diff --git a/conf/venice-db-init-mysql.sql b/conf/venice-db-init-mysql.sql
index 1029009..68a1174 100644
--- a/conf/venice-db-init-mysql.sql
+++ b/conf/venice-db-init-mysql.sql
@@ -30,37 +30,37 @@ USE venice;
 # The "namespace cache" table, used to map string namespaces (used in the code) to integer IDs
 # (used in the database).
 CREATE TABLE namespaces (
-  nsid INT NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY AUTO_INCREMENT,
-  namespace VARCHAR(255) BINARY NOT NULL,
+  nsid INT NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY AUTO_INCREMENT,    # namespace ID
+  namespace VARCHAR(255) BINARY NOT NULL,          # the actual namespace
   UNIQUE INDEX on_namespace (namespace)
 );
 
 # The global properties table.  
 CREATE TABLE globalprop (
-  nsid INT NOT NULL,
-  prop_name VARCHAR(255) BINARY NOT NULL,
-  prop_value VARCHAR(255),
+  nsid INT NOT NULL,                           # namespace ID of property
+  prop_name VARCHAR(255) BINARY NOT NULL,      # name of the property
+  prop_value VARCHAR(255),                     # property value
   PRIMARY KEY (nsid, prop_name)
 );
 
 # The global "blocks" table, used to store fragments of text/HTML for later use.
 CREATE TABLE globalblock (
-  nsid INT NOT NULL,
-  block_name VARCHAR(255) BINARY NOT NULL,
-  block TEXT,
+  nsid INT NOT NULL,                          # namespace ID of block
+  block_name VARCHAR(255) BINARY NOT NULL,    # name of block
+  block TEXT,                                 # actual block (64K text)
   PRIMARY KEY (nsid, block_name)
 );
 
 # The main user information table.
 CREATE TABLE users (
-  uid INT NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY AUTO_INCREMENT,
-  username VARCHAR(64) NOT NULL,
-  email VARCHAR(255) NOT NULL,
-  is_anon TINYINT DEFAULT 0,
-  locked TINYINT DEFAULT 0,
-  nospam TINYINT DEFAULT 0,
-  created DATETIME NOT NULL,
-  last_accessed DATETIME,
+  uid INT NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY AUTO_INCREMENT,   # user ID
+  username VARCHAR(64) NOT NULL,                 # user name
+  email VARCHAR(255) NOT NULL,                   # E-mail address
+  is_anon TINYINT DEFAULT 0,                     # is this the "anonymous" user?
+  locked TINYINT DEFAULT 0,                      # is this user account locked?
+  nospam TINYINT DEFAULT 0,                      # if 1, do not include this user in any mass mailings
+  created DATETIME NOT NULL,                     # date user was created
+  last_accessed DATETIME,                        # date user last logged in
   UNIQUE INDEX on_username (username)
 );
 
@@ -68,117 +68,115 @@ CREATE TABLE users (
 # and name, and provide "source data" to allow multiple sources for the same type of
 # authentication (such as browser cookies for multiple browsers).
 CREATE TABLE userauth (
-  uid INT NOT NULL,
-  nsid INT NOT NULL,
-  method VARCHAR(255) BINARY NOT NULL,
-  source_data VARCHAR(255),
-  auth_data VARCHAR(255),
+  uid INT NOT NULL,                         # user ID
+  nsid INT NOT NULL,                        # namespace ID of authentication method
+  method VARCHAR(255) BINARY NOT NULL,      # name of authentication method
+  source_data VARCHAR(255),                 # source data for authentication method
+  auth_data VARCHAR(255),                   # authentication data
   PRIMARY KEY (uid, nsid, method)
 );
 
 # The user properties table.  
 CREATE TABLE userprop (
-  uid INT NOT NULL,
-  nsid INT NOT NULL,
-  prop_name VARCHAR(255) BINARY NOT NULL,
-  prop_value VARCHAR(255),
+  uid INT NOT NULL,                         # user ID
+  nsid INT NOT NULL,                        # namespace ID of property
+  prop_name VARCHAR(255) BINARY NOT NULL,   # name of property
+  prop_value VARCHAR(255),                  # property value
   PRIMARY KEY (uid, nsid, prop_name)
 );
 
 # The groups table.
 CREATE TABLE groups (
-  gid INT NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY AUTO_INCREMENT,
-  groupname VARCHAR(64) NOT NULL,
-  gaclid INT NOT NULL DEFAULT -1,
+  gid INT NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY AUTO_INCREMENT,   # group ID
+  groupname VARCHAR(64) NOT NULL,                # name of group
+  gaclid INT NOT NULL DEFAULT -1,                # ACL ID for the group
   UNIQUE INDEX on_groupname (groupname)
 );
 
 # The group membership table.
 CREATE TABLE groupmembers (
-  gid INT NOT NULL,
-  uid INT NOT NULL,
+  gid INT NOT NULL,                       # ID of group
+  uid INT NOT NULL,                       # ID of user that is a member
   PRIMARY KEY (gid, uid),
   UNIQUE INDEX reverse_index (uid, gid)
 );
 
