This
Policy Statement forms a schedule to the Trust Deed establishing the Trust.
Beneficiaries and Potential Beneficiaries should be aware that the Trustees
may alter the Policy Statement from time to time and should ensure that
this document is the one currently in force. The document in force shall
be deemed to be that scheduled to the Trust Deed at any given time. Where
terms used in this document are defined in the Trust Deed they are to be
treated as having the meanings given to them in the Trust Deed.
The aim of the Trust is to facilitate the propagation of LETSystems in a manageable way. This is to be achieved through
(a) clarity of material and
(b)
compatibility of actions within the fundamental values and characteristics
of LETSystems.
- acknowledgement - of the contribution made by others
- freedom I will, freedom I won't - if you don't like it, you can always start your own Trust etc.
- respect - mind your own business - meet your obligations -lead, follow, or get out of the way
- "only connect' - relationship, communication, protocol
-
create community wherever possible.
To
this end, each potential Beneficiary is required to:
a)
complete a training/induction programme recognised by the Trustees;
b)
adhere to and promote Trust policy as outlined in this Policy Statement;
c)
sign a Beneficiary Agreement; and
d)
have the signed Beneficiary Agreement form counter-signed by two Beneficiaries.
Once
at least two LETSystem development groups have been established and are
recognised by the Trustees, one of the co-signing Beneficiaries should
be a participant in one such LETSystem development group in which the candidate
also participates (i.e. they have both entered into the same LETShare agreements)
and the other co-signing Beneficiary should be a participant in another
such LETSystem development group . So long as only one LETSystem development
group is recognised by the Trustees, no such restriction will apply and
both co-signatories may be participants in the same LETSystem development
group which the Trustees recognise.
General
directions for LETSystem development are indicated in the LETSystem Design
Manual (referred to as "the Manual") (Section 5.3 in particular) and by
the aims and values noted above. Whilst diversity and innovation are welcomed
and encouraged, the activities of those involved in the development of
LETSystems should echo the LETSystem design principles and should originate
from community, personal
and practical considerations.
In return they can expect support and co-operation from others in that community.
Because there is only one LETSystem design, the implementation of LETSystems can be a single, definable project. It is therefore possible for there to be a single, world-wide community working on that project. This community is desirable from an ethical perspective - to create community wherever possible - and also from a practical perspective - to use resources in the most effective way.
All Beneficiaries agree to uphold the values outlined in section 2 of this document. This means:
respecting
and being supportive of work already done, or in progress, by other Beneficiaries
striving
to meet any obligations which may arise from agreements made with other
Beneficiaries
working progressively towards the overall alignment of their LETSystem development activities.
In
order for the community to able to work coherently, Beneficiaries agree
to work progressively toward the establishment of the LETSystem development
initiatives outlined in the Manual, Section 5. Where beneficiaries propose
an approach not currently in the Manual, they should discuss their proposals
with other Beneficiaries and then offer them for evaluation. If, after
evaluation, the new proposals are widely acceptable to the Trust, they
will be formally adopted and included in an updated version of Section
5 of the Manual. They are then available for use throughout the development
community.
At
the time of writing, Section 5 of the Manual focuses on the establishment
of regional development initiatives. Participation in all such initiatives
is to be open and inclusive, e.g. operating through a properly accounted
and structured LETShare - see Manual Section 2.3. Development groups will
operate according to the basic values expressed above in Section 2 of this
Policy Statement.
Beneficiaries whose development work is based in other than geographic regions should carry out their LETSystem activities in ways which further the aims of the Trust. Such activities include:
improving
the connectivity between the regional development groups
developing materials and procedures for use by other Beneficiaries.
Anyone
who wants to be a Beneficiary of the Trust presumably expects to gain some
personal benefit from the process. If you are a beneficiary the other beneficiaries
may ask you what you are going to contribute in return for these personal
benefits. The answer is that your activities must fit into the general
community framework. Communities have their tolerance levels to diversity,
go beyond these limits and the community begins to break up.
Beneficiaries can be involved in any or all of the following:
registry
start-up and/or operation
development
of a single system, or single registry, in a manner which is compatible
with LDI activity
support
work for LDIs and the Trust (including wide-regional, national and global
activity)
development work within an LDI.
