by D A Carey
This meeting was different. Leaders, specialists, and lawyers from his company were here, as well as a few hotshot advisors from outside firms they had worked with in the past. These men and women each had specialties in various areas of the plan he wanted to discuss. Their help would be crucial.
“Ladies and gentlemen, let’s come to order and get this show on the road.” Dave spoke with confidence. “I assume everyone has been briefed on what we want to accomplish here and all the proper non-disclosure agreements have been signed.” He glanced over to Andrew Ballard, the head of his legal department. A nod was good enough to allow Dave to keep going. “I know the documents and non-disclosures were a little more restrictive than usual with some added financial and legal penalties. I apologize for that. This endeavor is potentially very big, even by our standards. It’s also close to my heart, and I don’t want anything to go wrong.”
Dave wasn’t trying to intimidate; he just wanted to impress on people the gravity of this proposal and what it meant. “If the way we do this and release information is done wrong, it could do incalculable harm to the project. If anyone has any hesitation or misgivings about any of this, please, let’s air them today during this meeting.”
One of the lawyers Dave didn’t know yet cleared his throat, and Dave nodded for him to speak.
“Mr. Cavanaugh, with all due respect, the NDAs were so restrictive and the documents shared with us so vague I’m not quite sure what this is you’re planning. I can’t say for sure if I have any misgivings yet or not.”
Dave nodded. “I promise when this day is over, you should know all that you need at a high level. Each of you will be working on separate tasks in smaller groups.”
“As long as we aren’t doing anything illegal or unethical, I’m on board,” the man quipped. “I’m probably on board anyway if the profits are as high as people are speculating.” He followed with a snicker, scanning the room to see who appreciated his humor. He found few takers. It was easy to tell this was a guy who thought he was the clever life of the party, and Dave wasn’t amused. Still, a few of the attendees nervously laughed with him. The majority averted their eyes as if they were embarrassed for him, even though he didn’t have the sense to be embarrassed for himself.
Dave had an impeccable reputation for honesty and ethics. Nevertheless, his face only tightened for a moment before he eased the tension with a smile. “I can assure you I will be leading from in front with my own reputation and money. I promise no one involved with this project has anything to worry about on either account. The purpose and outcome of this meeting could very well launch this venture and give it legs or spell doom for the future of this project I’m calling ‘Chartertown.’ I expect these towns will be like land-based arks for medicine, religion, knowledge, and stability in the event they’re needed that way. Perhaps it’s better to call them the Arks or even Arks of America. I will do everything in my power to make this work. I see no reason why it won’t be a rousing success.”
Dave was an old poker-faced veteran of these types of meetings, yet this time it was hard not to let his emotions show. In short, he was asking the group to devise a totally new way for people to own a home, participate in a company, and invest in mergers and acquisitions, rolled up into one packaged endeavor.
That’s not exactly true either, he thought. This was a way for them to buy into a whole new way of life.
“Let me take a few moments and give you the highlights of my plan, then I’ll turn it over to my more capable staff to get further into the details. What I’m proposing is a four-pronged approach from a business perspective. Most of what I’m going to say to you will have some elements of it that should be familiar. When they are combined in a plan such as this is when it really changes things.”
Dave paused for a moment and let his eyes travel the room, taking inventory of the interest of the crowd. They appeared to be hanging on to his words closely. “I believe that the purpose and approach is unique and noble. Think of today like an opportunity to start a brand-new company from the ground up with four divisions, or verticals. In essence, that’s exactly what we’re doing. What will be new is how we combine what we’re doing and how we use it. I like to think of this much the same way people would have when a fleet of ships was dispatched to build a colony in the new world more than two hundred years ago. It is often overlooked in history that those ships and goods were sometimes paid for by people who were investing in hopes of a huge reward. The history books only remember the bold and noble people coming to the new world to escape the oppression of the old in hopes of something better.”
Dave saw some smiles and nods. “I feel superbly confident that this venture will be successful financially, but that’s not the huge reward I dream of. The legacy I hope to attain with this endeavor will be to create a series of towns, of sorts. They will be modern day refuges in case the world does go to hell. They will be arks to protect seeds, medicine, art, and religion. More importantly, they will be there to protect the very people who will help us start over again if or when things finally go downhill. If we are successful in the way that I imagine, people won’t need to start over from scratch. We will be able to jumpstart this nation from a solid beginning.” Dave’s voice rose steadily, his passion such that he couldn’t hold back. Some in the room were caught up in the moment and did a subdued cheer. Others appeared uncomfortable, as if they were somehow caught up in a prayer group they hadn’t planned to attend. Dave wanted the people who were enthusiastic to catch on and share his vision.
