Mobius Artists Group RIghts and Responsibilities

Mobius Artists Group Rights & Responsibilities

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

SECTION ONE: GUIDING PHILOSOPHY

1A: Mobius Mission Statement

"Mobius (est. 1977) is a non-profit, artist-run organization, whose mission isto generate, shape and test experimental art. The members of the organization believean effective strategy for supporting this art is to establish grounds that build relationships among fellow artists. Mobius is committed to structuring contexts thatfoster projects incorporating a wide range of disciplines. This approach sets in motion situations where the artist's impact can be seen locally, nationally and internationally. Constructing art initiatives outside accepted frameworks and encouraging animated discourse with the public are fundamental to Mobius."

The Mobius Artists Group (MAG) is an association of individual working artists, actively committed to creating original, experimental work in different media including but not limited to performance art, installation, film, video, new music, sound art, dance, collaborative and interdisciplinary work.

Members are actively committed to creating new, original, experimental work and to supporting the development of the work of other group members. The relationship between group members is based in cooperation, not competition. MAG members create solo or collaborative projects that can involve any artist of their choice. Members are welcome to work outside the auspices of Mobius and pursue other opportunities to show work. MAG members retain all rights to work developed under the auspices of Mobius. However, Mobius' support of the development of the work should be given credit.

Mobius is an artist-run organization, which was founded by Marilyn Arsem in 1977. The members, along with the staff, and Board of Directors, are responsible for running the organization.

1B: General Comments:

The Rights and Responsibilities document, which includes the guiding philosophy of Mobius, as well as the History of the organization, outline a model of Mobius that continues to evolve. Earlier versions of these documents have been created over the years, but each era and context has had different challenges. From having a studio and producing work in different locations in the city, to operating public spaces including

the ones at Congress St. in Fort Point, Harrison Ave. in the South End, and Norfolk St. in Cambridge, to operate out of an office in Fort Point and again producing work in different locations in the city. The writing below serves as a framework for Mobius, and continues to do so, though periodic review allows us to retain or discard any of it as we evolve as a group.

In order to retain our status as a non-profit, tax-exempt organization, we have to maintain a public mission, which we do by producing work for the public. But we are more than simply an 'association of working artists'. To be more than that, our activities include other artists beyond the group. In the past, Mobius did this through its proposal review process twice a year, resulting in a 60/40 split in MAG to guest programming. Currently, our programming originates entirely from the group, but we use this as a way to invite artists with whom we want to work, as well as curate and jury guest artists through specific programs. It is a way to engage various artistic and geographic communities through our guest artists and the communities of which they are a part.

The artwork is the wheel, members are the spokes, and it only moves forward by the effort of the group. Mobius as an entity is the public face of the sum of the work by all the members of the group, the public presentation. Its members are Mobius, its microcosm and DNA. Mobius faces outward to the public toward presentation and education; the Mobius Artists Group faces inward, toward the making of the work. The structure of the business meeting/ art meeting reflects these two hats that we all wear. As well, its members represent Mobius in their public spheres and endeavors.

Mobius's survival and reputation rests on the artist group. The selection of new members is one of the biggest responsibilities of the current membership if we want the organization to continue and flourish. The organization's reputation is based on the quality and integrity of the work that we present - both our own work as artists and the work that we sponsor as curators.

The art meetings are the groundwork for our support of each other’s art making. They are where we become familiar with the group members’ work, our ideas and processes. Knowing that, we can more effectively help in giving both critical feedback as well as technical support, or in collaborating. Seeing the final presentations of work is also important, in order to provide critiques for each other and to understand the reception of the work by our audiences.

The organization's survival depends on MAGs other contributions as well. Those include the financial pledges that we each make, as well as the time that we give to doing tasks related to the upkeep of the space, the work that is required to maintain our online presence, the e-blasts updating our audiences about upcoming events, etc. This is the other way that we are helping each other's work.

We have survived this long because of the group's ability to make good art as well as our willingness to share the work that is required to maintain a space and an organization. These are the qualities that are needed in our members: not only strong art makers, but people with an interest in and generosity towards others.