Development work can be carried out:
contractually
- negotiated contract with the regional development group or other group
of Beneficiaries
directly by individuals and organisations within the regional development group
In acknowledgement of the commonwealth, beneficiaries must ensure that:
in bidding for and carrying out private work, any Trust materials and marks are used according to the procedures laid down by the Trust.
It
is expected that Beneficiaries will develop policies regarding disclosure
of private interests and conflict resolution.
Contribution
to Community (CtC) is proposed as a suitable method of funding. Because
it is a protocol (as opposed to an entry fee), it will secure funds for
development whilst pre-empting an entry fee price war. It has the added
advantage of upholding the cost-of-service ethic through donor-directed
gifting of surpluses.
Beneficiaries
should acknowledge and to be supportive of each others' activities in building
up the commonwealth. This encourages personal commitment and helps to avoid
burn-out. In order to enable the equitable distribution of rewards, there
is a need for rigorous internal accounting (a similar need to that of the
acknowledgements within a LETSystem). A practical way to achieve this is
by using a LETShare (see Manual, Section 2.3).
This
means that material in the Manual must be kept up to date (see Section
9 below). All Beneficiaries agree to follow the approaches laid down in
the Manual. Informed development of the material by Beneficiaries encourages
mutual learning and understanding. It also minimises the amount of decision-making
to be carried out by Trustees.
By encouraging co-operation rather than competition, we gain the practical benefits of using resources more effectively, through the sharing of materials and procedures.
offers
are to be made to repay grants as loans, as and when (practical)
recovery
of expenditure on costs is to be capped, any income over the cap becomes
donor-directed funding of community projects (community)
risk
premiums are an acceptable component of costs while risks have to be managed
- i.e. until concepts are proved, thereafter premiums fall (personal and
practical)
revenues such as CtC payments and similar entry protocol payments are directed to the regional development group for the appropriate area (community and practical).
Specific
figures for reasonable costs and the level of caps are given in the LETSystem
Design Manual, Versions 1.3 and following. Plans acceptable to the Trust
are published in Sections 5 and 6.
Other
options are welcome, as long as they are consistent with this core material
and practice.
It is not anticipated that development strategies and approaches will ever be totally defined, although general directions have been indicated in the LETSystem Design Manual (Section 5.3 in particular) and by the aims and values noted above. There is still room for diversity and innovation. Nevertheless, the Trust will maintain a list of activities which are unacceptable, to guide those who are making suggestions for novel and improved approaches.
Examples of unacceptable behaviour include:
multi-level
marketing - ditto
taking development funds (e.g. CtC) without reference to the appropriate LDI - invalidates community/common ownership
The
pursuit of these and other proscribed activities could result in subsequent
withdrawal of beneficiary status. The Trustees decision on proscribed approaches
is to be final. The Trustees will also judge the suitability and consistency
of proposals for emerging approaches taken up by beneficiaries.
Beneficiaries
may make Trust property available to others at cost of distribution only.
Beneficiaries
are invited to become involved in the updating and augmentation of Trust
property.
Reliance
on the common core of material suggests the existence of an editorial panel
to advise the Trustees on the acceptance of updates and new material. Presentation
and design of material is another key area. Here the assistance of a visual
identity panel will be valuable.
Trustees
and Beneficiaries shall work together to produce a formal adoption process,
including clear statements of rules of usage and a system of version control.
independent directory
remit:
on-going, subject to changes over time
independent brokerage of trades:
remit:
ongoing, subject to changes over time
These functions may be performed in one of the following ways:
- volunteered (i.e. sponsored by an individual or organisation)
- contracted - no individual is obliged to pay for the service
-
carried out by the LDI
Refer
also to The LETSystem Design Manual, Versions 1.3 and later.
This version of the Policy Statement was approved by the Trustees on 3 June 1997, as Schedule 3 to the Trust Deed. Version 1.0 prepared for Trust by Chris Knight, Angus Soutar, Fraser How and Les Moore. Version 1.01 prepared for electronic publishing April 1999 and November 2001.