1. About Membership
2. Membership Benefits
3. Membership Qualifications
4. Your Commitment as a Member
   
5. Organization Membership
   
6. Sponsor Membership
   

About Membership
Maryland Energy & Sustainability Co-op Members are residential and business consumers in Montgomery County and surrounding communities in Maryland who agree to support the following priorities:

1. Making our homes and businesses more energy efficient,
2. Converting to using energy from renewable and sustainable sources,
3. Strengthening the local economy through the proven benefits of re-circulating money locally, and
4. Engaging in sustainable energy education, public policy advocacy, and community building initiatives.

Membership Benefits
Members will have access to:

• Significant discounts on all sustainable energy products and services purchased from Preferred Providers,
• Maryland Energy & Sustainability Co-op's online energy resources,
• Reliable information and education on sustainable energy and food,
• A share of Maryland Energy & Sustainability Co-op's distributed profits, if any (This does not apply to Sponsor Members),
  
• Member-only offerings,
• A vote and a voice in major Co-op decisions and initiatives (This does not apply to Sponsor Members),
• Education and community building events,
• Opportunities for volunteer work on committees and projects building sustainable energy resources in our region.
  

Membership shares are not like investments in a for-profit corporation. They are not considered to be Securities and do not increase in value over time. They do not provide an equity return or dividends and are not transferable or tradable.

Membership Qualifications
Membership is open and voluntary without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination. Any person or legal entity, who declares himself/ herself to be interested in the Co-op’s objectives and purpose, who agrees to: be a patron of the Co-op and to abide fully by its Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, Rules and Regulations, who sign a Membership Agreement, remit the required Membership and Annual Maintenance Fees, and who meets such other qualifications as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors, is eligible to become a Member of the Co-op. Members must be residents of Maryland and they must agree to sell their Membership back to the Co-op if they move from Maryland.

The Board of Directors or its delegate approves applications for Membership, and any application for Membership may be rejected in the sole and absolute discretion of the Board of Directors or its delegate. Member status (“Membership”) is effective as of the time the Membership share is purchased, contingent only on the Membership Agrrement being signed by the Member and the Co-op.

Your Commitment as a Member
Members make the following commitments when they join Maryland Energy & Sustainability Co-op:

1. Members commit to supporting the Co-op's Mission, letting Maryland Energy & Sustainability Co-op know when the Co-op is meeting or exceeding expectations or otherwise make suggestions.
2. Members commit to participating in the democratic process, directly or by proxy, and taking part in an annual meeting to build consensus on how to move this cooperative forward. (This does not apply to Sponsor Members.)
   
3. A Membership in Maryland Energy & Sustainability Co-op costs $1,000 for an organization and $100 for an individual, and Annual Maintenance Fees are Thirty Dollars ($30)
4. Anyone under 18 years old, who would like to become a Member of Maryland Energy & Sustainability Co-op, must have a parent or guardian sign the Membership Agreement.

Membership Capital Accounts will be used to fund the start-up and business related activities of the Co-op.  If you cancel your Membership or if you move from Maryland, the value of your Membership share will be refundable, as described in the Co-op's By-laws.  Memberships are not transferable and Memberships can only be offered back to the Co-op for re-purchase with ninety (90) days notice.

Organization Membership

• Organization Memberships are equivalent to Individual Memberships but apply to membership organizations such as other co-ops, congregations, employers, associations and building owners.
• All members of organizations with Organization Memberships are qualified for Sponsor Memberships.
• Cost of an Organization Membership is $1000 plus an annual $100 maintenance fee.
  

Sponsor Membership

• Sponsorship requires that you are a member, in good standing, of an Organization Member of the Co-op.
• Sponsors pay only the Annual Maintenance Fee of $30 per year; this is $100 less than individual members.
• Sponsors are not eligible for a Member Capital Account or a vote in democratic decisions of the Co-op.
• Sponsors in good standing are eligible to convert their Sponsorship into a full Individual Membership by paying an additional $100 at any time.