projects, stipends, or partnership opportunities tied to verified impact.

III. Implementation Steps

Ratification:

Upon Assembly approval, this policy becomes an annex to the DBC Constitution.

Onboarding:

New members sign the Membership Covenant and are oriented through the “Stage 1 – Wayfinder” process.

Tracking:

The Social Impact Media Team, in collaboration with the Membership Circle, will manage participation tracking and recognition through Bloom and other systems.

Review:

Annual review of this policy by the Membership Circle; adjustments presented for Assembly approval.

Proposed Motion for the Assembly

“The General Assembly hereby approves the establishment of Minimum Viable Membership Requirements and Benefits as outlined in this proposal, to be integrated as an annex to the DBC Constitution and implemented immediately following this Assembly.”