"I like it."

A cool air crept past the exposed skin of his neck, picking up the strength to nudge his hat the slightest amount. It disturbed a decorative tree which stood nearby, encircled and captive in the concrete sidewalk. The streets were quiet, however the sounds of the city could be heard only a few blocks away. Passerby's took the shape of weary men and women retreating from their daily grind to the solitude of their mundane homes and mundane lives.

It was a weekday evening, Giordano was sat with a business associate outside a Philadelphia coffee house watching the world go by. Discussion had turned to the process of becoming a 'somebody' in this world. Luca measured being a 'somebody' different to others. Despite growing up in the old country, his exposure to this life had been minimal. He took pride in his business manner, establishing and maintaining differing endeavors across the country seemingly without a conclusive goal. He had made his fortune, though that was clearly not of significant interest to him.

"I mean, it keeps the shmucks in line, don't it? They gotta think carefully about who they put their name on these days."

He spoke quickly, the normal care and attention to control his accent no longer a concern when speaking with a fellow Italian. The associate simply nodded, not particularly invested in the discussion. Luca noticed and exhaled through pursed lips, looking down the street. He couldn't quite grasp why this was on his mind so much. Perhaps it was the race which intrigued him, or the desire to keep his untarnished record of success glimmering in all aspects of his life?

Being a wise guy had certainly not been his intention. On request for his business expertise from his current employer, he had been glad to make the journey to the United States to make his mark. Little did he know the mob he was leaving back in Sicily was already in America, too.

"So how do you expect to do it, I mean what's the courtesy? Do ya tell a guy 'you know what, I'll vouch for you' or do ya go askin' for people vote, like some..."

His hand waved around, typically animated.

"...Political type? What if a guy sez' no to ya?"

He sat back in his chair. In a life where everything he did was methodical, clear cut and decisive, the concept confused him. It blurred the basic framework of his mind, he wasn't used to depending on people, or needing their say-so to succeed.

"How do ya think we should go about it? Sit round a table and decide who vouches for who, or wait until a guy comes up and asks you to tell him what a good boy he is?"

Dub listened intently and weighed several options before speaking up.

Well, I feel it would be best if individual crew leaders held meetings with the mades+ in their respective crews and just brought up the name of someone they felt was deserving to move up. At which point, the Crew Leader would ask if any of the Mades+ would like to sponsor the Wise Guy in question.

I think that's the best way to do it. I'd be disrespected as a CL if a Wise Guy came to me claiming to be ready to be Made. It's not their decision to decide when they get their button, but rather the decision of the Crew Leader.

I hope that makes sense. It's seems most accurate as how things were done in the past in shores beyond our own. Of course, however, they had their way of doing things and we have the power to do it however we feel best.

I'm in favor of the new system, though, the flaw being less than 20% of this land is Made, and some folks are just not trusting enough to vouch for someone they don't really know, and can't know, being it is a god strike-able offense to ask.

My going to the streets and asking for people to vouch was a bit erratic, and obviously, I had a reason. But in hindsight, I should not have done so, and feel I probably just made a fool of myself, especially since the only person who vouched for me, was Disorder.

Overall, this system will work, some will hate it, some will love it. Pretty much the same can be said for anything we have going in this land at the moment.

Dub you capture my thoughts exactly. If someone reaches the correct age and ticks the right boxes, does that give them the right to approach their employer and state that they have people waiting by the side lines to vote them into a position? 

I believe that this is a positive move, however it has much room to grow. There are many responsibilities to be realised for this system to work.

The first is the responsibility is to ensure someone is sufficiently vouched for should, which lays with those leading the operation. District or city wide Made Man populations could be consulted and those persons would comment on who they have had interactions with, or trust to hold the position. 

This brings us to the second responsibility, which is to know the associates. This one comes in two parts, however for the Made Men to efficiently perform as the eyes and ears of the operation, they should be in contact with the active members of their operation, keeping them either updated or busy as the situation calls for.

The third responsibility is for the members to make themselves known. Not necessarily by contacting their crews Made members, but by being the face of the operation and getting their name known. Effort and engagement gives a much greater chance of a person being seen as an asset, not a threat. Relationships can be built and the chain of communication will naturally end with the individuals name being put forward, without them even necessarily having met the one vouching for them.

This however is only an ideal framework which I myself would attempt to implement, if it was my shoes. I like organisation, and for people to know their role and responsibility. 

The leaders across the country will all have their own preferred approach to this system, which I am not in a position to judge.