Intro Meeting Notes - Nov 13th and 15th
Posted: Oct 15th, '24, 02:41
Nov 13th in Denver - 10 people in attendance
Nov 15th in Boulder - yet to happen
>>>>> Consolidated Meeting Notes for the "Way of the Village" Project <<<<<
====================================================
>>>>> 1. Project Overview <<<<<
- **Objective**: The meeting centered around establishing sustainable, community-driven villages in Denver and Boulder, designed to offer shared resources, ownership, and solutions to societal uncertainties. The project emphasizes sovereignty, decentralized governance, and communal living as a long-term solution for the conscious community.
- **Vision**: The goal is to build safe, self-sustaining villages where community members own land and housing, and resources are shared equitably. Using a Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) model for governance and decision-making ensures transparency, accountability, and avoidance of hierarchies.
====================================================
>>>>> 2. Community Recognition and Engagement <<<<<
- **Community Resources and Talent**: Denver and Boulder communities have talented, resourceful individuals. The project seeks to unify these resources into a collective effort to address the challenges posed by uncertain societal conditions. The project intends to instill confidence in participants by ensuring that everyone, regardless of their readiness, can contribute and be part of the village.
- **Community Support and Involvement**: Discussions included leveraging idea boards to allow for creative expressions and brainstorming around community challenges and potential solutions, allowing people to engage in conversation and collaboration.
====================================================
>>>>> 3. Addressing Societal Concerns and Project Goals <<<<<
- **Core Concerns**: Past community discussions highlighted topics like communal living, permaculture, shared land ownership, and going off-grid. The village project represents a long-term plan to protect and provide for those seeking safety, housing ownership, and self-reliance, addressing key issues such as food security, sustainability, and governance.
- **Non-Hierarchical Governance**: One of the foundational goals of the project is to avoid hierarchies within the village. Decisions will be made using an accuracy system that allows members to vote on issues that are important to them. This open-source system will serve as a digital library of tools that anyone can contribute to and draw from, ensuring the project remains adaptable and co-created.
====================================================
>>>>> 4. AI Model Development and Role in the Village <<<<<
- **Purpose and Integration**: The AI model will play a critical role in guiding community-specific decisions, offering solutions in areas such as permaculture design, greenhouse management, off-grid power systems, conflict resolution, and more. The AI will be trained using technical white papers written by community members to ensure that its guidance is directly applicable to real-life village management.
- **Prompt Engineering and Customization**: The AI model will rely on prompt engineering to ensure transparency and adaptability. The white papers will serve as the AI’s knowledge base, allowing it to generate tailored solutions that reflect community needs and preferences. Speaker 3 raised questions about the technology used to train the AI model, to which Speaker 1 responded by explaining that Live ChatGPT will be employed initially, with plans to fundraise for a private server.
- **Environmental Impact and Sustainability**: Concerns about the environmental impact of AI were raised by Speaker 3, but Speaker 1 reassured the group that the AI’s energy consumption would be minimal, especially when hosted on a private server. The AI will also play a key role in helping the community minimize its environmental footprint by recommending efficient designs and energy usage strategies.
- **Fundraising and Sovereignty**: The AI will help guide the community in fundraising efforts, leveraging a church entity to receive tax-deductible donations. This will help secure land and fund infrastructure projects. The AI will also help organize and prioritize infrastructure development according to community needs and available resources.
====================================================
>>>>> 5. Legal Strategies for Land Acquisition and Sovereignty <<<<<
- **Strategic Land Acquisition**: The project is committed to acquiring land under sovereign laws to ensure autonomy and long-term sustainability. Speaker 1 discussed collaborating with a legal team to take land out of the corporate model and emphasize sovereignty and natural law. This approach aims to protect the land from outside interference while ensuring that it is used for the community's intended purposes.