“Things were hard for the early colonists in America, the same as they were hard for Noah and his family after the flood. Noah had an ark supplied with everything he needed, along with the aid and counsel of God. Can you imagine how much harder it would have been for the early American colonists without supplies and equipment from Europe? Think about making a plow without an operating mine or factory to smelt the ore. Try contemplating what the world would have been like for Noah without the supplies and shelter provided because of the guidance from God. Think about the bounty Noah preserved through the flood.”
Dave looked around the room before continuing. “I know many of you view the stories of the Bible with skepticism. That’s fine; I’m not here to preach to you. Still you need to keep this in mind: millions of people do believe in those stories. What’s more, you need to know this with certainty,” he paused to make eye contact and emphasize this fact, “no nation stands forever. It has never happened in the history of the world. That’s a fact, hard and true. You can believe in this plan for the profit or believe in it as an ark to preserve people and wisdom in the floods of chaos that will come. You can even choose to believe in this plan as a lifestyle. It is a way to preserve some of a more idyllic or moral way of life that is passing us by. I hope you believe it for all of those reasons to some degree or another. No matter how you get here, I promise you, it will work!”
The room got quiet. There was no cheering this time and no postures of dissent either. They were all a bit stunned.
“Okay, enough of my ramblings. Let’s get to work.”
Dave sensed they were relaxed and decided to turn the meeting back to a more businesslike approach.
“The first prong of this plan is more of a real estate transaction. Most of the property held in this part of the plan will be in a hybrid gated community concept. We will talk more about that in a moment.
“The second prong is more like a major mutual fund I want to set up. It will have a fund manager, team, and follow all the regular processes for a major mutual fund. The only difference is that this fund will focus specifically on goods and services that your prepper type would find useful. Aside from my own views, this is a hot industry right now, and we will get into this more later as well.
“The third prong is probably more closely related to the second. In this venture, we will take a controlling interest of some of the companies we would normally invest in as a part of the mutual fund. We know from exper
ience that many companies are not managed well. We can increase our profits by improving the leadership teams where appropriate. I would be happy to have the factories and distribution centers for those types of goods close to our communities. In as many places as makes sense, we would move appropriate businesses, like medical offices or a wood stove distribution facility close to our arks. Combining that with what we are doing in prong one is just practical. We will try to make the businesses symbiotic with the communities and have a cache of goods close at hand.”
Dave glanced around and found most people were frantically taking notes.
“The fourth and final prong is the path to ownership in these communities. As we build these gated communities, I’m proposing that we don’t resell the properties as we normally would a home or office building. Instead, I propose that we sell ownership shares and access to the facilities much like a country club sells member access in an equity agreement. Obviously, this is a much more complex and different than people are used to when it comes to home ownership. I know people would want different levels of ownership or membership. Some people will want larger homes, and others would be content with an apartment. Let’s not forget this is still America, and capitalism works when it’s not overburdened with too many rules and regulations.”
That comment garnered some of the smiles Dave was hoping for. “As a part of this plan, I want to give certain people substantial discounts to join the charter towns who have skills we want in the community. That’s where you all come in. I need a plan for how we price this and what type of fee structure we should put in place. I need to know what’s appropriate and will work for the initial deposits or initiation fees. I know some states will be easier to work in than others due to local laws and regulations. I’ll need your advice along those lines as well.”
“Mr. Cavanaugh, do you intend to underwrite this totally on your own?” questioned one of the men Dave recognized, though couldn’t recall his name. “What is the financial scale you see for this venture?”
“I intend to be the figurehead and the largest investor,” Dave answered. “I have no intention of funding this entirely on my own. That is not to say that I don’t believe in this with all that I am. I just feel that if investors and common people alike don’t see the value in what I’m proposing, then I don’t want to prop it up artificially myself.”
Another woman in the back stood up. “How big do you see this getting, Mr. Cavanaugh?”
“If we have the time and things go as I think they might, I could see several charter towns in each state down the road. Long term, I could see perhaps a couple hundred nationally. It’s possible the mutual fund could turn over billions financially. To that end, I see no reason why we couldn’t soon be managing a division of extremely profitable companies. Most of those companies would be low tech with a very manageable cost structure. That’s not to say we wouldn’t have a few high-tech companies mixed in as well. Those would be related to mobile medicine, solar, or wind power concepts. Who knows what else?”
The lady who spoke up previously pressed on. “Mr. Cavanaugh, I have heard you mention these communities both as charter towns and as arks. Can you enlighten us a little bit more on the difference as you see it?”
Dave chuckled. “You’re right, I guess that is confusing. I haven’t settled on what to call them yet. I have toyed with the term Chartertown, and in truth that’s probably closest, because in each community it will be the people who determine their bylaws and direction, within a scope we allow, of course. These towns will be safe, walled refuges for people to ride out the storm of chaos I suspect is coming. Arks hidden in plain sight.”
The same lawyer who asked about ethics earlier spoke up again, his tone sarcastic. “Mr. Cavanaugh, forgive me, but this all sounds like some type of doomsday bugout plan. The only difference being that it’s on a much grander scale than most people would dream of or have access to. How do you propose we respond to that type of feedback when more of this becomes public?”