With regard to individual MAG members fulfilling the responsibilities as outlined in the Rights and Responsibilities, the guiding principle is that this is a matter of volunteer, self-motivated effort.

The very existence of the Mobius Artists Group is dependent on the engagement of each MAG member with the group's collective life, the individual's work as an artist, and the (perhaps mundane) tasks of maintenance, administration and production.

However, the MAG does not act as a collective parent, doling out tasks to each group member regardless of their life situations, and then handing out rewards and punishments.

1C: Art

Mobius supports freedom of speech and freedom of expression in artmaking.

These freedoms do not preclude discussions about the concern for safety, ethics, or the legality of actions or artworks, their impact on the artist, the public, and/or the Mobius organization.

However, we often work in other contexts and with other organizations who have their own rules and restrictions. If a member of Mobius feels as if the requests of the other organization constitute censorship, then MAG members should meet to make an active decision about whether to go forward with adjustments to the project, or if the restrictions impose unacceptable compromises. In some cases, it might also be a choice of the particular group member whose work is being affected to withdraw from the project.

1D: Group Culture and communication between the members of the group

The Mobius Artists Group is composed of people from a range of backgrounds and belief systems. All beliefs and perspectives (political, religious, etc.) are valid and should be respected and tolerated, even if another artist or artists do not agree. Artists should refrain from the use of derogatory language (slurs, name-calling, etc.) to describe another’s beliefs. Artists should refrain from any behavior that belittles another artist or their beliefs.

It is expected that we respect each other’s boundaries. As a MAG you must be willing to articulate your personal boundaries and not expect others to simply know what your limits are, or what you are able to handle. If someone goes too far with you, you have a right to say ‘stop.’

If you have a disagreement with a fellow Mobius artist, you are expected to resolve it person to person, by whatever method is mutually agreed upon. If privacy is requested, then it should be honored.

What happens in the group stays within the group, with an expectation that privacy is maintained, unless more public sharing of the information is agreed upon by the affected parties. Mobius (the organization) may also be considered an affected party.

Equal time shall be given to all members of the group during meetings and/or other gatherings where discussion and/or decision-making is to occur. No individual MAG member should occupy a majority of discussion time. And no member should make communication difficult or impossible for another member.

1E: Group Communication

Since most of our communication at this point (2018) takes place on email, we have created two group emails. The first is for organizational concerns – scheduling, agendas, requests for assistance, news on projects, etc. The second email group (which people can opt into or out of at any time) is a forum for discussion of issues in arts and politics.

MAG members have a responsibility to assist that MAG member in helping to examine topics of concern, even difficult ones. As a MAG member, it is your responsibility to remove or excuse yourself from any discussion that goes beyond what you feel comfortable with, as well as to explain to the other MAG members why you are removing yourself from the discussion.

MAG members need to respect one another’s artwork and artmaking process and support it, regardless of their opinions of the value or strength of the work. MAG members need to find constructive ways of providing their feedback on the work, as well as learning to listen to critical feedback. This is what we are in this group to do.

Further clarification of MAG to MAG communications, as of 6/7/2020:

1E1. magbiz@mobius.org list is business related to mobius, and limited to:

-general calls for MAG participation in mobius events

-asking MAGs for help/support in organizing/producing/running/documenting mobius events -finances re: mobius

-social media management (includes mobius.org, facebook, instagram, twitter, eblasts) -managing/setting up mobius meetings (art/biz/recommitment/emergency/other)

-sending agenda and minutes from mobius meetings

-overall management of programming in times of crisis such as pandemics etc

-inviting MAGs to mobius events to encourage MAGs to attend and support event by inviting guests -links to mobius event documentation (can aid in future mobius grant applications)

For all email lists/communications, please send LINKs not actual jpeg files UNLESS it's a flyer you need to send to people for PR for a mobius event. Sending huge files directly to everyone is not nice; keep in mind that not everyone has high speed internet or the bandwidth to handle large files.