- **Silent Sovereignty Declaration**: To avoid drawing unwanted attention, the strategy involves gradually acquiring land and later declaring sovereignty en masse to maximize impact. This method ensures legal protection and autonomy without facing immediate scrutiny or opposition.
- **Church Entity for Legal and Financial Benefits**: A 508(c)(1)(a) church entity will hold ownership of the land, allowing for tax-exempt status. The church structure will enable the village to receive donations and fund projects without the burden of federal taxes. The church will also provide legal protection for the village, ensuring that its activities align with both spiritual and community values.
====================================================
>>>>> 6. Decentralized Governance through DAOs <<<<<
- **Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs)**: Governance of the village will be handled through DAOs, which will manage community land, resources, and decision-making. The DAO system ensures transparency, fairness, and accountability, distributing resources and land parcels according to community agreements. This approach will allow members to retain flexibility in their agreements while ensuring that everyone’s contributions are valued.
- **Land Ownership and Distribution**: The land, owned by the church, will be sub-parceled to individual members via the DAO, ensuring that ownership is transparent and secure. Each parcel can be managed and transferred using decentralized software, creating a secure, decentralized record of ownership and transactions.
- **Flexible Community Agreements**: The DAO system will allow community agreements to be flexible, enabling the sale and transfer of parcels while ensuring that resources are used in line with community goals. The system will also provide mechanisms for establishing community projects such as maker spaces and communal facilities.
====================================================
>>>>> 7. Conflict Resolution and Accountability <<<<<
- **Restorative Justice and Avoidance of Cancel Culture**: Speaker 5 raised concerns about how the community will handle conflicts as members change and evolve. Speaker 1 emphasized the need for accountability, transparency, and restorative justice, advocating for a system that avoids the negative effects of cancel culture. The conflict resolution system will include trial periods for new members, and processes will be in place to address serious issues, such as abuse, through mediation and, if necessary, the forced sale of parcels.
- **AI-Assisted Conflict Resolution**: The AI model will integrate a conflict resolution system designed to guide members through disputes impartially. This will be done through a structured decision tree and mediation process that aligns with the village’s core values of accountability and harmony.
====================================================
>>>>> 8. Construction Techniques and Nomadic Builders <<<<<
- **Earth Homes and Modern Techniques**: The project plans to construct Earth homes using modern methods such as concrete 3D printing, aircrete blocks, and earth bag construction. Nomadic builders will work on the land, offering their labor in exchange for accommodation and training, operating under the tax-exempt church umbrella. This will allow the village to build infrastructure without being burdened by traditional labor costs or insurance liabilities.
- **AI-Driven Architectural Options**: The AI will offer various architectural designs based on the available materials and community preferences. For example, it will suggest options like sacred geometry-inspired buildings and flexible designs that incorporate local aesthetics and values.
- **Earth Bag Construction**: The meeting touched on the benefits and challenges of earth bag construction. Speaker 3 suggested encasing poly bags in Adobe to prevent degradation, and Speaker 1 acknowledged the need to offer multiple construction options that cater to different community preferences and environmental conditions.
====================================================
>>>>> 9. Community Fund and Economic Sustainability <<<<<
- **Community Fund for Infrastructure**: A shared community fund will be established to cover legal expenses, shared infrastructure costs, and any necessary contingency plans. The village economy will include communal workshops where members can contribute to various crafts and services.
- **Profit Sharing and Reinvestment**: The community will decide how profits from village resources are distributed and reinvested. Entrepreneurs will have opportunities to invest in workshops and other infrastructure, while the community decides on the economic model (e.g., product-based payment structures or bartering systems).
- **Cryptocurrency Integration**: The village will use cryptocurrencies to handle internal transactions and manage the DAO system, ensuring flexibility and anonymous protections where necessary. The community will decide how to handle any tax implications related to cryptocurrency and other financial operations.
====================================================
>>>>> 10. Future Plans and Community Growth <<<<<
- **Community Events and Engagement**: Speaker 1 highlighted the importance of personal interactions, mentioning events like ecstatic dances and festivals as key to building relationships and testing potential new members. These events will also help identify people who share the community’s values and long-term vision.
