New Schloss Construction Site Opens to Citizens and Friends

Sudane Erato and Rosie Gray have done wonderful work on the new Schloss.   The build has really taken form.  A lot needs to be done and the structure is still far from complete; but the basic form has been established.  It is already promising to be an improvement over our current Schloss.

For those of you who might not see notices or frequent the CDS Forums, I post Sudane's notice the the community regarding the next phase of building the new Schloss.

I endorse moving the new Schloss in place and its continued construction.  I hope that all of you agree that this is a much needed first step in re-vitalizing our sims.

Visit the schloss construction site in-world at :  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Point%20of%20Pines/226/107/2501

The following is a reprint of Sudane's notice:

We hope that you all know that the RA and the Chancellor have authorized Rosie Gray and myself to begin creating a new building to replace our existing Schloss on Neufreistadt. We've been working on the building now for about a month, at a site away from the CDS so as to conserve prims.

The approved proposal was that we would work offsite on this project until such time as there was enough of a shape and style to the building that members of the community could visit it and get an idea of what they were getting. At that point, we would request comments and ideas, and request a final approval of the project by the RA and the Chancellor. Once this is achieved, the old Schloss will be removed, and the new, unfinished, one put in its place. Finally, all the detail work will be done in place in NFS.


Well, this time has come. The new build has a very definite shape and style, and, while nothing in it is finished, the principal focal center of the building, the ballroom, is very well along. In addition, most of the other spaces of the building are shaped out and details slowly begun. We are approaching the point at which the size of the build will cause it to be more difficult to move as we go along.


Accordingly, we invite everyone in the community to visit the construction site and view the future Schloss. As mentioned, your comments and ideas will be much appreciated. I have asked Shep to add this matter to the agenda of the next RA, and we have also asked Tor to approve the project. The two approvals will enable us to move it to Neufreistadt.


A related but very important matter. As is obvious, the old Schloss will be removed before the new one is rezzed in NFS. The old one cannot be saved, since most of the owners of its prims are not available. During the RA approval proceedings, a number of people expressed an interest in collecting photographs and video of the old Schloss for historical reasons.

Let me just say this: "Now Is The Time"!

We sincerely thank everyone for the incredible support we;ve received so far, and we hope to move along and look for a shiny new Schloss well in time for the new RA Inugural Ball!

Executive Staff Openings

Listed below are the current positions the Chancellor is looking to fill on his staff for the 17th. Representative Assembly. Any interested citizens can IM, reply in the forums, or email the Chancellor at twarcliffe@gmail.com

Public Information Officer

·         Creation of notices, advertisements, regulations

·         Responsible for placing and maintaining advertisements on the SL search for all public builds

·         Responsible for maintaining the Land Available for Sale list, yellow map, and real estate listings on the SL Marketplace

·         Responsible for maintaining CDS Info Center/Land Office/ Freebie Store

·         Manages any CDS wide kiosks

·         Responsible for set-up and maintenance of CDS Embassy’s

·         Advises Chancellor

Public Events Officer

·         Responsible for public events in the CDS both for the benefit of CDS citizens and to increase grid-wide awareness of the CDS

·         Responsible for exploring different types of public events for the CDS in addition to concerts and deejay events such as educational presentations, debates, discussion groups, fairs, carnivals, hunts, anything to promote and benefit the CDS

·         Responsible for assisting and coordinating with citizens who are interested in participating in the Government Subsidized Citizen Events Program

·         Responsible for working with various media outlets to obtain coverage for some of the CDS events

·         Responsible for holding a minimum of one fishing tournament a week via our 7Seas Fishing Game and posting the event to the 7Seas Social Chat Group

·         Responsible for holding one event per quarter in each CDS Embassy or co-event with the hosting estate

·         Advises Chancellor

Commerce Commissioner

·         Organizes commerce in CDS

·         Assists vendors where possible

·         Coordinates with Public Events Officer on any CDS events involving commerce

·         Develop ways to increase traffic and promote commerce in the CDS

New Lower Tier in the C.D.S.

The Confederation of Democratic Simulators, the CDS, Second Life's oldest functioning democracy, has just released their new, lower tier rates. The CDS began in 2004 on the SL mainland as an experiment in self-governance that has grown to a community of 5 sims whose citizens run the sims. Anyone who purchases a parcel in the CDS becomes a citizen of the CDS and is able to participate in the democracy.

I joined Second Life in May 2010 and I spent my first three weeks exploring the grid, seeing what Second Life was all about. My first exposure to the CDS was when I discovered Alpine Meadow, one of the five sims of the CDS. First I fell in love with the scenery and architecture and than a citizen explained to me what the CDS was all about, being the oldest self-governed community in Second Life, and I found the concept quite intriguing so I've been a citizen ever since.

The issue of tier restructuring is an excellent example of how the democracy works in the CDS. When I joined, the CDS had very few vacancies, land was a hot commodity. Since that time, just like in real life communities and like many estates across the Second Life grid, the CDS has experienced a higher rate of vacancies than in previous years. The CDS gives its citizens tools to express their opinions, thoughts, suggestions and ideas through in-world meetings and the forums located on the web portal. One of the recurring topics was the issue of tier. Some citizens felt it was too high while others felt it was just fine. So as a citizen of the CDS who happens to enjoy working with numbers I took it upon myself to do some research and see how the CDS pricing compared to others. I discovered the CDS tier was slightly above the median, there were estates with higher tier than ours and there were estates with lower tier.

There were three main goals to my tier restructuring plan.

