GRIP’s three-month trial period expires today (February 22).
This is the pre-proposal for open-ended renewal of GRIP (Group to Review and Improve Proposals). What follows is mostly a review of our work to date and details of the procedures we have developed to carry out our DAO-approved mandate.
Table of Contents
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GRIP’s output to date vis-a-vis PEP-45 projections
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GRIP Discord server setup: How and Why
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Individual Work Summary and Payment
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Budget
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Credo: Transparency and Accountability
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New GRIP Offerings
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Actionable Items
1. GRIP’s output to date vis-a-vis PEP-45 projections
Deliverables
PEP-45, which gave birth to GRIP, promised the following deliverables:
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“Review, feedback, summaries, editing and infographics and all other assistance will be provided based on the unpredictable flow of pre-proposal material and proposals.
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“Proposal Preparation Guide: As soon as this proposal passes, GRIP will create an easy-to-follow, step-by-step guide on how to write up proposals. This will facilitate preparation especially for first-timers.”
Here’s how we did:
Our guide on how to prepare a proposal is done. You can view it here.
Bonus: Although not offered as a deliverable, we initiated an update to the proposal templates - one each for PEPs, PIPs and PUPs - in collaboration with PNF and community members. In studying the proposal preparation process, it became clear that the template required a refresh. You can view the proposed new PEP template here. The proposed new PIP and PUP templates will be unveiled shortly.
As our role regarding the templates is advisory, the DAO will need to decide on the final versions.
Pre-Proposal Category
The Pre-Proposal category was set up in the Forum on November 22 under Governance. So far, seven pre-proposals have been posted, as follows:
- Two by MSA
“Sustainable Emission Reduction” (SER) (posted Dec 22) attracted 1.5K views and 85 comments (launched Feb 7 as PUP-30)
“Change from Trailing 30-day Average to Trailing 7-day Average for calculating RTTM” (posted Jan 3) has had 256 views and 12 comments to date
- Two by Bruce Yin
Translate Pocket Foundation Articles of Association into Chinese which was later launched as PEP-52
Monthly Translation Service Package: English to Chinese (posted Jan 28) has had 199 views and 13 comments to date
- One by Cryptocorn
“A Cadence Change to Updates of RTTM Adjustment for Target Emissions” (ACCURATE) (posted January 2) has had 273 views and 2 comments to date
- One by Poktblade
“PoktFund 2022 LeanPOKT and Security Vulnerability Reimbursement” (posted Feb 7) has had 806 views and 36 comments to date
- One by Jorge_POKTscan
“POKTscan Geo-Mesh Reimbursement” (posted Feb 9) has had 1.1K views and 46 comments to date
- One by 0xMo0nR3kt3r
“Shedding light onto the dark forest” (posted Feb 13) has had 144 views and 2 comments to date
Drawbacks of Skipping Pre-Proposal Stage
It should be noted that several proposals were launched during this same period, bypassing the Pre-Proposal category. These include PIP-26: Foundation for the Future, and PEP-49: PNI Compensation. Both prompted multiple responses, and as a result had to be significantly revised, PNI Compensation becoming PNI Compensation (Amended). This illustrates the benefit of using the Pre-Proposal category for feedback, so that much of it can be taken into account before a proposal launches and thereby reduce, if not eliminate, the need for proposal revision, which can confuse voters.
Pre-Proposal Review
RawthiL took the lead on input regarding SER. Shane provided substantial feedback on the reimbursement pre-proposals for LeanPocket and Geo-Mesh. zaatar provided substantive feedback on Bruce Yin’s pre-proposals. Based on zaatar’s input regarding translation into Chinese of the PNF’s Articles of Association, Bruce drafted and submitted a second pre-proposal, Monthly Translation Service Package: English to Chinese.
NOTE: Generally, GRIP will respond to all proposals in the Forum Pre-Proposal category. However, how much input it provides will vary. Where other community members give feedback, GRIP may have little or nothing to add.
Proofreading and Copy Editing
PoktBlade requested that GRIP’s editor take a look at his pre-proposal on reimbursement for LeanPocket and Chocolate Rain prior to its launch as a proposal.
Infographics
Ale created our first infographic - on GRIP workflow. You can see it here.
2. GRIP Discord server setup: How and Why
In regards to review and feedback deliverables, PEP-45 also offered private assistance:
PEP-45 however did not set out the process for private help or for its disclosure after the fact. PEP-45 also left unaddressed how GRIP would administer its workflow and other internal processes.
GaG, or Get a GRIP
To determine how to handle these matters, meetings were held with team members. To meet these needs, the team decided to set up a Discord server. It’s called “Get a Grip” or “GaG.” To visit, follow this invite link.
GRIP uses GaG for internal communications and administration. Also, there’s a Meeting Room for consultations between GRIP and contributors on their pre-proposals once they’re posted in the Forum Pre-Proposal category.
Private-Help Option
Because of its diverse permissions, GRIP considered Discord ideally suited to balancing transparency and privacy. The private-help process respects the creative process but at the same time recognizes the value of openness. It is intended to encourage and facilitate contributions. The process involves confidential discussion followed by disclosure of that contact when the pre-proposal is posted in the Forum. The full process is set out here.
In a nutshell, GRIP will set up a unique pre-proposal channel for any contributor who for whatever reason wants some private assistance before going public. The channel title is publicly visible but not the contents. Once the pre-proposal is moved to the Forum, the contents are made public (e.g., see the SALES pre-proposal channel). The Discord permissions enable us to afford privacy, then remove it.
In addition, in keeping with the soon-to-be-published Transparency Principles of PNF, the private help option may be appropriate where sensitive information is involved.
