WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO

The proposed Rocky Mountain Survival Group Level II Community is undergoing a radical readjustment. It will be reformed under the new moniker "The Center for Self-Reliance Studies," which is currently being incorporated as a non-profit entity. Many of the original concepts are being maintained, though a few things have changed, and acceptance into the group will require a bit more diligence and has become much more selective.

ALL potential applicants must read and understand this page and the accompanying FAQ!

WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO:
The CSRS is comprised of normal folks and families from every walk of life. We do not hate the government, dress in camouflage outfits, parade around with guns and salute each other, or expect to be taken to "the next level" by some comet-hounding alien race. Nor are we a "Y2K" specific "survival group." The Y2K may or may not present itself as a significant emergency beyond the temporary loss of public utilities and public sanity, but if you meet the requirements for joining our group you should be sufficiently prepared to weather the event where you are without undue difficulty.

We are concerned with preparedness, self-help, self-reliance and self-responsibility. We don't know or expect the world to end or civilization to collapse, but we recognize the possibility of (nearly) anything happening in this screwy (but incredibly interesting) world and era in which we live. Moreover, we recognize the apparent lack of concern and ability of our society to successfully provide for the safety and security of its member Citizens. Therefore, we have taken it upon ourselves to provide for ourselves - as is appropriate - to the greatest degree possible.

To accomplish this, we have formed a participatory group to create, establish and maintain a self-sufficient community incorporating the best of off-grid technology with the least impact on nature. Our community will (eventually) be 100% self-reliant and self-sustaining, peaceful, non-intrusive, apolitical, non-denominational and, we hope, serve as an example for all future communities. This will not come about overnight, nor even in the next six to twelve months. It will be a gradual process following a rational plan in an established manner following all local legal conventions.

For more information, READ THE RMSG FAQ, as well as the rest of the information on this page. While we are all "survivalists" interested in preparedness, we are not extremists, in any sense of the word. Those who are interested in militia groups, survival by superior firepower, anti-government propaganda, free sex, alternate lifestyles, drug cultures, racism, religious exclusionism, or any other hateful or destructive activities should please refrain from responding.

Save us both the time & energy. You won't be welcomed here, and there are plenty of other places for you to go. Thank you.

GOALS:

- Establish a Non-Profit Organization (Or Co-op) for Emergency Aid & Preparation of 500-1500 individual Members & immediate families/significant others.₁

- Purchase 65-200+ acres of land (depending on membership size) in Colorado, N. New Mexico, or the southern half of Wyoming for establishment of emergency & recreational retreat. ₂

- Set up & maintain Local BBS* & WWW Members only Web site.₃

- Actively solicit group benefits plans for Accident, Health, Medical, Dental, Home & Auto insurance's, & discount purchasing of goods & supplies.₄

Back to Goals

1: Primary Membership^a based on following criteria -

- Primary Members^b must be at least 21 years of age;
- Must be able to afford the initial membership fee ($2,000.00 - to be placed in escrow until land is purchased); DO NOT SEND ANY FUNDS UNTIL INSTRUCTED TO DO SO!!!
- Must live within 500 mile radius of retreat site for consideration as a PRIMARY member;⁵
- Primary Members must have a specific field of expertise in an open position sought by the Organization. ^c This need not be their current field of employment, however Primary Members not actively pursuing or engaged in these fields may be asked to provide credentials [click here for list of needed skills]
- Primary Members must put in minimum of 40hrs/yr onsite maintenance at retreat site, once established, and submit at least 2 articles/yr on the area of their expertise to the electronic library for Member use;
- Must be willing to provide goods or services, including consultation, to fellow Members at a substantial discount (in your listed field of expertise).

