This document represents the first formulation of the Ancient Order of Knowledge Worker's ("AOKW") philosophy on effective cooperative governance and collaboration. Affiliate Lodges of AOKW are structured such that control and governance responsibilities are shared equally amongst its membership. The goal of this document is to provide a set of guidelines that can be used to establish the core operating procedures that are necessary to manage a cooperative environment. What must be understood is that this document does not demand strict conformance. Rather, it should serve only as a baseline from which to begin. The process of collaboration and decision making should not be devoid of creativity and imagination. As a result, the guidelines are written such that they remain open to interpretation. Therefore, lodges are encouraged to experiment with new and innovative thoughts and ideas.