Become A Member

New Life Circles is a growth-oriented organization committed to our member’s emotional, social, and professional growth, health, and success. We have a few different membership levels.

Prospective Members

Prospective Members include any person who is interested in learning about New Life Circles (NLC) or participating in the NLC community. Prospective members do not have an active vote in meetings, but we encourage them to vote when they feel comfortable.  Their votes will not count toward the outcome, but it will give them an opportunity to understand what voting is, and its impact on them and the community. We hope this will give them an opportunity to start to engage as community members and give community members a chance to meet and learn more about prospective members.  It will also begin to support prospective members in learning about the NLC customs, values, norms, and structures before joining.

Community Members

Community members are anyone who has taken a consensus to be a part of the community. The only prerequisite for a membership consensus is that each person states they understand the rules, norms, and structures of NLC and agrees to adhere to them. The most important factor is their willingness to agree to and follow the “Personal and Community Respect Policies” and the outcome of any vote. Because NLC is primarily a consensus-based organization it should not be hard to follow standards they have already agreed upon. This is why it is important for new members to spend some time participating and learning about NLC before joining. 

Community Members can participate in workshops, training, and professional development. Members can also participate in any of the internal businesses supported by the organization and run under its banner by its members.

No member is required to continue their participation for any reason. At any time NLC is not serving a member’s interests they are free to disassociate.

Tenured Members

Any member can become a tenured member after 2 years of participation. Tenured members will have the opportunity to serve on decision-making boards as described in each Board Description White Paper. This level of membership only impacts members’ ability to participate in certain Boards and does not affect their voting rights. All members only have one vote in any decision-making process.

Facilitator in Training

As a peer-led community, some of the members are facilitators, who facilitate life circles, groups, workshops, and training. The process of becoming a facilitator requires the completion of training and workshops, demonstrating the abilities necessary to be a productive facilitator and have the right disposition. Part of this process is to spend some time as a Facilitator in Training. While in training and acting as a co-facilitator during community activities, Facilitators in Training are compensated at half the hourly rate of facilitators until they get a full consensus to become a Facilitator.

Facilitators

Facilitators and Stewards are the foundation of the NLC peer-led community. Facilitators have the responsibility to help support the community and individual processes.  This includes having the ability to model the kinds of behaviors which the NLC values, rules, and culture are created to develop and foster. Facilitators must be able to relationally meet and support the process of other community members no matter the environment, struggle, or characteristics of the others they are responsible for supporting. Facilitators must have a broad background and experience in many areas. The most important expertise is in sociotherapy facilitation and being able to support and listen. They must have the willingness to understand the perspective of others and respect their autonomy and agency while facilitating growth and healing within the community. 

Facilitators are paid community members as are Stewards, members of the Global Vanguard, members of the Culture, Rules, and Norms Committee, and those that work as owners of any NLC internal business. To be an NLC Facilitator takes time and training. Being a full-time Facilitator is a time-intensive responsibility and requires a great commitment to the organization and the consensus-based system. Some are part-time, but we encourage as many full-time members as the organization can financially support.  

Stewards

Stewards are the foundation of the NLC peer-led community. Stewards have the responsibility to help support the community and individuals. This includes having the ability to model the kinds of behaviors which the values, rules, and culture are created to develop and foster. Stewards are much like Facilitators except they don’t necessarily guide the process of other individual members but are the core of the support system. They are the guardians of the overall support system and process. They are not there to facilitate, but to offer support to the community and its members when and where they can.

Stewards are paid community members as are Facilitators, members of the Global Vanguard, members of the Culture, Rules, and Norms Committee, and those that work as owners of any NLC internal business. To be an NLC Steward takes time and training. To be a full-time Steward is a time-intensive responsibility and requires a great commitment to the organization and the consensus-based system. Some are part-time, but we encourage as many full-time members as the organization can financially support. 

Founders

Founders include all founding members of NLC. There is a public list of these members available to all members.