VOTING | Amendments to Observership

In light of our recent shedding of members, a tightening of membership standards is required.

I propose the following idea discussed by admins, to go straight to vote:

[1] Observership is no longer open to new members other than current members downgrading to it, under the Fluid Membership Scheme.
[2] As of 21/05/2011, all new members will have to apply for associate membership and be subject to our quality requirements.
[3] Current members with Observership are unaffected, but the union recommends a move towards applying for Associate Membership.
[4] Associate or Member States may downgrade their membership to Observer in light of a future period of inactivity exceeding 3 weeks, through a private request to any admin under the Fluid membership Scheme.
[5] Admins will also retain the power to downgrade any membership to Observership in response to a Member Checkpoint or if a member has been inactive without prior notification for more than a month.

Voting is open for 48hrs (until Saturday 21/05/2011 1100 GMT)

Its all good and proper, but I don't see why we should not allow people to join as observers. Are you worried that they may not have our union interests at heart? Or is this meant to prevent "espionage"?

Idk with the idea to disallow observatory membership....
how if the observership only open for other union members?

I agree with the proposal.

Forgot to add a poll.

The reason for this is mainly because we have been very relaxed about letting observers into the union. This will ensure that all our official members are of a good quality and will contribute to having more active members who understand how the union works and encourage full participation.

The trouble with observers is that there are few requirements and an often too liberal approach about activity and allegiance with other unions, this is not a huge problem until we begin to lose observers to other unions, mainly down to the fact that they are associated with both unions and it becomes a AIN vs [other union] scenario.

I know this may seem quite a controlling measure, but it does not affect any liberties of current members (of any type of membership) and will actually encourage new members to become more involved with the AIN and strive for a better quality of CJ as they have to fulfill the checklist requirements for Associate membership.

Neil

Voted.

Yes, yes, good idea!

Just wondering, being an observer myself, if this get passed, it means I am recommended to be an Associate Member if I happen to be inactive?

This won't affect your member status because you're part of Fluid Membership.

I abstained, I have totally no opinion about this. I can't get a position between No and Yes. So.

I Abstained

Abstained.

abstained

I didn't know about the fluid membership system until I search about it. Nice.

If I get to vote for this amendment, I'll abstain because, yes, it is a good move to improve membership, but I am not entirely sure on how serious this issue is.

yes

Abstained. No opinion. Although this is bad because we will not accept other union members as observers or any quality of member.

With 11 votes cast, and a majority of them supporting this measure, I hereby declare this amendment passed.

Observership as a form of membership is hereby cancelled and observership of this union is now only open to members who are participating in the Fluid Membership Scheme.
We encourage all current observers to apply for Membership.