From AshevilleLETS

NAME

1. The name of the organization is Asheville Local Exchange Trading System, referred to as Asheville LETS or ALETS in “Asheville LETS Guidelines”, “Member Contract” & “Principles”.

AIMS & OBJECTIVES

1. To develop and encourage community empowerment and economic justice in the locality of Asheville, NC through the establishment of a Local Exchange Trading System.
2. To stimulate the creation of practical, educational and economic benefits by and for its members and the people of Asheville, NC and the surrounding area.

MEMBERSHIP

1. Membership of ALETS shall be open without prejudice to any individual, family or collective sympathetic to the aims of the system, subject to any restrictions or conditions that may be applied by the ALETS Member Contract, Guidelines, Principles or consensed-upon decisions of the ALETS Organizing Group or membership.
2. Membership shall be dependent on (a) the voluntary annual contribution for cash only system expenses (currently $10); and (b) by the applicant’s endorsement of the ALETS Member Contract, Guidelines and Principles by signing the Member Application form.
3. ALETS follows an equal opportunities policy and does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, culture or race. Asheville LETS views diversity as integral to community health. It is non-sectarian and non-party political and will not affiliate to any political party organization.

LEGAL STATUS

1. Asheville LETS is a favor exchange network operated by volunteers on a not-for-profit basis. ALETS is an unincorporated private members’ club of people willing to accept the Asheville LETS measure of 'credit' in order to facilitate the exchange of volunteer services for mutual benefit on a non-commercial basis. Asheville LETS provides an information service to help link needs with volunteers and record exchange of LETS credits. ALETS is organized by the ALETS Organizing Group who act on behalf of its members. Members of the Organizing Group are not liable for the actions of other members of ALETS. ALETS is a network owned and run by its members.

ORGANIZATIONAL BASIS

1. Asheville LETS is a network organized by and for the benefit of its members. Regular meetings are open to all members and utilize a formal consensus process decision-making detailed in the document “Asheville LETS Consensus”, available on the website and on paper by request. ALETS members empower an ORGANIZING GROUP to carry out the decisions consensed upon at ALETS meetings, and to make necessary decisions between meetings.
   1. The Organizing Group is empowered by members to make day-to-day decisions between meetings, which are essential to running the system. Members have the right to revisit interim decisions made by the Organizing Group at the next open ALETS meeting.
   2. The Organizing Group is responsible for ensuring that the tasks of running the system are effectively carried out, and include those who have taken on positions such as: systems coordinator, web administrator, accountant/treasurer, fundraising director, directory producer, and membership/outreach coordinator. The definition of these positions, and the positions themselves, may adapt from time to time, as is needed.
   3. Only active members of ALETS can join the Organizing Group.
   4. Members of the Organizing Group act as delegates, not as representatives of the membership. They are empowered to carry out decisions consensed upon by the membership at regular meetings.
   5. It should be recognized by all members attending ALETS meetings that the Organizing Group may at times know more about the needs of running the system day-to-day than many other members, and that their recommendations deserve significant consideration.
   6. Members of the Organizing Group may receive an ongoing stipend delivered in LETS units as a gift for their work volunteering for ALETS. This amount is determined by membership at regular ALETS meetings where this agenda item has been publicized to the membership in advance.

DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES

1. A formal consensus process shall be the preferred means of decision-making. An overview of the method of formal consensus utilized in ALETS meetings is described in further detail in our document entitled “Asheville LETS Consensus”.
2. This method of consensus process encourages and allows all members present to participate in the decision-making process.
3. Every member is encouraged to participate in monthly meetings utilizing consensus process.
4. The Organizing Group, as well as the membership, may propose to adapt or initiate new positions within the Organizing Group, as needed. Members must consense upon major changes to positions within the Organizational Group at a regular ALETS meeting.
5. When a position in the Organizational Group or Mediation Group is required to be filled by a volunteer's resignation or the creation of a new position, members may volunteer themselves or (in the absence of volunteers) nominate others. Any member in good standing is eligible for nomination.
6. The Organizing Group intends to publicize a proposed agenda at least one week before an ALETS meeting so that all who wish to participate in a discussion or new position may be present at that particular meeting.
7. Following a discussion of the duties and level of commitment involved in the position, members will have the opportunity to volunteer to fill it. If there is only one volunteer, placing the volunteer in the needed position is treated as a proposal, subject to stand-asides and blocks as outlined in “Asheville LETS Consensus”. The membership is asked to voice any support for or concerns about the volunteer. Unless the 'proposal' of accepting the volunteer for the position is blocked by the membership deciding this will be damaging to the group, the proposal is accepted, and the volunteer fills the position.
8. If there is more than one volunteer and one does not withdraw, time will be allotted for members (and volunteers) to voice their support for or concerns about each volunteer, and then a private vote will be held (writing names on sheets of paper that are collected and tallied). This is the only instance in which voting is utilized in ALETS decision-making.
9. If there are no volunteers for the position, nominations will be taken. If there is only one nomination (assuming the member accepts the nomination), the method outlined in 6.7 will be used. If there is more than one nomination (assuming the members accept the nominations), the method outlined in 6.8 will be used.
10. If the membership cannot provide a person to fill the position, the Organizing Group may take time to re-evaluate the need for the position. If the need persists, it must be brought back to the membership until the position is filled.
11. The Organizing Group shall be empowered to guide the process of filling needed positions within the Organizing Group.
12. If a volunteer holding a position within the Organizing Group is seen as engaging in actions or managing their tasks in a way which may be damaging to the group, members of the Organizing Group or the general membership may put this issue as an item on the agenda of a regular meeting. The issue may be discussed, and removal of the volunteer from the position may be treated as a proposal, if necessary.
13. Any Organizing Group member who is absent from 3 consecutive meetings without good reason or notice shall be deemed to have resigned their position, and if deemed so shall be notified to that effect.
14. Members of the Organizing Group are empowered to, on very rare occasions, remove a volunteer from a position on the basis of information which cannot be publicly presented at a regular meeting. This decision must be consensed upon by all members of the Organizing Group except the volunteer in question.
15. The Organizing Group may, at times, co-opt new members between meetings, given the consensed upon decision of the Organizing Group. These new members hold their position until the next ALETS meeting, when the membership consenses upon the acceptance or rejection of this new Group member.
16. Positions within the Organizing Group are held until the volunteer resigns, or until the Organizing Group / membership removes them in those special instances outlined previously in this document.
17. It is noted that, although there is a need for defined positions within the ALETS Organizing Group, ALETS is a collective and collaborative effort. An organizer with a title does not have exclusive powers within that area of work; all decisions and actions are accountable to the needs and views of the membership.

