Local Dues

The members of Blue Equinox Oasis support the work of the Lodge through regular payment of dues. Dues pay for our temple rent and utilities , Mass supplies, equipment maintenance and upgrades, and our work of bringing Thelema to Detroit.

Dues can be paid yearly or monthly. Our preferred method is to set up a monthly PayPal subscription. Subscriptions can be created using the link to the left or clicking the dues payment link in the navigation. Individual payments can also be sent using PayPal. Dues payments should be sent to blueequinox.treasurer@oto-usa.org .

You may also give dues payments to the Treasurer in person. Checks should be made out to Blue Equinox Oasis.

Standard membership - $40

  • The financial benefit is the ability to attend all Oasis events (not including fundraisers) without paying entry fees. This includes the Mass, initiations, classes, and similar activities.

  • Oasis Members may attend private and public events.

  • Regular Events - Oasis Members may attend any regular Classes, Gnostic Masses, Initiations, etc. free of charge from attendance fees (material, food, etc fees may still be applicable).

  • Participation in degree-specific events (up to your current degree).

  • Consideration for being an Officer in mass.

  • Ability to attend certain events virtually.

  • Access to members only areas of the Discord server.

  • Access to members only email list.

  • Eligible to vote on Oasis business brought to the general membership of the Oasis.

  • Perhaps the most substantial reward is in knowing that local dues help maintain the health of our body and the ongoing ability for the Oasis to provide services and celebrate our rites.

Standard HOUSEHOLD membership - $60

Two members residing together get a discounted rate on the standard membership when paid together.

Associate membership - $15

For those residing more than 100 miles away from Detroit we offer the Associate Membership with the following benefits:

  • The ability to attend all Oasis events (not including fundraisers) without paying entry fees. This includes the Mass, initiations, classes, and similar activities.

  • Consideration for being an Officer in mass.

  • Ability to attend certain events virtually.

  • Access to members only areas of the Discord server.

  • Access to members only email list.

Foundational membership - $60

Those wishing to pay over and above their local dues each month to support Blue Equinox Oasis are encouraged to do so, as the additional support enables Blue Equinox to provide better activities and facilities for its members. All “extra” dues paid to Blue Equinox Oasis are tax-deductible as a donation, as they are an entirely voluntary contribution to the local body.

Foundational Membership comes with all the benefits of the Standard Membership with the addition of the following.

  • Waiving of certain event Fees. (see “Event Fees” below)

  • Special Events - In the case of special events, where there is a cost to the Oasis to hold, Foundational Members will pay a discounted fee

  • Discount on Blue Equinox Swag

Foundational HOUSEHOLD membership - $100

Two members residing together get a discounted rate on the foundational membership when paid together.

Event Fees

Events hosted by Blue Equinox Oasis may have associated costs (e.g. food and drink, study materials, instructor fees) or may serve as a fundraising event for Blue Equinox Oasis. Thus, Blue Equinox Oasis may charge an attendance fee for certain events to defray costs and/or raise funds for Blue Equinox Oasis.

Event fees are to be paid in advance of the event, or soon after the start of the event. If a member attends an event and does not pay for an event, that member may not attend any future events until outstanding fees have been paid.

Foundational members are exempt from payment of certain event fees. The description for each event will specify the price for the event, and whether the event is “free for foundational members”. If no special mention is made, then all members are expected to pay the attendance fee.

DUES LAPSED STATUS

If dues are not paid for a given month, there is a one-month grace period for getting caught back up. If a person does not pay dues for two consecutive months, that person is no longer considered dues current (“lapsed”), and is no longer afforded the privileges listed above. In order for a person to become dues current after lapsing, the person must pay three months of dues at one time, which covers two months of back dues, plus the current month’s dues. This requirement applies to members who have recently lapsed, and members who have been lapsed for many months or years. Newcomers to Blue Equinox Oasis do not need to pay back dues. If the lapsed member chooses to sign up for a dues subscription they will not be charged back dues.

Hardship, and In-Kind Dues

If you are financially unable to pay your local dues to Blue Equinox Oasis, but wish to maintain active membership, please contact the Treasurer or Master to discuss possible arrangements. Considerations for hardship include, but are not limited to, student status, loss of job, or other temporary conditions. Each case will be considered on an individual basis. One possible hardship arrangement for payment of dues is “labor in kind”, that is, payment for work performed or services rendered on behalf of Blue Equinox Oasis. In-kind payment with goods or services for local dues will be accepted only by prior arrangement with the Treasurer or Master.

USGL Dues

In addition to payment of local dues, it is also required for members of OTO to pay dues directly to the US Grand Lodge to remain in good standing. Initiation fees for Man of Earth degrees (Minerval through IV° and P.I.) include one year of USGL dues; if a member remains in a degree for longer than one year without taking another initiation, it is necessary to pay dues directly to USGL according to the degree they are presently in.

Annual dues for Man of Earth degrees are listed at http://oto-usa.org/oto/dues-fees/. Presently, USGL annual dues are $42 for Minerval and I°, $84 for II°, $126 for III°, and $168 for IV° and P.I. Members may inquire about their present USGL dues status and make payments at http://treasury.oto-usa.org/inquiry.html.

If a member is not dues current with US Grand Lodge, they may not participate in any members-only events, including initiations. If a member has become inactive with USGL and wishes to become current again, they must pay one year of back dues at their current degree, and one year of dues for either their current degree, or the degree to which they are being initiated, in which instance the current year’s dues would be part of the initiation fee. “Demitted” (inactive) Minervals may become current again only by taking I° initiation; no back dues are required of demitted Minervals. Further explanation can be found here: http://treasury.oto-usa.org/status.html

Questions and Disputes

If a member has any questions about their current dues status or other Blue Equinox Oasis-related financial matters, they should contact the Treasurer via email (blueequinox.treasurer@oto-usa.org). If a member has a concern or dispute regarding a financial matter, the member may contact the Treasurer to discuss or resolve the matter. If the Treasurer is unable to resolve the issue adequately, the member may contact the Master to discuss the matter further. In cases of dispute, the Master shall make the final determination regarding resolution of the issue