Blue Shark Friends

Preamble

The Blue Shark Friends community is a digital community in which the members of the community all commit to, within their limited capacities, caring for one another.

Article 1 - Expecations of Community Members

All community members shall commit to the following:

1. Always treat other members of the Blue Shark Friends community with empathy, compassion, and curiosity.
2. A yearly review of this community agreement to ensure that it still fits their needs and suggest updates as necessary.
3. Must publicly sign their name to each year's final revision of this community agreement.

Article 2 - Onboarding new Community Members

New community members must meet the following conditions:

1. Have been recommended by an existing community member who has known said recruit for at least 1 year.
2. Must fill out the New Member Form.
3. Must complete the onboarding process.
4. Must publicly sign their name to this Community Agreement.
5. Must be actively approved of by all current Pirates.
6. Must not have been vetoed by any current members. Names of new recruits will be submitted with a brief introduction to the community for an anonymous poll. After 30 days, the poll will close and if there are no vetoes received within that period, onboarding will proceed. If members have any concerns after that time, they can submit them to Pirates for consideration. Members are encouraged to submit explanations for vetoes to Pirates so that any concerns can be addressed.

Article 3 - Expectations of Crewmates

All community members are considered crewmates and are therefore required to have completed the onboarding process (see Article 2 Section 3) and to have met all the expectations of Article 1.

1. Crewmates have no inherent expectations of providing labor to the Blue Shark Friends community though they may choose to get involved on a case-by-case basis.
2. Crewmates who wish to work for Blue Shark Friends shall become Deckhands (see Article 4).

Article 4 - Expectations of Deckhands

Deckhands are Crewmates who choose to perform labor for Blue Shark Friends on a contractual basis. Deckhands have the following expectations.

1. Must have a W9 on file with Blue Shark Friends.
2. Must have a Independent Contractor Acknowledgement on file with Blue Shark Friends.
3. Must meet all expectations of Crewmates (see Article 3).

Article 5 - Expectations of Pirates

Pirates are Crewmates who chose to become member-owners of the Blue Shark Friends legal entity. Pirates have the following expectations.

1. Must attempt to meet with other Blue Shark Friends members at least once every two weeks.
2. Must reach consensus with all other pirates on how the budget is spent.
3. Must participate in Community Agreement update meetings.
4. Must have added their name to the Operating Agreement.
5. Must meet all expectations of Crewmates (see Article 3).
6. Must have been a part of the Blue Shark Friends community for at least 1 year.
7. Must be invited to become a Pirate with universal support from all existing Pirates. Such invitations shall be provided to those who take initiative to support and expand the Blue Shark Friends organization throughout their participation in the Blue Shark Friends community.
8. Must participate in meetings regarding Suspension, Expulsion, and Reinstatement of other members.

Article 6 - Warnings for Public Behavior

Minor harms between members of the Blue Shark Friends community shall result in private and/or public warnings for negative behavior.

1. Anyone can move to make deliver a complaint about another Blue Shark Friends member. This can be done anonymously here.
2. If someone is in violation of this Community Agreement but has not caused physical, financial, or deep emotional harm, they will receive one private warning by a current Pirate that their behavior may lead to a suspension. If they continue, they will receive a public warning by a current Pirate that their behavior may lead to a suspension.
3. A member shall receive no more than two warnings, one private and one public, per year before future infractions will cause suspension inquiries (see Article 7).

Article 7 - Inquiries for Suspension of Members

Members who cause harm to another member of the Blue Shark Friends community shall face a suspension inquiry and possible temporary probation (eventual reinstatement) or expulsion.

1. If a complaint causes physical, financial, or deep emotional harm to any of the current members of Blue Shark Friends, a suspension inquiry SHALL be started by a Pirate.
2. If a complaint causes harm involving minors of the Blue Shark Friends community, a suspension inquiry SHALL be started by a Pirate.
3. Suspension will require the agreement of two or more pirates and shall include a public disclosure of the reasoning behind the suspension. A member who has received a suspension shall not be allowed access to Blue Shark Friends digital infrastructure.
4. Suspensions SHALL be resolved within 30 days of the start of the suspension. With unanimous consent of all Pirates, the member shall be reinstated or expelled. If unanimous consent cannot be reached, reinstatement shall be handled by a vote of simple majority (50% or more votes) by a quorum (50% or more members) of the community. Whenever a simple majority is required for a decision, Pirates shall revisit the situation within 90 days of the decision.

Article 8 - Removing a Member from Blue Shark Friends

Removal of any member from the Blue Shark Friends community shall follow the following formal process:

1. Immediate removal for a single infraction of great harm (see Article 7 Section 1) shall require consent of all Pirates.
2. If a member faces an expulsion vote due to multiple suspensions, they shall be removed by a unanimous vote of all pirates. Failing that, they shall be removed by a majority vote by a quorum of the members of the Blue Shark Friends community. If both votes fail, the member shall not be removed.
3. Pirates shall be removed according to the Blue Shark Friends legal entity's Operating Agreement.

Article 9 - Amending this Community Agreement

Every year between the beginning of January and the end of March, the Blue Shark Friends community shall review this Community Agreement. They may edit or change it as desired.

1. All edits to this document must require agreement consensus of all current members of the Blue Shark Friends community.
2. Those who do not sign onto the new year's Community Agreement shall forgo their place as a member of the Blue Shark Friends community.
3. All members shall be given at least 30 days to review and sign the new year's Community Agreement.
4. Members that do not sign this Community Agreement within the 30 day grace period shall receive a suspension (see Article 7). This suspension will involve a Pirate directly contacting said member if possible. If said member continues to forgo signing the agreement for the whole 30-day suspension, they shall be expelled from the community (see Article 7).