Weighing in on the idea of removing working groups in the ApeCoin DAO that are working their way through the forums/AIP process. Personal opinions to follow...
First, let me say it would be good to get others' opinions in this discussion rather than the usual forum dwellers. (I say this lovingly, but the truth is that the forum represents a very small percentage of active community members).
I think that the DAO and Foundation would be better served by a strong foundation model and bringing more in-house. This is especially important as supporting ApeChain becomes a bigger and bigger piece of the mission and being able to stay competitive. Working groups aren't a sustainable model.
But do not get it twisted. This is not a personnel issue; it's a structural issue. The current working group stewards, by and large, do a lot for the DAO, even if a lot of it goes unrecognized.
I'm sure I'm going to forget somebody, but I've seen firsthand the immense positive value that folks like
@popilart @LinstroETH @AllCityBAYC @KapitalCrypto @David_MetaWorld @holaromantik @yumipeixuan @philwatkins_eth
@dim8765 bring. There's not always great coordination or publicity around what folks are doing, but they *are* constantly doing things.
Ultimately, the DAO and foundation will be best served by a foundation that can use more resources in a directed way and follows a modern structure. It was cutting-edge when it was built, but it needs to be upgraded. To me, that includes:
- Dissolving the current working group structure and bringing some of those functions closer in-house while offering consistent support and opportunities to community members who raise their hands and want to be involved.
- The dissolution of the Special Counsel as currently structured (again, I adore all of the SC members but the structure is outdated) and the institution of on-chain governance (with rails) based on ApeChain.
- The institution of more thoughtfully designed pluralistic governance and grant-making. We already have some of this with ThankApe, Banana Bill, etc. Each has its pros and its growing pains, but in my opinion, the more we do of it, and the more avenues folks have, the better.
- I would count the GWG as part of the above, and I personally think it's important to keep that one group as an independent watchdog.