Savali Memberships

OUR JOINING PROCESS…

On this page, you’ll find all the information about joining Savali Incorporated and Savali Sanctuary, as well as how to become a financial supporter of the project.

Membership Commitments

Provisional and full members are expected to contribute in the following ways

1. Financial Contribution in addition to occupation license payments – depending on site (to be paid into the community account)

  • joining fee ($1000) > one-off payment per adult, mostly for showing commitment to the project and a buffer until annual payments are made (during trial membership)
  • annual membership fee ($500 plus 1% per year after the founding year of 2022) > per adult member, for regular trainings (ie non-violent communication (NVC), sacred rituals, personal development and development of the group)

2. Labour

  • 7-10 hours per week for Savali Organics, our community gardens > contributing to the business activities in the first instance, then improving the land and community structures
  • contributions to working bees and projects Savali Sanctuary, helping other members build homes and structures etc.

3. Meetings

  • active participation in weekly full group meetings
  • as the community grows and focus groups can be formed, whole group meetings will become less frequent (ie monthly)
  • active participation in at least one focus circle

4. Shared Community Meals

  • Monthly shared community meals > attendance expected in order for group cohesion to grow and a sense of family to establish
  • These are potluck meals and due to the varied dietary requirements of members, we ask that dishes are plant-based/vegan.

5. Trainings

  • training and practice to be undertaken on joining the community (requirement to join)
  • regular trainings with the whole group to practice communication / facilitation skills, personal development, mediation, and to move us forward with better processes
  • estimated to be monthly 2-4 hours
  • the group will choose the topics > with initial focus on non-violent communication (NVC) training, consensus or sociocracy, facilitation skills, community living skills training

Community Non-negotiables

What you need to know about Savali Sanctuary community non-negotiables

Our community non-negotiables apply to all residents, members, visitors, and guests. As the community develops and grows we anticipate that there will be new additions to this list and items that are reworded for better understanding, but not that any of the above can be removed.

  • We do not raise animals for meat. We are not a vegetarian or vegan community, although we strive to understand the impacts that traditional animal husbandry and the consumption of meat and animal products have on the planet. We are committed to mainly vegan community meals.
  • We make decisions together using a modified sociocratic/consensus process for decision-making and strive to include the needs and concerns of every member in the solution. All members will be trained in the process.
  • As adult members, we all commit to 7-10 hours of work in the gardens and on the land each week as community service, as well as maintaining their allocated area.
  • We do not tolerate any form of substance abuse or addiction in our community. Recreational use of drugs in social situations seems reasonable. Supply and use of hard drugs (Heroin, P) will not be accepted.
  • Violence (especially domestic violence and violence against children) will not be tolerated.
  • New community members agree to provide references and a criminal records check for every country they have lived in for more than 6 months in the last 10 years.
  • Community meetings are mandatory.
  • It is expected that all adult members attend and participate actively in at least 75% of all community meetings.
  • Community Members commit to regular training events and workshops to educate themselves on communication, facilitation, conflict resolution, and other topics.
  • Discrimination of any variety is not tolerated.
  • We strive to build a zero waste and carbon neutral community.
  • We build small homes in keeping with nature and the natural world, with minimal impact in extraction, processing, transportation, construction, and end of use.
  • Everything brought onto the land must comply with our existing organic certification.

If you can agree with the above statements and are keen to find out more about joining us on this journey, please submit your Expression of Interest here.

Savali Membership Processes

To join Savali Incorporated and become a ‘Friends of Savali Sanctuary’ member, fill in the application form and make your chosen donation to Savali Incorporated (there is no minimum donation value).

