Shehaqua Council Circle Policies

Composition of Shehaqua Council

The Shehaqua Council should have between seven and nine members at all times. If the total number of Council members drops below seven, then the empty seat(s) should be filled up to seven seats by the candidate(s) that achieved the highest votes during the last election. There should always be at least one person on the Council representing each one of these three demographic groups:

• Families with young children (up to 12 years of age)
• Families with older children (13+ years of age)
• Young adults (including couples without kids)

Only one per person per family per generation can serve on the Council at the same time. (For example, a father and daughter is fine, a married couple is not.)

If there is a situation where the only person who would represent one of these three demographic groups is a candidate who didn’t get enough votes to be elected by the number of votes alone, the Council can decide that this person should be given the seat based on this demographic distribution requirement.

Council Shehaqua Elections

The call for nominations for Council candidates should go out no later than December 1. Council elections should take place every year in the beginning of the year, between the beginning of January and the end of February. The newly elected Council members should be informed by March 1. Their turn should start with the first Council meeting/call following March 1.

Criteria for Council candidates: Council candidates must have attended at least two Shehaqua programs in the last three years, have demonstrated responsibility at Shehaqua programs (for example helped with a volunteer assignment at camp or as a member of a circle), must be 17 years old or older, and have a sincere desire to serve the Shehaqua Family.

Criteria for voters: Voters in the Council election must have attended at least two Shehaqua programs in the last three years, have demonstrated responsibility at Shehaqua programs (for example, helped with a volunteer assignment at camp or served as a member of a circle), and must be 17 years old or older.

Council Duties

The Shehaqua Council is responsible for finding an Operations Director. The new Operations Director automatically becomes a member of the Council and fills the seat of the old Operations Director. If the new Operations Director already is a member of the Council, the old Operations Director can stay on the Council until the next election.

The Council meets bi-monthly via Zoom call and for a one-day summit meeting in person in spring. The Council facilitator can schedule additional meetings if needed. The Council elects a facilitator, administrator and scribe each year using the sociocracy process of election.

If a Council member misses 2 meetings in a row or fails to respond to emails that require a reply twice in a row, the facilitator will get in touch with them and give them an opportunity to recommit to the Council. If that member continues to miss meetings or fails to respond to emails, they will no longer be considered a Council member.