- **Long-Term Vision**: The project aims to establish a replicable village system that can spread across the country, bringing intentional communities into existence while avoiding the pitfalls of previous communities that fell into hierarchical or cult-like structures. Speaker 7 suggested refining vocabulary to promote restorative justice and inclusivity, which Speaker 1 supported.
====================================================
>>>>> Action Items <<<<<
**Immediate Steps for Development:**
1. **White Papers**:
- ☐ Write technical white papers covering community conflict resolution, off-grid power systems, greenhouse designs, and other critical topics.
- ☐ Collaborate online to develop and refine these white papers for prompt engineering and efficient integration into the AI model.
2. **AI Integration**:
- ☐ Work with the AI expert to ensure the white papers are suitable for AI training and prompt engineering.
- ☐ Explore the environmental impact of using AI in the project and its sustainability.
3. **Construction Techniques and Research**:
- ☐ Document the pros and cons of construction methods such as earth bag, concrete 3D printing, and aircrete block construction.
- ☐ Develop white papers on construction processes and rituals for "nomadic builders" to support community-building efforts.
====================================================
**Legal and Financial Actions:**
4. **Land Acquisition**:
- ☐ Begin looking for suitable land near Denver and Boulder that can serve as a community space.
- ☐ Develop a white paper outlining the ideal criteria for zoning, environmental conditions, and other land-related concerns.
- ☐ Organize meetings with the legal team to discuss land sovereignty and legal strategies for establishing the community.
5. **Community Fund and Economic Planning**:
- ☐ Establish a shared community fund to cover infrastructure, legal expenses, and emergency situations.
- ☐ Identify potential angel investors and entrepreneurs who can help support the project through financial contributions.
6. **Conflict Resolution**:
- ☐ Create a conflict resolution system focusing on accountability and restorative justice.
- ☐ Implement a trial or onboarding period for new members to ensure they align with the village's values.
Nov 15th in Boulder - yet to happen
>>>>> Consolidated Meeting Notes for the "Way of the Village" Project <<<<<
====================================================
>>>>> 1. Project Overview <<<<<
- **Objective**: The meeting centered around establishing sustainable, community-driven villages in Denver and Boulder, designed to offer shared resources, ownership, and solutions to societal uncertainties. The project emphasizes sovereignty, decentralized governance, and communal living as a long-term solution for the conscious community.
- **Vision**: The goal is to build safe, self-sustaining villages where community members own land and housing, and resources are shared equitably. Using a Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) model for governance and decision-making ensures transparency, accountability, and avoidance of hierarchies.
====================================================
>>>>> 2. Community Recognition and Engagement <<<<<
- **Community Resources and Talent**: Denver and Boulder communities have talented, resourceful individuals. The project seeks to unify these resources into a collective effort to address the challenges posed by uncertain societal conditions. The project intends to instill confidence in participants by ensuring that everyone, regardless of their readiness, can contribute and be part of the village.
- **Community Support and Involvement**: Discussions included leveraging idea boards to allow for creative expressions and brainstorming around community challenges and potential solutions, allowing people to engage in conversation and collaboration.
====================================================
>>>>> 3. Addressing Societal Concerns and Project Goals <<<<<
- **Core Concerns**: Past community discussions highlighted topics like communal living, permaculture, shared land ownership, and going off-grid. The village project represents a long-term plan to protect and provide for those seeking safety, housing ownership, and self-reliance, addressing key issues such as food security, sustainability, and governance.
- **Non-Hierarchical Governance**: One of the foundational goals of the project is to avoid hierarchies within the village. Decisions will be made using an accuracy system that allows members to vote on issues that are important to them. This open-source system will serve as a digital library of tools that anyone can contribute to and draw from, ensuring the project remains adaptable and co-created.
