Leadership

A book about how leadership works in New York Dangerous

Volunteering Process for Leads

What is this about?

The idea is that leads don't pay camp dues, and are gifted a ticket to the burn, in exchange for the hard work they are doing on and off playa. Preparing for an event of this magnitude is a demanding and time consuming process. A lot of work is done planning for the event, then preparing for it in one of the cities in Nevada, then during the burn, and then after the burn (breaking down, putting stuff away, taking care of equipment, etc). It is therefor only fair that camp leads get compensated for their extra hard work.

The Deposit -> Refund proposal

A suggestion was made to handle lead volunteering in this manner:

  1. You pay camp dues as usual
  2. You show up and volunteer
  3. Assuming you showed up and delivered, your camp dues are refunded back to you

This mechanism would ensure people either show up, or they let us know they can't make it so we can find a replacement.

What leads get
What everybody gets

Feedback about this mechanism

I've spoken with a few campers, and was told this could create a bad vibe. One suggestion I have gotten is to only apply this mechanism to first time campers, and if they come back the next year and volunteer again, this mechanism wouldn't be needed.

Critical Leadership Roles

Typical critical roles

A camp of our size (50~80 people) will typically require the following leadership roles:

How NYD does it

Because our camp is on the smaller side and we don't handle a massive amount of traffic, we merged some of the above roles:

  1. Camp Lead/Manager: The overall coordinator responsible for overseeing all camp activities, ensuring communication and organization among all members, and acting as the primary point of contact with the Burning Man organization.

  2. Leave No Trace & Sustainability Lead: Combines responsibilities of environmental stewardship, including minimizing waste, managing trash and recycling, and ensuring the camp site is clean before, during, and after the event. This role also focuses on sustainable practices within the camp, promoting recycling, composting, and the use of eco-friendly products.

  3. Logistics & Communications Lead: Manages the transportation of camp infrastructure, supplies, and personal belongings to and from the event. Also handles internal and external communications, including camp announcements, updates, and coordination with the larger Burning Man community.

  4. Technical Logistics & Infrastructure Lead: Oversees power generation and distribution within the camp, including solar panels, generators, and battery storage. This role also includes managing other infrastructure needs like water supply, shade structures, and camp layout.

  5. Kitchen Lead: Oversees meal planning, food storage, preparation, and cooking. Ensures dietary needs and preferences of all camp members are met and maintains cleanliness and hygiene in the kitchen area.

  6. Health and Safety Lead: Responsible for the well-being of camp members, including first aid, hydration, and general safety protocols. Ensures the camp complies with all safety regulations and has necessary emergency supplies.

  7. Volunteer Coordinator: Organizes and schedules volunteer shifts for various camp duties. Ensures that all tasks are covered and camp members are contributing to the camp’s operation.

  8. Finance/Accounting Lead: Manages the camp’s budget, tracks expenses, collects dues from members, and ensures financial transparency and accountability.

  9. Art, Theme & Entertainment Lead: Coordinates the camp's artistic and thematic elements, including decorations, interactive art projects, and participatory events. This role also manages sound systems, DJ schedules, and other entertainment activities within the camp.

  10. Bike Lead: Coordinates the camp's bike, which includes making sure people who paid for bike have received them, that the bike are in working condition, and that the bike get fixed during the event if/when they break down (playa conditions are rough!)
Explanation of Changes

  1. Leave No Trace & Sustainability Lead: Merged to streamline environmental efforts and ensure a cohesive approach to minimizing the camp’s ecological footprint.

  2. Logistics & Communications Lead: Combined to centralize the coordination of logistics and communications, ensuring seamless information flow and efficient handling of transportation and supplies.

  3. Technical Logistics & Infrastructure Lead: Merged to integrate technical and infrastructure management, providing a unified approach to setting up and maintaining essential camp facilities and power needs.

  4. Art, Theme & Entertainment Lead: Combined to align the camp’s artistic vision with its entertainment offerings, ensuring cohesive and engaging experiences for camp members and visitors.

  5. Bike Lead: Since many of our campers come from remote states and even countries, bringing a bike is extremely challenging which is why the camp decided to offer bike as a service.

Leadership in 2024

Camp Leadership in 2024

Role Name Contact Details
Camp Lead / Manager ✅ Leon Feingold
Leave No Trace & Sustainability Lead ❌ TBD
Logistics & Communications Lead ✅ Jen Chung jen@nyd.nyc
Technical Logistics & Infrastructure Lead ✅ Aric Fedida

+16094220311

aric.fedida@gmail.com
Kitchen Lead ✅ Patrizia Calvio
Health & Safety Lead ❌ TBD
Volunteer Coordinator ✅ Jen Chung jen@nyd.nyc
Finance / Accounting Lead ✅ Glenn Zimmerman
Art, Theme & Entertainment Lead ❌ TBD
Bike Lead ❌ TBD
Camp Layout ✅ Neil Tygar