1. Reduce tier to a more competitive level with other estates


2. Have a uniform tier across all 5 sims


3. Have a double-prim parcel's tier be exactly double that of a single-prim parcel

As each sim was brought in-world they were calculated for tier on an individual basis so each one would be self-sustaining. This resulted in 5 sims with a wide variety of tier, all different from each other. The second goal of having a uniform tier for all 5 sims would have resulted in a large increase in tier on two sims, a significant drop in tier on one sim, only a slight drop in tier on the remaining 2 sims and an overall savings estate wide of only 3%.

Further calculations proved the other two goals successful. The 5 sims of the CDS are four full region sims, two single-prim sims and two double-prim sims, and one homestead sim. The two single-prim sims were reduced to US$ 3.25 per 512sqm. The two double-prim sims were reduced to US$ 6.50 per 512sqm. The homestead sim was also reduced to a more competitive level with its own tier set independent of the other four due to the low private land to public land ratio. The proposal was submitted to the Representative Assembly of the CDS for approval and is now in effect. The result of the new tier structure is an impressive savings of 23% estate wide.

https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AszbEvp-qxb3dGNOSXlLQmR1b2tOeDNmWHZZSGc3ckE&hl=en_US

CDS Celebrates 8 Years of Second Life!

Work progresses quickly on the CDS SL8B pavilion. Five rooms will highlight the five regions of CDS while the center rotunda will highlight our democracy, vote and constitution. Our Rosie Gray of NFS is the architect. Doing a great job! 

The interior rooms will be decorated in a styles representative of our five regions. The rose in the center will probably focus attention on a voting booth. As you can see we still need items representative of each region.

The CDS pavilion is in the SL8B Dazzle region. We have several neighbors who might generate some good traffic. These are Maven Homes, the Virtual  Kennel Club and Zeus. Also, as you can see, Rosie's build is striking and eye-catching in a rather flat landscape.


The SL8B regions will open to the public on June 20th and run through July 2nd.   Save the date for a CDS kickoff on the 19th!  

An Evening with Damian Carbenell

On April 17, 2011, we enjoyed the music of Damian Carbenell at the Quay.   

We had a wonderful time.  Damian was in wonderful voice and treated us with new and familiar songs.   

Well over 40 people bopped and danced on the quay.  

Thanks to all who came out to enjoy one of the most beautiful spots in CDS--Locus Amoenus at the Quay!

Christmas with Craig Lyons

The Confederation of Democratic Simulators hosted a wonderful Christmas show by Craig Lyons this past December during Christmas week.  


A temporary log and snow stadium was created in Alpine Meadow to accommodate more than 40 people in a beautiful Alpine Christmas setting.

More Photos of Octoberfest 2010

Great fun was had by many during the Octoberfest   celebration.  Anna Toussaint played a big role in advertising the event and hosting some of the events.

Most of the events took place on the Platz at Neufreistadt.

Revelers glowed under the moonlight at events carried on into the mountain nights.

A goodly number of non-citizens visited the sims for the wonderful music.

Everyone was dancing.

A variety of musical genres were showcased during the festival.  Octoberfest was capped off with a gala on the Schloss terrace.   It was a night of great fun followed by fireworks commemorating the sixth anniversary of the foundation of the Confederation of Democratic Simulators.

Keila Forager and Tor Karlsvalt

Thanks to Rose Springvale who lead the Representative Assembly through one of its most productive terms. 

    Tor Karslvalt provided the fireworks for the ball.

Arria Perreault

Some Oktoberfest 2010 photos

Unfortunately I couldn't attend the main events, but managed to capture a little bit of the fun.  

There were some interesting vendors present at the platz.

Sonja

Lillith and Rosie dancin' up a storm.

Delia

Scenes from Neufreistadt

I really enjoy the moody mountain atmosphere we sometimes get in NFS. 

Floralia is Coming!

Floralia is on the way . . . May 27 - 29 in the regions of Locus Amoenus and Colonia Nova!  See the Floralia page for up-to-the-minute information.

Available Land in CDS

Interested in buying land in CDS?  Prices for available parcels are located here.

Contact Anna Toussaint or Tor Karlsvalt.

Spring In CDS

Warm rays of sun and soft breezes have melted all our snow!  So it is spring again in CDS.  Come enjoy the bright green of spring.   

Cozy, Mountainside House in Alpine Meadow!

Featured Parcel -- Alpine Meadows DH6

Our beautiful Alpine sim is the location for this rugged house built right into the mountainside.  Located right next to the famous Cantina Mexana, it has two levels with a first-floor walk-out.  With walls of beautiful redwood and stone, it has fireplaces both upstairs and down.  Best of all, it comes with double prims

Price:  L$2,000
Prims: 234
Area: 512 square meters
Current owner: Rudeen Edo
See it here!

From the Southest

Upstairs

Downstairs

Featured Parcel -- Alpine Meadow DT3

Gracious Condo Living in the Mountains of CDS

Beautiful, two-story condo in Alpine Meadow, with lovely plank floors and a working upstairs fireplace.  Situated on 512 square meters that supports double prims.  And there's a back yard!

Price:  L$5,000
Prims: 234
Area: 512 square meters:
Current owner: Rudeen Edo
See it here!

Upstairs Bedroom

Plenty of Light!

Featured Parcel -- Locus Amoenus P.15

In beautiful Locus Amoenus, on the river and near the quay, with a cool house included.  Gorgeous sunsets at no extra charge.

Price:  L$7,774
Prims: 234
Area: 512 square meters:
Current owner: Rudeen Edo
See it here!