We're getting ready to send out a heartfelt invite—the refreshed Hitchhiker's Manifesto. It's not just a document, but a bold call to action. We're asking friends, allies, and changemakers to give time, money, and energy to co-build a wild and improbable platform for future civic engagement. If you care about democracy, guided collaboration, and the legacy of H2G2, this might be your invitation to help us reboot the future—together. --- ## Preparing the Hitchhiker’s Manifesto: Launch Strategy, Technical Plans & The Ask
# Overview The aim is to send out an improved and visually polished version of our existing manifesto on **5 November**. This isn't just a printed document—it’s a strategic tool crafted to spark commitment and action. The plan includes: 1. A visually appealing email with accompanying **PDF**. 2. A centralised email identity (e.g. `David@Hitchhikers.earth` or `Robbie@Hitchhikers.earth`) to standardise communication. 3. Possibly animated or AI-generated content to enrich the invite (e.g., short video/GIF). 4. A dedicated splash/landing page at Hitchhikers.earth. 5. A foundational event—likely at The RSA (Royal Society of Arts)—to accompany the invite’s release, though alternatives include smaller or even solo video shoots. ---
# What's in the Email/Invite? The email will contain: - The core **manifesto text**, lightly refined and contextualised. - A downloadable **PDF** with professional-level layout and design. - A detailed “ask” outlining specific contributions we hope recipients will make. - A link to the landing page and potentially the hidden Wiki for those curious to dig deeper. ---
# The Supporting Website The initial version of Hitchhikers.earth will act as a **branded holding page**, featuring: - A stylised spinning earth design. - Links to essential resources and perhaps discreet access to our preparatory wiki. - Placeholder for future expansion—this version acts more symbolically than substantially for now.
See the Earth Landing Page for more detail.
--- ### The Framing: Intellectual and Structural Context Surrounding the invite and manifesto will be a crucial layer of pre-written text clarifying: - The legal and organisational structure. - The technological platform we are developing. - Guidance documents and scaffoldings for the proposed six-week classes/workshops. - Clear answers to FAQ-type concerns that will arise when recipients follow up in Zoom calls, meetings, or events weeks down the line. All of this prepares us for the vital Zooms, follow-ups, and discussions we’ll initiate post-invite. --- ## The Ask: What We Are Requesting, and From Whom ### Who Are We Asking? We're targeting an initial **group of 10 people each**—20 in total—who form the sweet spot between "inspiring yet reachable": - They’re people we trust to offer **constructive feedback**, even if they decline. - They need to be motivated by significant issues like the crisis in democracy or the rebirth of H2G2. - They could be academics, podcasters, technologists, creators, activists, or friends—anyone with heart, reach, or expertise. These people are not being asked to passively agree—they're being asked to commit. --- ### What Are We Asking For? We're offering two main forms of contribution: **time** and **money** (or both). The cornerstone is the principle of "**42**"—a meaningful nod to the Hitchhiker's Guide ethos: | Contribution Type | Base Unit | Target Ask | |------------------|-----------|------------| | Money | £42/year membership | £420 to £4,200 tiered support | | Time | 42 hours over 6 weeks | 1 hour/day or similar format | #### Money - The base level is a symbolic **£42 per year** – the cost to join as a member. - Higher tiers: **£420 – £4,200**, especially from initial backers capable of meaningful early-stage sponsorship. - Funds will cover the cost of running **six-week workshops** that can engage from 15 to potentially hundreds of participants. > To sustain one 6-week course, we need to cover around **£4,200** per cycle—roughly **£1,000–£2,000/month** to reliably operate. #### Time - Backers are also being asked for **42 hours of their time**. - This could include: - Participating in Zoom calls and workshops (~1-2 hours weekly). - Writing, designing, coding, or business modelling. - Hosting or contributing to interviews and panels. - Crafting outreach materials and engaging their own networks. - Mentoring and helping us refine project directions. > If valued at minimum wage (£10/hour), 42 hours equals **£420**—an important symbolic parity. --- ### Workshop Model Each £420 support commitment (in time or money) helps fund a six-week course, designed to: - Onboard participants. - Produce tangible results: articles, media, software, and discussions. - Create content or features that get published and shared. --- ### Distribution and Video Event Although the RSA is a prime option, the invite launch doesn't require an audience. We're considering: - Filming from RSA’s famous **steps and screen**. - Recording a more casual shoot from Robbie’s flat. - Shooting in Wales or unique locales for context-rich storytelling. The resulting video will accompany emails or messages—functioning as a charismatic, persuasive vessel for our “message in a bottle.” --- ## Technical Tasks In Progress - Final planning and polishing of the Hitchhikers.earth landing page. - Set-up of email addresses and invite packaging. - Finalising the content and visual identity for the email & PDF. - Collaboration with Zach on membership sign-up flows and backend tech. - Writing, editing, and proofreading content with daily writing reviews and guidance sessions. --- ## Next Steps - Define exactly who each of us will personally ask. - Calibrate our approach: who gets the "big ask" (42 hours), who gets invited to simply join with their £42. - Prepare and test the packages/index pages/emails/PDFs before the first release. - Design the onboarding elements that explain what's next—from email receipt to being part of a class. --- ## A Personal Ask to Personal People We are starting not from abstract marketing but from **human-to-human invitation**. The first phase is intimate. It's Robbie and David asking friends, peers, and respected thinkers: > “Will you help us build this? Will you give us 42 hours of your time, or gift us £420 to fund the guide?” It's about launching an ecosystem of support—not yet public domain, but a deeply personal **signal** sent out into the world. --- Once this "first ring" responds positively, we build momentum. The viral loop begins: recipients become ambassadors who invite others to support, participate, and grow what may be the most improbable platform since Hitchhiker’s Guide itself. --- Stay tuned for upcoming deep dives on: 1. What the *ask* contains. 2. Who exactly we're *asking*. 3. How this becomes the foundation for a broader movement.