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The Future

EXTRACT FROM BYLAWS

SECTION I – NAME AND LOCATION

Section 1.01: Name

The name of this cooperative shall be the Yeshurun Farm Community Cooperative, hereinafter referred to as YFCC.

Section 1.02: Location

The principal office shall be in the city of Peoria, County of Maricopa, State of Arizona. The street address of the principal office shall be recorded with the Secretary of State in the manner described by law.

Section 1.03: Version

YFCC’s Official version of these Bylaws and Policy Manual shall be the copy held electronically on Google Apps, owned by the Coordinating Officer account, and shared on the YFCC website.
A digital copy of these Bylaws and Policy Manual will be kept at the YFCC office. A physical copy of the Bylaws and Policy Manual shall be maintained at each POD. The physical copies shall be updated by the Education Officer whenever a Bylaw change is implemented, and when reasonable and prudent whenever a policy change is implemented.

SECTION II – MISSION AND PURPOSES

Section 2.01: Mission

(a) YFCC strives to improve the Yeshurun Farms community based upon the biblical principal of Acts 4:32 “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.” , and is to be inclusive of some underrepresented and marginalized groups. (Note: No member of YFCC may actively practice sin of any kind as described the statues, laws, commandment, ordinance and judgments of the God of the Bible. The LGBTQ lifestyle does not comply with biblical principals and is not acceptable behavior for YFCC members.)

(b) YFCC is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. No substantial portion of either its funds or activities may be directed at any time to other purposes.

Section 2.02: Purposes

YFCC works toward its mission by:

(a) Educating its members about cooperative principles and the management of cooperative housing,

(b) Providing resources, services, and administrative support to its members and member PODs,

(c) Developing cooperative housing and services,

(d) Striving to be inclusive of some underrepresented and marginalized members of the community that agree to live by the precepts of the Holy Bible including people of all races, ages, widow, fatherless and people with disabilities, parents raising children, and international people,

(e) Striving to be environmentally responsible, and

(f) Maintaining a community of cooperation by affiliating with other cooperatives, non-profit community groups, schools, neighborhood associations, and collectives for the exchange of information.

SECTION III – MEMBERSHIP

Section 3.01: Members

A person shall be considered for membership with YFCC upon completion of a signed application and paying a non-refundable application fee of $250.00. Upon approval an additional $250.00 non-refundable membership fee is required. Total fees are $500.00. The membership may change the amount of the membership fee from time to time with a vote of 2/3 of the members. Once accepted membership is perpetual unless terminated by either the member or due to cancellation by the community. If terminated by the member, the member may reapply in the future and will be required to pay a new application fee and a new membership fee. Membership terminated by the community is permanent and requires a super majority vote of the membership for reconsideration. If approved by a super majority of the membership, the member terminated by the community may reapply and is required to be reconsidered by the board. Only members shall live in PODs owned by YFCC. All members shall provide deposit all income into the general fund. All members are considered as equal no matter how much money they are providing to the community. As an example a member whose entire capability to pay is $1000.00 per month and a member who entire capability to pay is $5000.00 per month are to be consider as equal because they are both paying what they are capable of paying.

Section 3.02: Control of Operations

Through membership meetings, referenda, and open committee meetings, the members of YFCC shall have direct control of YFCCs operations. Electronic voting is allowed for meetings, elections, and referenda as permitted by the methods specified in YFCC policy.

Section 3.03: Membership Meetings

(a) At least four (4) General Membership Meetings (GMMs) shall be held annually. (One per quarter). The Board shall decide the dates of these four (4) meetings at its first meeting in September. The dates of the three (3) subsequent GMMs may be rescheduled at any General Membership Meeting (GMM) or by the board.

(b) Special Membership Meetings may be called by the Board of Directors or by a petition of 2/3 of the membership or 50 members, whichever is less.

(c) Members shall be given seven days written notice of General Membership Meetings and three (3) days notice of Special Membership Meetings, including the scheduled business in detail, and in accordance with state statutes. No individual shall have more than one (1) vote. No voting by proxy. Sealed votes on specific questions shall be permitted.
(d) Quorum shall be 2/3 of the membership or 50 members, whichever is less.

(e) In general, membership meetings shall follow Rogers’ Rules of Order.

(f) Any votes to change a supermajority voting requirement in the bylaws or policies will require a vote from the General Membership Meeting (GMM) with the same supermajority.
Section 3.04: Consideration by the Board of Directors

Any member may initiate action for consideration by the Board by presentation of a proposal to the Board.

Section 3.05: Powers of the Membership

The membership shall be given final say on any matter that concerns the amendment of these bylaws where permitted, and any other questions called to the attention of the membership by the Board or by petition of the membership, except for officer elections and removal (see Sections 5.01(h) and Section 5.02) and except where restricted by these bylaws. Such matters where the membership has final say shall be considered only by a membership meeting or by a referendum of the membership.

