Membership

Dear Being,  Gaia recognizes your project as a fundamental part of this fabric of Good Living. You inspire us and for this reason we want to invite you to be part of the  Gaia Commons  Membership , where in addition to being part of the Network/EcoSystem, we will join forces to generate new possibilities. This is an invitation to formalize our Alliance as a Member where with Love, Joy, Responsibility & Good Faith.
We will unite our energies to achieve our common dreams and goals. In this way we can generate a clear agreement of common benefit, to continue CoCreating a better thriving World!
We thank you for your trust and for believing in the potential of Teamwork (CO3) Coordination, Collaboration & Conection for achieving the real Common Unity on this Beloved Planet Earth with All Our Relations.

he purpose of this document is to define the guidelines of the Gaia Membership system, in extension to the  Membership Agreement between Gaia and natural or legal persons , hereinafter referred to as “Members”. It specifically outlines the benefits and contributions of members (organizations and individuals)

1. Benefits and Contributions

1. General member opcional and potential benefits. The Gaia organization undertakes to perform the following activities in favor of the Member and regardless of the type of  membership:

– Registration: Officially register the Member to Gaia in order to accredit him/her according to his/her membership level.

– Visibility: Enter the Member’s project or venture in the virtual directory and newsletters that are issued according to Gaia’s frequency and availability.

– Fund raising: Provide opportunities of fundraising and resource management such as donations, crowdfunding, crowd pooling, crowdsourcing.

– Management  Provide project management support, networking, alliances and collaborations with third parties or Gaia members. (A 10% Fee could be charged to the member’s account to cover General Administrative Costs, Operations and Platforms.The fee can be negotiated in some special cases).

– Commissions: To provide the Member with and/or commissions for sales on products, services, NFTs, tokens or events produced by Gaia, according to the  current market rate in effect at the time of negotiation as follows:

10% commission for amounts  between $100 and $10,000 USD. /  5% commission for amounts over $10,000 and up to $100,000 USD,

3% commission for amounts over $100,000 and up to $1,000,000USD, / 1% commission for amounts over $1,000,000 USD.

Gaia reserves the right to adjust commission payment policies and to vary them in consideration of the achievement of Gaia’s objectives.

– Fiscal sponsorship: To provide the Member with access to Gaia’s legal organization under the terms of this provision, Gaia may form a fiscal sponsorship agreement with the member and may act as agent, spokesperson, representative or intermediary of the Member or Linked Project in general. This provision is made available to members of Gaia in order to promote or encourage their participation in any conscious and or regenerative initiatives, projects or funding programs.

– Gaia under the terms of its fiscal sponsorship agreement with the member, may Receive on behalf of the Member any type of donations, issuing the corresponding legal and accounting documents that support the respective act. The expenses or economic rights derived from such disposals shall be assumed directly by the Member.

– To make available to the Member  legal, accounting and tax advice according to the need and interest of the Member subject to fees negotiated for those services. and under a special fee. The Member shall assume the costs of the legal, accounting, tax and administrative services provided by Gaia..

-Provide the Member with templates, formats and standardized documents or guidelines to facilitate the management of the Member’s financial information.

– To provide the Member with access  to processes of mediation and conflict resolution with the purpose of encouraging and supporting  cooperative relationships, collaboration and the agreements established within Gaia.

– To deliver to the Member the tokens and fiat money corresponding to the degree of membership in accordance with the proportions and amounts defined by this Agreement.

2. TYPES OF MEMBERSHIPS

Categorization and Categories and the different levels of benefits and responsibilities.

Characterization of memberships and benefits. Considering the different levels of contribution and capacity of the Member (Projects or  People) , Gaia establishes different types of membership, with diverse rights and obligations corresponding to each different membership.

Possible levels of Sharing of the Surplus: 90% (or 100%), 50%, 25%, 10% or any %.

2.1 Beneficiaries

Passively waiting for or already receiving funding.

Passive Beneficiary 

Waiting to receive funding without contributing anything to Gaia Commons, but will contribute when there’s funding.

Active Beneficiary

Receiving Funding and contributing capital back to Gaia based on the specific membership category. They could be expecting OR Not expecting Gaia Tokens in return for their membership fees. 

Future Honorable Beneficiaries

Willing to share all or more than 50% of their general total surplus and profits, including external incomes.

 

2.2 Benefactors

Actively Contributing capital. Not waiting for funding.

*They could be expecting or not expecting anything in return; like Gaia Tokens.

Active Benefactor Members

Contributing any capital based on the specific fee of Gaia’s membership categories and levels. (Receiving tokens in return).

Active Permanent Donor Members

Contributing money and/or other assets permanently. Not expecting anything in return, including Gaia Tokens.

Ascetic Honorable Donors

Willing to share all or more than 50% of their general total surplus and profits, including external incomes.

Impact Investors

Investing Money to receive a return on their investment.

