# Context
Over the past few months, there have been numerous discussions surrounding treasury spending, particularly concerning the return on investment (ROI) and the value generated from these expenditures. We recognize that these metrics can sometimes be subjective. However, we have identified a specific treasury allocation that was granted, marked as lost, and subsequently re-awarded by the Polkadot Council. 

# Initial Treasury Request
For clarity, this discussion is not related to the content of the proposal or the team receiving DOT but is solely focused on the funds marked as ["lost”](https://polkadot.polkassembly.io/motion/152#d5254fb0-f5b5-48c3-a045-2c0e1b88da5a).

In February 2022, the Supercolony team requested 6,011 DOT ($128,000) to host an online event dedicated to Polkadot smart contracts called the "WASM Conference." You can find the Council Motion and treasury proposal [here](https://polkadot.polkassembly.io/motion/152).

It is worth noting that the majority of the Supercolony team are from Ukraine, and in March 2022, the Russian invasion of Ukraine took place. Understandably, the Supercolony team had to leave their home country.

This situation led to treasury proposal 96, which can be viewed [here](https://polkadot.subsquare.io/treasury/proposal/96). The team stated that they lost access to the funds while leaving Ukraine. They then established a new account identity and were awarded an additional 6,011 DOT to host the WASM Conference.

# Current Situation
An account containing approximately 6,000 DOT, awarded by the treasury and marked as "lost," now exists. You can see the account [here](https://polkadot.subscan.io/account/5HTb4Sr2kLAhhELhqGTsgvMb2xE1ByaSk4xbY8rwLF8XRuau?tab=transfer).

The Polkadot Council, and by extension our ecosystem's treasury, has paid twice for the same project (WASM Conference).

The team was re-awarded the necessary amount due to the political situation in Ukraine. The funds were allocated specifically for completing tasks outlined in their proposal and were granted twice.

ChaosDAO strongly believes that it is inappropriate to allow these DOTs to remain in this account as the team were reissued the original allocation of tokens subsequent to the first payment being lost.

Due to the factors above, we are proposing the following extrinsic be initiated:

* balances.ForceTransfer

This extrinsic will transfer 6,011 DOT from the lost Supercolony account to the Polkadot treasury.

We would like to remind the community that each referendum is unique and discrete in its scope, and every individual referendum should be evaluated on its own merits prior to voting. There should not be any precedent set by approving the aforementioned extrinsic. This should never be used as a basis for approving future uses of the balances.ForceTransfer extrinsic haphazardly. 

Ultimately, we believe that the fate of these lost funds should be decided upon by the DOT token holder DAO, as they belong to the treasury. Whether the outcome of the decision is AYE or NAY, we believe that it is of the utmost importance that this decision be decided by the collective token holders, and not retroactively by the council with no community input.

To reiterate, this discussion is not about the Supercolony team or any specific individual; it is solely focused on addressing accounts claimed to be "lost" that have received treasury rewards.



Returning Supercolony lost funds back to the Treasury

### Context
Over the past few months, there have been numerous discussions surrounding treasury spending, particularly concerning the return on investment (ROI) and the value generated from these expenditures. We recognize that these metrics can sometimes be subjective. However, we have identified a specific treasury allocation that was granted, marked as lost, and subsequently re-awarded by the Polkadot Council. We seek to address how to handle such situations.

### Initial Treasury Request
For clarity, this discussion is not related to the content of the proposal or the team receiving DOT but is solely focused on the funds marked as ["lost"](https://polkadot.polkassembly.io/motion/152#d5254fb0-f5b5-48c3-a045-2c0e1b88da5a).

In February 2022, the Supercolony team requested 6,011 DOT ($128,000) to host an online event dedicated to Polkadot smart contracts called the "WASM Conference." You can find the Council Motion and treasury proposal [here](https://polkadot.polkassembly.io/motion/152).

It is worth noting that the majority of the Supercolony team are from Ukraine, and in March 2022, the Russian invasion of Ukraine took place. Understandably, the Supercolony team had to leave their home country.

This situation led to treasury proposal 96, which can be viewed [here](https://polkadot.subsquare.io/treasury/proposal/96). The team stated that they lost access to the funds while leaving Ukraine. They then established a new account identity and were awarded an additional 6,011 DOT to host the WASM Conference.

### What's Next?
An account containing approximately 6,000 DOT, awarded by the treasury and marked as "lost," now exists. You can see the account [here](https://polkadot.subscan.io/account/5HTb4Sr2kLAhhELhqGTsgvMb2xE1ByaSk4xbY8rwLF8XRuau?tab=transfer).