1E2. magart-disc@mobius.org list is for all other activity:

PLEASE start subject lines with clear identifiers,

ART = your art (current or past)

WIP = your work in progress

CALL = call for work

FYI = article/link to video/art etc that isn’t yours

if you want to discuss whatever it is, put DISCUSS as the 2nd word in the subject in caps -sharing of new artwork by MAGs (this can include work for future mobius event) -any ongoing discussion of MAG artwork (this can include artwork from/for a mobius event) -ask for assistance from MAGs for your non-mobius projects.

-calls for MAG participation in non-mobius event which you think might be of general MAG interest.

-links to MAG documentation from non-mobius events that you think might be of general MAG interest.

1E3. POSTINGS for social media MAGs only please email Milan, EL, Jane, Jimena: anything you want to go on mobius.org, eblasts, facebook, twitter, instagram

1E4. ADMIN for mobius google groups and user, please email Jane and Zayde: adding new members to our lists, adding lists (aka google groups)

1E5. INDIVIDUAL EMAILS or mention at art mtg:

Links to MAG related non-mobius documention links to MAG related non-mobius documentation - just send links privately to MAGs who are directly involved and anyone who directly expressed interest.

calls for mobius and non-mobius events that you know would only be of interest to a few MAGs.

1E6. DISCUSS AT MEETINGS ONLY (OR BY PHONE with MAGs not at the meeting): new member proposals and discussions [actual voting will be done anonymously ONLINE]

1F: Representing Mobius in Public

When we utilize Mobius social media and website, we are perceived to be part of Mobius.

When we identify as being a Mobius artist in our bios, in public, or in an online forum we are perceived to be part of Mobius.

As a member of the group, we are/can be associated with everyone's work, and it can be assumed by the public that all the members support it or approve of it.

Therefore, all members of the group have a vested interest in the behavior in public or online of others identified as Mobius members, as it reflects on their own membership.

Wherever possible (including on the website, social media and eblast), we should add this disclaimer:

“The Mobius Artists Group is composed of people from a range of backgrounds and beliefs. The artistic projects of individual MAG members do not represent in any way the perspectives and opinions of the other members in the group.”

It is also possible to make work under our own names, without identifying as a Mobius artist and/or without promoting our art through the Mobius website or social media.

1G: Decision-making at Mobius

Mobius hopes to reach group consensus in making decisions.

Consensus decisions by all active members of the group are always required for the addition of new members to the group, as well as the removal of members.

If consensus cannot be reached in a timely manner for any other decision, it will be made by voting, passed by a majority of the artists group members who are in attendance at the meeting.

SECTION TWO: MAG RIGHTS

2A. Facility:

Members have the use of:

information that comes to Mobius about opportunities.

office equipment.

production equipment.

space (when available to the organization) for producing work.

2B. Publicity (internet, snail-mail, etc.):

Members have use of:

the Mobius website to promote and document artwork,discuss artmaking

activities, etc.

the weekly "email blast" promoting both on- and off-site events by MAG

members.

the Mobius email address database, and all utilities provided through the list service (currently "Constant Contact") in order to create mass e-mailings.

Mobius social media sites (Facebook, Youtube, Vimeo, Flickr, Twitter).

A press contact list (housed on Constant Contact), but as of May 2017 it is

outdated and needs to be refreshed.

BELOW WAS HIGHLIGHTED IN 2017 for discussion. It needs to be corrected and clarified.

2C. Documentation:

Mobius houses an archive of documentation of the work produced at Mobius, as well as any work produced by Mobius Artists Group members, even outside of Mobius. (2018 we will continue researching an effective way to maintain an archive of documentation online. Currently we have a flickr account, which is good through 2020, but other options will be examined and discussed.)

2D. Art Project Information andDevelopment:

All MAG artists have:

The opportunity to participate in art meetings. This is an opportunity where the artists group members can talk about any work that they are doing, no matter how embryonic the idea, no matter what media, no matter whether they intend to

produce it through Mobius or not.