 # The group properties table.  
 CREATE TABLE groupprop (
-  gid INT NOT NULL,
-  nsid INT NOT NULL,
-  prop_name VARCHAR(255) BINARY NOT NULL,
-  prop_value VARCHAR(255),
+  gid INT NOT NULL,                         # ID of group
+  nsid INT NOT NULL,                        # namespace ID for property
+  prop_name VARCHAR(255) BINARY NOT NULL,   # name of property
+  prop_value VARCHAR(255),                  # property value
   PRIMARY KEY (gid, nsid, prop_name)
 );
 
 # The main ACL table.  Each ACL has a numeric ID, a name, an unordered collection of owners (which may
 # be groups or users), and an ordered collection of entries (ACEs).
 CREATE TABLE acl (
-  aclid INT NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY AUTO_INCREMENT,
-  aclname VARCHAR(255) NOT NULL,
+  aclid INT NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY AUTO_INCREMENT,   # ID of the ACL
+  aclname VARCHAR(255) NOT NULL,                   # name of the ACL
   INDEX on_name (aclname)
 );
 
 # The table of owners for ACLs.  Each ACL has one or more owners.
-# Flags Bit 0: 0=user, 1=group
 CREATE TABLE aclowner (
-  aclid INT NOT NULL,
-  ownerid INT NOT NULL,
-  flags TINYINT NOT NULL,
+  aclid INT NOT NULL,          # ID of the ACL
+  ownerid INT NOT NULL,        # ID of the owner
+  flags TINYINT NOT NULL,      # Flags Bit 0: 0=user, 1=group
   INDEX on_acl (aclid)
 );
 
 # The table mapping ACLs to ACEs.  Each ACL has zero or more ACEs.
 CREATE TABLE acldata (
-  aclid INT NOT NULL,
-  seq INT NOT NULL,
-  aceid INT NOT NULL,
+  aclid INT NOT NULL,        # ID of the ACL
+  seq INT NOT NULL,          # sequence of this ACE
+  aceid INT NOT NULL,        # ID of the corresponding ACE
   PRIMARY KEY (aclid, seq)
 );
 
 # The main ACE table.  Each ACE has a numeric ID, a principal reference (which may be a user or
 # group ID), a "negative" flag, and an unordered collection of permissions.
-# Flags Bit 0: 0=user, 1=group
-# Flags Bit 4: 0=positive ACE, 1=negative ACE
 CREATE TABLE ace (
-  aceid INT NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY AUTO_INCREMENT,
-  pri INT,
-  flags TINYINT NOT NULL DEFAULT 0
+  aceid INT NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY AUTO_INCREMENT,    # ID of this ACE
+  pri INT,                                          # Principal reference
+  flags TINYINT NOT NULL DEFAULT 0                  # Flags Bit 0: 0=user, 1=group
+                                                    # Flags Bit 4: 0=positive ACE, 1=negative ACE
 );
 
 # The table mapping permissions into ACEs.  Permissions are identified by namespace and name.
 CREATE TABLE acedata (
-  aceid INT NOT NULL,
-  perm_nsid INT NOT NULL,
-  perm_name VARCHAR(255) BINARY NOT NULL,
+  aceid INT NOT NULL,                         # ID of this ACE
+  perm_nsid INT NOT NULL,                     # namespace ID of permission
+  perm_name VARCHAR(255) BINARY NOT NULL,     # name of permission
   INDEX on_ace (aceid)
 );
 
-# Global security data table.
+# Global security data table.  This table has only one row.
 CREATE TABLE globalsec (
-  admin_uid INT NOT NULL,
-  admin_gid INT NOT NULL,
-  global_aclid INT NOT NULL,
-  alluser_gid INT NOT NULL,
-  verified_gid INT NOT NULL
+  admin_uid INT NOT NULL,          # administrator UID
+  admin_gid INT NOT NULL,          # GID of administrators group
+  global_aclid INT NOT NULL,       # ACLID of global ACL
+  alluser_gid INT NOT NULL,        # GID of "all users" GID
+  verified_gid INT NOT NULL        # GID of "verified users" GID
 );
 
