Physical TOTJO Temple in Texas Project

Zenchi wrote: It's not impossible, it only takes some effort focusing more on what the Jedi in the movies were based upon instead of the fiction itself, which is to a large extent, in my opinion, crap...

No intention of derailing this thread but I disagree with you here. While of course this is the real world and not fiction, I think a lot of inspiration can be taken from the fiction. For example, I am currently working on a lightsabre hilt and I am trying to look into molecular physics to explore if something like the midi-chlorians might indeed exist.

So of course we should separate to a certain extent but if we call ourselves Temple of the JEDI Order. then we owe tribute to the fiction, whether we like it or not....

What does an Initiate need? They need to have taken an oath and filled in an application. They need to have listen/watched/read the material and have written a response to each part giving their views and so on, and they need to have been a member for at least six months.

An application can be them filling out a form and have Phortis send it to a central database (PMing it to Jestor).
An oath can be a signed document and sent to a centralised database (a special thread in our 'oaths' forum).
Their work can be emailed as a word file to us and recorded in a special forum etc...

The website isn't TotJO. We have our records on here, because that is the most sensible way of keeping them, they have to be on a computer somewhere... The requirements for people singing up to the website are the same requirements as those who don't sign up to the website. If you want us to call you a knight of TotJO, then prove to us that you have done the required amount of training etc.

Building a physical temple requires: money, dedication, commitment, follow through and patience. None of of what most folks have... I have three to four Jedi living in my area and they can't even meet (many invitations) because they have a LIFE. I drive 150 miles to meet with those who will meet. Can't blame them for that. We're lucky if 30 people are active int this online site. The dream of a temple is good though.. Keep dreaming.

Plokoon, it's possible that the lack of a temple or real existence is why so few meet. Why would someone risk their personal life time for something going no where(in their opinion)?

Remember, I am not suggesting this temple to be over night or even this year. It just needs to be in the works if we are to be more than a forum religion.

A fundraiser would show the actual interest TOTJO has. If we meet our monetary goals, we will in fact have attendance or at least the motivation. This fundraiser would have to be official TOTJO tho.

That's exactly right.

This may be real. Our connections and learning are real. The Jedi are real.

But, the moment we have a real location open up. In Chicago, in Colorado, in Texas, in New York.. in Germany...

Things are gonna go crazy. Everything will change. When I was 10 years old, I had that vision (only, it was for the Sith). Now, so many years later, I'm sure it will happen soon.

OK, I hereby officially ordain the TOTJO temple fund. Send donations to the TOTJO donation link and add "temple" in the comments so it can be earmarked for that purpose. When the funds reach $2000 we'll open discussions about locations and the next steps and have a vote to decide. There.

:blink: I'm suddenly very confused.

I'd like a more structured plan AND the councils agreement. We have only slightly discussed what is to be in this temple :laugh:

One thing Id like to see in the temple is a biofeedback device to improve focus as well as other things. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biofeedback

Drexid wrote: I'd like a more structured plan AND the councils agreement. We have only slightly discussed what is to be in this temple :laugh:

One thing Id like to see in the temple is a biofeedback device to improve focus as well as other things. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biofeedback

More structured plan:
1. Start a fund(done)
2. Wait for $2k
3. Discuss where to build a temple
4. Vote

Council's agreement:
Br. John: Said he wants a temple
Jestor: said he wants a temple
Akkarin: said he wants a temple
Brenna: said she wants a pony

Oh wait, maybe I got one of those wrong

Biofeedback device is cool. I'll throw one in there. No charge.

Drexid wrote: AND the councils agreement.

Agree to what?

Its a good idea?

Lol, there's nothing to agree to..

Jestor wrote:

Drexid wrote: AND the councils agreement.

Agree to what?

Its a good idea?

Lol, there's nothing to agree to..

He means he wants to know if you guys want a temple or not. I do but I get dibs on the top bunk

Payments can have 'references' which are a few words to id what a payment is for, Whyte Horse seems to be saying is if making a donation - to specify its for building a temple, and then when those funds reach a point perhaps TOTJO could realistically consider such a project. I'd suggest using something a bit more descriptive then just 'temple' though hehe the whole site is a temple!! Note; its what he was saying I think, not me.

What if we enumerated this differently...

1. Do we want a building, as a community? A place where we can hold any number of events.
2. Would the council approve of a member-driven committee to begin planning this endeavor?

Those are the ONLY two questions we need to ask first. Once those are answered, then we can ask: "How much is it going to cost"... etc.

Well I would like a Temple but considering the amount of work and planning it will take I don't think we will have one done any time soon. Sure if you want to send in donations earmarked for one then you can do so, but don't expect a building to be built for several more years...

Of course if there is a massive influx then we will probably begin, but it would need to be much greater than the less-than-a-thousand dollars that is donated each year.

To be honest I'm too busy to begin planning one lol, so they can do whatever

Personally, I would like to see one too...

But, as for the reasons listed many times, and in many threads, and still just as valid, I'm not seeing that its time quite yet...

As far as the Council approval goes, its a slippery slope...

What's that mean?

Is permission being sought to bump a donation post everyday?

To go out into each person's local community and solicit donations?

Go to those "donation" websites?

PM every member for a $1.00?

So, while it sounds like a no-brainer, "sure, who wouldn't want that!"

There are many things I think need considered....

For example, if we did the "donation websites" would Disney kick up a fuss about a Jedi temple donation deal?

I don't know the answers...

I know we have, as members, people who know how to raise monies for charities and organizations, but, perhaps they don't want to spend their down time, away from work time, on basically work, lol....

+++++++++++
Take a moment...

Are you supporting the website?

If no one pays the fees next month, how will we communicate about this project idea?

