On the front end it takes the form of necessary preparation. This is a two year process in most cases that requires patience and persistence. At the back end there is a one year limit. Commitment is no longer a life long possession. It is a conscious annual choice renewed when appropriate, and refused when proper.
Membership is about commitment.
This is not an easy word. I sometimes confuse it with control. To do so makes commitment a fence that protects members or keeps others out. I want to explore ways to transform the image of commitment as a fence into one of commitment as a springboard. This may help us think of membership in creative ways that further strengthen our community.