“I can see how a few shortsighted people could make that mistake. I do think this country is in decline and want us to have a plan. However, make no mistake,” Dave said seriously, “I am a businessman. I will not deceive or defraud my investors and business partners.” After a few seconds’ pause and locking eyes with the impertinent lawyer, the young man finally dropped his eyes to his notepad. “This company and these investments will make money. They will be profitable. These communities will be clean and virtually crime free. For some people, they will harken back to a simpler time. There is nothing about this proposal I am ashamed of.”
A few people in the room mumbled approval. Most of the others nodded in agreement.
“And yes, to answer your question, I do believe in being prepared. I enjoy some of the more rustic skills like camping, hiking, and occasionally shooting. And yes, I do enjoy some hunting and the study of traditional food preparation or canning and pickling techniques. However, to label me a doomsday prepper is a bit inflammatory. That invokes the image of a slightly paranoid man living in a cabin in the woods with tons of food and ammunition. If that were true, I do have the means to prepare and entertain that type of lifestyle on a grand scale if I so choose. I don’t need these communities for myself. I am happy alone in the mountains.
“However, consider this: if you think back through history, men with a little bit of vision and historical knowledge have very frequently known when to vacate a city before a war, plague, or economic decline. Those men have known when to sell out of a company or leave a neighborhood or business before it goes down. I see myself as one of those men and this situation no different. Think of England before the Romans left or Pompeii before the volcano.
“What I do know is that countries don’t die on the timeline that companies do. People, companies, neighborhoods, and countries live and die on different schedules. The life of a fly is a day or so. A sea turtle can live fifty to a hundred years. It can take centuries for a country to die, or it can happen in the blink of an eye. I like to think that if something bad did happen in this country, I wouldn’t have to retreat to a cabin in the woods with two years of MREs. I would hope to live in a community of like-minded people. I would hope to find an oasis of calm in a sea of chaos. I pray that we could have a place that has schools, art, culture, laws, and literature. I would want doctors and medicine on hand if one of you got sick. Most of all, I would want a place of worship and people of faith and community to share with.”
Dave paused to take a drink of water. “In times of change and upheaval, people reveal their true nature. Many people promote chaos. While I believe that chaos is evil, I don’t think many of the people doing chaotic or destructive things during those times of turbulence are inherently evil, even though the results can be just as bad.
“Where I and some of the prepper types differ is that I don’t think all people will be destructive during times of turmoil. I do believe in the goodness of man. Good people will band together and help each other. Many of them will try to feed and protect each other. Those people will try to preserve religion, art, education, and medicine. I believe they will need a safe haven to do so. They will need people of strength to organize and protect them. If things do go south, I hope to have communities spread throughout the country, each as an ark in a sea of chaos.
“All too often the doomsday preppers, as you call them, get too caught up in the entertaining melodrama of a man and his guns and food, in the woods protecting himself, his wife, and his kids. It’s easy to enjoy the story and admire that man’s heroism. Yet, is it truly heroic to merely survive? Shouldn’t we also try to thrive? To only feed yourself, and not plan for our kids, grandkids, and neighbors doesn’t feel heroic to me. I think they deserve to live in and enjoy a world similar to what we have. There are good things about this world and our current lives we shouldn’t forget. It’s the legacy we owe the next generation.”
Dave knew he’d already made his point. He was too far off track from th
e presentation and too involved in what he wanted to say to stop now. Sometimes being the boss did have its privileges.
“It’s too easy to forget that we as a people are at our best when we help each other and band together as a group. How long can that one man or one family alone in a cabin in the woods last? What type of world will his kids, friends, and neighbors live and grow up in with no schools, churches, or hospitals? Isn’t it more heroic to create something that endures and nurtures the best of what we are as a race?
“Never forget that it can take a country many years to decline. If you’re not paying attention to the signs, it can be happening all around you and you won’t be ready to respond appropriately when it suddenly changes from a gradual decline to a sudden, more serious situation. These types of declines can be insidious and gradual. When something disastrous does happen, all the people don’t die off and disappear like the cliff dwelling Indians or the people of Atlantis. The people that survive go into a transitional period of turmoil and strife. It’s like the people of England when the Romans withdrew that I mentioned a moment ago. It could even be a bit like the people of Greece or Egypt today.
“I don’t expect these communities to be needed as an ark for many years. I hope they’re never needed that way. In the meantime, we will create some great communities to live in. While doing so, we will create a very profitable business that invests in and produces some very decent and high-quality products. These communities will allow people the enjoyment of camping, shooting, hiking, or whatever they want to do. At the same time, people can participate in green living activities as we build energy-efficient homes. People will enjoy our communities as a new and refreshing way to live. They will make money investing in our mutual fund, and they will enjoy purchasing some very sound products.