Eden Charter - December o8, 1995  |

Eden is a forum of artists  focused on the principles of enjoying
what you    do, expressing yourself and  improving    your skills, and
fighting against  the role Big Brother has  in today's art scene. Eden
was formed  for the artists,  not  for title-craved exploitation of  a
name or a spot on the "Top ??"  lists. Eden can  best be compared to a
monastery-- a  home where  people  can throw  aside pride  and  greed,
explore their talents, and be at peace.
Eden members realize that the  most important aspect of producing
artwork is enjoying what you do. It matters not what  name you have or
talent you    possess  as long  as     you find  satisfaction   within
yourself.   Outside   influences are   meaningless   without  internal
happiness. A person can have all the riches  of the world and it would
mean nothing without happiness.
The two second-most important aspects of creating are the ability
to  express  yourself and  the  desire   to   improve your  method  of
expression.  In   Eden there are  no  good   artists nor bad  artists.
Everyone is equal  on  the  path  of improvement, competing    against
nothing (and  no one)  other  than your   limitations. This is  why  a
group-atmosphere is necessary  for the development  of the artist.  It
provides motivation to produce artwork and creates a forum where other
members    can   suggest,  comment,   and     constructively criticize
pieces. Eden exists for these sole purposes.
Eden recognizes the  'dictatorship'  form  groups of  today   are
taking  and denounces them. Eden   is   saddened to see something   as
beautiful as artwork forums to be cheapened to  the level of political
factions, warring  internally   and externally for   trivial simulated
power. The electronic voting booths must be torn down to make room for
communes  and coffee houses. It's time  for change; time  to lower the
swords of hate and raise the arms of love.

Eden  believes communication within the  group is important.  All
members are strongly encouraged  to participate in group mailing lists
and present their projects  to  other members  of Eden for  criticism.
Eden does not  exercise quality control,  but instead encourages  each
member to search for improvement of a  project before its release in a
group compilation.   Currently   all  collection  and distribution  of
materials  takes place   on the Internet  through  IRC,  the Web,  and
official FTP sites.  This  may change in  the near future, pending the
motivation of someone to organize  other medium.  These materials  are
collected, organized, and released  on the first  day of every  month,
barring extreme  circumstances, at which  time  a vote may be  held to
change the date of release.
Eden does not  believe in  assigning  titles for various   group-
related tasks; instead, aspects  of  group organization are  taken  on
voluntarily by interested members.  All group decisions are voted upon
via  the  main  channel of  communication  (currently the eden-members
mailing list   on io.com), one week  given  for each topic  to reach a
simple majority.  In the event of a tie vote, the topic is thrown out,
as if never presented.  Any voting topic may be presented to the group
at  any time by any  member, therefore any  topic that has been thrown
out may be amended and re-presented for a vote.
Applications  for  membership  in     Eden currently   have   the
applicant's general information form  posted to the mailing  list upon
receipt   (the   complete applications  are  to   be  uploaded to  the
/pub/usr/woody/incoming/eden.apply/    directory on   ftp.io.com   for
viewing).  When this form is posted  to the eden-members mailing list,
the  applicant  is to be  voted upon  by each   member for approval or
disapproval-- the procedure for group decisions to be followed.
Changes to Eden policies  may be voted  upon via the main channel
of  communication.  Upon the change of  a policy,  the charter will be
modified to reflect this, and  the amended charter  will be posted for
official approval before  being publicly released.   As with any other
group decision, changes may  be proposed by any  member of Eden at any
time.