Community Meeting

Overview

Second community meeting of the Nobodies Collecting Asociación (NCA). The meeting featured a production update, barrio survey results, a demo of the new volunteer management app, and an introduction to the community-led Governance Working Group. Significant discussion around the event name, operational readiness, and the path to a go/no-go decision.

Presentations

Daniela — Production Update

• Daniela has begun building a vendor database, contacting suitable suppliers using publicly available information
• Quotes received or in progress for critical services: cabins, Red Cross, generators
• Timeline tracking based on comparable event schedules — currently on track
• Permit process underway; Jorge is in contact with local authorities who are cooperative
• Vendors are enthusiastic about working with the association
• Creating a public, reusable database of vendor information for future use
• Departments are encouraged to reach out with their specific needs

Daniel — Barrio Survey Results

• ~100 responses received from barrio leads and camp members
• 24 definite yes, 9 mixed (yes + don’t know), 9 don’t know, 1 no
• Common reasons for uncertainty: lead transitions, event uncertainty creating a self-fulfilling prophecy, logistics questions, desire for a break year by some
• Key questions from respondents: Will there be power on site? How will container fees change? Will there be low-income tickets? When do we need a firm answer?
• Strong sense of urgency — uncertainty is causing some people to commit to other events
• Even undecided camps expressed support for the event happening
• Full anonymised results to be published on the website

Peter — Humans App Demo

• New custom-built application at humans.n.burn.camp to manage volunteers and team membership
• Google sign-in based (required for Google Drive integration)
• Features: profile creation, consent/policy acknowledgement with audit trail, team management, resource access control
• Automatically manages Google Drive permissions when people join or leave teams
• Policy versioning — when policies update, all members must re-acknowledge
• Planned: emergency contact information (board-only visibility), volunteer coordinator role
• Addresses GDPR concerns by centralising personal data rather than spreading it across multiple Google Docs
• Expected to go live on Sunday for broader sign-up

Kate — Governance Working Group

• Community-led initiative to structure the go/no-go decision for 2026
• Current members: Kate and Ella, supported by Bambi in a project management capacity
• Seeking 1–2 additional members with expertise in process design or decentralised governance
• Aim: non-partisan, credibly neutral process to ensure the community has relevant information
• Developing a list of “non-negotiables” (conditions that must be met for a safe event) vs. important-but-flexible items
• May involve a sensemaking or citizens’ assembly approach, followed by a structured vote
• Updates will be posted in the Discord governance channel

Pablo — Administrative & Bank Update

• Association incorporation complete; tax ID has been issued and is in transit to the lawyer
• Bank account opening is the next step once the tax ID document arrives physically — expected within days
• Once the bank account is open: ticket sales, vendor payments, and donations become possible
• The association is working to secure the operational assets needed for the event
• GDPR compliance requirements are being carefully followed

Daniel — Membership & Board Elections

• Membership criteria still being defined — balancing inclusivity with practical governance (quorum requirements mean a very large membership body could prevent decisions)
• Representative democracy approach under consideration: engaged community members who understand the event
• Association membership is NOT required to participate, volunteer, lead, or attend the event
• Board committed to running an election for additional, more diverse board members
• Process requires 45-day notice period and onboarded members
• Community members interested in joining the board are encouraged to make themselves known

Pablo — Event Name

• The “Nowhere” name is not available to the association
• A temporary event name is needed for ticket sales and communications
• Community members invited to suggest names via a form (shared on Discord, Telegram, and other channels)
• Top suggestions will be put to a vote among approved volunteers registered in the Humans app

Key Community Questions & Discussion

Association Independence

Several community members asked about the association’s legal standing. The board confirmed that the association is an independent legal entity, established through a democratic election process, and focused on building its own operational capability.

Why an Association?

For those joining the conversation for the first time: an association structure is the appropriate legal form for a volunteer-run community event under Spanish law. The association was founded through a democratic election in December 2025.

Why a New Name?

This generated significant discussion. Community members expressed strong attachment to the “Nowhere” name. Some participants in the meeting stated that a temporary name change could be a risk-reduction measure. Multiple creative name suggestions were offered in the chat.

Container Access

Community members emphasised that containers holding critical infrastructure (build materials, department equipment) are important for a full-scale event. Securing container access is a priority in the association’s operational planning.

Event Size and Pricing

Discussion about whether the event should be smaller this year. The board noted that fixed costs create a minimum viable scale of approximately 2,400–2,800 attendees. Target ticket price is approximately €275 (blended average including low-income and VIP tickets), similar to comparable community events. The board is actively looking for ways to reduce costs, including a 10% VAT rate (vs. 21% previously).

Lead Recruitment and Continuity

A community member asked about lead recruitment and retention, noting some Discord channels are quiet. The board acknowledged this is a priority and outlined plans for the Humans app to help organise teams and for a volunteer coordinator to help match people to roles. A departmental structure has been adopted provisionally.

Ticket Sales Timeline

Previous years typically began ticket sales in February or early March. The community expressed urgency about needing a clear commitment date, as some members need to book leave and are considering alternative events.

Community Expressions

• Strong appreciation for the pace of progress and professionalism of the board
• Multiple creative event name suggestions in the chat
• Offers of practical help (camp infrastructure, build support)
• Desire for more information and clearer communication channels
• Suggestion to use email and WhatsApp alongside Discord, as some community members find Discord overwhelming

Key Dates Mentioned

• Event dates (if it proceeds): July 7–12, 2026
• Setup: Starting approximately June 15
• Strike: Ending approximately July 22
• Humans app launch: Expected Sunday
• Bank account: Expected within days