 

* Surplus: the surplus could be defined as what you need to cover your basic general costs per year, plus 100% of that same amount… in total 200% of your basic living costs per year. (ie. $4k month would be $48k x2 = $96k total per year, everything after $96k would be considered surplus.)

* General Surplus: all that you don’t need no matter when or how you got it. as long as what you wish to share  doesnt come from ilegal or unethical sources.

* Possible Levels of Sharing of the Surplus: 100%, 50%, 33%, 20%, 10% or any %.

Some other important considerations:

* Not all memberships necessarily are obligated to include inheritance, and it will be up to the member as to what & how much to share or not.

* Not all memberships include their sharing from their past investments, it will depend on the specific membership they choose freely and what to share or not.

* Not all memberships include profits from their projects but it will depend on the specific membership level or category they choose freely how much they decide to share or not.

* If members haven’t received funding from Gaia, they are not required to choose any membership.

3. The levels of membership, obligations and rights of the Member are:

3.1 Seeds Passive Beneficiary Members (that are not contributing regular fees)

a) Member’s Benefits

– Gaia will endeavor to its best capacity to assist these members to obtain all the resources necessary for the realization and success of their projects, missions and goals, including financial capital, general goods and services like trainings, communications, legal administration, construction, building materials, platforms and technologies, among many others, they will have priority over the other memberships

– Members will receive priority (over other Memberships Levels or external projects)  to participate in all funding, grants, scholarships, activities, events and enter the places and bookings in general for all the services offered by the Gaia Commons.

– Gaia may award these members grants, discounts or subsidies on any Gaia Network product or service to the best of its ability  (with priority over other memberships levels). At a minimum, they can get access to its events, products or services at cost.

– These members are eligible to apply to  Gaia for a donation, or loan or investment which could be made in fiat money (or any resources necessary) and will be awarded to the members in accordance with the particular terms of the award agreement.

b) Member’s Responsabilities

(based on the member’s free choice as to which membership category they wish to join or to not join any membership at all) 

– In cases where Gaia Commons becomes the primary funder of a project, it would take over management of the project but would limit its management  to insure that decisions are made in a transparent and fair manner, such as the election of Stewards or  Leaders collectively selected by the project members; Gaia would only intervene in situations where its policies or principles are not being properly fulfilled. as well as for decisions on the implementation of strategic cross-cutting programs. 

– If a Gaia project member receives funding from Gaia for more than 90% of the project total budget, the project will be subject to the terms of the Gaia’s Constitution, Governance and Economic Framework, Policies and Principles. These projects are autonomously-locally managed including the general and daily operational decisions.
– Any swapping or selling of assets valued above USD 100,000 needs to be approved by the Gaia Glocal Treasury Stewards Council. In the case of liquidation, Gaia will only take the percentage of the total liquidated revenues, that corresponds to the Gaia total investment in the project up to the moment of liquidation or mutual agreement of Gaia’s termination of membership responsibility.
– If a Gaia project member receives funding from Gaia for more than 90% Members would have to allocate between 90% and 100% of their surplus to the Gaia Commons.

3.2 Seed Active Beneficiary Members (contribute a membership fee, receive tokens)

a) Member’s Benefits

– Gaia will endeavor to its best capacity to assist these members to obtain all the resources necessary for the realization and success of their projects, missions and goals, including financial capital, general goods and services like trainings, communications, legal administration, construction, building materials, platforms and technologies, among many others, they will have priority over the other memberships

– Members will receive priority (over other Memberships Levels or allies projects)  to book and participate in all funding, grants, scholarships, activities, events and enter the Gaia BioHubs and have priority access to all the services offered by Gaia Commons.

– Members will receive priority (over other Memberships Levels or external projects)  to participate in all funding, grants, scholarships, activities, events and enter the places and bookings in general for all the services offered by the Gaia Commons.

– Gaia may award these members grants, discounts or subsidies on any Gaia Network product or service to the best of its ability  (with priority over other memberships levels). At a minimum, they can get access to its events, products or services at cost.

– These members will receive Gaia tokens equivalent to the money or hours of contribution delivered to Gaia in accordance with Gaias policies in each country.

– These members are eligible to apply to  Gaia for a donation, or loan or investment which could be made in fiat money (or any resources necessary) and will be awarded to the members in accordance with the particular terms of the award agreement.

a) Member’s Responsabilities

– Contribute their services to Gaia at the following levels: at least 144 hours per month for 11 months (1584 hours per year) or they can make a minimum financial contribution equivalent to those hours compensated at 160% of the minimum wage prevalent in the country that is the main source of the member revenue.

– In cases where Gaia Commons becomes the primary funder of a project, it would take over management of the project but would limit its management  to insure that decisions are made in a transparent and fair manner, such as the election of Stewards or  Leaders collectively selected by the project members; Gaia would only intervene in situations where its policies or principles are not being properly fulfilled. as well as for decisions on the implementation of strategic cross-cutting programs. 