The Polkadot Council, and by extension our ecosystem's treasury, has paid twice for the same project (WASM Conference).

The team was re-awarded the necessary amount due to the political situation in Ukraine. The funds were allocated specifically for completing tasks outlined in their proposal and were granted twice.

ChaosDAO strongly believes that it is inappropriate to allow these DOTs to remain in this account as the team were reissued the original allocation of tokens subsequent to the first payment being lost.

We would like to gather community feedback on the possibility of retrieving these DOTs from the "lost" account.

We would like to discuss the use of the following extrinsics specifically:

1. Balances.ForceTransfer

- The balance can be sent to the treasury.
- This will enable the community to allocate these DOT tokens to more value-generating initiatives, rather than merely hoping they are truly lost.
- We are fully aware that many people might oppose using the Balances.ForceTransfer extrinsic, which is why we are initiating this discussion.

2. Balances.SetBalance

- The balance of this account will be set to 22 DOT (since the team transferred 22 DOT before receiving treasury rewards), effectively burning the DOT awarded by the treasury.

3. Other


- If someone from the community has another way in which we can handle this issue, please explain it in this discussion thread.

**We understand that some might argue this sets a dangerous precedent. However, we contend that not taking action establishes an equally hazardous precedent, where future recipients of treasury funds could request additional allocations after claiming an original allocation had been lost. This is a potential treasury attack surface that we think should be eliminated by one of the method proposed here, or potentially in the comments.**

*To reiterate, this discussion is not about the Supercolony team or any specific individual; it is solely focused on addressing accounts marked as "lost" that have received treasury rewards.*

Thank you to ChaosDAO member Mellow Yellow for raising this issue in his recent [Twitter thread](https://twitter.com/DotsamaApe/status/1641967420762992640).



Recovery of Supercolony Lost Treasury Funds

# Update
We have added a Q&A Section to the bottom of the proposal on Sunday June 2nd, which answers some of the questions from commenters.

---

#  Free Beer Stand & BD/Networking Space at Polkadot Decoded

**Proponent:** ChaosDAO  
**Date:** 28.05.2024  
**Requested DOT:** 4504 DOT / 30,000€  
**Short Description:** Sponsoring of Beer @ Decoded  
**Multi:** 13DxmMjYqto1AWsMUSkN8JYNHX6d2vBhuSmapB5iYnEiYaxX

---

## Context of the Proposal

ChaosDAO proposes an initiative to enhance the Polkadot Decoded experience by providing complimentary alcoholic beverages to attendees. This initiative aims to create an engaging and informal platform for community members to refresh themselves and network. Positioned strategically at the venue, the beer stand will serve as a catalyst for conversation and connection, fostering a sense of camaraderie among participants. By offering a welcoming environment, we hope to facilitate discussions about the event's content and promote business development opportunities within and outside the Polkadot ecosystem.

## Goals and Objectives

The primary objective is to bring together the Polkadot community in a relaxed, enjoyable setting, enhancing the overall experience of Polkadot Decoded. This initiative seeks to:

- Provide a social hub for attendees to unwind, discuss presentations, and network.
- Encourage community bonding and collaboration through informal interactions.
- Promote business development by offering a conducive environment for meaningful conversations.
- Create a memorable and positive experience that strengthens community ties and leaves a lasting impression.

## Event Details

Our beer stand will operate during Polkadot Decoded and be located in the venue's lobby. The stand will be easily accessible and visible to attendees. To complement the beverages, we will provide ambient music to foster an inviting after-work vibe and standing tables in the lobby, which can be put in front of the venue in case of good weather.

## Budget Proposal

To execute this initiative, we request a flexible budget from the Polkadot treasury. Given the unpredictable attendance, we propose a maximum allocation of 15,000€ for beer. This budget will cover the actual consumption, with any surplus being returned to the treasury. Our commitment to transparency and cost-efficiency is paramount; thus, we will provide detailed invoices for all expenses, ensuring no intermediaries inflate costs.

## Branding and Promotional Efforts

In addition to beverages, we will incorporate Polkadot and ChaosDAO branding on promotional items, such as cups and napkins, enhancing visibility and brand association. We also propose including a budget for Polkadot Decoded-themed t-shirts, which will be distributed to contributing members as a token of appreciation for their voluntary efforts. This inclusion serves as an acknowledgment of their contribution rather than a direct compensation, aligning with the community spirit.