Section 3.06: Referenda of the Membership

(a) A referendum shall be called either by the Board or by a petition of 2/3 of the membership or 50 members, whichever is less. Petitions must be presented to the Membership Officer, Member Services Coordinator, Coordinating Officer, or the volunteers they appoint for verification. The person who verifies the petitions must inform the Board at its next meeting of what was proposed and whether it had enough petitioners. Referenda questions shall be on written ballots. Referenda questions may be drafted by any member, but any other member may add information to the question. The member who presented the petition and the person who verified the petition will make a written presentation of the issues available at YFCC PODs and the office at least three (3) business days in advance of the ballots being collected, and then deliver ballots to the members as soon as practical within 14 business days after the petition is verified.

(b) To overturn a membership vote made at a membership meeting or by referendum petition to overturn of 2/3 of the membership or 50 members, whichever is less, must be presented to the Board or the Coordinating Committee within fourteen business (14) days of the original vote. At this point the standard procedure for referenda is operative with one (1) exception: A petition to overturn must be approved by at least two-thirds (2/3) of the voting membership, not a simple majority. A failure of a referendum to overturn an original vote leaves the original vote standing. No more than one (1) attempt to overturn may be made per original vote.

(c) There shall be twenty-four (24) hours between a decision by the Board and its execution. An action by the Board may be recalled or affirmed by a referendum of the membership. Upon notification that a petition is pending, the Board shall be enjoined from executing a decision for one (1) additional week. There will be a twenty-four (24) hour waiting period between the passage of a membership referendum and its execution. A decision of the membership may be recalled or affirmed by a subsequent membership referendum. Upon notification that a recall petition is pending, the responsible body shall be enjoined from executing a decision for two (2) additional weeks.

Off-Grid Living at YESHURUN FARMS Community Cooperative

Off-grid living is a lifestyle choice we enthusiastically support at Yeshurun Farms. By removing ourselves from the public infrastructure for electricity, we eliminate this system dependency and the consequences for failures or takeovers.

Instead of electricity, we will produce energy from clean, renewable solar power, closed hydro-electric along with minimal use of propane. If it is a cloudy day or we have depleted solar batteries, we will run our backup propane generator for an hour or so to charge up our solar again.

It’s a more environmentally-friendly and cost-effective way to live. But it doesn’t mean we have to give up modern conveniences that make our life easier, safer, and more comfortable.

Living Room

Kitchen Area

Bathroom

All In stove, sink, refrigerator

Meeting/Classroom

Sustainable Living as a Companion to Off the Grid

As an off-gridder, we adopt sustainable living habits to reduce our reliance on society for things we can produce ourselves.

Atmospheric Water Generation and Rain Harvesting

We tend to take our access to clean water for granted. But municipal water treatment and infrastructures can be compromised. We’ve no doubt heard about the water crisis in Flint, Michigan.

At Yeshurun Farms, we will produce all water from Atmospheric Water Generators and Rain Harvesting.

Rainwater harvesting will be part of our ecosystem , and will save thousands of gallons of rainwater for land irrigation and other uses. Once a catch system is set up, costs and maintenance are minimal.

It’s so valuable that it’s becoming more and more mainstream. Santa Fe, NM, is an example of a city that requires rainwater catchment for residential and commercial development.

Propane and Electric Appliances

Propane-powered appliances remove our dependence on electricity since we are not affected by power outages. Propane has a lower carbon content, and it is highly efficient.

It is a safe alternative fuel option. If propane leaks, it vaporizes and dissipates into the air. Propane is non-toxic and not damaging to the environment when leaked into the atmosphere.

Septic Tanks

Nobody likes to think about their septic system. Yet, it is a significant factor in both sustainable and off-grid living.

When connected to the public infrastructure, sewer system wastewater is transported to treatment plants, cleaned with chemicals, and “properly” disposed of. This process protects human health, but risks contamination to land, lakes and rivers, and even drinking water.

Septic tanks, like those used at Yeshurun Farms, eliminate this process. Not only are they off-grid, but they also remove environmental concerns from chemical treatment and dumping.

Educating Our Children

Rearing sanctified children these days is nearly impossible with all the influences they are exposed to. Yeshurun Farms Cooperative Community plans to provide on-site home schooling for our children. We must take the educating of our children into our own hands, so that we can ensure they are trained up in the way they ought to go. We must also engage them in a way that will make them want to learn the Word of YAH and the skills required to support an off grid community. The world has it’s attractors, come help us to develop ways to attract our youth to a more wholesome lawful life in YAH.

Join Our Off-Grid Living Community located in Northern AZ.

Artist depiction of Yeshurun Community Cooperative

Yeshurun Farms offers prospective citizens the opportunity to help develop and maintain a off grid geodesic living waters ranging from one to four bedrooms. For our privacy and safety, we are a remote community.

As a community citizen you and your family gain access to all our communal amenities.

We welcome your questions regarding our community. Contact us to learn how you can become a member or to support our community.

Your tax deductible donation will help to achieve the vision that YAH has given us.

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