====================================================
>>>>> 4. AI Model Development and Role in the Village <<<<<
- **Purpose and Integration**: The AI model will play a critical role in guiding community-specific decisions, offering solutions in areas such as permaculture design, greenhouse management, off-grid power systems, conflict resolution, and more. The AI will be trained using technical white papers written by community members to ensure that its guidance is directly applicable to real-life village management.
- **Prompt Engineering and Customization**: The AI model will rely on prompt engineering to ensure transparency and adaptability. The white papers will serve as the AI’s knowledge base, allowing it to generate tailored solutions that reflect community needs and preferences. Speaker 3 raised questions about the technology used to train the AI model, to which Speaker 1 responded by explaining that Live ChatGPT will be employed initially, with plans to fundraise for a private server.
- **Environmental Impact and Sustainability**: Concerns about the environmental impact of AI were raised by Speaker 3, but Speaker 1 reassured the group that the AI’s energy consumption would be minimal, especially when hosted on a private server. The AI will also play a key role in helping the community minimize its environmental footprint by recommending efficient designs and energy usage strategies.
- **Fundraising and Sovereignty**: The AI will help guide the community in fundraising efforts, leveraging a church entity to receive tax-deductible donations. This will help secure land and fund infrastructure projects. The AI will also help organize and prioritize infrastructure development according to community needs and available resources.
====================================================
>>>>> 5. Legal Strategies for Land Acquisition and Sovereignty <<<<<
- **Strategic Land Acquisition**: The project is committed to acquiring land under sovereign laws to ensure autonomy and long-term sustainability. Speaker 1 discussed collaborating with a legal team to take land out of the corporate model and emphasize sovereignty and natural law. This approach aims to protect the land from outside interference while ensuring that it is used for the community's intended purposes.
- **Silent Sovereignty Declaration**: To avoid drawing unwanted attention, the strategy involves gradually acquiring land and later declaring sovereignty en masse to maximize impact. This method ensures legal protection and autonomy without facing immediate scrutiny or opposition.
- **Church Entity for Legal and Financial Benefits**: A 508(c)(1)(a) church entity will hold ownership of the land, allowing for tax-exempt status. The church structure will enable the village to receive donations and fund projects without the burden of federal taxes. The church will also provide legal protection for the village, ensuring that its activities align with both spiritual and community values.
====================================================
>>>>> 6. Decentralized Governance through DAOs <<<<<
- **Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs)**: Governance of the village will be handled through DAOs, which will manage community land, resources, and decision-making. The DAO system ensures transparency, fairness, and accountability, distributing resources and land parcels according to community agreements. This approach will allow members to retain flexibility in their agreements while ensuring that everyone’s contributions are valued.
- **Land Ownership and Distribution**: The land, owned by the church, will be sub-parceled to individual members via the DAO, ensuring that ownership is transparent and secure. Each parcel can be managed and transferred using decentralized software, creating a secure, decentralized record of ownership and transactions.
- **Flexible Community Agreements**: The DAO system will allow community agreements to be flexible, enabling the sale and transfer of parcels while ensuring that resources are used in line with community goals. The system will also provide mechanisms for establishing community projects such as maker spaces and communal facilities.
====================================================
>>>>> 7. Conflict Resolution and Accountability <<<<<
- **Restorative Justice and Avoidance of Cancel Culture**: Speaker 5 raised concerns about how the community will handle conflicts as members change and evolve. Speaker 1 emphasized the need for accountability, transparency, and restorative justice, advocating for a system that avoids the negative effects of cancel culture. The conflict resolution system will include trial periods for new members, and processes will be in place to address serious issues, such as abuse, through mediation and, if necessary, the forced sale of parcels.
- **AI-Assisted Conflict Resolution**: The AI model will integrate a conflict resolution system designed to guide members through disputes impartially. This will be done through a structured decision tree and mediation process that aligns with the village’s core values of accountability and harmony.
