Steward Roles
Stewards are coordination roles that keep the cell functioning. They are not leaders in a hierarchical sense — they are facilitators who hold specific responsibilities.
Core Steward Roles
Segment Leads
Responsibility: Coordinate activities within ONE segment only.
- Manage the segment's Signal group
- Onboard new members to the segment (after vetting)
- Match volunteers to needs within the segment
- Ensure segment members follow security practices
Visibility: Only their own segment members. Does not know members of other segments.
Logistics Coordinators
Responsibility: Match needs to resources across the cell without knowing identities.
- Receive requests (anonymized or minimal info)
- Route requests to appropriate segment leads
- Track capacity without tracking people
- Identify gaps in coverage
Visibility: Sees segment leads, sees request types — does NOT see member identities or operational details.
Onboarding Stewards
Responsibility: Vet and train new members before they join a segment.
- Conduct initial conversations with prospects
- Verify vouching from existing members
- Deliver security training
- Assign to appropriate segment after probationary period
Visibility: Knows new prospects and their vouchers only. Does not have ongoing access to segment membership.
Communications Steward
Responsibility: Maintain secure communication infrastructure.
- Set up and manage Signal groups
- Ensure proper group permissions and settings
- Respond to security incidents (compromised devices, etc.)
- Train members on communication security
Visibility: Knows group structure — does NOT participate in operational discussions.
Steward Principles
1. Stewards Are Servants, Not Bosses
Stewardship is responsibility, not authority. Stewards facilitate; they don't command.
2. Stewards Know Other Stewards
For coordination, stewards may know each other. This is a limited exception to segment isolation.
Segment Lead ←→ Logistics Coordinator
↑ ↑
└──────────────────┘
(Know each other)
Segment Members ✗ Other Segment Members
(Do NOT know each other)3. Stewards Can Be Removed
If a steward violates principles, the cell can remove them. No one is irreplaceable.
4. Rotate When Possible
Concentrated knowledge is concentrated risk. Where practical, rotate steward roles.
Becoming a Steward
Stewards emerge from trusted members who:
- Have been active in a segment for significant time (6+ months suggested)
- Demonstrate commitment to security practices
- Are vouched for by multiple existing members
- Complete additional steward training
- Are confirmed by existing stewards
This is not a promotion — it's accepting additional responsibility.
Steward Security
Stewards hold more knowledge than regular members. Extra precautions:
- Stewards should have the strongest device security
- Stewards should use separate devices for coordination if possible
- Stewards should have a succession plan (who takes over if they're unavailable)
- Stewards should regularly audit their own access (do I need to know this?)