Proposal of DBC Association Bylaws
VISION, MISSION AND PURPOSE
Membership
Extended Community
Seed Planter (Friends/Visitors) - Stage 1
Rooted Ally - Stage 2
DBC Extended Community are people who identify themselves with the DBC mission, values and culture and are willing to join the community, without having the time or the possibility to contribute actively. They follow our work regularly, support us, spread the word and attend our events.
To contribute to the DBC mission, you do not have to be an active member. Anyone is welcome to contribute to our missions spontaneously, attend events and join our open online discussion groups.
Seed Planter (Friends/Visitors) - Stage 1
Description: Ecoturist
Requirements:
- Fill in Membership intent form
- Sign Covenant
Rights:
- Experience community living
- Witness governance meetings
- Access to Forum Public and Community spaces
- Optional access to sign node live agreements for temporary/seasonal/resident stay and initiate first steps of belonging and stewardship.
Rooted Ally - Stage 2
Description: This stage is for allies in the field or region, that we are aligned in values and overlap of missions. They are not dedicated to contribute to the higher stages requirements, but are serving positive impact in parallel to our Missions in other Projects. We find each other occasionally to collaborate on Initiatives. We are open to receive their wisdom as advisors, being intentionally invited with a voice around topics or DBC initiatives.
Requirements:
- Fill in Membership intent
- Sign Covenant
- Participate in parallel efforts in some other project or organization aligned in values and missions in resonance to DBC.
- Recommendation by Board
Rights:
- Same as Stage 1.
- Serve as advisor by invitation to governance or other meetings
- Opportunity to engage in further agreement (Memorandum of Understanding) for deeper alliance and commitment. Resource Pooling, Wisdom exchange.
Provisional Members
Apprentice - Stage 3
Description: Interest to go deeper to participate, contribute and learn how to be a Member of DBC. Intent to follow what Active Members do as a trial period.
Requirements:
- Fill in Membership intent
- Sign Covenant
- Recommendation by 2 Active Members.
Rights:
- Same as Stage 1.
- Inclusion in internal communication channels (Members only forum areas and internal Telegram groups to learn the processes).
- Voice in Circles/Working Groups/General Meetings.
Active Members
Fire Tender - Stage 4
Circle Holder - Stage 5
Home Maker - Stage 6
Trustee/Guardian - Stage 7
Requirements:
- Fill in Membership intent
- Sign Covenant.
- Recommended trial period as provisional member for 3 months but can be shortened by Board approval.
- Approval by the Board.
Rights:
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Active Members are Members of our Association.
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Voice and Vote in General and Extraordinary Assemblies.
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Voice and Vote in Circles/Working Groups where they are participating.
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Voice and Vote in General Meetings.
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Eligibility to hold leadership positions in working circles, councils, and the Junta Directiva.
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Coordination and amplification by the DBC Social Impact Media Team, supporting members’ and affiliates’ projects through storytelling, event promotion, and regional visibility.
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Inclusion in internal communication channels (Members only forum areas and internal Telegram groups.
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Priority consideration for inclusion in funded projects, stipends, or partnership opportunities tied to relevant impact towards DBC missions.
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Access to educational resources through The Gift Academy and affiliated training programs.
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Contribute feedback or proposals through established DBC processes.
Contribution & Accountability
- Participate in at least 1 General Meeting a month.
- Participate in 4 DBC impact meetings per year. When we bring collective action to a DBC approved Project or Community Action.
- Attend at least one General Assembly once per year, in person or online
- Respond to annual membership review (an online form to be filled before the annual assembly where Members report on their contributions and learnings for the year)
Encouraged:
- Engage with the 8 Stages of Stewardship Protocol as a framework for personal and collective growth.
- Maintain a Stewardship Record (via Bloom or equivalent system) documenting learning, participation, and contributions.
Honorary Member
Stage 8
Recommended by Board, approved by Assembly; No Vote; cannot be elected to directive positions; not subject to active member duties
SOCIOCRATIC GOVERNANCE - DEFINITIONS
Definition of Sociocratic Governance: The Association adopts sociocratic governance as its decision-making method. Sociocratic governance is a system of self-organization in which decisions are made by consent within working groups/circles/assembly. This method ensures:
- Transparency in decision-making
- Equivalence in participation
- Accountability distributed across the organization
PRINCIPLE OF CONSENT
Principle of Consent: Consent means there are no paramount objections to a proposed decision. A paramount objection is a reasoned objection that demonstrates how the proposed decision would:
- a) Impede the circle or organization from achieving its aim, or
- b) Create an unsafe situation, or
- c) Exceed the working group/circle’s domain of authority
Consent is NOT unanimity or consensus. A decision is made by consent when no member of the circle presents a paramount objection.