Private-help option might migrate to Forum
Soon after the private-help process was developed, Jack Laing advised that the Forum will soon incorporate Discourse plug-ins and that private group DMs could be added. GRIP may switch to the use of this feature following the Forum revamp as there is upside to keeping community discussion on pre-proposals and proposals in one place.
The private-help option was just recently devised and remains untested. We will observe its use and based on community input, will determine whether to change and/or keep it.
3. Individual Work Summary and Payment
PEP-45 provided as follows:
Here is a breakdown of the work done and time spent by the team over its three-month trial. For greater detail see the GRIP time log.
Who | Time (hrs) | What |
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Ale | 11.5 | GRIP meetings (Nov 25, Dec 2, Feb 17)/admin/call notes + Infographic creation/reviewing/discussions with zaatar on infographic |
Cryptocorn | 9.0 | GRIP meeting (Dec 2)/admin + Infographic writing/reviewing/discussions; create Google Doc for revised Proposal template; review and comment re GRIP proposal preparation guide |
Qspider | 7.9 | GRIP meetings (Nov 25, Dec 2, Feb 17); set up Get a Grip Discord and adjust permissions |
RawthiL | 6.8 | meeting with zaatar, Qspider and Ale (Nov 25); meeting w GRIP team Feb 17; SER and ACCURATE Pre-Proposals feedback |
Steve | 2.0 | GRIP team meetings (Dec 2, Feb 17) |
Tracie | 2.3 | GRIP team meetings (Dec 2, Feb 17) |
Adam | 2.5 | GRIP team meeting (Dec 2); Review SALES pre-proposal; communication on the same (see GRIP Discord server), Additions to Proposal Preparation Guide |
Baris | 2.0 | GRIP team meetings (Dec 2, Feb 17) |
Shane | 13.2 | GRIP team meeting (Feb 17); feedback on Geo-Mesh and LeanPocket Pre-Proposals |
zaatar | 76 | Includes: Meetings with GRIP team members; Work and mtgs with Qspider and Ale re Discord server setup; Work with Ale on GRIP infographic; Communications w Jack re privacy, accountability, transparency as it relates to GRIP setup, Discord server; Revise proposal templates; Create procedure for private help by GRIP; Draft Proposal Preparation Guide; Review pre-proposal by Bruce Yin on translation of PNF documents; meeting with Ming re same; outline proposal for Pocket ecosystem monthly translations; Prepare report on GRIP work over first three months; Copy edit PoktBlade’s pre-preproposal on reimbursement for LeanPocket and Chocolate Rain |
Note: This does not include 15+ hrs work on drafting of this pre-proposal for renewal | ||
TOTAL: | 133.2 |
Not all GRIP contributions can be seen in the Forum. Much of the off-Forum work during our three-month trial is setup related including some that can be seen on GaG. Now that setup is mostly complete, we expect most of our work going forward to appear in the Forum.
NOTE: If a GRIP member creates a pre-proposal, and later, authorship transfers to someone else, he will not be able to bill for work on it. Further, GRIP members will not bill for private help in regards to pre-proposals by other GRIP members.
Payment
PEP-45 provided as follows:
Funds Transfer and Work Visibility
No funds have yet been transferred to GRIP.
PEP-45 called for the monthly transfer of $5K from the DAO treasury to GRIP in order to pay its members. However, for simplicity, GRIP is submitting its account for work to date as detailed above and requesting PNF to effect the transfer of funds to each member. Now and going forward, payments will be made in POKT based on a 30-day trailing average of the $POKT/USD price from the date of remittance. GRIP compensates its members at a uniform rate of $100 per hour.
NOTE: Several GRIP members are employed by entities in the Pocket ecosystem. Any GRIP-related work for which they seek payment is done in their spare time and outside the scope of the responsibilities and duties of their employment.
As per PEP-45, GRIP will continue to operate, and be paid for its work, pending the renewal vote.
4. Budget
Going forward GRIP will submit monthly accounts to PNF and request the transfer of funds to each member. Prior to payment, a summary of time spent and work done will be posted monthly in the Forum. A link will be provided to time logs with full detail.
For clarity, GRIP will compensate its members for work related to admin, including meetings and preparation of the monthly reports on work done and time spent.
The DAO will disburse a maximum of $5,000 a month to GRIP. If GRIP’s work exceeds $5,000, GRIP will pay any excess hours from a subsequent month’s $5,000 allocation. However, no overage hours can roll over more than 12 months.
In addition, GRIP is seeking reimbursement, and ongoing coverage for its subscription to Adobe Illustrator. GRIP signed up for the basic package in January to be able to directly edit infographic copy. This saves time as it eliminates the need for multiple DMs with the graphic artist. Monthly cost is about $30.
5. GRIP Credo: Transparency and Accountability
Now that we have worked out our process for providing proposal help, and following input from PNF, we consider it important to state the principles that govern our work and the manner in which we will carry out our DAO mandate.
Accountability
For accountability, GRIP’s engagement with contributors and other paid work will be fully transparent.
Transparency
GRIP believes that transparency enhances proposal development. For edification of the DAO community and to nurture a culture of openness, ideas and pre-proposals should be debated in public.
Therefore, GRIP adopts the Default-to-Open approach set out in the soon to be published “Transparency @ PNF” statement and will default to work in a public space.
6. New GRIP Offerings
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GRIP will add to the Pocket docs information on its services and a link to the new Proposal Preparation Guide.
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A #proposal-support channel was recently created in Pocket’s public Discord server. GRIP will monitor this channel, field questions and reply to posts.
7. Actionable Items
Renew GRIP’s budget and mandate on the terms noted above.