Membership

Our membership policy intends to both support the integrity of the vision and the relationships forged by the founding members thus far,  and provide an effective pathway for welcoming and integrating new members as full and active participants. We have a multi-step application process not unlike a long engagement. This allows potential members and ourselves time to experience our vision, values, culture, and the means to evaluate if we align with one another, as well as a realistic overview of the challenges and opportunities that living in a community entails.

Our process includes the following 4 stages:

• STAGE ONE- Application to Community 
  • Interested candidates submit an online application.
  • Candidates are asked to read Hearthstone Village documents.​
    • Our community’s Vision, Mission, Aims, & Values​
    • The book Creating a Life Together by Diana Leafe Christian
• STAGE TWO-  Introduction to Living in Community
  • The potential member is invited to observe up to three community meetings 
• STAGE THREE- Exploring Living in Community
  • The potential member  indicates they want to be considered for membership
  • The potential member is interviewed by a minimum of two current members
  • The potential member participates in a minimum of  six meetings in person or four meetings and two work parties
• STAGE FOUR- Living in Community
  • The exploring member rents and lives onsite at Hearthstone Village between 4-6 months
  • ​In some cases a longer exploration period may be required
    

Hearthstone Village Commitment to Community Policy:  All members of Hearthstone Village agree to the following commitments

1. Act in accordance with and support Hearthstone Village’s Vision, Mission, and Goals.
2. Follow all policies, guidelines, and procedures established by the community, and understand there are consequences for non-compliance.
3. Actively participate to the best of their ability in meetings, community governance positions, and/or other community needs. 
4. Pursue some path(s) of personal awareness and development.
5. Practice respectful action and speech and maintain clear, open, and honest relationships with all community members.
6. Take responsibility for their emotions, ideas, beliefs, and behaviors.   
7. Proactively work to resolve conflicts and misunderstandings.
8. When faced with conflict, misunderstanding, or challenges, with the community or an individual, willingly and openly look at their own role, patterns, reactions, and motivations.
9. Clean up after themselves, children, and pets, as best as they can, while holding the intention of leaving things in better condition than they found them.
10. Treat all beings with respect.

WHO DOES WELL IN COMMUNITY: 
Excerpt From:  Christian, Diana Leafe. “Creating a Life Together.”

1. Someone who doesn’t “need” it. People who are fulfilled and doing well in their lives are more likely to thrive in and contribute to a community.
2. Someone with a healthy sense of self. People with emotional maturity and self-esteem, who know what they want and know their strengths and weaknesses, and who are seeking personal growth for themselves, tend to do well in community.
3. Someone who is open to and able to hear other points of view. 
4. Someone with a sense of connection to people and an interest in the well-being of others. 
5. Someone willing to abide by group agreements. 
6. Someone willing to speak up. People who are willing to take the initiative, and say so when they disagree with others, and ask for what they want, tend to do well.
7. Someone willing to be quiet and listen. People who always know what’s best, or who are dynamic, assertive, and full of ideas, may need to tone down that energy somewhat in group meetings in order to give others the space to speak.​