Robert Holder

Robert Holder

Team Culturing Information

WHO are you?

• Name: Robert Holder
• Location (city, country): Westminster, Colorado, USA
• Contact Information (email, skype, phone) robert.d.holder at comcast dot net
• Picture
• Introductory Video
• Resume/CV: Former UNIX Sysadmin, TCP/IP Network Engineer. I have also done a little work on cars, particularly the '69 VW Beetle I used to have. I'm not any expert mechanic, but I've turned some wrenches. A little carpentry, I've welded a few times--I like learning tools and making things. Oh, and I'm self-cleaning.

WHY are you motivated to support/develop this work?

• Do you endorse open source culture?

I guess out of gratitude for all the free software tools I have used in my life, and out of respect for their makers. And because it creates a climate where the people who have the knowledge make the design decisions, not some roomful of marketing wonks.

• Why are you interested in collaborating with us?

When I graduated from college, a life as a wage slave was not appealing to me, but I quickly realized that somebody already owns all the land, so there was no clear way to opt out of consumer culture. I understood the problem as Marcin sees it, but I never sat down and made enough effort to try to solve it: it was easier to just get a job, watch TV and drink beer.  :-)

I immediately recognized what Marcin was doing and why when I saw his TED talk. I think it's a great idea, and it's about time somebody made a real effort to try to approach this problem.

One thing that keeps occurring to me as I read through this wiki is something my old boss said to me in High School. He was a framing carpenter, and had been a hippy in the sixties, and had done the "back to the land" thing, lived on a commune, etc. We were talking about it and I was very curious and excited and asked him why he wasn't doing that at the time instead of carpentry, and he got a very sober look on his face and explained that, "Raising food out of the land is very hard work." I realized that there was a big difference between what was in my imagination (freedom, fun, parties and girls) and the reality of it. That sticks with me.

Also, to the extent that OSE becomes disruptive of the present system, some of the people with stakes in the current order, from the local level to the global, may take an interest in trying to disrupt the OSE efforts. That's something to plan for. I imagine a time may come when OSE might need more lawyers than fundraisers and engineers.  :-)

• How do you think that the GVCS can address pressing world issues?

It's an exciting take on this problem, and one I don't believe anyone has tried yet. It may give the ability for a certain kind of person to demonstrate that the default path through life in Industrial Culture does not need to be the only one. But it will only appeal to certain kinds of people, especially at first. Maybe it makes me a "bad person", but to be honest, I don't spend as much time thinking about "pressing world issues" as I once did. I really just want to use the time I have left on this Earth as wisely as I can, and by my reckoning, that is really about focusing on the things I can affect: my wife and the people I am loyal to. Whether that makes me a cynic or a realist remains to be seen.

• What should happen so that you become more involved with the project?

Hm. Well I think it's a great idea, and I'm very enthusiastic about it. It's easy to fantasize about getting involved, but from experience I know that the reality of joining something like this is pretty demanding. I will definitely be thinking about it though. It is a worthwhile idea, but it requires some serious commitment, and I currently have a number of other life priorities right now. I will be thinking about how I could help, and how much time I have to put towards that.

• What is missing in the project?

It's great that you guys are focusing on funding so you can keep moving forward, but I would suggest that you should spend some energy trying to find some lawyers who would be willing to do some pro bono work for you, specifically on anticipating liability issues, if you haven't already done that. You might get in touch with the DPW people at Burningman, they have quite a bit of experience with volunteers coming on-site, and the issues there, including experience with injuries and people getting killed onsite, if I was informed correctly. I can think of other concerns, but I haven't thought them through well enough to discuss them at this time. email "site at burningman dot com" and they can put you in touch with whoever is in charge of DPW these days, and maybe they could give you some helpful tips on this. I am no longer involved with burningman in any way.

Oh yeah, one thing that occurred to me when I used to daydream about starting something like this: getting in good with the locals near your farm is obviously a good idea. Having a summer barbeque or picnic or something for just locals, getting on the local volunteer fire department, donating surplus food to the local foodbank or schools... whatever you can do to make the locals happy you are there is a good thing, and that goodwill may be money in the bank down the road.

• What are your suggestions for improvement of the project?

"Never, never, never, never quit." -- Winston Churchill :-) You guys seem to be very sharp, and focused on execution. You have clearly given this a lot more thought than I ever did, so I can't say I have any brilliant suggestions at this time, but if I think of anything I'll contribute.

WHAT are your skills?

• List all of your skills in these areas: Communications - Organizational - Computer Support - Finances - Design - Natural Building - Electronics - Automation - Metallurgy - Engineering - Fabrication - Agriculture - Energy - Architecture - Video/Graphics/Art - PR/Marketing - Education - Construction - Industry - CNC - Chemistry - Product Design - Other

Unix Systems Administration, TCP/IP Network Engineer, ten years. Really rusty these days though. Wife and I tried to start an online business, which ultimately failed, but was a big learning experience. Hobbyist level familiarity with auto mechanics, electronics, ceramics (art not engineering), carpentry, soldering, welding... home DIY stuff. My grandmother maintained a quarter-acre food crop on her ranch when I was a kid and I helped with that one summer. On the down-side, I am overweight and out of shape now... however I am trying to remedy that.  :-)

• How have you already contributed to the project?

Well I signed up for the True Fan thing. Not much but every bit helps.

HOW can you help?

• How are you interested in contributing to the work of GVCS development?

I apologize, I should probably have gone and familiarized myself with more of the project before creating this page. But from what I have seen in this wiki, and the videos, I know this is a project I want to contribute to. I will have to figure out what form that will take.

• Can you volunteer to work with us, and if so, how many hours per week?

No, not at this time. Perhaps in the future. I am ten hours away by car, in the Denver metro area, so it may be possible at some point.

• Are you interested in working with us for pay? If so, what services can you offer, and what is your hourly or per-project rate?

I don't want any money from you.

• Are you interested in a Dedicated Project Visit?

Possibly in 2012, if I am in better physical shape then.

• Are you interested in purchasing equipment from us to help bootstrap development?

Possibly in the future, not at this time.

• Are you interested in bidding for consulting/design/prototyping work?

No.

• Are you a True Fan? If not, why not?

Yes.

• Would you like to see yourself working with us on a full-time basis?

Possibly in the future.

• Are you interested in being part of the world's first, open source, resilient community? The GVCS is the preparatory step for the OSE Village Experiment – a 2 year, immersion experiment (2013-2014) for testing whether a real, thriving, modern-day prototype community of 200 people can be built on 200 acres using local resources and open access to information? We are looking for approximately 200 people to fill a diverse array of roles, according to the Social Contract that is being developed. This may be the boldest social experiment on earth - a pioneering community whose goal is to extend the index of possibilities regarding harmonious existence of humans, ecology, and technology.

That is very exciting, and a big commitment. I will definitely be giving it some thought.