How to join Freeside

So you want to be a member of Freeside Atlanta, eh?  Awesome!

We are a friendly group and we welcome newcomers. However, we do want to get to know you first.  Here is the process for becoming a new member.

• Find a sponsor. 
• Send your bio and responses to some of the questions below to your sponser.
  
• Your sponsor will then add you to The List, along with your responses.
  
• If you don't already know an existing member, your best bet is to show up to open events and participate. Sooner or later, you'll get to know people and find somebody to sponsor you.
• Your sponsorship period will last three to six weeks.
  
• During your sponsorship, you'll be expected to participate in classes or workshops regularly. Meet people, learn things, teach things, and most importantly, be a positive person that others like being around!
• Find two members who are willing to be your fans.
• If after six weeks you still have an enthusiast sponsor and you've managed to get two or more fans, you'll go up for reckoning.
• All members will have the opportunity to participate in your reckoning.  If everyone agrees you are a positive and constructive addition to our group, you shall be inducted.
• If you have been negative or at all destructive during our events, we shall politely pass on your inclusion.

Got it? Quick re-cap: get a sponsor, participate in regular open events, get two fans who will endorse you, be positive and awesome at all times, and then you'll get to be a member.

Questions to Send to Your Sponsor

1. What do you think you can offer the space? (Skills, personality, a
nice smile, etc.)

2. What do you think the space can offer you? (New talent, social
networking, space to work, etc.)

3. What are some current project you are working on/want to work on?
(If you have past projects you're proud of, now's the time to boast
too)

5. How did you find/get interested in the space?

6.What classes would you be interested in seeing at the space? What
might you be willing to teach?

7. What does the term 'hackerspace' mean to you?

The role of the "Sponsor"

Are you already a member and wish to sponsor a new member?

You will be responsible for a few things:

• Making sure the new member is not a crazy person.
• Helping the potential member participate in open events.
• Explaining to the potential member how things work in our group.
• Making sure they know and adhere to our not-being-an-asshole policy. (TODO: write the not-being-an-asshole policy.)

The role of a "Fan"

Are you already a member and want to sign as potential member's fan?

You're not necessarily as responsible for the new member as their sponsor is. Being a fan just means you've talked to and worked with the potential member enough to be fairly certain you'd like to see them become a part of the group -- and you're willing to put your name down to help them.

Remember, making somebody a member means giving them a key to the space, 24/7 access, and all the other perks and responsibilities members enjoy. Be sure that you really mean it.

Induction!

You made it? Congratulations! Induction means:

• Your own key! (Well, an RFID badge and key code.)
• 24/7 access to the space.
• Your own little piece of the Signature Wall to personalize.
• A designated space to store your personal equipment.
• A new family of 50-something people to entertain you.
• World-wide fame; you're now a part of something truly amazing.
  

Enjoy!