Sure, the Skype and G+ groups are there...

Wescli and I text... Alex and I G+...

But, to communicate, en masse, we use this site which isn't solely supported by donations, yet...

++++++++++++
What about the taxes?

That's every year, $400 needs raised for just the land (that was purposed) and when construction begins, that's land improvement, and as the land improves, the taxes go up....

+++++++++++
These are just some of the concerns...

When the "temple" ideas get brought up, of course we want to say "Go for it!"

But, a Jedi shouldn't rush, but, shouldn't be afraid of the unknown, either... lol...

Calm, cool, decision making...

Just enough hope, with a little realism...

+++++++++
I would say the the Council:

"Cautiously approves"

Its why we allow these threads instead of squashing them from the git-go....

Well, I'm not in support or not in support. My posts in these types of threads are meant to be impartial. As you've seen many times, my opinion is that a temple building project would hurt the community more than help it.

Now, you've brought up the point I hoped you would. What if we did try and work for a donation-supported site? Why are you afraid to ask for money?

I know that money is a slippery slope in itself. It holds danger. Easily, it could be misused. People could feel alienated. People might leave. You might make somebody mad. Then, there's the law to contend with. The legalities of getting money involved are complicated.

But, this website is THE most successful Jedi website, ever. It's why I originally left my little sphere of the net to join here. Because, I believe that this place has the most chance of reaching the most people.

Think about it. We do need to start small. But, we have the ability to do it. You have people who want to support you, but maybe don't know how. I know I've never donated because I just don't know what it would do. There's no community-wide effort. But, if the council made it known their goals, I would understand what the donations would be doing and the purposes behind them. If you put up how much money was gathered every month, people would see the growth. People might get excited and understand why we might donate. People might even start giving to the temple regularly.

This is a good first step to bringing in thousands of dollars a month to build a building, a capital campaign, paying the councilors and other volunteers, to helping charities.

It's a whole new world. Maybe you don't want that world. Maybe it's not what you signed up for, or what you want to deal with.

It's just an idea, as well. I like to keep asking questions, gather more awareness. It's my Jedi way.

https://www.kickstarter.com/ :whistle:

I support those who want a physical temple, but I don't see a need for one myself. One of the things I love about our Temple is that it's so open. A physical temple is geographically located, and to be blunt having one in Texas is about as good to me as having one on Mars. Whilst communication, instruction and learning is available here, why cross the earth for it?

For those of you who see a purpose and could make use of it, best of luck with it. My donations will continue to go to the Temple I can actually make use of, however.

lol... Why...

I'm not afraid... Careful what you say... Don't take my hesitation for fear, you don't know me that well...

Don't want to donate? Don't...

What's going to happen to TOTJO when John is no longer with us?

You can say, "glad I didn't donate, wouldst pissed that money all away"...

Oh, we can worry about it then, sure, but last I heard, he pays more than the rest of us combined....

And people are worrying about a physical presence? lol...

Sure, go start the "kickstarter" deal...

Let me know how it works (not a council endorsement)....

Here's an example the PR department just experienced:

Zazzle, the on-line store like CafePress," wrote: You recently used our Quick Product Create tool to upload a number of new designs. Unfortunately, one or more of your designs is in violation of Zazzle's content guidelines. Because of the way that our Quick Product Create tool works, we are unable to accept parts of an upload. We must either accept all of it or none of it. Therefore, in this case, we cannot accept the entire batch of products in your recent upload.

Below, we have listed all of the products in your upload and have identified, with reasons, the image(s) that are a problem. If you make corrections to the products with problems, or delete them from the batch, we will be happy to accept your products and designs.

Batch ID: 3845784
Number of Products: 10
Product Title: Totjo
Reason Not Approved: Trademark - Your design contains an image or text that may be trademarked. This may be due to the actual design of the product, description or search tags that are associated to your product. Please feel free to submit a new design to our Marketplace from original elements

We keep stuff like this out of site of the general membership because we don't need every person with an opinion to comment...

People like Jedi99 who commented in our last "live sermon" thread that this stuff is fake....

There are things running in the background, but, we don't have the time to debate every single person...

If you know and understand something, then you may want to join/start a project...

The reason I ask that knights run projects?

Because they have shown their dedication...

The same reason I would promote from within than trust some guy with some papers that say he knows something...

Too many people have thought something is a good idea, yet not wanted to run with the idea...

I've got some ideas on how Obama might do better, or NASA could change a little...

But, who am I? My ideas might be brilliant, but, without proper channels, I will get a polite refusal...

Quit debating, and donate...

Dont listen to me, I am but a moment in time, and someday, i will be gone, and the time will be right....

Until we have the money, this is all moot, this is not NOW, this is misplaced attention...

Its fun to speculate, but, that isn't going to do much for anything...

Man, I just gotta laugh, lol...

I don't mean to assume you feel anything. Don't assume the accusation was pointed at you, because it wasn't.

It's only misplaced attention because people don't yet believe in it.

To my core, I believe in it. But I don't run this site. I help run IJRS. And, our temple project is in progress. Has been for years. We are at least moving in a direction.

Here's the problem: I will donate when there's a purpose to doing so.

I'm asking the council to find a purpose. Like I said, website funding, building, whatever. It can't just be "implied" either. It's gotta be a corporate campaign, with money becoming a tool we use.

Money is extremely powerful. That's why I don't use it lightly.

This nonchalant attitude about donating is the reason I don't donate. I don't even know what it would do.

I feel as though I've become an antagonist, here... I don't understand how that happened. But it doesn't make me feel good. So sorry if I'm spouting nonsense. I said earlier I may be wrong. But, I believe in this so much with my soul. There is power in it.