White Marble Syndicate Bylaws

Version ~2025.7.29

White Marble Syndicate is a not-for-profit decentralized autonomous organization for the acquisition, preservation, and utilization of Western classical scholarship. As a library DAO, White Marble Syndicate is dedicated to preserving and curating the timeless wisdom of the classical Western tradition, rooted in the Greek and Latin corpus. Our shared belief is that the fragile thread of ancient knowledge—encompassing philosophy, literature, history, and art—holds profound value for humanity’s understanding of itself and its future. We are committed to building a pristine, member-governed repository of primary texts, translations, scholarly commentary, and AI-enhanced tools to empower private research and intellectual exploration.

Our goal is to create a living, evolving library that not only safeguards the classical heritage but also makes it accessible and actionable for our members through research tools and cutting-edge AI technologies. We uphold the values of intellectual rigor, collaborative stewardship, and privacy, ensuring that our community of scholars, researchers, and enthusiasts can engage deeply with the classical world in a secure and enriching environment. As a syndicate, we foster a self-organizing collective where members actively shape the library’s growth, governance, and innovation, preserving this cultural legacy for generations to come.

The WMS library mandate is defined as:

  • The classical heritage of Greek and Roman thought.
  • Received associated commentary (as on Aristotle).
  • Ancient antecedents (as Linear B or Etruscan).
  • Relevant scholarship (as treatises, forewords, etc.).

Governance & Membership

  • GM1: White Marble Syndicate membership consists of token holders of one or more $WHTMRBL tokens as issued by Ethereum contract 0xbC7e36265f8f20F8113729393eC2e824235BAb7B.
  • GM2: Each complete token entitles its holder to one vote.
  • GM3: Voting takes place off-chain via an application set up for each vote on the syndicate's primary Urbit Azimuth point or a designated alternative platform approved by the board in case of technical unavailability.
  • GM4: A quorum for voting consists of the lesser of 20% of currently issued tokens or 100 tokens, adjustable by member vote to ensure scalability.
  • GM5: Any member may bring a motion for a vote before the syndicate with the support of 5% of currently issued tokens.
  • GM6: A proposal for voting has an associated time span between two weeks and 90 days. Membership tokens acquired during the voting period may not be used in the current election but are eligible for future votes. The quorum is set by the circulating supply of $WHTMRBL at the proposal's starting timestamp.
  • GM7: The board is empowered to pursue appropriate legal organization (e.g. DUNA) consistent with the unwrapped DAO's nonprofit status at any time.
  • GM8: The board is not empowered to seek venture capital or large-scale investment; growth should be via regular utility token sales for membership.
  • GM9: The board may accept grants, donations, or sponsorships from entities aligned with WMS’s nonprofit mission, subject to member approval via a majority vote with quorum.
  • GM10: The Members-at-Large shall maintain onboarding materials on governance, tokens, and platform access.
  • GM11: The administrators serving as Librarian and Treasurer serve on the board.

Asset Management

  • AM1: White Marble Syndicate collectively owns assets related to the syndicate's mission. These are listed for the current time in the bylaws appendix A.
  • AM2: Library assets are administered by the Librarian and Technologist.
  • AM3: Treasury assets are administered by the Treasurer. Due to technological limitations, incoming fees are accepted at an Ethereum address held by the Treasurer and a sponsor. These are carefully accounted for and moved to a multisig wallet for the general treasury. All incoming fees must be directed to a multisig wallet within 60 days of receipt, with transparent accounting maintained by the Treasurer.
  • AM4: A multisig wallet requiring (int(n/2)+1)-of-n board votes to disburse funds is required (e.g., 3-of-4, 3-of-5). All fund disbursements should have an associated invoice maintained by the Treasurer.
  • AM5: The Technologist has primary responsibility for the website, forum, library interface, and tooling interfaces and infrastructure. Syndicate members may be delegated access to these resources as appropriate.
  • AM6: The board governs $WHTMRBL issuance, aiming to maintain a stable valuation through responsible issuance and reserve management, subject to member approval for significant changes.
  • AM7: The Treasurer and board produce an annual stewardship report of White Marble Syndicate finances, assets, and tokenomics.
  • AM8: The Treasurer and board may commission an independent audit of treasury assets and tokenomics, with results published to the membership.

