WHAT WE BELIEVE
Process for Admission
Anyone interested in joining must fill out an application. From there, application are assessed based on algorithmic values as well as input from hundreds of committee members spread throughout the world. Committee members are anonymous to each other and comprised of people from various backgrounds, interests, ages, and sexual orientations. Application decision times can range anywhere from a day to a few months. If admitted, every new member is asked to pay their monthly membership fees. See www.rayatheapp.com/membership for more details.
Guidelines and Values
Committee members are asked by Raya to consider the following analogy: If you were hosting an intimate dinner party with 10 people around a table, and wanted to create a memorable evening full of interesting, lively, and respectful conversation, who would you invite? Would the other attendees understand why everyone else was chosen to be a part of this special occasion? This creates a unique environment with which to meet each other:
Your work:
What about your work or how you spend your time stands out as creative? What are you an expert at or known for? What do you think other guests of this fictional gathering would remember about how you spend your time?
Familiarity:
What makes Raya different is a sense of belonging - a common bond with fellow members of a community, and that can come in many forms. Close relationships with other members, similar work, shared interests, and so on. It's why applications require referrals. A trusted source can vouch for an applicant as someone who would add to the collective community conversation.
Something extra:
Beyond all of this, committee members look for that hard to describe something extra. NASA scientists, cancer researchers, poets, painters - interesting people from all walks of life from all over the world have found us with no affiliation or anyone to vouch for them, and yet, the committee felt they possessed some special quality which would strengthen the community. That their lens on the world would make the Raya conversation more interesting, and more often than not, they're right. Instagrams, websites, blogs, etc are very helpful in understanding how you see the world.
Who Raya is not:
Preface: Every admitted application at time of consideration was believed to fit within the community guidelines and values. On occasion, members do not depict themselves in a manner which the committee believed they would. In many cases those people have been removed for violating principles which weaken the community. These are absolutes with respect to considering an application and continued engagement with the community. Applicants must not:
• Be under 18 years of age. Raya is exclusively for adults and we very often ID applicants to ensure this.
• Have any depiction of hate, racism, bullying, bigotry, or any other public or otherwise known display of disrespect or violence toward anyone else.
• Have consistent displays of excessive shows of wealth. How much or little money someone has isn't the currency here. Rather, how someone spends their time, who they surround themselves with, and their intentions for how to engage and strengthen the community - those are the things Raya values.
Regarding Applications
The world is enormous, and applications come from every corner imaginable, thus community selection isn't perfect. It's why there is a committee, and evolving algorithms to assess an applicant's relationship and fit with the community. Every application is considered. It's a tremendous effort, and still, mistakes will be made. Similarly to universities, clubs, and jobs - making an offer to be involved comes with error. Institutions welcome and pass upon the wrong people every day, and Raya is not exempt from that. This process is always being worked on and made better, however there is no such thing as perfect when it comes to things of this nature. If your application is currently on the waiting list, please know that every day people are removed from it, and welcomed to the community. Continual review of the waiting list remains a vital part of creating a vibrant community.
For Members
It is important to note, that every admitted application at time of consideration was believed to be inside the bounds of all of the guidelines and values. While rare, sometimes members do not depict themselves in a manner which the committee believed they would. In many cases former members were removed for violating these principles which weaken our community.
Expiring and renewing memberships:
If you cancel your membership, you will have until the end of your billing cycle to use Raya. If your membership has expired, and you wish to renew you can do so by simply opening the app and paying your fees. It will be as though you never left.
Removal of a member:
Every member is expected to follow our simple rules of respect, trust, and privacy. There are plenty of places across the internet where an expectation for behavioral standards and respect for other users isn't required - that is not the case here. You are not just a user - you are a member of a community. For the most part, everyone here appreciates this. In fact, at present, Raya only receives reports in about 1 out of 11,000 connections. For the few who might disregard community values by being disrespectful, inconsiderate, or mean, all members are encouraged to point this out and report those people. There is no room for this at Raya. Raya removes former members who don't share these same community ideals. Furthermore, we reserve the right to suspend or remove any membership we no longer feel strengthens our community.
Contact
For matters regarding applications, opportunities, press or other questions, please email: [email protected]
While we aim to reply to as many inquires as possible, at this time, we simply cannot get to everyone. We do our best to reply to serious inquires as quickly as possible.
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