– If a Gaia project member receives funding from Gaia for more than 90% of the project total budget, the project will be subject to the terms of the Gaia’s Constitution, Governance and Economic Framework, Policies and Principles. These projects are autonomously-locally managed including the general and daily operational decisions.

– Any swapping or selling of assets valued above USD 100,000 needs to be approved by the Gaia Glocal Treasury Stewards Council. In the case of liquidation, Gaia will only take the percentage of the total liquidated revenues that corresponds to the Gaia total investment in the project up to the moment of liquidation or any mutual agreement.

– If a Gaia project member receives funding from Gaia for more than 90% Members would have to allocate between 90% and 100% of their surplus to the Gaia Commons.

3.2.1 Seed Active Beneficiary Members (contribute a membership fee and don’t expect to receive any Gaia Tokens

– These members have all the same benefits and responsibilities as members described in 3.2 above with the following difference:

– These members will not receive Gaia tokens equivalent to the money or hours of contribution delivered to Gaia based on their own decision. 

 

3.3.1 Seed Active Benefactor Members (contributing a membership fee, expecting to receive Gaia Tokens equivalent to their membership fee but not funding) 

– These members have all the same benefits and responsibilities as members described in 3.2.1 above with the following difference: – These members will receive Gaia tokens equivalent to the money or hours of contribution delivered to Gaia.

3.3.2 Seed Active Benefactor Members (contributing a membership fee and expecting to receive something in return but not funding itself nor tokens):

– These members have all the same benefits and responsibilities as members described in 3.2.1 above with the following difference: These members will not receive Gaia tokens equivalent to the money or hours of contribution delivered to Gaia.

a) Member Benefits:

– Members will receive priority (over ALL the other Memberships Levels)  to book and participate in all activities, events and enter the Gaia places and receive priority in all the services offered by Gaia Commons.

3.3.3 Seed Active Benefactor Members (contributing a membership fee and NOT expecting to receive anything in return, neither Gaia Tokens, nor funding)

– These members have all the same benefits and responsibilities as members described in 3.2.1 above with the following difference: These members will not receive anything equivalent to the money or hours of contribution delivered to Gaia.

 

All the options above relate to Seed Members who are indeed contributing or 100% willing to contribute at least 90% of their total Surplus per year. the next levels of membership are Roots, Trunks, Branches & Leaves, which will contribute 50%, 25%, 10% or any % correspondingly. Flowers will only contribute the Membership Fee.

 

4. Membership terms and conditions.

Gaia memberships  are subject to the following conditions:

4.1 Membership in Gaia may be instituted as a  natural person and/or legal organization or as a project. The Member shall be responsible for the conclusion, execution, fulfillment, obligations, and duties under the terms of the membership.

4.2 Gaia reserves the right to modify the fee schedule for each membership category. Such modifications may not increase the mandatory contribution percentages or decrease the rights derived from each membership under this agreement without mutual agreement. 

4.3 Once the contribution corresponding to the chosen membership level has been paid, there will be no total or partial refund of this payment. The exception to this proviso would be that there was a demonstrated breach of trust by Gaia of the Membership Agreement.

4.4 Gaia reserves the right to make the aforementioned remunerations in each of the membership categories by means of tokens up to a value equivalent to 100% of the payment value according to the Compensation Agreement with each Member. 

4.5 Seed and Root Members who are already receiving Gaia funding commit to adapt logos, project names and strategic decisions for the benefit of the Gaia Ecosystem and accept payments of at least 33.3% in Gaia tokens. Other Gaia members not receiving Gaia funding commit to accept payments from Gaia of at least 10% in Gaia tokens. 

4.6 Gaia reserves the right to establish the administration, distribution and disposition of the resources or capital obtained from the contributions of the members unless special provisions are agreed between Gaia and the Member.

4.7 Each Member agrees to accept the terms and conditions of Gaia’s institutional documents. Therefore, the Member accepts and acknowledges that their membership may be suspended or revoked in the event of non-compliance with any of the agreements as determined by the decisions adopted by the Gaia group designated for the resolution of conflicts  within the Gaia organization. 

4.8 The same situation shall apply to any position the Member may hold within Gaia at the time of the sanction or investigation. Therefore, he/she may be removed from office or provisionally suspended.

4.9 The internal agreements and regulations promulgated after the date of execution of this Agreement are also understood to be incorporated into the content of this membership Addendum.. To this effect, once approved, Gaia shall communicate and disclose the agreement or regulation through the communications channel (means of exchange) provided by the member.

* The contracting or acquisition of any of the services offered shall be considered independent and separate from the values and contributions contributed to Gaia as a Member. Therefore, the estimation of costs, deadlines, availability and any other management or activity related to the provision of additional services shall not be understood as an activity performed under the Membership Agreement and is subject to free negotiation between Gaia and the Member.