Administrator Roles

  • R1: Community administrators practically coordinate the activities of the syndicate as a service. They are distinct from the board, although board members may serve as administrators.
  • R2: Several roles may be held concurrently by one individual, but there must be at least three signators for the DAO public keys. Some positions, like Technologist or Treasurer, may also have multiple individual members serving as long as one remains the chief of that role.
  • R3: The roles include:
    • Librarian. Responsible for curation and operation of the library, including acquisitions of scholarship and preparation of new materials. Effectively the executive role.
    • Treasurer. Responsible for receiving, managing, and reporting on community funds and expenses, including legal responsibilities like filing fees and taxes.
    • Member-at-Large. Responsible for community concerns and membership scope, including experience, recruitment, and outreach.
    • Technologist. Responsible for platform operations, including IT infrastructure, AI tooling, and software tooling.
  • R4: In case of a vacancy or temporary absence in a role, the board may appoint an interim replacement by majority vote, pending a member election within 60 days to fill the role permanently.
  • R5: Role holders must disclose any conflicts of interest (e.g., financial or personal ties to proposed acquisitions or vendors) to the board and membership. Decisions involving conflicts require approval by a majority vote of non-conflicted members.
  • R6: Role holders serve on a volunteer basis unless compensation is approved by a majority vote with quorum, disclosed in the annual stewardship report.
  • R7: Role holders are appointed by a majority vote of the board and may be removed by a majority vote of the board.

Code of Conduct

  • CC1: Our community is built on mutual respect, intellectual rigor, and a shared commitment to preserving and engaging with the classical heritage. These guidelines outline the expected behavior for all participants, the scope of our social channels, the types of violations to be prevented, the process for addressing violations, and the associated sanctions.
  • CC2: These guidelines apply to all official WMS community platforms, including:
    • White Marble Syndicate Website: The primary hub for accessing the library and member resources.
    • WMS Community Forum: The dedicated private space for member discussions, support, and governance proposals.
    • @WhiteMarbleDAO on X: The official X account for announcements, updates, and community engagement.
    • Future Platforms: Any additional platforms or tools (e.g., readers, AI-assisted commentary tools, member dashboards) introduced as part of WMS’s roadmap.

Expected Behavior

  • CC3: Members of the WMS community are expected to:
    • Engage respectfully and constructively, fostering an environment of intellectual curiosity and collaboration.
    • Contribute to the collective mission of curating, preserving, and advancing classical texts and scholarship.
    • Respect the privacy and intellectual property of the community, including proprietary resources and member-only data.
    • Provide thoughtful input on library acquisitions, governance, and AI tool development through designated channels.
    • Adhere to the syndicate’s values of intellectual rigor, privacy, and stewardship of the classical Western tradition.

Types of Violations

  • CC4: The following behaviors are considered violations of WMS community standards:
    1. Disrespectful or Harassing Behavior: Personal attacks, derogatory language, or harassment. Be professional.
    2. Misuse of Resources: Unauthorized sharing, distribution, or reproduction of WMS library materials, including texts, translations, or AI-generated outputs, outside the private membership.
    3. Spam or Off-Topic Content: Posting irrelevant, promotional, or disruptive content in community channels that detracts from the focus on classical studies.
    4. Malicious Actions: Attempts to undermine the security, integrity, or functionality of WMS platforms, including hacking, data breaches, or misuse of AI tools.
    5. Non-Compliance with Governance: Acting against agreed-upon syndicate governance rules, such as disregarding member voting outcomes or misrepresenting proposals.
    6. Plagiarism or Misattribution: Submitting or sharing content (e.g., library nominations or commentary) without proper attribution or claiming others’ work as one’s own.

Judging Violations

  • CC5: Violations will be assessed through a transparent and fair process:
    1. Reporting: Members can report suspected violations via the WMS community forum, by direct message to the owned Urbit star, or by report to the Member-at-Large who represents the community. Reports should include specific details (e.g., screenshots, timestamps, or links).
    2. Review Process: A designated governance committee, elected by WMS members as part of the syndicate’s evolving governance structure, will review reports. The committee will evaluate evidence, context, and intent, ensuring alignment with the WMS vision and values.
    3. Member Input: For complex or controversial cases, the committee may solicit input from the broader membership through a secure voting mechanism to ensure community consensus.
    4. Timeliness: Reviews will aim to be completed within 7 days of a report, with updates provided to the reporting member and the accused.

