The LTB Network Forum

  Something that has contributed to the overall success of Dogecoin thus far is the ability and willingness of the community to helpfully introduce new members to crypto currency but also in its ability to successfully harness the comedic nature of its meme to encourage charity. I would like to propose a concept to take that same spirit of helpfulness and expand upon it within the LTB network, I'm calling the idea: virtual patronage.

to quote the wiki definition of Patronage:

"Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows to another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings, popes and the wealthy have provided to artists such as musicians, painters, and sculptors. It can also refer to the right of bestowing offices or church benefices, the business given to a store by a regular customer, and the guardianship of saints. The word "patron" derives from the Latin word patronus, "patron," one who gives benefits to his clients."

  What I would like to suggest is a similar idea, one that utilizes the already planned tipping mechanisms inherent in the community to fund worthy causes or endeavors and reward good works. Ideally, this would take the form of the LTB network partnering with a third party and raising funds for some worthy project through people tipping a thread detailing the proposed project, with the LTB network then awarding the patronage which is then acting as a scholarship / kickstarter / etc for the recipient.

   This patronage could be as ambitious as crowd funding a whole new currency project that the community as a whole sees value in or as simple as buying a new guitar for John Barrett as a way to say thank you for his "Ode to Satoshi" bitcoin song. The idea is that the LTB network as a whole is organized to create and drive value for everyone involved, this would be a method to channel that energy in a way that either creates larger results than what can be achieved through individual effort or to focus effort in areas that most appropriately compliment the communities values. Instead of forcing the weight of decision making onto the shoulders of Adam or someone else, a virtual patronage system would allow ideas to be suggested and then voted on through tipping while partnering with trusted third parties would allow the actual implementation of each project to be carried out by the concerned party, allowing the contributors to carry the burden of oversight and due diligence with Adam and the rest of the team free to concentrate on their next project.

   These patronages could be a combination of "values added" with LTBcoin, sponsor ad time and virtually any service or commodity the community wishes to wrap into the project. Imagine a future patronage being suggested on the show, someone from the forums starts a patronage thread and before the end of the live broadcast there is some seed money, several minutes worth of advertising and volunteer time from members who are software development professionals or voice actors or musicians / etc, perhaps pledging an hour or two each to help work on some open source project the community is excited about. Imagine a charitable benefit for an organization like Seans Outpost where not only is a large sum raised by the community, but a few dozen people show up in real life to lend their skills and time to driving the community forward by tipping actual volunteer hours along with their LTB coin.

   More organized projects like this would propagate the community as a whole, both by increasing public awareness through charity or as a means to make unaffiliated parties stake holders in the virtual currency community. Any act of patronage is likely to be received well by all and every act of patronage would amplify the communities footprint. Most importantly, these patronages would create partnerships within the coin space and outside of it and everyone can benefit from that.