The Crown System

“One Crown, One Offer, One Leader. Crowns are offered one at a time — no second choices.”

Each Liana Banyan initiative needs a First Leader — someone who embodies the mission, has the expertise, the network, and the heart to grow it from sapling to forest.

These are not employees. These are Crown Holders — granted special stakes from the Founder’s Reserve, with titles that reflect their founding role.

The Hierarchy

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                        CROWN                                 │
│                    (Initiative Leader)                       │
│              "Grand Chef", "First Shield", etc.              │
│                          ↓                                   │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                       WARDENS                                │
│                   (Regional Curators)                        │
│              Implement Crown's vision locally                │
│                          ↓                                   │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                       CAPTAINS                               │
│                   (Node Operations)                          │
│              Run local operations, manage members            │
│                          ↓                                   │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                       MEMBERS                                │
│                  (Active Participants)                       │
│              Do the work, earn Credits/MARKS/Joules          │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Crown Titles by Initiative

The “Mentor” Philosophy

“Crowns guide. They don’t necessarily do all the work themselves.”

A Crown Holder:

• Sets the DIRECTION for their initiative
• Checks that operations are FAIR to members
• Makes sure community VALUES are upheld
• DELEGATES day-to-day operations
• Is a FIGUREHEAD with genuine guidance power

What Crown Holders Receive

From the Founder’s Reserve

What They Commit

The Ruprecht Principle

RUPRECHT [ ROO-prekt ] (n.)

The domain of authority held by each position in the cooperative hierarchy. Each role has “ruprecht” — the right to make final decisions within their area, earned through demonstrated competence and maintained through service.

Etymology: From “respect” + “right” — authority that commands respect because it is exercised with responsibility.

Application

Key Principle

Those with ruprecht over a domain CANNOT be bypassed. The Crown cannot override a Captain’s local decision without process. The Warden cannot bypass the Captain’s domain.

This prevents both top-down tyranny AND bottom-up chaos.

The Bidirectional Data Flow

Content flows in both directions:

MEMBERS submit content UP
        ↓
CAPTAINS review and approve
        ↓
WARDENS curate for region
        ↓
CROWN features platform-wide
        
═══════════════════════════

CROWN features content DOWN
        ↓
WARDENS implement in region
        ↓
CAPTAINS execute locally
        ↓
MEMBERS see and engage

This ensures:

• Bottom-up innovation (members create)
• Quality curation (Captains → Wardens → Crown filter)
• Top-down consistency (Crown sets standards)

Current Crown Status

“Who Wants to Be CEO?” Contest

The Founder plans his own replacement through a meritocratic contest:

Vetting Through Action

The Process

1. DECLARE CANDIDACY
   - Must have Captain rank or higher
   - Must have 2+ years platform track record
   - Must have Harper Guild endorsement

2. RUN A MAJOR PROJECT
   - Assigned a significant initiative
   - Given resources and team
   - 6-12 month execution period

3. BE EVALUATED
   - 360-degree review (above, below, peers)
   - Financial audit
   - Harper Guild ethics review
   - Community feedback

4. COMPETE (if multiple candidates)
   - Side-by-side comparison
   - Debate/presentation to Steering Committee
   - Final community vote (weighted)

5. SUCCESSION
   - Founder endorsement + community confirmation
   - Transition period with Founder
   - Full handover

The Point

“I don’t need to be in charge for this to work; what matters is that it WORKS.”

The system runs itself. The machine finds its own operators. No single point of failure.

The Harper Guild Integration

Every Guild and business MUST have a Care Coordinator from the Harper Guild. Non-negotiable.

Why Harpers?

• Non-influenceable — Paid by LB, not the business
• Multi-talented — Work across disciplines
• Present everywhere — In EVERY guild and business
• The conscience — Ethics oversight in each operation

Harper Hierarchy

Crown Letter Format

Crown offers follow a specific structure:

Dear [Name],

I'm writing to offer you a Crown.

Not a metaphorical crown — a real one. A founding leadership position 
in [Initiative Name], one of sixteen initiatives within Liana Banyan, 
a platform built on the principle of "Help Each Other Help Ourselves."

[Personal paragraph about why THEM specifically]

As Crown Holder, you would receive:
• A significant equity stake from the Founder's Reserve
• The permanent title of [Crown Title]
• A physical Crown Medallion (serial CROWN-00X)
• Revenue share from [Initiative] in perpetuity
• A seat on our Steering Committee
• Final say on initiative direction

In return, we ask for your active leadership, your network, and your 
genuine belief that communities can provide for each other.

This offer is made to you alone. We don't have a list of alternates. 
If you decline, we'll seek elsewhere — but you are our First choice, 
and there is no Second.

[Closing with specific vision for their leadership]

The bell still rings for all who truly believe.

With respect and hope,
[Founder]
Liana Banyan

One Crown, One Offer, One Leader. For the Keep.