An essential element in creating a sense of community is membership, which is the feeling of “belonging or sharing a sense of personal relatedness”. Without membership there is no community – members comprise community, community consists of members.
The most straightforward way to delineate community and generate the feeling of membership is a membership program or, even better, organization: community members are actually called members and they become members following a formal application process and payment of dues. In return for membership, members get a variety of benefits and perks.
Because the best stuff happens at intersections and transitions, a developing interface between membership and sustainability piqued my interest. I’m therefore becoming involved, as member of the marketing workgroup, with VOIS – Voice for Oregon Innovation and Sustainability, a new membership organization that “supports sustainable, forward-thinking business leaders through advocacy, education, leadership cultivation, civic interaction and community building.”
In essence, VOIS is a statewide chamber of commerce for sustainable businesses. It will be located at the Leftbank Project building; supported by a grant from the Portland Development Commission and dubbed VOISbox Ballroom, the space will serve as a member hub and event space. The VOISbox Ballroom will be launched with a party on November 5th, when the membership drive will also officially begin.
I look forward to being a part of and participating in Portland’s new sustainability community organization!
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Image credit: mhiran1
