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| What does OPSEC mean...really | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Apr 4 2011, 09:15 AM (2,223 Views) | |
| HandFarming | Oct 10 2011, 09:17 AM Post #51 |
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Impressive Raven. I agree, you did a great job covering the bones of the structure. I must ask though, what items are people expected to bring? What items are joint purchases? Do you accept money to be other's BOL? Have family and friends added to the pot to make this happen? If we ran this place as a BOL for others, I might need you to come over and give everyone a crash course =) |
| You can lead an ass to knowledge, but you can not make it think. | |
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| Raven | Oct 10 2011, 10:24 AM Post #52 |
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Thanks Mommacat! I took ideas from lots of others and tried to gear it along the lines of our Constitution...glad that it shows. |
| The truth is not for all men, but only for those that seek it. Ayn Rand | |
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| HandFarming | Oct 11 2011, 03:53 AM Post #53 |
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Embellished version: note that I suspect big things to be falling from the sky at the end of this month and bigger things next spring sometime...solar flares. As always....that's opinion but why I made the fees and meeting dates close to those things. The OPSEC Rules: It is not our intent to have a lengthy set of rules and regulations, however, there must be some rules so as to keep everyone on the same page. These rules can be altered, changed or deleted as deemed fit the majority of voting members of the group. The purpose of this retreat is for our group to survive a disaster, war or breakdown in society as smoothly as circumstances allow. It is not a place to bring your family camping, a homeless shelter, interim housing...it is our home, and we are willing to open it up to group members in case of "activation" but we are not willing to open it up on the whim of members that need to "get away from it all" or if their wife kicks them out. No illegal firearms will be used on this property. The risk of discovery is to high for this group to bear. This rule can be re-visited in the event of activation of the retreat. No racist, skinhead, Nazi or religious zealots will be tolerated. Your God, your choice...choose well -but allow others to do the same. Active members: must be invited to join and voted in by the members. They must get a 90% majority vote. They must contribute time and/or money to BOL retreat development. If you cannot afford to both purchase necessary stores and contribute to the formation of a group retreat, labor can be negotiated in exchange for any monetary contribution at a rate decided upon by group members. You will still be obligated to purchase your own food and supplies to store (these include items like water filtration, tents, building supplies or campers, tools for gardening, seeds, plants and personal items). Active TEAM LEADERS must make 75% of the conference call meetings or attend meetings and at least 50% of the training/project meetings. If you cannot make one, you must inform us. All project meetings missed must be made up at a later date. All projects are determined by group vote. Project meeting times are determined by majority vote of group members. Team Leaders: Active members are given the duty of leadership over their group. Duties include work schedules, information updates, over see work that needs to be done, manage team projects and training schedules. Team leaders report directly to the committee of team leaders. Auxiliary Members: Family members of active members, brought to the retreat by prior arrangement of the voting members of the group. Everyone has the right to their viewpoint and may voice an opinion and these are to be respected and, if necessary, respectfully argued to the contrary. Majority voting prevails but respect for other opinions must be shown. Once the vote has taken place, all members are expected to conform to group mandates. In matters of long-term land ownership, structure or consequence, WE will make the final decision although the matter will be debated by the group. We will base our decision on the best interest of the group but we bought this land and started to retrofit it into a retreat long before you got here and we will not be "out voted" to change the original intent and/or layout of the property. In the end, we are responsible and answerable for what goes on here. OPSEC Rules are to be observed AT ALL TIMES. Discuss our preps with no one outside of our active membership. Our lives and livelihood may someday be dependent on others not knowing about us. If our preps are compromised we have no choice but to stay here and take the heat. You may never have to. In the event of retreat activation, your immediate family members will be welcomed as pre-arranged, but they are not active members and they must not be allowed to know what our group entails, nor the names of other members of the group. Your brother in law that is a "really cool guy" and is semi-interested may not be as inclined to keep