Our current process for joining Savali Sanctuary is:

1. Initial Contact

    • Sign up to become a ‘Friend of Savali Sanctuary’. This membership shows your commitment to the values, principles, purpose, and goals of the society. Your membership contribution goes towards all of the organisation and work of the community.
    • Read our Community Non-Negotiables (you must be able to agree wholeheartedly with all of the points to begin the application process to become a resident member)
    • Complete the Expression of Interest Questionnaire

2. Arrange a social visit

    • a shared meal is ideal, but most things work
    • meet the community initiating group and current members
    • get a tour of the community property
    • or, attend a Community Working Bee

3. Integration Period:

    • You will be assigned a buddy member in the community, to guide you through this period
    • Complete the online training and recommended reading, listening & watching.
    • Start attending regular community meetings (Wednesday evenings) – you must attend 4 to join, optional volunteering on the land, and attend at least one working bee.
    • Read founding documents, vision statement, and community agreements.
    • Orientation Stay (optional) – our orientation program is designed to allow anyone interested in joining our community to stay on-site for a period of time (1-4 weeks), work on the land, join meetings, share meals and ultimately decide if it’s for them. This is a great way to attend meetings if you are from out of town. Attendees must bring their own accommodation (van, tent, cooking facilities). There is a shared shower and toilet on-site.

4. Apply to join

    • You can decide if this is for you and ‘apply’ to join.
    • To apply you must provide:
        • your criminal history record (for each country you have lived in for 6 months or more within the last 10 years),
        • we reserve the right to undertake reference checks before admitting you to live at Savali Sanctuary and during your trial phase/provisional membership. For this, we ask you to provide contact information (name, phone number, email, and relationship to you) from 2 current or previous landlords, 2 current or previous colleagues, 2 close friends or family members.
    • The current group will discuss your application and decide if you are a fit for the project. In choosing our community members we are striving to find a balance in the dynamics of the group. We will either
        • decide that you are not a fit, we will let you know (we are not obliged to give a reason) or
        • invite you to join as a provisional member/trial member on the land

5. Provisional Membership

    • Sign agreements and pay joining fee to become a provisional member in a 3-month trial phase (the trial phase begins when you move onto the land; the trial phase can be extended up to a total of 6 months by the existing committee, or the provisional member can have their membership terminated before the 3 months should there be serious misalignment or gross misconduct)
    • The joining fee for Savali Sanctuary Membership is $1000 as a one-off payment which includes legal and admin fees and costs for training and group process work.
    • After the trial phase, committee members can decide (we are not obliged to give a reason) if full membership will be granted. (If not, 50% of the joining fee will be refunded)

6. Full membership

    • Pay an annual membership fee 
    • Official Welcome
Membership Fees

The joining fees for Savali Incorporated (“Friends of Savali Sanctuary” Membership) are a donation to the Society and will be used for any furtherance of the purposes of the society.

 

The joining fee for Savali Sanctuary Membership is $1000 as a one-off payment which includes legal and admin fees and costs for training and group process work.

  • If you are not accepted as a full member of Savali Sanctuary after the trial phase, 50% of the joining fee shall be refunded.
  • If your process leads to a full membership at the end of the trial phase / provisional membership, the annual membership subscription will become due.

The annual membership subscription is $500 plus 1% per year after the founding year (2022) that you join Savali Sanctuary.

  • So if you join in 2022, your annual fee will be $500. If you join in 2023, your annual fee will be $505, those joining in 2024 will pay $510 annually, and so on…
  • Having joining fees gradually increase acknowledges that each year the community is slightly more developed and thus more valuable than it was the year before, both in terms of physical infrastructure and a more developed social infrastructure and culture. It also honors the financial outlay and level of risk taken by the founders and earlier members in comparison to members joining later as they’re joining a community that is much more physically visible and substantial.
  • Your contribution for annual fees is used for training and personal / group development sessions. Any surplus will be directed to pay for seasonal celebrations.
  • Annual fees are due each year on the date of your acceptance as a full member.

Any occupation license fees will be as agreed and paid every week to Savali Incorporated.

If your occupation license includes provisions for power or mains water, these will be metered and billed separately.

Savali Sanctuary

Savali Sanctuary Group

Savali Organics

Get In Touch

connect@savali.org or mobile 027-4595898

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