Opportunities to participate in collaborative events and exchanges with guest artists and art organizations; these usually originate from a group member.

Access to information about opportunities that come to the Mobius

office.

2D1. Project Development

When an outside organization approaches Mobius, inviting the group to present or make new work, the opportunity and decision of what to do and who will do it is discussed and determined by the entire group.

Individual members of Mobius can propose projects, in which case they are responsible for curating the project as well as acquiring funding to do it.

2E. Financial Relationships between Artist Members and Organization:

Individual MAG artists may pursue private or public funding for projects, using Mobius’ non profit status when needed. Restricted contributions for use by individual MAG members can be made to the organization. Our 501c3 status allows this to be a tax-exempt contribution.

However, there are restrictions on the use of funds for certain kinds of political activities.

The organization will retain a percentage of project grants or private donations for projects, in order to pay for staff resources, bookkeeping and accounting costs incurred. A range of 5% - 10% will be allocated to Mobius to cover these overhead expenses. The actual percentage will be determined on a case by case basis and will depend on what the administrative work entails and the actual impact on the Mobius budget.

MAG members may choose at times to make a donation to Mobius, Inc. that is restricted to their own project, in order to attract matching funding from another source. In those cases, Mobius will not take a 5% share of the MAG's donation, unless there are specific circumstances that entail extensive use of Mobius's administrative support in managing the project, to be determined at the time of the donation.

There may be funding opportunities for which individuals want to apply with Mobius as fiscal agent, that potentially result in a conflict with an organizational grant application to the same program. In this case, a discussion needs to occur concerning which proposalwill take precedence.

As a courtesy, the group should be informed in advance of individual artist's use of thenon profit status. This might allow strategizing and combining projects into more robust applications.

Whenever possible, a line for Mobius administrative costs should be added directly to the funding request budget, which can fulfill the % payment to Mobius overhead costs of administering the grant.

The box office of event admissions as gross income is received and processedthrough the Mobius books, and then paid out with a 50/50 split between Mobius and the individual MAG(s). This is also the same percentage allocated with guest artists and/or groups producing and presenting live events here. All ticket prices for any eventswill include a Friends of Mobius discount. The box office split and Friends of Mobius discount applies when Mobius has a space or is paying for the rental and/or other expenses for the use of the space.

A percentage of any/all larger project grants and monies that Mobius is awarded and administers needs to be allocated to Mobius overhead. Determiningthe appropriate % needs to be done on a case-by-case basis.

2F. Other Support

Mobius members have use of Mobius volunteers, when available, for production and administrative assistance. Ideally, we should be matching the volunteer’s interest with an appropriate use of their time, as they are donating their services for free.

Interns, when they are at Mobius through college programs and receiving credit for their work, may have to be managed more specifically as written reports are generally required.

Mobius employs minimal staff to handle day-to-day activities ofthe organization. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

SECTION THREE: MAG RESPONSIBILITIES

3A. General Remarks:

In the interests of communication and the activities throughout the organization, MAG membersshould provide requested information as promptly as possible.

Leading meetings are shared by all on a rotating basis.

If, for whatever reason, MAG members’ lives change such that they cannot fulfill the responsibilities assumed, the group as a whole should be responsive and help the individual adjust the workload. However, the MAG member mustmake this change of circumstances clear to the group, in order for them to be responsive to the individual’s needs. This communication alsoenables the group to assess its own needs on an ongoing basis.

3B. MAG responsibilities concerning artproduction:

Create new artwork!!

Actively generate, develop, and present new, original experimental work (whatever experimental means! And it changes constantly!!)

Attend Art Meetings!

If all things flow from the art meeting, it requires a significant commitment to the art meetings by MAG, which might mean more time. The art meetings are where we engage as an artistic group. Our common interest is to enhance our individual and group practices as a creative community. It is our responsibility not just to talk about our own work, but to also see and critique other members’ artwork.

We do not make it a requirement that members work artistically with other membersof the group. The group does not hold the individual back; the group supportsthe individual. Collaboration happens naturally, it is not expected orrequired.