1b: Conditional Primary Membership -

- Conditional Primary membership is a new member group created by popular demand. It is for those who, for one reason or another, cannot relocate at this time within the 500 mile area of operations surrounding the proposed site location. Conditional Primary members will be considered PRIMARY MEMBERS for all intents and purposes, and will have the same responsibilities and receive the same benefits as Primary Members with the following conditions:

1) They must accept the fact that, being located outside the boundaries of the 500 mile limit, their chances for reaching the site in the event of an emergency are severely reduced. All efforts will be made to ensure that they have the best chance of making it, but the fact is, amidst the expected chaos, it may take them several weeks to months under harsh conditions to make the journey successfully.

2) Because of the above, Conditional Primary members may not hold mission essential or vital positions within the group organization as the sole operant. They may, however, serve in an advisory capacity to another member (or members) who are located within the 500 mile area of operations.

3) Conditional Primary membership will be immediately and automatically upgraded to Primary Membership as soon as the member reaches the site during an emergency or relocates within the 500 mile limit during good times.

1c: Associate Membership -

- Associate membership is another new member group created by popular demand. It is for those who wish to exchange ideas and information with the group and participate in the various online forums, discussions and chat rooms without actually joining the group or contributing financially. Associates receive none of the group benefits including the use of the site in non-hazardous times. However after an event, if they can make it to the site and there is an available slot for them, they will be welcomed into the group without reservation.

Back to Goals

2: Land Purchase for Emergency Retreat:

-- Site will be chosen once membership levels are sufficient to purchase outright or finance 60-100% of any approved property. A minimum of 3 optional sites will be submitted to the initial members and put to a vote;

-- Selected site must be relatively remote, yet accessible, have surface & subsurface water, standing timber, and include water, timber & mineral rights. Site must be open to limited development as a resort/campground with utilities and situated adjacent to large tracts of open (undeveloped) public or private lands. Site may be previously developed.

-- Selected site will have a central warehouse facility & greeting center with basic utilities & services (showers, toilets, commissary, cafeteria, library & recreation, education & meeting rooms, emergency first aid & treatment, communications & limited availability sleep facilities for emergency usage by dislocated members) maintained by minimal onsite personnel. Additional facilities will be determined and developed by member input.

-- Site will be maintained as a Members Only private retreat, open year-round without appointment or fees for usage (aside from membership dues). Members will choose private sections for their designated "campground" area which they may utilize 365 days per year. Campground development subject to local codes, laws, and the NPO rules, to be determined. Outdoor sports available IAW the law concerning private land use and NPO rules.

Back to Goals

3: Local BBS & Web Site:

A private, members-only Bulletin Board Service (dial-up computer modem site) with an "800" number will be established and maintained for dissemination of information, cross-field training, unlicensed software/shareware swapping, live chat rooms, and entertainment. A mirror site will be provided & maintained on the internet. This will be a no-cost site for members. It is hoped that we can set up a sort of interactive "Home School" curriculum site for K-12 and Adult Education in the future.

Back to Goals

4: Membership discounts & benefits:

-- If nothing else (no catastrophes), members will have an "open access" vacation spot with nothing more than tax maintenance & development fees to pay on a yearly basis (in addition to requirements for 40hrs/yr + 2 articles). I don't think you can find a better price for perpetual campsites or permanent shelters than this - and the sites will be continually upgraded by the members!

-- We want to set up group insurance rates (without the agent fees) to provide the best low-cost, multi-lines, insurance rates for members. Home, Rental, Auto, Health, Medical, Dental, Business & Liability - anything we can think of that our members might need.

-- We will solicit & establish discount rates from all manner of goods & service providers for our members.

-- Members will vote on & set discount rates for providing fellow members with services in their listed field of expertise, subject to normal business practices and IAW the various laws.

-- Members will establish, through the NPO (or Co-Op), an emergency contingency fund to be drawn upon in the event of personal loss to any member requiring temporary emergency financial support (details to be determined).

5. Primary Member Location Requirements:
The reason for this is to ensure that, in the event of a necessary bug-out to the site, members can reasonably expect to reach the retreat (and, hopefully, safety) with a 12 hour warning. After an "event" is usually a bad time to decide to bug out. We'd also like to make sure that the site is accessible 365 days a year as a member vacation retreat, and distances greater than this would make it impractical.