FUNCTIONS OF THE LETS ORGANIZING GROUP

1. The Organizing Group undertakes the tasks required in the general management of the system, including:
   1. Maintaining an up-to-date list of all members
   2. Protecting private information of members
   3. Recording accurately members’ transactions and resolving disputed transactions in which Receipts have been received
   4. Maintaining the online directory and publishing printed directories
   5. Coordinating and publicizing ALETS meetings
   6. Maintaining the financial viability of the system

1. Organizing Group members are not personally liable for the actions of other members, for the details of any transaction agreed upon by two other members, or for the tax liability involved in any transaction. The Organizing Group runs a network – each member enters into an agreement with another member willingly and is responsible for the results of that transaction and for reporting any due taxes. Organizing Group members are not personally liable for any actions made in good faith while serving ALETS.

ALETS GROUP MEETINGS

1. The ALETS Organizing Group, in consensus with the Membership, shall arrange and determine the timing and frequency of ALETS meetings. This will normally be at least every 3 months, and more frequently at the outset.
2. The Organizing Group shall publicize its meetings in advance to all members, normally through a LETS mailing or via email.
3. Notes will be taken at all regular ALETS meetings, and they will be made available to all members on the website, or (if requested) by mail.
4. There will be rotating facilitation of these meetings, often by members of the Organizing Group.

FINANCE

1. Any monies received by ALETS shall be given in cash to the accountant of the Organizing Group. All US dollar and LETS transactions involved in administration of the LETS system is public information, is recorded on the website, and is available to each member on paper if requested.
2. Asheville LETS will perform its own accounting and will not utilize a bank account.
3. No member shall derive any cash financial benefit from the scheme, other than the payment of reasonable expenses.
4. Members can be offered reasonable gifts of LETS units in thanks for administrative work carried out in agreement with the Organizing Group and membership. These decisions must be in line with the LETS budget, as advised by the Organizing Group accountant.
5. Asheville LETS is a not-for-profit organization. Any surplus funds over and above the running costs and development costs of the system will be directed to the Asheville LETS Community Fund.
6. Decision-making on the uses of the Asheville LETS Community Fund will be subject to consultation with the members at a meeting which has been publicized to all members in advance. Decision-making will be by consensus of all members attending the publicized meeting.

CHANGES TO GUIDELINES

1. Any changes to Asheville LETS Guidelines can only be made by consensus during a meeting in which the issue has been publicized as an agenda item. All members of the Organizing Group must participate in the decision to change the Guidelines. Notices giving full details of the proposed changes shall be posted to all members at least 7 days before the meeting.
2. Asheville LETS Principles can never be changed. If the membership consenses to change any of the ALETS Principles, the system will cease to be Asheville LETS and must reform as a new body.

TERMINATION

1. Asheville LETS can only be terminated after a consultation process with all the members. A questionnaire will be circulated to all members inviting feedback, and nominations for the various organizational roles (if needed). Within one month thereafter, a notice of an important general meeting will be sent to all members at least two weeks before it is held. The notice will invite all members to attend to discuss ways of enabling the system to continue, and encourage members to come forward as candidates for the various organizational roles (if needed).
2. If the membership determines that there is not enough organizational support to continue the system, Asheville LETS may be terminated by a consensus process decision of the Organizing Group.
3. If Asheville LETS is terminated, those members with accounts in debit to a significant extent (the amount to be decided by consensus at the meeting) will be given a reasonable period of time in which to repay the bulk of their debit to the membership. Members whose balances are significantly in credit will be identified and efforts made to assist them in balancing their accounts. If ALETS is terminated by the membership, it is likely that members who have not been able to return their accounts to a zero balance will not be fully compensated for any remaining credits.
4. After settling all cash debts and obligations, any remaining property shall be transferred to an organization with an ethical track record, to be decided at a public meeting.