Identify upcoming projects to the group in a timely fashion in order to maintain a master calendar of activities of the organization.

Artists are to maintain and update their Mobius artist page and calendar events on the website. If you have problems with understanding the protocol, please contact the standing volunteer

for the web. MAGs need to be proactive and put information on other social media sites.

MAGs should provide the archivist with a minimum of two still images of each performance or event that they presented or produced, to be included in the Mobius archives. Additional information needs to include title, date, people involved, photographer, per a standard form TBD.

Assist other MAGs when they produce their events, by providing technical support, front of house support, etc.

Attend MAG events and related activities.

If another organization wishes to claim sole sponsorship of a group member’s project, then the artist needs to still find a way to acknowledge Mobius’ support of the project.

MAG artists should include their membership in Mobius Artists Group any time they send out their bios. It benefits everyone to include mention of your Mobius membership in press materials for off-site work and in other contexts.

3C. MAG responsibilities concerning curatorialefforts:

Mobius is committed first, to the support of Mobius Artists Group members; second, to Boston and New England artists; third, to national and international artists.

Here are some of the ways we are expected to fulfill our public mission asMAG artists:

MAG representation in public events, as advocates of work consistent withour mission statement.

Involvement of Guest artists in Mobius projects: We hope to maintain anoverall percentage of at least 20% guest artists of all artists participating in Mobius programs, whether it’s your own work or a curated project.

MAG members might also create education projects by developing public

programs in conjunction with art presentations, including talks andworkshops.

3D. MAG responsibilities concerning organizationaltasks:

In addition to programming/curatorial work, there are other tasks that allMAG members do. At the recommitment meeting, each member chooses at least one volunteer position for the upcoming year.

In the category of support staff these are:

Fundraising and Development:

Develop fundraising strategies including planning fundraising events,

develop potential donor lists, assist in research about grant support, Assist

in writing grant applications and budgets

Operations:

Facility: identify space needs for the organization, ie, research available

spaces to show work, for office, and eventually a permanent home. This

committee also oversees any cleaning, repairs or renovations needed.

Personnel: develop job descriptions and conduct annual review of staff

(with members of the Board), and resolve issues concerning the workplace

Board Development: Stay ahead of the curve and identify potential board

members

Budget: assist in developing annual budget

Volunteers: recruit and manage volunteers and tasks for them to do

Programming and Education:

Identify MAG members’ programs and organize the calendar, and make

sure that appropriate education programs are developed. Prepare the master calendar of events, paying attention to ways that we can shape the

programming to boost PR.

The programming committee may also issue deadlines for scheduling of

MAG events, in order to facilitate more coherent programming.

Work with director and group on outreach and advocacy.

Communications:

Develop and implement a publicity strategy for the organization and

individual projects.

Individuals on this committee are responsible for website, weekly e-blast,

social media and contact with print, radio and TV media.

Documentation and archiving:

Make sure that all work produced by the organization is photographed

videotaped or recorded.

Individual archiving the work (on hard drive) develops a system to maintain a full and searchable record of the work.

Board participation:

One member of MAG serves on the board each year.

Equipment:

Keep the equipment in working order

Keep an up to date list available to the group

Arrange for use of the equipment by group members

Advisory Committee:

This committee serves on an ad-hoc basis, to advise and assist the director

in determining priorities and direction

All-MAG participation:

All-Mobius meetings (joint meetings with Board),

Annual Recommitment meeting

Work shifts for fundraising events

Participation in workdays (typically for cleaning, organizing,etc.)

3E. Individual Activity:

Individual artists are free to pursue work outside the Mobius framework. Members should

keep the group and staff updated on individual projects and grants, along with other venues and potential opportunities. Please remember that people's perceptions of Mobius are based in part on their interactions with individual group members.

Mobius should be acknowledged with any subsequent presentations of work that was developed or supported through the organization.

3F. Financial obligations

Mobius has substantial financial obligations that must be met if the organization is to survive. Towards that end it is requested that each MAG member work towards the goal of pledging donations for Mobius totaling at least, if not more than, $600.00 per year.

