Onboarding

This page has information for inviting new members (something only existing members can do), or starting off as a new member.

Inviting new members

Each Node has its own policy for inviting members. If you don't know how this works, check in with your node's more experienced members.

New members need to be added to global systems (member directory, Loomio, Chat, internal newsletter, and external newsletter) that are common to all nodes.

This is managed via an ops working group that sits under the Enspiral Foundation Board.

Only a node rep can send a request to ops to add a new member. They do do this by emailing ops at foundation@enspiral.com with the following information:

  • Node: which node they are being added to
  • Name: First and last name of the new member
  • Email: preferred email address (will be used for Loomio, chat, newsletters)
  • Billing preferences (Kumara only): Which monthly amount and what frequency are they paying.

Ops will then add the new member to all systems, and then send that member an instructional email. For Kumara, when they receive their first invoice, they will be able to choose how they pay.

Starting as a new member

To become a member of Enspiral, you need to be invited by someone. This tends to happen organically, through someone you have met in person.

Before joining Enspiral we invite you to read Enspiral Guide for Newcomers compiled by Nick, providing excellent starting point into your Enspiral experience.

Please note as you read the handbook that Enspiral's governance has changed in recent years, but not every page of the handbook has been updated to reflect this.

This post on Loomio compiles useful information and tools for new Enspiral members

Activation Programme

Activation Programme was an experiment launched in 2017 aimed to support new contributors to become quickly active in the community through a "learning by doing" process. It consists in completing a list of easy / intermediate / hard challenges that will help any new contributor know more about Enspiral processes, people and culture.

While the programme is not currently running, the challenges are still relevant for the newcomers to Enspiral.

Easy challenges

  • Processes
    • join a working group
    • give feedback on the activation programme
  • People
    • attend an in person Enspiral event
    • interview an old timer (even better, make a podcast!)
  • Culture and ideas
    • write a blog post
    • share something that excites you on the watercooler channel

Intermediate challenges

  • update the handbook
  • create a loomio thread
  • get paid from a bucket

Harder challenges

  • steward a new contributor through the activation programme
  • find paying work for someone in Enspiral