## Governance and Fund Management

The requested funds will be deposited into a multi-signature wallet managed by ChaosDAO signers, ensuring robust oversight and accountability. It is important to note that the lead proposer will not be among the signers, maintaining impartiality and transparency in fund management.

## Conclusion

We believe this proposal will significantly enhance the Polkadot Decoded experience, providing a valuable opportunity for community building and engagement. By fostering an inclusive and enjoyable atmosphere, we aim to create lasting memories and strengthen the bonds within the Polkadot community. We request the treasury's support to bring this vision to life and contribute to the success of Polkadot Decoded.

Thank you for considering our proposal.

---

## Budget Table (Estimates Including Taxes)

| Item                          | Cost (EUR)   |
|-------------------------------|--------------|
| Beer (@0.8€ per 0.3L cup)     | 15,000 EUR   |
| Eco Cups (@0.3€ per cup)      | 4,000 EUR    |
| Tables/Deco                   | 3,000 EUR    |
| Bar Staff (3-4p, 25€/h)       | 1,500 EUR    |
| Banners/Flags/Stickers        | 1,000 EUR    |
| T-shirts                      | 500 EUR      |
| DJs and DJ Gear               | 1,000 EUR    |
| Overhead                      | 4,000 EUR    |
| **Total**                     | 30,000 EUR   |

---

# Evolving Q&A

## Invoices

As stated in the proposal, we will provide detailed invoices for all expenses and ensure that no intermediaries inflate the costs. Contrary to popular belief, we aren't interested in grifting the treasury and ruining our reputation over a few thousand euros.

## Cost for the Beer / 15k for Beer?

If you actually read the proposal, you'll see that the budget will cover the actual consumption of beer, with any surplus being returned to the treasury.

## Cups Cost / Environmental Damage

Regarding the cost of the cups, we've conducted a significant cost-saving exercise compared to alternative options offered by event organizers within the Polkadot ecosystem. Through a process akin to competitive tendering, we've saved 64.41% on each cup. Additionally, we do not plan to spend the full 4,000 EUR - any extra funds will be reimbursed back to the treasury, accompanied by detailed invoices.

In terms of environmental damage and carbon footprint, the cups are eco-friendly and recyclable. They are not single-use plastic cups and can be washed, the intention is for them to be re-used and people are free to take them home. We believe the environmental impact of the cups is minimal compared to the logistics and travel of Polkadot Decoded event participants, making it a non-issue.

## DJ / Music

Initially, we planned to provide music at the venue using ChaosDAO member's professional DJ equipment and DJing experience to save the treasury money. Our members offered to do this for free, saving tens of thousands of dollars compared to similar proposals. However, we were informed by Decentered Studios (the organizers of Polkadot Decoded) that we cannot have DJs or music in the venue.

## Votes from ChaosDAO Members

ChaosDAO itself cannot vote on this proposal as we (as of June 2nd) have Decentralized Voices votes from the Web3 Foundation as part of DV Cohort #1. However, our individual members are free to vote AYE or NAY on the proposal, just like anyone else.

## Alternative Beverages

Polkadot Decoded, like most events, always offers non-alcoholic beverage options (such as water, soft drinks, tea, and coffee). We have been informed by Decentered Studios that there will be fridges and non-alcoholic refreshment stations throughout the venue, including behind the main bar where this proposal is planned to be executed.

## Regarding Other Costs

This event is primarily organized by ChaosDAO members who live in or near Brussels (where Polkadot Decoded is located), so the costs accurately reflect the actual prices in that region. We will not run over budget. As stated earlier, any excess funds will be returned to the treasury - we are not trying to grift the treasury and ruin our reputation over a few thousand euros.

## Regarding Alt / Troll Accounts Commenting with 0 DOT

For those of you not "in the weeds" of OpenGov, ChaosDAO has previously voted NAY on many proposals that we do not feel add value to the ecosystem. These alt/troll accounts are from people we have NAY'd in the past. Their comments are malicious, defamatory, and untrue – you will see that none of them are actually voting from those accounts. You may be able to assume that people voting NAY without commenting might be behind these comments, especially if we have NAY voted them before. We believe the value added by this proposal will ensure it passes.

## Location of the Event

The event will be held at the actual Polkadot Decoded venue. Current discussions with Decentered Studios suggest the event will take place in the lobby/bar area, but the final location will be decided by Decentered Studios as they are the primary organizers of Polkadot Decoded.