The means to achieve this goal are through personal donations,sponsoring programming that brings in cash (such as Works in Progress, etc.), or by creating fundraising events. These events can be achieved through cooperation with other MAG members, or through solo work.

UPDATE 6/2020

As of July 2019 we have suspended asking for donations by MAG members towards the operating costs of the organization.

3G. INTERNATIONAL MEMBERS

We now have members who are based internationally, as well as nationally on the US West Coast.

We encourage participation in MAG meetings via Skype.

International and national members are expected to have the same benefits and take on the same responsibilities as other MAG members, in terms of artmaking, curatorial efforts, and organizational tasks.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

SECTION FOUR: POLICIES ANDPROCEDURES

4A. Teaching through Mobius:

Mobius Artists Group members are encouraged to offer workshops and courses through Mobius. Mobius could offer services such asregistering students, processing checks, paying teachers and doing some PR for classes. Thefee and services structure will be determined at the time by the group as a whole.

(Inthe past, teachers have received 75% of class fees and Mobius received 25% when the class was advertised through the newsletter and taught in the Mobius space. Teachers have offered students a 25% discount, representing the Mobius % that the student worked off as a volunteer in the Mobius office. This discount applied also to other members of the organization, including MAGs, Board members, staff and interns. Further discounts were made at the artist's discretion.)

4B. Use of the Mobius facility (as of January 2017 the organization does not have a space)

and equipment:

The facility and equipment is dedicated to use by MAG members. The followingare the priorities for scheduling the space orequipment:

1) Publicly presenting art work.

2) Art meetings.

3) MAG members preparing to present work elsewhere.

4) MAG artists developing work for future presentation.

5) MAG teaching and special projects.

6) MAG-produced work sessions open to the community of artists.

Scheduling should be done as soon as the need is known. These priorities will be used in negotiating conflicting needs for time, with an effort made to accommodate everyone.

The equipment or space may also need to be rented from time to time togenerate income. MAG members will be consulted in advance about rentals before they are confirmed.

Note that all Mobius members are assigned an email account within the Mobius GoogleApps account. MAGs have an email address <name>@mobius.org, which they can usefor their own purposes. Space and equipment scheduling can be accomplished through the use of the Basecamp account.

4C. General remarks about group meetings:

The group’s meetings are at the heart of MAG's life as a group, as distinct from an assortment of individuals. At these meetings, important decisions are made, workis shared and information is made available. For this reason, attendance atscheduled meetings should be a high priority of every MAG member. Still, situations arise which interfere with meeting attendance; for example, family time, illness, and work schedules. In every such case, MAG members who know that they will not be ableto attend a meeting should contact the group in advance.

This advance contact is important in order that other group members not be left guessing. We can often provide the ability to attend a meeting in a virtualmanner, using Skype or a similar service (prior arrangements are always necessary for this).

Mobius functions best when everyone is participating together in the life ofthe organization. The lifeblood of the organization is propelled by this participation.

The reason for membership is to participate in the group, not only going to the business meetings, but going to the art meetings to share your work and be partof others' work. This includes participating in the activities that keep Mobius functioning, such as fundraising events.

If a MAG member knows that they will be missing a number of meetings, that information

should be provided to the group as soon as it is known. Anticipated long absences (of more than a few months) may be reasons to request leaves ofabsence.

If a member misses three consecutive meetings, with orwithout an excuse, the facilitator for the next meeting will contact that member for clarification of their status. If contact is not achieved, then multiple people in the group will try to contact them. If no response occurs, and the member doesn’t attend a meeting to explain why they think they should continue to be a member of the group, then it is assumed that they are no longer a part of the group. At that point they will be removed from email lists and the website.

Different MAG members, on a rotating basis, run meetings. In additionto these regular meetings, there are also all-Mobius meetings scheduled, which includes the staff and members of the Board.