DEFINITION OF CONSENT
Consent Defined: In sociocratic decision-making, consent means:
- “I can work with this decision”
- “This decision is safe enough to try and good enough for now”
- “I have no paramount objections”
Consent does NOT mean:
- “I think this is the best possible decision”
- “I fully agree with everything”
- “This is my preferred option”
LIMITATIONS OF CONSENT
Limitations: Consent decision-making applies to policy decisions that establish ongoing rules, procedures, and structures. Consent does NOT apply to:
- Day-to-day operational decisions within established policies
- Decisions already delegated to specific roles or individuals
- Decisions where the working group/circle has explicitly chosen another decision-making method
- Emergency situations requiring immediate action (though such decisions should be reviewed by consent afterward)
FAILURE TO REACH CONSENT
When Consent Cannot Be Reached: If a circle cannot reach consent after good-faith efforts to integrate objections, the circle may:
- a) Postpone the decision to gather more information or allow reflection
- b) Refer the decision to the next higher circle (if one exists) for resolution
- c) Form a helping circle of members from the current circle and next higher circle to develop a proposal
- d) Use an alternative decision method (such as majority vote) IF the circle first consents to using that alternative method for this specific decision
For decisions in the Board of Directors (highest circle), if consent cannot be reached, the matter shall be brought to the General Assembly for resolution by majority vote as required by the Constitution.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors, as defined in the Constitution, functions as the Top Circle in DBC’s sociocratic governance structure. The Board exercises all powers granted in Article 16 of the Constitution using consent-based decision-making as described in these Bylaws, except where:
- The Constitution requires specific voting thresholds (majority, supermajority)
- Emergency situations require immediate executive action
- The Board explicitly consents to use another decision method for a specific decision
Relationship to Working Groups/Circles: The Board may create Working Groups and Circles as described in Article 16-c of the Constitution. These groups operate with delegated authority using sociocratic consent within their domains, while the Board retains oversight responsibility.
DEFINITION OF POLICY
A policy is an ongoing rule, procedure, or structure that:
- Establishes how recurring situations will be handled
- Defines roles, responsibilities, or authorities
- Sets guidelines for resource allocation or decision-making
- Applies beyond a single instance or event
Examples of policies:
- Membership requirements and processes
- Financial authorization levels
- Meeting frequency and formats
- Conflict resolution procedures
- Commons Stewardship Agreement templates
Policies are made by consent and documented in the internal regulations (reglamento interno).
OPERATIONS DECISIONS
Operations decisions are day-to-day decisions made within established policies. These include:
- Scheduling specific events or workdays
- Assigning tasks within agreed project plans
- Purchasing supplies within authorized budgets
- Responding to routine inquiries or requests
- Implementing approved programs
Operations decisions are made by individuals or circles with delegated authority and do NOT require consent processes unless:
- The decision affects multiple circles or the whole organization
- The decision would establish a new precedent or pattern (making it a policy)
- A circle member raises a concern that the decision falls outside established policy
OPERATIONS DECISIONS WITHOUT A POLICY
When No Policy Exists: If an operations decision arises for which no policy has been established:
- Option 1: The individual or circle may make the decision using their best judgment, with the understanding that it applies only to the specific situation
- Option 2: The circle may quickly consent to a temporary policy to guide immediate action
- Option 3: The decision may be postponed while a policy is developed through the consent process
After any operations decision made without policy, the relevant circle should:
- Review whether a policy is needed to guide similar future decisions
- If yes, develop and consent to an appropriate policy
- Document the policy in the internal regulations
Emergency Exception: In genuine emergencies where immediate action is required to prevent harm, any person may take necessary action without policy or consent, with the requirement to:
- Report the action to the relevant circle as soon as possible
- Participate in a review of the situation and decision
- Help develop policy to guide similar situations in the future
Proposal: Minimum Viable Membership Requirements and Benefits
