Aaron Makaruk

WHO are you?

 * Aaron Makaruk
 * Denver, Colorado - United States
 * Email: AaronMakaruk at gmail.com
 * Resume/CV


 * Amnesty International - Student Area Coordinator - 2000-2001
 * Grant in the amount of $2,500 for the ComeUnity Festival in Denver, CO.
 * Traditional Support Caravan - Canvasser and Caravan Member - 2002-2003
 * Boulder Housing Coalition - Board Member - 2002-2003
 * Part of a grants team that raised $100,000 from the City of Boulder to purchase the Chrysalis Co-Op.
 * Grant from the CU Student Government for travel expenses and fees for five people to attend the national co-op conference in Anne Arbor, Michigan.
 * Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance - Canvasser - 2004
 * Raised over $5,000 to help protect pristine wilderness areas in southern Utah.
 * Boulder Housing Coalition - Renovation for Lead Inspection - 2004
 * University of Colorado - B.A. in Philosophy - 2005
 * Home Renovation - 2005-2006
 * Atomic Anvil - Blacksmith Apprentice - 2006-2007
 * NeoSource - Fabricator - 2007-2008
 * Growing Power - Urban Agriculture Training - 2009
 * Youth On Record - Co-Founder - 2010
 * Flobots.org - Program Director of Youth On Record - 2011
 * Grant - $10,000 - The Christian Foundation of Colorado - 2010
 * Grant - $10,000 - The Christian Foundation of Colorado - 2011
 * Grant - $10,000 - The Laura Jane Musser Fund- 2011
 * Grant - $10,000 - The Denver Foundation - 2011
 * Grant - $ 5,000 - The Anschutz Family Foundation - 2011
 * Grant - $TBA   - Denver Active 20/30
 * General Fundraising - $7,500+
 * Anusara Yoga - Teacher Training - 200hrs - 2010-2011

WHY are you motivated to support/develop this work?

 * Do you endorse open source culture?


 * We have come so far as a civilization, and yet its frustrating to see each one of us suffer because of artificial constraints. The means of sustaining life and exploring the development of culture are at a radical stage of development so that everyone can enjoy economic self-sufficiency. It used to be the case that each generation, within a family, benefited from the wisdom of their forebears, but the integrity of many family lineages has been undermined by economic hardship. Open source culture offers the promise that we can renew a tradition of sharing best practices and pursuing excellence in the knowledge of how to live. I wholeheartedly endorse open source culture for these reasons and many more.


 * Why are you interested in collaborating with us?


 * You, Marcin, and the people who have stepped up to help are working at the heart of the issue that will resolve the great contradictions of our age. Engineering knowledge and the skills to implement them are inaccessible for so many, but there is a feasible way to democratize the tools to fill the void that NAFTA left in our economy, and you are dedicated to finding it. This is THE strategic initiative of the early 21st Century.


 * How do you think that the GVCS can address pressing world issues?


 * Material scarcity is the fundamental problem that underlies our great cultural and psychological illnesses. With the advent of robotic factories, human labor is becoming less and less valuable to the global elite. They have always pursued the means of extracting wealth from society, and they have largely done that, but reciprocated by creating new jobs which keep the cycle of life going. Now that they need our labor less than ever before, we face a slippery slope into a future of poverty. It's a simple issue that the lower classes simply have nothing to exchange with the key players in the global economy, so we can expect that our ability to secure social services and even jobs will decline. Instead of depending on the global elite to pay us and entertain us, let's instead free ourselves from having to pay for electricity and food and shelter. Let's divorce ourselves from a way of life that destroys ecosystems and creates unimaginable poverty. Instead, let's produce our own electricity, food, shelter, and community. The genius of the GVCS is that it bridges the gap from theory to reality. Everyone knows that we should be economically independent, but industrial capital has historically cost millions of dollars to develop and utilize. Within a year or two, this will no longer be the case, and it will potentially change the lives of...billions.


 * What should happen so that you become more involved with the project?


 * I am currently in the introductory stage of becoming involved with the project. I am still learning about how the operation currently functions so that I can understand how I can find a place to help out.


 * What is missing in the project?


 * Although I don't know enough about it, I would say sufficient outreach to galvanize the people who have the technical expertise to design each machine. Also, enough money.


 * What are your suggestions for improvement of the project?


 * I'd rather do more research before continuing this line of thought.

WHAT are your skills?

 * Fabricator


 * Reading plans
 * MIG Welding - Steel and Aluminum
 * Finish Grinding
 * Band Saw - measurements and cuts
 * Iron Worker
 * Power Hammer
 * Cutting Torch
 * Plasma Cutter
 * Sanding/Painting
 * Forge
 * Drill Press


 * Video/Graphics/Art


 * Adobe Premier/Sony Vegas
 * Adobe Illustrator
 * Adobe Photoshop


 * PR/Marketing


 * Web Design - HTML + CSS
 * Video Production
 * Audio Production - Ableton Live, extensive knowledge


 * Research/Writing


 * Grant Research - track record of development work
 * Grant Writing
 * General Research
 * Information Synthesis - simplification and concise presentation
 * Writing


 * Yoga/Meditation


 * Teaching Yoga
 * Mediation techniques


 * How have you already contributed to the project?


 * Time at Factor e Farm/Grant Writing

HOW can you help?

 * How are you interested in contributing to the work of GVCS development?


 * On-site work - physical labor, fabrication, agriculture, construction, video production, audio production, etc.
 * Off-site work - grant research and writing, local application of principles and practices, research.


 * Can you volunteer to work with us, and if so, how many hours per week?


 * Yes - to be determined.


 * Are you interested in working with us for pay? If so, what services can you offer, and what is your hourly or per-project rate?


 * Yes - to be determined.


 * ''Are you interested in a Dedicated Project Visit?


 * Are you interested in purchasing equipment from us to help bootstrap development?


 * Are you interested in bidding for consulting/design/prototyping work?


 * Are you a True Fan? If not, why not?


 * No, my involvement is new, and I am recently unemployed.


 * Would you like to see yourself working with us on a full-time basis?


 * Yes


 * Are you interested in being part of the world's first, open source, resilient community? The GVCS is the preparatory step for the OSE Village Experiment – a 2 year, immersion experiment (2013-2014) for testing whether a real, thriving, modern-day prototype community of 200 people can be built on 200 acres using local resources and open access to information? We are looking for approximately 200 people to fill a diverse array of roles, according to the Social Contract that is being developed. This may be the boldest social experiment on earth - a pioneering community whose goal is to extend the index of possibilities regarding harmonious existence of humans, ecology, and technology.


 * Yes