Granted, a 12 hour warning may take a bit of luck and prognostication. Any crystal ball readers out there? Hopefully we won't be blindsided by an overnight occurrence. The really big things usually take a few days to gear up (aside from Momma Earth getting ticked off).

The importance of ALL MEMBERS reaching the site should be fairly obvious. What we are creating is a self-sustaining potential community that can not only survive a catastrophe, but rebuild a cohesive "civilization" in the event any catastrophe is greater than anyone would care to imagine.

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1a.Primary Membership:
Base membership held by the Primary Member entitling Member & dependent members to rights & privileges of the Organization IAW the NPO Charter & Laws.

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1b.Primary Member (def.)
Male or Female Adult, 21 years of age or older, Single or with dependents (adult [16⁺ y.o.] dependents - secondary members; child [15^- y.o.] dependents - tertiary members). Financially responsible for maintenance of the Membership IAW NPO Charter & Laws. Solely responsible for the conduct of dependent members

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1c. Positions (fields of expertise) sought by the organization: Follow This Link

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1d. Regarding presentation of credentials:
We're not big on sheepskin, but if you purport to be knowledgeable in a field you are not actively engaged in (I don't believe that's phrased correctly, but you know what I mean) then you must be prepared to prove it through written, oral or hands-on testing. Anyone can get paper - witness our High School "graduates" who can't read, write, or successfully conclude an employment interview!

back to Subsection 1

1e. Required Yearly Maintenance:
First of all, there will be taxes on the land. This can be reduced by maintaining a small, self-sustaining farm on the property which will qualify the land for agricultural exemptions.

Next, there will be required maintenance on whatever buildings, streams, ponds, dams, roads, etc., may be on the site. Also there will be additions and improvements. We don't want to maintain a large paid staff. Preferably, we'd keep a small, unpaid or minimally paid staff on the place, made up of members, and provide nothing more than free housing for them. All work should be done by members or through member businesses and organizations. Let's keep it to ourselves as much as possible. The requirement for 40hr.s yearly on-site maintenance can be met with as little as 3-5 days at the site, and does not have to be met all at once. Two to three weekends/per year would work just fine. "Maintenance" includes giving (and taking) classes and lectures on fields of expertise to other members, scouting out the land site, clearing and setting up campsites, streams and paths, or helping work on the farm or buildings.

back to Subsection 1

1f. Required Yearly Articles:
This is to everyone's benefit. These articles will be edited for content and references will be checked for correctness. All articles will be posted on the Member BBS and Hardcopies will be stored on microfilm for safe keeping. A minimum of two articles in your field of expertise will be required. These articles should be written so that the majority of our members will understand what the heck you are writing about and can make use of the information, if needed. The information in the articles must serve some educational purpose.

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2a. Initial capital outlays for Primary Members:
Aside from the land purchase and fees/taxes attached to that, a six month supply of long-term storage food and a four season supply of individual clothing & basic survival gear should be stored on site for each member (primary, secondary and tertiary members). This is not a requirement, but a strong suggestion. This will, hopefully, ensure that a hasty bug-out will not cause undue hardship on fellow members, nor delay any member from immediate departure from their home site if that is necessary. If you have to move FAST, we don't want you sifting thru your life's accumulation of stuff to get your emergency supplies and gear on the road to the site.

On-Site supplies will be kept in individual locked containers (your Lock) in a secure building. Additions and inspections (by member owner) allowed at any time. You will note that "firearms" will NOT be kept at the site. Firearm ownership is a personal & private matter. There will be no requirement that you MUST have a firearm (though we believe it is wise to have at least a small caliber pistol), and certainly none forbidding firearms. You own them, you keep them, and we don't need to know what you've got. Once we can build a safe and secure depot, you may be able to store small supplies of personal ammunition on the site, but this depends on member interest and putting in the labor to build an "ammunition depot." All stored ammunition will have to be in a member-supplied, lockable container.

We are working on a basic list, suppliers, and cost analyses. These will be posted ASAP.

 

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