a secret as you think that he is and your wife/husband (who isn't fully on board) may not be fully aware of the need to stay silent. We are not willing to take that chance and anyone that violates this rule will be asked to leave the group. Once the retreat is activated, each auxiliary member will be informed of the specifics on a need to know basis. Each auxiliary member will be required to work alongside the active member that brought them, under the supervision of their team leader. There is a strict "no free rides" policy. We cannot afford slackers or whiners and you, as the active member that brought them will be held accountable for their introduction to rules and regulations and their conduct until they are full active members. As part of the agreement to use the farm as your safe house, all parties agree that dangerous conditions are present in every farm situation and will not hold us liable for injury. Medical supplies will be provided as part of the stored supplies but are administered by the Team Leader or their designated person. Retreat Activation: Once the retreat is activated, conservation of resources will be mandated. Water and toilet paper are to be used sparingly. Composting toilets will be used or pails will be provided. Feminine products and toilet paper are to be placed in a container provided to be burned at a later time. No disposal-able diapers will be allowed. Food will be prepared in a communal kitchen by the group assigned to this duty at the time. At activation, all stores will be available to the group for group use. The food you eat will be the food you brought unless otherwise pre-arranged to have it stored in a safe location. Pre-arranged stores of food will be shared. Energy will be minimal as power will not be set up until it is safe to do so. No lighting will be allowed at night until it is safe. Black-out periods will mean no lighting at night, no electrical uses for appliances and no sounds louder than a normal talking voice. Black-out periods are declared by us and implemented by Team Leaders. Violations of Black-out periods procedures means some really bad work-details will follow. LPOP duty: Everyone able will be prepared to stand at look out. The number of lookouts and the schedules will change with the circumstances of the moment. There will be some members that will be excused due to physical limitations, trust issues and other duties at the time. Team leaders are in charge of posting duties and excusing members from duty. Lookouts are expected to be alert at all times. Anyone found inattentive, asleep or otherwise occupied will be given the nastiest jobs at the retreat for one week in addition to their regular duties, second infraction will be given two nasty jobs for a period of one month. From time-to-time, we will join with other groups to do a large area lookout. We are expected to be well dressed for any weather, have the skills required and training needed to remain at the lookout as directed. Communications will be provided and under no circumstances is an engagement of fire to be under taken before consulting the entire group of any action. Lookouts are for surveillance and actions are to be decided by a group of Team Leaders with a 51% + approval. Scouting teams will be led by qualified personal only. Only trained persons will be sent out but each Team Leader is expected to be able to provide at least one individual for this activity. They will be trained to become familiar with the lay of the land in all weather conditions and must have appropriate all-weather clothing that blends in with the landscape. Leaving the Group: Anyone that leaves the group, either by choice or because of majority vote, will be allowed to take their individually brought or purchased items such as a camper, food and supplies, BUT anything that was a group purchase, or was built or manufactured for the group, or a group project will remain with the group...this includes plants, livestock or other animals, gardening tools and supplies, building materials or anything else of that nature. You will not be reimbursed for these items or materials either with money or property. Should the resources be available, seeds and plants will be supplied but main stocked food, weapons, tents or other items will not be allowed to leave the BOL. All members are required to have a purchasing plan to gather all of the items that the Team Leader Committee designate as appropriate for our group. You will be required to obtain all of the items within 6 months. Any deviations to this time limit will be given on a case-by-case basis by the Team Leader Committee based on a 2/3 (two thirds) vote. FEES: Team Leader (per Team) Initial Joining fee: $500 before Nov. 1st; After Nov 1st $875; After March 1st $2,252; After April 1st 2012 $5,575 These costs reflect the anticipated costs to outfit new-comers at the time they join, though the outfit items will not change, the cost for essential items will become increasingly expensive as other BOLs + preppers seek supplies. This fee includes space secured for 10 persons. Additional costs for more than 10 persons is $375 (On or before Nov 1st; $1,250 after Nov 1st; $3,525 After March 1st, 2012; and $10,800 there after). Membership can be paid via