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+---
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+layout: page
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+title: "[Guide] Rules for Mutual Aid Groups"
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+permalink: /guides/mutual-aid/
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+---
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+
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+"Mutual aid" groups generally seek to address community challenges
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+through peer relationships and an eye toward transformative social
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+change. They seek to operate by the dictum "solidarity, not charity."
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+Adopting clear governance plans early can increase the effectiveness and
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+sustainability of mutual aid groups. Undefined means of operating can
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+lead to what feminist scholar Jo Freeman refers to as a "[tyranny of
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+structurelessness](https://www.jofreeman.com/joreen/tyranny.htm)." This
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+concept addresses the potential of unacknowledged power relations to
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+dominate a group's decision making process. Without structure there is
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+no means to question de facto leadership or hierarchies.
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+
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+Here are some ideas about how to start:
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+
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+**Don't overdo it.** Too many rules and documents can stifle volunteer
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+groups. Regulations should be mostly invisible, except when they're
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+needed. The vast majority of good governance work is not rules or tech:
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+it is culture, communication, and trust. Keep your focus on those, but
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+have the rules in the background.
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+
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+**Make explicit where you are.** [Create your first
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+Rule](https://communityrule.info/guides/first-rule/), using the
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+[Create](https://communityrule.info/create/) page, to determine and
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+articulate how your group currently functions. Pick a template that
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+closely reflects where your group currently stands.
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+
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+- Be honest with yourself and your community
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+- Don't claim to do what you are not ready for
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+- Don't get stuck on utopianism, use it as a mirror
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+
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+**Introduce achievable commitments to strive toward.** Draw from the
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+[Templates](https://communityrule.info/templates/) to think about what
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+you might like to have in your Rule in the future, filing in the current
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+gaps with reasonable additions. Consider adding---either in your Rule or
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+linked from it---a code of conduct, community agreement, safer space
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+policy or the like.
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+
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+- Be sure all the main questions are answered
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+- Reflect on the values that are widespread in the group
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+- Share a draft for feedback
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+- Devise an appropriate ratification process
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+- Ensure there is a mechanism for modifying the Rule---it should be
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+ harder than most decisions, but not out of reach
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+
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+**Honor your commitments.** As specified in your Rule, make sure you
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+have clear mechanism for carrying out all governance procedures and
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+resolving issues that arise. Enforce any agreements about behavior
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+fairly and uniformly.
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+
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+- Share governance roles as widely as possible without creating
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+ burdens
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+- Account for members' needs and time commitments, recognizing that
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+ not everyone will be able to attend every meeting and enabling
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+ multiple methods for participation
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+- If possible, separate out enforcement and rule-making roles
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+- Be prepared to allow changes to the Rule as experience requires
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+- Keep the focus on the work
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+
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+Designing governance for volunteer-powered groups can be challenging.
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+Focus on transparency and fairness. And remember: culture,
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+communication, and trust are vital elements of successful
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+self-governing.
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