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Formalizing Membership: How to Join the Cooperative

· 5 min read
Ben Allfree
Ben Allfree
MeshEnvy Founder

From the beginning, MeshEnvy was founded as a nonprofit cooperative. I wanted a place where community members could support a statewide mesh effort and have a real voice in its direction and governance. That structure has always been there. What changed is that we finally reached a level of stability where it makes sense to present the option to the community in a more formal way.

A lot of people who do not know anything about the mesh yet are wondering how to get involved. We are trying to make that as easy as possible. The new Join page lays out four annual tiers, from a pocket node in your hand to backbone sites on Nevada peaks.

Why a cooperative​

MeshEnvy NCC is a 501(c)(3) public charity, not a startup hunting for exits. Members are stakeholders, not shareholders. Every tier includes statutory advisory voting rights for board elections and designated consumer-board seats. Your dues fund permits, field teams, and tower partnerships across the Silver Triangle map. They also keep the organization accountable to the people who actually use the network.

We do not publish member names or dues amounts. Checkout runs on Zeffy with zero platform fees, so every dollar stays on the peaks.

Companion: get on the air​

The entry tier is Companion ($99/year). This is for people who want to participate in governance and stay connected without hosting gear on a ridgeline.

We ship a pre-configured WisMesh Tag if you want one. It is a credit-card-sized Meshtastic node, optional at signup and again at renewal. Decline it anytime. You are not required to take hardware to be a member. Every Companion also gets our Getting on the Mesh PDF guide by email after checkout, plus member updates and Discord access.

WisMesh Tag credit-card-sized Meshtastic node

If you are new to mesh networking, this is the lowest-friction path. Plug in, join the channels, and you are part of the conversation about where Nevada's backbone goes next.

Host: extend coverage from your site​

The next step up is Host ($299/year). You host a turnkey solar repeater from a site that works for coverage. MeshEnvy ships a pre-configured SenseCAP Solar Node P1-Pro on loan, ready to mount. You provide placement and basic care. The gear stays MeshEnvy property, and we help you run it, monitor it, and check on it.

SenseCAP Solar Node P1-Pro kit with solar panel and antenna

This tier is how we extend the Silver Triangle backbone into neighborhoods and valleys that need a relay but do not have a tower compound handy. Your site gets a special marker on the map. Host checkout requires agreeing to our Equipment Loan Agreement at Zeffy.

Peak Sponsor: name a backbone site​

Peak Sponsor ($699/year) is for people who want to fund critical backbone infrastructure in their name. MeshEnvy deploys a solar repeater to a strategic site on the Silver Triangle where BLM, USFS, and partner availability allow. You choose the name that appears on the map and in deployment updates.

Site selection is real work. We cannot promise a restricted public-safety tower without regulatory clearance. What we can promise is that your sponsorship buys a named node where the mesh needs it most, deployed and maintained by our field team. If you are interested, we invite you along on install and maintenance trips. Not everyone wants to hike a peak with us. For those who do, it is the best way to see what your support actually built.

Partner: land, towers, and rights of way​

The Partner tier ($4,999/year) is different. It is not a checkout button. It is a conversation.

Some people control land, towers, or structures that can carry the mesh into places most of us cannot reach on our own. Ranches, private peaks, rooftops, tower compounds, and rights of way across basins commercial carriers never found worth serving. If that describes you, email hello@meshenvy.org. We will work with you on co-location, access, and long-term stewardship tailored to your property.

This is the tier that opens new coverage. Everything else builds on sites someone already let us use.

Pick your level​

None of these tiers is "better" than another in the abstract. They are different ways to participate in the same mission: community-owned mesh infrastructure across Nevada.

If you are curious but not ready to commit, find us on Discord or email hello@meshenvy.org. When you are ready, head to the Join page and choose the tier that fits how you want to show up.