Sanctions for Violations

  • CC6: Sanctions will be proportionate to the severity and frequency of the violation, as determined by the governance committee. Possible sanctions include:
    1. Warning: A formal notice for minor or first-time violations, with guidance on expected behavior.
    2. Temporary Suspension: Temporary restriction from community platforms (e.g., forum or X interactions) for 7–30 days for moderate or repeated violations.
    3. Access Restriction: Limited access to certain WMS resources (e.g., AI tools or library sections) for serious violations, such as misuse of proprietary materials.
    4. Membership Revocation: Permanent removal from the WMS community for egregious or repeated violations, such as malicious actions or significant breaches of privacy. Revoked members forfeit access to the library and any associated benefits.

Appeals Process

  • CC7: Members sanctioned for violations may appeal within 14 days by submitting a written statement to the governance committee via the WMS community forum. Appeals will be reviewed by a separate subset of the committee to ensure impartiality, with a decision rendered within 14 days.
  • CC8: Disputes not covered by the Code of Conduct shall be resolved through mediation by the Member-at-Large, followed by a binding member vote with quorum if unresolved.

Commitment to Fairness

  • CC9: The WMS community is a collaborative syndicate, and these guidelines are designed to protect its mission and members. As the governance structure evolves, members will have opportunities to propose amendments to these guidelines through the community forum to ensure they reflect the collective’s values and needs.
  • CC10: By participating in the White Marble Syndicate, members agree to uphold these guidelines and contribute to a respectful, intellectually vibrant community dedicated to the classical Western tradition. For updates or questions, follow @WhiteMarbleDAO or check the WMS website.

Risk Management

  • RM1: The board shall annually assess technological, legal, and financial risks to WMS operations, developing contingency plans to ensure continuity of the library and member access.

Amendments

  • A1: Bylaws may be updated by a two-thirds majority vote with quorum.

Dissolution

  • D1: In the event of WMS dissolution, assets shall be transferred to a nonprofit entity with a similar mission, as determined by a two-thirds member vote with quorum.
  • D2: Dissolution may be triggered by failure of the board to maintain legal and regulatory responsibilities and failure of the group membership to reach quorum on appointment of a new board.

Terminology & Definitions

  • TD1: “Quorum” is the minimum $WHTMRBL tokens required for valid voting.
  • TD2: “Multisig wallet” requires multiple board signatures for transactions.
  • TD3: “Urbit Azimuth point” is WMS's primary Urbit identity for secure voting/communication.

Appendix A: Assets

Assets may be appropriately acquired for White Marble Syndicate DAO by the board without requiring a full vote.

  • AA1: Library texts and AI-generated outputs are owned collectively by WMS and licensed for use under terms approved by the board, ensuring alignment with nonprofit goals.

  • AA2: Asset sale or transfer requires a majority vote with quorum.

    • Assets include:

  • The https://whitemarble.ai website and the associated hosting materials.

  • The @WhiteMarbleDAO account on X.

  • The WhiteMarbleDAO organization and repositories on GitHub.

  • The White Marble Syndicate forum and its successors.

  • The White Marble Syndicate library (meaning acquired and contributed texts) in its evolution.

  • The Urbit star ~pondeg.

  • The joint non-profit treasury (e.g. as raised from service provision, utility token sales, etc.).

  • One or more multisig wallets controlled by the board for the DAO treasury.

  • Funds received in the course of business by the Treasurer in exchange for $WHTMRBL tokens.

Appendix B: Current Roles

The token holders currently associated with each adminstrator role are:

  • Librarian: sigilante.eth/0x6f9bd1383d2eB2a0BfF699F5500d24f1b17E4D35
  • Treasurer: sigilante.eth/0x6f9bd1383d2eB2a0BfF699F5500d24f1b17E4D35; sarlev.eth/0x49Fb7FEE3a5B2fCb055b401773B4D0322aDa275B
  • Member-at-Large: sarlev.eth/0x49Fb7FEE3a5B2fCb055b401773B4D0322aDa275B
  • Technologist: hanfel.eth/0x5bfD89dE4Ea71f26449FE3De671322820D40de85

The token holders currently serving as the board of the DAO are:

  • sigilante.eth/0x6f9bd1383d2eB2a0BfF699F5500d24f1b17E4D35
  • hanfel.eth/0x5bfD89dE4Ea71f26449FE3De671322820D40de85
  • thezavant.eth/0xa5188ffb1038729BD3eaB99d0356a3106ec39F08
  • sarlev.eth/0x49Fb7FEE3a5B2fCb055b401773B4D0322aDa275B
  • (pending ENS)