check or cash now but after March 1st, only gold, silver, or other pms will be accepted. Team Members may have fees waived if work time (@ $5/hr) or materials are negotiated in exchange. Meeting Dates and agendas: Oct 30th Noon: Team Leaders Meeting to Assign Living Arrangements: Size of group must be known. Discussion of winter gear, gardening supplies and plants n seeds to stock. Amounts of food per group must be known and secure storage must be arranged. Auxiliary persons tents and location on farm to be discussed. Campers are allowed but pre-arrangements must be made for water, heat and sewage. No electricity will be provided for or used during “black out” periods to farm buildings. Bedding, blankets, pillows, Linen supplies must be stored securely. Minimal solar lighting and hardened storage must be secured. Meet with other local BOL persons for joint security plans. Firearms, ammo stock and walk-through of security plans discussed. Alternative weapons (bows & arrows), alternative security strategies to be discussed. 2nd Sat. Nov : Building materials for kitchen, bdrms and bath detailed. Cost to each group for the space they designate for use. Those not active in securing funds or doing the work will be supplied tents (tent living in winter is not easy). Alternative building materials and methods to be discussed. 2nd Sat Dec. Events Awareness. A discussion of what events are going on in government, economy, earth changes to be aware of and actions to take. Please be prepared to discuss: Government Break down; Economic collapse; Extinction Level Events. Please bring your thoughts on: How to determine when it is necessary to arrive at the BOL, signs and warnings of event to occur, how you will travel to the BOL and when we can expect your group. Meeting with other retreat Leaders so they can identify you from non-members. Other area BOLs have 45 – 82 counted members – many of which will be on guard during sensitive times. You need to know how not to be treated as a non-member. On-going meetings TBA Test 1 March 11th. First drill. Test 2 April 15th. Second Drill |
| You can lead an ass to knowledge, but you can not make it think. | |
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| Mommacat | Oct 11 2011, 03:58 AM Post #54 |
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I think that once a person is actually a voted-in member is the time that they would be provided with any necessary and/or specific lists - remember, it is a NEW member that is asking to join and it is pretty loose OPSEC to deliver lists of stores to those that are not actual and trusted members. And, as far as how the purchase of items and a member's share of that is figured out, I am pretty sure that it has to be on a group by group, perhaps even case by case, structure. Regarding what a member is expected to bring, there again, it will depend much upon where they are coming from; if they've made it on foot with only their BOB for 400 miles, the expectation will be much different than somebody that lives down the road. That also gets into details of what a member is expected to store as their share of provisions at the BOL. I think, that in discussing such sensitive things like store expectations, a new member should be given a general idea that they should store a years worth of provisions (or 2 or whatever the group decides is a good start-up stake) that would include food, defense, medical, daily living items. It is almost impossible to tell people they must have a particular piece of equipment, say a grain mill - for one thing, if you have 8 members, do you really need that many grain mills? I think there is wisdom in asking new members to stock up as if they were doing it alone in order to ensure they have what THEY need and will also have some to share when the time comes. A person with a trade or skill would naturally be expected to bring what tools of the trade with them that they were able, or to perhaps store some at the BOL. A person could really get bogged down in details and make the whole process of a group charter unreasonably complicated. The Charter, or Constitution, really should only deal with the ideals and structure of the group. The rest can be broken down into manageable little committees or groups or even a full blown all-member vote, but it does not have to be done at the on-set of the group. As with all great things, the ability to effectively meet the needs of the group is what is important and by making the Charter simple and straightforward, and NOT open to easy "re-working" you are moving in the right direction. The Charter should only evolve if parts of it become no longer necessary and then the change would be in the form of an amendment to the original charter - not just some random notes jotted at the end of the document. It should be a document and a plan that will stand the test of time and circumstance. The fine tuning, additions, subtractions and clarifications should be in a different venue than the original Charter. I am thinking in terms of work rosters, house rules, special responsibilities of certain members, committee formation, etc. - the small but necessary things of group living, but not the document that gives the group life. Make sense? Again, 'good work', Raven!