4C1. Art Meetings (monthly or more often!):

MAG members meet for art meetings, generally on the first Sunday afternoon of each month. The afternoon is devoted to showing new work, critiquing recently presented work, participating in workshop activities, discussing new ideas for projects, theories, techniques, otherwork seen, read about, etc. The MAG member in charge of running that month's meeting will contact other members to ask if they have work that they wish to present.

A running list should be kept at art meetings of projects that members aredoing.

4C2. BusinessMeetings:

As an artist-run organization, all artistic and MAG policy decisions remain in thehands of the artists. MAG members meet regularly to discuss policy questions for the organization, announce upcoming events and opportunities, discuss expenditures and division of labor, hear reports from staff,board of directors and committees, etc.

4C2a: Combined Meetings

As of July 2018, the business meeting is now combined with the monthly art meeting. We consider this a minimum. More meetings are encouraged!

NEW MEETING STRUCTURE as of 7/1/2018

With the understanding that available time for meetings is limited, due to work and family obligations as well as increased travel distance from members’ homes, we are shifting to one meeting per month, to be held on the first Sunday of the month. If it is a holiday weekend, the meeting will be scheduled for the following Sunday.

The monthly meetings combine both art and business. MAG members will rotate in the role of meeting organizer/facilitator. A MAG member should facilitate a meeting at least once per calendar year.

Two weeks prior to the meeting, the MAG meeting facilitator will poll the artists to determine who will show work.

The MAG meeting facilitator, in consultation with the Administrator on the business part of the meeting, will then construct and distribute an agenda at least two days prior to the meeting.

Another MAG will be designated as timekeeper at the beginning of each meeting (also a rotating task).

OUTLINE OF MEETINGS COMBINING ART AND BUSINESS

An agenda will assign times for each section and artist presentations.

Check in (brief! – 3 minutes each)

Business

Food break

Art meeting

Decisions are made by those attending a given meeting. If you aren't at a meeting, you need to abide by thedecision made.

4C3. Recommitment, Leaves of Absence, and Leave-Taking and Returning:

Copies of the Rights and Responsibilities will be distributed to members in advanceof each year's recommitment meeting.

Each year, at the June MAG Recommitment Meeting, MAG members evaluate their involvement with Mobius and identify their commitment for the next year, including year long volunteer tasks. This is a critical meeting for all members to attend.If circumstances prevent a MAG member from attending, the artist should write a statement addressing these issues, to be read at themeeting.

At this meeting members who have been on leave of absence for a year decide whether to return in full to the group, ask for an extended leave of absence or decide to leave the group. Active members also use this meeting to announce a leave of absence or decision to leave the group. During a leave of absence, MAG members suspend all their rights and responsibilities.

4D: MAGS ON LEAVE and clarification of what this entails:

During a leave of absence, MAG members suspend alltheir rights and responsibilities.

1. your group email - should be in READ ONLY mode:

You may still remain on the group email list but please be in READ ONLY mode for this privilege unless you are notifying the group that you are "activating" yourself as a MAG again.

If you see something in the emails that you wish to respond to, please email an active MAG directly with your comments, not the whole group. That active MAG will become your spokesperson.

2. your google mobius.org email account may not be active.

We will try to keep your google mobius.org email address active BUT if we run out of our limit of 50 email addresses, we might have to delete your existing

mobius.org email account especially if you have no idea if and when you might become active again. Bottom line, if you have anything important stored just on your google mobius.org account, please be sure to move that data somewhere else if you are going on leave for more than one year.

3. your artist page on mobius.org may not be kept visible to the public.

4. you will not be an administrator on social media, and you give up your right to use our various online outlets to promote your events, activities, etc.

5. you may not suggest new members to the group while on leave

6. you may not book the space while on leave

7. if you wish to use Mobius as a fiscal sponsor or apply for a grant through Mobius, it will need to be approved by the group just as they approve any outside artist’s use of Mobius.

In other words, you suspend all your privileges of being a member.

8. Going off leave and becoming an active MAG again:

You may go off leave and become active at ANY TIME, you do not need to wait for a meeting.

4E. New Members: general information

Although new members can be added at any time, it has been easier for programming and integration into other tasks to make the final decision in the spring.

