Manifesto
Outline
My leadership bid places development of Forest's existing method of direct democracy and collective decision making at the fore. I plan to roll out a semi-formalisation of this process via dedicated committees, open to all to contribute, tasked with developing ideas for the benefit of Forest as a region. It is my sincere hope that this process will ensure that all Forestians have a place to contribute and make their voices heard - it is often hard to join in a conversation that has finished two hours before you woke up on the RMB, or to step up and suggest something when other, possibly older, residents are discussing things. We should try to lower these potential barriers to participation and draw on all of Forest's talents.
I do not see the position of Forest Keeper as a presidential role, rather my particular management style would be more linear than a hierarchy.
The Committees
These will likely be hosted on the new forum, where any Forestian may contribute and discuss. They will be broadly divided between those with a clear objective and cut off point – for example if a new flag is needed, or there are suggestions of a particular amendment needed to Forest's constitution.
Other committees will be ongoing and largely tied to one or more government officer, who will be expected to at least monitor discussion on the committee, and ideally take an active role within it. Potential committees to be rolled out first will include:
World Assembly Committee
Tasked with developing ideas surrounding Forest's role in the World Assembly.
Foreign Relations Committee
Tasked with potentially developing inter-regional relations via embassies and developing potential new diplomatic channels.
Inter-regional events planning Committee
This committee will deal with both Forest's promotion of other regional events and planning potential inter-regional events hosted by Forest.
Growth and development committee
This committee will examine ways to increase both Forest's membership and participation of nations within Forest.
From the Forest committee
Broadly speaking not a committee. The purpose of this is for Forest residents to suggest any expertise, knowledge or area where they think they could contribute to Forest.
On The WA
One thing that has arisen during the recent discussions is that some believe that communication lines between what occurs in the WA and Forest could be improved. For this reason, the WA committee will be implemented first as a priority, with a view to potentially creating a new officer position that gives feedback on WA proposals to Forest in a balanced and neutral manner.
Concluding statement
When I first joined NS, I gravitated towards The Communist Bloc first and foremost. I've never made a secret of my political perspectives and it seemed the most natural place for me. It turns out I was wrong. TCB, for all its good points simply cannot hold a candle to Forest's laid back/serious tone. I've yet to see a serious falling out here – at least between Forestians – and I've been constantly impressed with how my regionmates manage to work together both on a day to day basis and on those occasions where NationStates itself is threatened by nuclear or zombie Armageddon.
Forest manages to walk that trickiest of tightropes between a close knit community and one that is open and welcoming to others. I sincerely hope that my tenure as Forest Keeper, should I be elected, will only help strengthen our already excellent region.
So.... questions?
