COMMUNITY BENEFIT SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP
We’re incredibly excited to invite you to become a member of the Architects Climate Action Network Limited, Community Benefit Society! This is a new way to get involved in the governance of ACAN and support the development of the network as a whole.
Firstly, you don’t have to become a member to continue being a part of ACAN: coming to meetings, attending events, taking part in actions and describing yourself as a part of ACAN. We are, and always will be an open network, free for all to participate.
If you are interested in helping to steer the direction of the organization, or if you want to help ACAN flourish and grow into an ever more effective, energetic climate action network, then membership is for you! Continue reading to find out why and how you can become an ACAN Ltd. member, and the benefits this will bring.
ACAN has always been, and always will be, a lively network of individuals coming together to take action as a collective through various self-organizing working groups. Authority is distributed around this network. As we grew it became necessary to introduce more structure, which saw the creation of a ‘Steering Group’ to work on overall strategy and administration. It was always the intention that roles within this group would rotate, and that the wider network should have oversight of the Steering Group’s activities.
In 2021 the Steering Group established the Architects Climate Action Network Limited, a Community Benefit Society (CBS)*. This cooperative legal structure was chosen as it seemed the best fit to our current activities as well as our democratic values. Adopting a legal structure will allow us to seek grant funding and enshrines us as a not-for-profit entity. As a CBS we must define our membership more formally, in return each member owns a share in the organization and a voice in major decisions. For example they may vote for, nominate and run for roles as Directors in the Steering Group. As a member, you will provide oversight and be able to take part in the Governance of ACAN as a whole.
Each member will own 1 share of the organization and have 1 vote in proceedings, an option has been set up to make donating to ACAN easier when you join, this is not obligatory and donations can still be made via the donations page.
Membership is only available to individuals over 16 years old.
If you have any queries email movementsupport@architectscan.org
Thanks for signing up! See you at the AGM!!
* For more information about what a Community Benefit Society is Co-Operatives UK has a great guide.
ACAN!
ACAN is a network of individuals within architecture and related built environment professions taking action to address the twin crises of climate and ecological breakdown.
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