We seek to maintain a balance of factors in adding new members, which may include diversity of media, ethnicity, gender, and age. We consider artists whose work we have actually seen and who we find inspiring. Ideally, we consider people whom we have known or worked with individually, or who have had some involvement with Mobius. We consciously look for people who also operate in a cooperative fashion. You need to know that your proposed artist is willing to participate in a group, share in the responsibilities of running a space as well as supporting the other group members' work.

Any potential new member must be proposed to the group by an active MAG member, who becomes the advocate for that artist, making a case, providing background information on them, and letting othergroup members know where and when that artist's work can be seen. The process maytake several months, because it is important that all members of the group become familiar with the artist’s work and participate in discussions leading up to this decision.

Inviting new members is unlike other decisions that are made in other meetings, which are decided by those in attendance. But this decision is one of the most important ones that we make. Among other reasons, we are all agreeing to support that artist and their work, no matter what. Once you are in the group, you are a member until you choose to leave. We all need to respect, value, and be able and willing to support that artist's work wherever it goes.

There is no "application" process for becoming a MAG member. Existingmembers nominate potential new members, and decisions are made privately in-groupmeetings. This process MUST be kept completelyconfidential.

4E1: New Member Process at Mobius

Protocol for suggesting new members and ultimately inviting them into the group:

1. only ACTIVE MAGs may suggest new members

2. do NOT suggest or discuss new members via EMAIL.

- it has to be done at a meeting - face to face - or potentially over the phone.

3. PLEASE never let anyone you are thinking of as a potential member know that you are thinking of suggesting them!

We must reiterate keeping this conversation private, not on email, and only between group members. Yes, we have had people in the artist community mad at us for either not considering them or being told that they were being considered but were then not asked. It is a private process and needs to be kept that

way. There is no application process.

4. new members are voted in at a meeting and are only accepted if all MAGs agree to accept them (ie they are voted in by consensus). This is one instance in which a decision must be made by all the members of the group, not just those who are present at the meeting. Those MAGs need to be contacted by phone.

5. If one or more MAGs vote against a particular candidate, the MAG(s) are under NO OBLIGATION to explain to the group why they are voting against that candidate and should not be pressured by anyone in the group to explain why they are voting against a particular candidate. In the past, most people do explain why, but you do not HAVE TO. Also, it's usually obvious during the discussion of a particular candidate....

6. Occasionally we have had more artists we are interested in (with no vetoes), than the number of new members we want to add. When that was the case, we used the following method suggested by Bob Raymond, that would reveal the will of the sum of the group.

-Each person ranks the list in order of priority, 1 through whatever the total

number, leaving no one out and not double numbering people.

-When we merge the rankings done by all group members, you can see a priority order of preference. There is often a clear break between the ones who are near the top of everyone's lists, and the ones who have the most disparate rankings.

-From that list we have gone one more step to confirm a final set of the choices, by consensus, with everyone in the group.

7. If a candidate is voted in, it is the responsibility of whoever originally suggested the candidate to invite them into the group by phone or in person (do not invite them over email please). Or another MAG might invite the person, provided the original MAG who suggested the candidate is agreeable to it.

8. Once a new member has accepted, they are matched with a current member, who can answer questions and help them to become integrated into the group.

4F. Requesting Members toLeave:

A member can be asked to leave Mobius if they violate the Rights and Responsibilities, as outlined in this R&R Document, and by a consensus vote of the rest of the group, being all other active (i.e. not on leave) MAG members.

The group may make a decision to ask a member to leave, only as a lastresort. Reasons for such a serious decision may include (for example) sustainedconflict between group members, refusal by a member to participate in required activities, repeated inability to follow through on volunteer tasks, or extended absencewithout explanation.

This decision may only be reached after thorough attempts to resolve the problem(s) have been made by the group. The initial assumption should be that mutualresolution of difficulties is possible. Discussions should be direct and open, respecting potentially differing perceptions of the problem, and take place in the context of group meetings.