The handshake · an invitation

An invitation, with a vouch in it

The invitation Ximena Duarte received on 24 September 2026 to join Harbor Trades. It carries Marcus Hale’s words about her work, and it is live: press the buttons.

Before it was sent

A nomination, then a look

18 September
Marcus nominated Ximena. He worked beside her on the Pilot House refit, spring 2026, and wrote what he saw.
22 September
Delphine went to look. She walked out to the breakwater and checked the balcony railings herself.
24 September
The invitation went out. To the address on Ximena’s own page, and to nobody else.

Nomination and the curator’s look are steps before the handshake, which a vouching-required Pool may add as long as the person can still decline or leave §5.4.

The handshake§5.2

Ximena’s invitation

Marcus nominated Ximena after the Pilot House refit. Delphine went out to the breakwater to look at the railings, and asks whether Ximena would like to be listed in Harbor Trades, with the vouch in Marcus’s words. Nobody is listed without saying yes §5.1.

Invitation · handshake requestLapses 8 October

Delphine Arceneaux would like to list you in Seen Work: Harbor Trades.

From: Seen Work, on behalf of Delphine Arceneaux
To: ximena-duarte-fab.example
Sent: 24 September 2026
Lapses: 8 October 2026, after 14 days

What it’s for: Tradespeople in and around Port Ellery who can speak to each other’s work: electricians, carpenters, plumbers, welders, tile setters and sound. Everyone here was nominated by a member who worked beside them, and vouched for by a curator who checked. Unlisted, so no employer finds it by searching. Contractors ask a curator, and the curator asks you first. No referral fees, from anyone.
Who’s asking: Delphine ArceneauxSigned in with OAuth
The vouch: Marcus Hale nominated you. Delphine went to see the railings. If you say yes, this is written beside your name:
Seen by Marcus Hale
Worked beside her on the Pilot House refit, spring 2026. She rebuilt the balcony railings around my decking, and every weld passed inspection the first time.
Pilot House refit · spring 2026
Vouched by Delphine Arceneaux, curator, when you say yesSigned in with OAuth
Would count in Harbor Trades only. Not on your page, not in any other Pool.
Who can see it: Members and curators. The Pool is unlisted: it is in no directory, so an employer searching will not find you. Say so on your own page if you would like people to know.
Referrals: When a contractor asks for welding, a curator asks you first, every time. They learn your name only if you say yes.
Messages: Nobody can write to you first. Your own page’s rules apply: any verified sender, only after you have said yes to hearing from them.
Leaving: One button, any time. It takes effect within sixty seconds.
What it costs: Nothing, now or later. No referral fees, from either side.

Waiting for your answer10 days left

A no is remembered, and Delphine can’t ask again unless you tell the Pool she may.

Your card, if you say yes

Seen byMarcus HaleVouched for by the curator

The work ofXimena DuarteEmail verified

Nothing is listed yet. Until you answer, the mark between Marcus and you is dashed and gray, and your name is in no file.

It reaches Ximena alone

This invitation went to the address on Ximena’s own page and to nobody else. Nobody in the Pool is told it was sent. If she says no, or lets it lapse, the Pool’s file never mentions her, and Marcus is not told which.

Email verified Ximena’s own identity. If she says yes, her card in this Pool reads “Vouched for by the curator”.

Behind the scenes

These buttons play Delphine’s side, and the clock. Nothing is sent anywhere.

The Pool sent a handshake request.

The log, and the exact JSON

2026-09-24T16:00:00Z

The Pool sent a handshake request.

{
  "schema_version": "0.1",
  "type": "handshake-request",
  "handshake_id": "hs-seen-work-harbor-trades-ximena-demo",
  "pool": {
    "url": "https://seenwork.example/pools/harbor-trades.json",
    "name": "Seen Work: Harbor Trades",
    "charter": "Tradespeople in and around Port Ellery who can speak to each other’s work: electricians, carpenters, plumbers, welders, tile setters and sound. Everyone here was nominated by a member who worked beside them, and vouched for by a curator who checked. Unlisted, so no employer finds it by searching. Contractors ask a curator, and the curator asks you first. No referral fees, from anyone.",
    "curator_identity": "delphine@mail.example",
    "curator_verification": "oauth",
    "intent_tags": [
      "trades",
      "referrals",
      "work"
    ],
    "visibility": "unlisted"
  },
  "profile_url": "https://ximena-duarte-fab.example",
  "sent_at": "2026-09-24T16:00:00Z",
  "expires_at": "2026-10-08T16:00:00Z",
  "accept_url": "https://seenwork.example/handshake/hs-seen-work-harbor-trades-ximena-demo/accept",
  "decline_url": "https://seenwork.example/handshake/hs-seen-work-harbor-trades-ximena-demo/decline"
}

The request itself: handshake/demo-request.json. The handshake request has no field for the words of a vouch, or for the consent model; the letter carries them in prose. See the gaps.