Perspectives on the Standards

Standard #1: Membership is voluntary and without time limits.

To us—members and staff—this Standard appears so basic and straightforward that we often assume that it needs little explanation. Actually, Standard #1 is powerful and exploring its meaning is very important.

This Standard means that no one can be forced to become a member of a clubhouse. Members can come and go. There are many reasons why members do not come to the clubhouse: gaining employment, pursuing education, family responsibilities, illness, wellness, change of residence, or jail time. But we are free to return at any time. No one can lose the right of membership forever—even if one of us is suspended, after the specified time away is over, we may return. And even if one of us collects many suspensions, once the time away is over, we may return.

Why does the clubhouse movement adhere to this Standard? Because we want to attract members who desire to be active contributors to the clubhouse community. Often, when members join a clubhouse due to pressure from others, we never see them again—they become a name on a list. We also respect the right of every prospective member to decide for themselves whether or not they will join our clubhouse. Our clubhouses are not hospitals, sheltered workshops, or day treatment programs, where attendance is mandatory and can even be court-ordered.

The Standard also distinguishes clubhouses from more traditional social service approaches. Many of us have lost services from traditional social service agencies when our "problem" was determined to have been "resolved." Because we are often used to this way of working, some of us leave clubhouses after we have achieved a specific goal.

This Standard respects the right of members to determine the amount of contact and the kind of contact that they want to have with the clubhouse community. A member’s involvement is not determined by administrative or agency need. We have the right of self-determination at our clubhouses, from our first decision to our last. This Standard represents the first step toward empowerment for us. We have the dignity of choice at clubhouses.