Circles and Meetings
Collective Spaces uses a circle‑based governance model. Circles are small, purpose‑driven teams that hold the authority to make decisions inside their scope. Because our community is still lean, all business is handled by the General Circle for now. Additional circles are on standby and reactivate whenever enough members want to focus on that topic.
Why circles?
- Distributes decision‑making power
- Keeps meetings focused on mission‑driven goals
- Lets new voices contribute immediately
What is a Circle?
A circle is an empowered working group that:
- Owns a clearly defined area such as Infrastructure or Membership
- Meets only when needed, keeping everyone’s calendar light
- Uses Discord channels to plan transparently - open to Participants and Members alike
We also spin up short‑term Working Groups for single short term projects or special needs of the farm or community (e.g., building a footbridge, planting a field, or planning an event).
Current Circles & Status
- General Circle
- Handles all community business
- Meets the first four Mondays of each month at 8 : 30 p.m. ET
- Infrastructure Circle
- Handles the planning and construction of anything related to the land, such as buildings, utilities
- Dormant (rolled into General)
- Finance Circle
- Handles anything related to the finances of the LLC including budgets, dues, grants
- Meetings Quarterly and as needed (Private Circle)
- Membership Circle
- Handles all things related to membership including on‑boarding, outreach, and exit of members
- Meets as needed
- Housing Circle
- Handles planning and building anything related to housing, including long term plans, business model research, construction, repairs, and working with county and state regulators
- Dormant (rolled into General)
- Internal Communication Circle
- Handles tools, processes, and actions related to internal communication and data storage for the organization
- Meets as needed
- External Communication Circle
- Handles all things related to presenting data to the world at large including the website, social media, and newsletters
- Meets as needed
Circles spring to life the moment three or more people commit to them - tell us if you’re ready to help.
Can’t Make Mondays?
Availability is the only barrier to participation. Post the days and times that work for you in Discord, and we will schedule extra sessions or reactivate a circle around your availability.
Basic Meeting Flow (Sociocracy‑informed)
- Check‑in round - everyone shares a brief personal update.
- Agenda items - facilitator runs question, concern, and consent rounds until a proposal is clear.
- Consent decisions - if no paramount objections, the proposal is adopted.
- Next‑steps review - tasks get owners and deadlines before closing.
- Closing Round - everyone checks in on how the meeting went and shares what would improve it next time.
FAQ
- Do I have to be a full Member to attend?
- No - Participants and even curious guests are welcome. Consent Decision Making is reserved for Members, but your input always matters.
- What if I am shy about speaking up?
- Some aspects of our system invite guests to participate and our rounds system ensures everyone is invited to speak, but you can pass if you prefer to observe silently.
- How do I start a new circle?
- Any member can gather at least two other members or participants and begin the proposal forming process for the new circle at a General Circle meeting.
- Is in‑person attendance possible?
- Yes. When enough people prefer it, we set up a hybrid call from Irish House or other locations so locals can meet face‑to‑face.
Ready to Participate?
Your first step is simply to show up on a Monday night.
If scheduling blocks you, reach out via our contact form or through Discord with times that work.
We look forward to hearing your voice! This community grows through the people who invest their time and imagination in a shared vision.