ORDER ONLY

[alt_alice]

I've been looking at the scope and scale of what we're trying to do, and over and over again it comes down to funding.

The Goblins were cagey regarding our ability to access Ministry funds, and turned Bill's proposal down. They weren't exactly definitive, but we have no idea how long it may take for things to work in our favour, or, indeed, if that will ever happen short of a complete and final victory, and Merlin knows what that will look like or how long it will take.

We need to be able to pay people we hope to keep employed, and need to employ a great many. We need to be able to spend money to rebuild. We need to purchase supplies and materials. Short of devolving into a bartering society, we'll need to keep money in circulation and make sure it still means something. Without it, we have no legitimacy and no staying power. As long as our enemies have access to more resources than we do, our authority is suspect, and they will be able to keep holding on.

We have the seized goods in Dover that have been selling on the black market, and presumably a certain degree of cash flow from business profits and donations, but it is not enough, nor is it something we can be able to depend upon, and we must consider other sources of revenue.

Any thoughts on this would be well worth hearing.

Comments

Private Message to Cedric

[alt_alice]

I'll be by Dover this evening.

Private Message to Sirius and Remus

[alt_alice]

Any further thoughts on a news liaison?

I hate to parade our rather tramatised student survivors in front of a camera, but it seems necessary to somewhat address the parents who've lost students, in terms of what happened and who's to blame.

Re: Private Message to Sirius and Remus

[alt_lupin]

We could ask for volunteers for that. I'd prefer actual Order kids to the new recruits, though. Pansy Parkinson would be ideal.

Re: Private Message to Sirius and Remus

[alt_lupin]

Also, I know Pansy's been donating money to keep things running.

Perhaps the Malfoys could be leaned on for the same purpose. Blaise Zabini, if anyone knows where he is. The Sandovals are probably a waste of time, alas, I think Honoria's their Sirius, so to speak.

Re: Private Message to Sirius and Remus

[alt_alice]

Yes. I'll see if I can get her to write a statement to the Prophet.

Siz has volunteered a rather generous donation as well. Perhaps we can suggest that it'll make the case stronger for Lucius's amnesty if he and Narcissa help us in the only viable way they can at the moment -- which is financial.

I'll see what the girls think about Zabini. Being on the right side of history can be a powerful motive, but we need to establish that we are inevitably the ones who'll be making decisions. How do we get in front of this business with the old guard seizing property?

[alt_charlie]

I'll try again with the goblins. Griphook might be willing to tell me some arguments that might work, now that we can start making some promises and keeping them.

[alt_charlie]

Not that I think Bill isn't capable or anything. Just that Griphook and I have had more than a few conversations about the difference between public persona and private belief, if you know what I mean.

[alt_bill]

Thanks for that vote of confidence.

Seriously, though, swing by and get the notes I wrote afterwards. You may spy a nuance I missed. Anything would help.

[alt_charlie]

I'm sorry, I was writing that on the fly and it might have come out a bit more harsh than I meant it. I know you're perfectly good at negotiating, it's just that it all depends on who you're talking to and how they're feeling about us any given day and all.

Actually, let's have breakfast tomorrow? You can update me and I'll see if I can tease out any other details.

And Alice, I've got that list of things to look for in the new and improved Neighbourhood Aid Society (That Is Most Definitely, Absolutely, And Completely Not The Watch), I'll run it by you in a bit.

[alt_bill]

Fine, let's do that, Charlie.

[alt_sinistra]

Other large-scale things.

The Wards committee met yesterday. I'm working up a full summary, but we now have a plan for moving forward, and also access to some much needed resources.

We're particularly hoping someone might be willing to consult on the ritual aspect of the Ireland wards. Albus left fairly useful notes, but it's an entirely different mechanism than the other two sets we're working with, and we want to make sure we're not missing effects or implications.

Any volunteers, or anyone else with questions, we also agreed I was the best contact (since Cecilia's got Nicky on her hands, and Septima's still recovering, and we hope also going to have the school to work on.)

We've set up a workroom in the Astronomy Tower (first floor up the tower staircase) where I'll likely be during daylight.