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| Raven | Oct 11 2011, 07:24 AM Post #55 |
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I left alot of our stuff out due to OPSEC. Some of those things are lists of things that I think that we should have individually and some things that our group needs. Our final list needs to be voted on at any rate so it isn't written in stone, just the things that I thought of. Others may have different ideas. The group needs can be on a communal list so that if someone goes to a garage sale or auction and the item can be picked up and crossed off the list. The group can then, if the buyers asks or cannot afford the whole price on his own, ask the group for money for the item. That way, no one is overburdened with the responsibility of getting the item (ie a grain grinder) on their own and the group will have the item that is needed. Hope that makes sense. That item, if pitched in by the group, then belongs to the group and not the person that origonally found it. If the person bought it on their own, then the it belongs to them but the group will have use of it. If a member arrives on foot with just a BOB then they are accepted BUT most of their supplies should be pre-positioned at the BOL in the first place. If they refuse to pre-position, then they are subject to being voted in just for the sake that their judgment and commitment could easily be called into question. |
| The truth is not for all men, but only for those that seek it. Ayn Rand | |
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| HandFarming | Oct 11 2011, 09:31 AM Post #56 |
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Yeah, I should reword some of it for our use. The general idea is that what the group needs is provided for by the BOL and what is individually needed should be made apparent upfront. That was what I wanted to say but wasn't sure it got through the wording. Actually, my dearest and I have collected as much as I think we can on our own to manage a group, but they would need some specific items like garden hoes because I suspect everyone would be involved in the food growing process. Those who fail to bring the needed supplies...like FOOD and expect to be taken care of are doing so at the risk of others starving. They either need to have their portion of food pre-stored or bring it. Those who bring nothing with them or plan ahead, seriously are a danger to others. The fees are simple enough. A large army tent could house 30 people in winter and that cost is about $1,500 from coleman's online. Outfiting it is another cost, so maybe I was low on the numbers. For us, that would be a general starting point for costs as the price for having a safe location is priceless. |
| You can lead an ass to knowledge, but you can not make it think. | |
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| HandFarming | Oct 11 2011, 09:41 AM Post #57 |
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Oh, I get what you are saying MommaCat, those are "what's the meeting about" discussion list. Those are ideas thrown out and negotiable. Members who arrive after a meeting will get the meeting notes so everyone remains on the same page. Getting the ball rolling has to start somewhere. And most people who don't have a clue how to prepare for this kind of situ need to start being fed data as to what is expected of them. |
| You can lead an ass to knowledge, but you can not make it think. | |
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| HandFarming | Oct 11 2011, 09:50 AM Post #58 |
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Quote....overburden of buying a grain grinder...unquote. What about the immense burden of buying a farm and responsibility of outfitting that? Raven, you are way to generous, just the fact that you and yours allow others in is an act of great kindness. My feelings are that the rest should be done by others after all hubby and I did to secure a safe place and maintain it to the point of its use. We have supplied ourselves and built the tools, skills and livestock for years....not as many as you but you get what I mean. |
| You can lead an ass to knowledge, but you can not make it think. | |
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| Mommacat | Oct 11 2011, 11:55 AM Post #59 |
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I would agree that both Raven's group and HF's group have been most generous in offering an opportunity for survival to others not so fortunate. But, no man is an island and I think its safe to say that a person at this point would be wise to make the choice in who to share with, because without some "numbers" banding together, then all could be just as easily taken away. I am still a firm advocate of everyone helping themselves and, if I were starting up a group, I would want my memebers to come into the group with a minimum "store package". For one thing, it demonstrates the person's commitment and also their resourcefulness. True, times are hard, but its that way for everyone - just because someone couldn't manage to scrape together the means to put some supplies aside doesn't mean anyone else should be responsible for them. Pre-positioning for members not living nearby makes a lot of sense. I suppose there is always the risk that a person's groceries would be long gone before they made it to the BOL, but at least they would be assured that they had done their part up to that point! Yes, HF, I think you got it - lists and etc. are negotiable - the basic group Charter is a living document and should be so simple and straightforward that it would not need "retrofitting" to be applicable.
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| HandFarming | Oct 11 2011, 12:34 PM Post #60 |
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True, no man is an island. Speaking of which, we should make a meet up with other retreat farms in the area Raven so we all know where we all are. In sharing then protection, there is safety in even greater numbers. One of the things we talked about with another group is distance communications but I think being able to share some misc. Resources might mean that no retreat is an island. That's a thought, but for now, I can't think what that might all include other than maybe a shared doctor, midwives, shared ?? It would be a way of watching each other's backs at a distance close enough to share some common things. Maybe trade plants, seeds or breeding stock? Just thinking out loud. |
| You can lead an ass to knowledge, but you can not make it think. | |
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