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Reading order

This proposal is large by design — it is meant to function as a working manual once the Ganjier Guild is formed. You probably do not need to read all of it. Pick a path based on how much time you have.

5-minute path — "What is this?"

Read these in order:

  1. README.md — what the proposal is, who published it, and how feedback works
  2. Pinned Issue #1 — State of incorporation
  3. Pinned Issue #5 — Founding board composition

You will leave knowing what the Guild is proposed to be, the two biggest open questions, and where to weigh in.

15-minute path — "Should I support, join, or sponsor this?"

Add these to the 5-minute path:

  1. blueprint/launch-blueprint.md — Sections 1–4 (mission, theory of change, classification rationale, member value)
  2. membership/tiers.md — proposed eight membership tiers and dues logic
  3. finance/sponsorship-tiers.md — sponsor recognition under §513(i)
  4. decisions/0001-tax-classification-501c6.md — why 501©(6) and not ©(3) or ©(4)
  5. glossary.md — for any unfamiliar terms

You will leave understanding the model well enough to decide whether to back it, join it, sponsor it, or push back.

60-minute path — "I am being asked to serve on the founding board, advise, or counsel this org"

Read everything in the 15-minute path, then:

  1. blueprint/launch-blueprint.md — full document, all 17 sections
  2. governance/bylaws.md — proposed bylaws
  3. governance/committees/ — the seven standing-committee charters and the shared rules that apply to all of them
  4. governance/policies/ — all six core policies (COI, gift acceptance, whistleblower, document retention, code of ethics, online conduct)
  5. governance/board-onboarding/role-description.md — director duties and time commitment
  6. formation/maine/README.md and formation/minnesota/README.md — side-by-side state filing analysis
  7. formation/irs/README.md — Form 1024 path
  8. decisions/ — all ADRs (architecture decision records) so far
  9. The eight open feedback wanted issues

You will leave with enough material to make an informed yes/no on serving, and to redline anything you disagree with via PR or issue comment.

Path for specific roles

If you are a... Start here
Prospective member 15-minute path, then membership/member-agreement.md
Prospective sponsor 15-minute path, then finance/sponsorship-agreement-template.md
Prospective founding board member 60-minute path, plus governance/board-onboarding/recruitment-kit.md
Counsel reviewing for the Guild 60-minute path, plus compliance/calendar.md and SECURITY.md
Journalist or researcher README.md, brand/media-boilerplate.md, this file
Existing Ganjier credential holder (Friend, GPS, Community Education, or Certified Ganjier) 15-minute path, then programs/certification/README.md and the subscriber conversion FAQ
Current $49/mo or $499/yr subscriber asking "what changes for me?" subscriber conversion FAQ, then dues reconciliation record
Volunteer or committee candidate programs/volunteers/README.md and role-catalog.md, then onboarding.md
Volunteer receiving SSDI/SSI/VA/Medicaid waiver supports programs/volunteers/benefits-aware-volunteering.md and hours-certification.md
Member who needs dues relief membership/scholarship-and-hardship-waiver.md
Anyone submitting an expense for the Guild finance/reimbursement-policy.md and template-library/finance/expense-reimbursement-form.md
Prospective Administrator, Bookkeeper, or staff candidate governance/roles/README.md and the role-specific document
Prospective committee chair or member governance/committees/README.md, then the specific charter, then governance/roles/committee-chairs.md
Sysadmin, IT volunteer, or technology director tech/README.md, tech/systems-inventory.md, tech/break-glass.md, and governance/roles/administrator.md

How to give feedback as you read