The Constitution of

ThatChannel

Preamble
The history of mankind can be viewed as the history of people working together
to build and maintain communities, usually for the purpose of improving the
quality of life of their individual members. What kept communities together was
communication, common interest and shared values. In the modern world,
history, culture, and technology have combined to create circumstances which
pose a threat to human existence itselfbut also the opportunity to meet human
needs like never before.
New communication technology, especially the Internet and its person-to-person
interactive dynamic offer an opportunity to build and sustain a global community
which can deal with the problems and opportunities facing mankind, and yet still
respect and support each of us as individuals. With ThatChannel, we are
creating just such a process and a community.*
What kind of community are we creating with ThatChannel?
One
One which provides the means for people to gather together and communicate.
Two
One where people can enjoy themselves and the company of others.
Three
One where people can pursue their highest level of creative and spiritual
expression.
Four
A resource for people to pursue their interests, to exchange information, to
conceive ideas, to execute projects, to do business, and to do so with the
voluntary cooperation of others who wish to help.
Five
One where people have freedom of thought, and the freedom to choose.
Six

The Constitution of
ThatChannel

One where people understand the need for and accept their responsibility for the
well-being of the community as a wholewhich in turn contributes back to the
achievement of individual objectives.
Seven
One where people respect the rights of others, and in turn can expect that their
own rights will be respected.
Eight
One where decisions are made through debate and consensus, and where
stakeholders' decision making power is in proportion to their stake in the outcome
of decisions.
Nine
A self-supportive network that can draw from the talents and resources of all the
people who want to be involved and who approve of these guidelines.
Ten
An organization which provides equal opportunity for members to participate to the
full extent of their ability, at the appropriate time, when they are most needed, for
the benefit of the Community, and for their own sake.
Eleven
A fiscally sound and responsible organization which creates value by serving
peoples real needs, and which strives to measure that value in true currency.
True currency is one which, through its exchange, naturally rewards those who
serve the true needs of people. Surplus currency ("profit") is to be used to ensure
that the organization can provide ever increasing value to its members.
Twelve
A living organism that creates value for itself, its participants, and for society at
large, and for our living foundation, the Earth.

* These 12 principles are based on those originally published in the pamphlet Towards A Groovy Community, now a priceless collector's item.