====================================================
>>>>> 8. Construction Techniques and Nomadic Builders <<<<<
- **Earth Homes and Modern Techniques**: The project plans to construct Earth homes using modern methods such as concrete 3D printing, aircrete blocks, and earth bag construction. Nomadic builders will work on the land, offering their labor in exchange for accommodation and training, operating under the tax-exempt church umbrella. This will allow the village to build infrastructure without being burdened by traditional labor costs or insurance liabilities.
- **AI-Driven Architectural Options**: The AI will offer various architectural designs based on the available materials and community preferences. For example, it will suggest options like sacred geometry-inspired buildings and flexible designs that incorporate local aesthetics and values.
- **Earth Bag Construction**: The meeting touched on the benefits and challenges of earth bag construction. Speaker 3 suggested encasing poly bags in Adobe to prevent degradation, and Speaker 1 acknowledged the need to offer multiple construction options that cater to different community preferences and environmental conditions.
====================================================
>>>>> 9. Community Fund and Economic Sustainability <<<<<
- **Community Fund for Infrastructure**: A shared community fund will be established to cover legal expenses, shared infrastructure costs, and any necessary contingency plans. The village economy will include communal workshops where members can contribute to various crafts and services.
- **Profit Sharing and Reinvestment**: The community will decide how profits from village resources are distributed and reinvested. Entrepreneurs will have opportunities to invest in workshops and other infrastructure, while the community decides on the economic model (e.g., product-based payment structures or bartering systems).
- **Cryptocurrency Integration**: The village will use cryptocurrencies to handle internal transactions and manage the DAO system, ensuring flexibility and anonymous protections where necessary. The community will decide how to handle any tax implications related to cryptocurrency and other financial operations.
====================================================
>>>>> 10. Future Plans and Community Growth <<<<<
- **Community Events and Engagement**: Speaker 1 highlighted the importance of personal interactions, mentioning events like ecstatic dances and festivals as key to building relationships and testing potential new members. These events will also help identify people who share the community’s values and long-term vision.
- **Long-Term Vision**: The project aims to establish a replicable village system that can spread across the country, bringing intentional communities into existence while avoiding the pitfalls of previous communities that fell into hierarchical or cult-like structures. Speaker 7 suggested refining vocabulary to promote restorative justice and inclusivity, which Speaker 1 supported.
====================================================
>>>>> Action Items <<<<<
**Immediate Steps for Development:**
1. **White Papers**:
- ☐ Write technical white papers covering community conflict resolution, off-grid power systems, greenhouse designs, and other critical topics.
- ☐ Collaborate online to develop and refine these white papers for prompt engineering and efficient integration into the AI model.
2. **AI Integration**:
- ☐ Work with the AI expert to ensure the white papers are suitable for AI training and prompt engineering.
- ☐ Explore the environmental impact of using AI in the project and its sustainability.
3. **Construction Techniques and Research**:
- ☐ Document the pros and cons of construction methods such as earth bag, concrete 3D printing, and aircrete block construction.
- ☐ Develop white papers on construction processes and rituals for "nomadic builders" to support community-building efforts.
====================================================
**Legal and Financial Actions:**
4. **Land Acquisition**:
- ☐ Begin looking for suitable land near Denver and Boulder that can serve as a community space.
- ☐ Develop a white paper outlining the ideal criteria for zoning, environmental conditions, and other land-related concerns.
- ☐ Organize meetings with the legal team to discuss land sovereignty and legal strategies for establishing the community.
5. **Community Fund and Economic Planning**:
- ☐ Establish a shared community fund to cover infrastructure, legal expenses, and emergency situations.
- ☐ Identify potential angel investors and entrepreneurs who can help support the project through financial contributions.
6. **Conflict Resolution**:
- ☐ Create a conflict resolution system focusing on accountability and restorative justice.
- ☐ Implement a trial or onboarding period for new members to ensure they align with the village's values.