 # The audit information table.  Each audit "event" can have up to 8 properties defined with it,
 # which are serialized as other "properties."
 CREATE TABLE audit (
-  record BIGINT NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY AUTO_INCREMENT,
-  on_date DATETIME NOT NULL,
-  event INT NOT NULL,
-  uid INT NOT NULL,
-  subid INT NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
-  ip VARCHAR(48),
-  prop0 VARCHAR(255),
-  prop1 VARCHAR(255),
-  prop2 VARCHAR(255),
-  prop3 VARCHAR(255),
-  prop4 VARCHAR(255),
-  prop5 VARCHAR(255),
-  prop6 VARCHAR(255),
-  prop7 VARCHAR(255),
+  record BIGINT NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY AUTO_INCREMENT,    # audit record ID
+  on_date DATETIME NOT NULL,                            # date stamp of audit record
+  event INT NOT NULL,                                   # event ID
+  uid INT NOT NULL,                                     # user ID of responsible user
+  subid INT NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,                         # "sub ID" (often community ID)
+  ip VARCHAR(48),                                       # IP address of source
+  prop0 VARCHAR(255),                                   # event property
+  prop1 VARCHAR(255),                                   # event property
+  prop2 VARCHAR(255),                                   # event property
+  prop3 VARCHAR(255),                                   # event property
+  prop4 VARCHAR(255),                                   # event property
+  prop5 VARCHAR(255),                                   # event property
+  prop6 VARCHAR(255),                                   # event property
+  prop7 VARCHAR(255),                                   # event property
   INDEX by_date (on_date),
   INDEX sub_view (subid, on_date)
 );
@@ -187,82 +185,127 @@ CREATE TABLE audit (
 # to cut down on space usage in the audit table.  Event IDs can be predefined
 # at database create time, or defined dynamically, or both.
 CREATE TABLE auditevent (
-  eventid INT NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY AUTO_INCREMENT,
-  event_nsid INT NOT NULL,
-  event_name VARCHAR(255) BINARY NOT NULL,
-  descr TINYTEXT,
+  eventid INT NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY AUTO_INCREMENT,     # event ID
+  event_nsid INT NOT NULL,                             # namespace ID of event
+  event_name VARCHAR(255) BINARY NOT NULL,             # event name
+  descr TINYTEXT,                                      # event description
   UNIQUE INDEX by_event (event_nsid, event_name)
 );
 
 # The image store table.  This is used to store relatively small images like
 # user photos and logos.
 CREATE TABLE imagestore (
-  imageid INT NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY AUTO_INCREMENT,
-  typecode INT NOT NULL,
-  ownerid INT NOT NULL,
-  ownerflag TINYINT NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
-  mimetype VARCHAR(128),
-  length INT,
-  data MEDIUMBLOB
+  imageid INT NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY AUTO_INCREMENT,   # image ID
+  typecode INT NOT NULL,                             # image type code
+  ownerid INT NOT NULL,                              # who owns it?
+  ownerflag TINYINT NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,              # owner: user or group?
+  mimetype VARCHAR(128),                             # MIME type of image
+  length INT,                                        # length of image in bytes
+  data MEDIUMBLOB                                    # image data (max 16 Mb)
 );
 
 # The image type table, used to differentiate between images stored in the table.
 CREATE TABLE imagetype (
-  typecode INT NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY AUTO_INCREMENT,
-  nsid INT NOT NULL,
-  name VARCHAR(255) BINARY NOT NULL
+  typecode INT NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY AUTO_INCREMENT,  # image type code
+  nsid INT NOT NULL,                                 # image type namespace ID
+  name VARCHAR(255) BINARY NOT NULL                  # image type name
 );
 
 #### following this line are Venice-specific tables ####
 
 # The table which defines menus.
 CREATE TABLE menus (
-  menuid INT NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY AUTO_INCREMENT,
-  menu_nsid INT NOT NULL,
-  menu_name VARCHAR(255) BINARY NOT NULL,
-  title VARCHAR(255) NOT NULL,
-  subtitle VARCHAR(255) NULL,
+  menuid INT NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY AUTO_INCREMENT,    # menu ID
+  menu_nsid INT NOT NULL,                            # namespace ID of menu name
+  menu_name VARCHAR(255) BINARY NOT NULL,            # name of menu
+  title VARCHAR(255) NOT NULL,                       # menu title
+  subtitle VARCHAR(255) NULL,                        # menu subtitle
   UNIQUE INDEX by_name (menu_nsid, menu_name)
 );
 
 # Definitions of variables for menus.
 CREATE TABLE menuvars (
-  menuid INT NOT NULL,
-  var_name VARCHAR(255) NOT NULL,
-  default_val VARCHAR(255) NULL,
+  menuid INT NOT NULL,                               # menu ID
+  var_name VARCHAR(255) NOT NULL,                    # name of variable
+  default_val VARCHAR(255) NULL,                     # default value of variable
   PRIMARY KEY (menuid, var_name)
 );
 
 # Definitions of menu items.
 CREATE TABLE menuitems (
-  menuid INT NOT NULL,
-  sequence INT NOT NULL,
-  itemtype VARCHAR(32) NOT NULL,
-  enable TINYINT NOT NULL DEFAULT 1,
-  indent INT NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
-  text VARCHAR(255) NULL,
-  linktype VARCHAR(32) NULL,
-  link VARCHAR(255) NULL,
-  target VARCHAR(255) NULL,
-  title VARCHAR(255) NULL,
-  on_click VARCHAR(255) NULL,
-  perm_nsid INT NULL,
-  perm_name VARCHAR(255) BINARY NULL,
-  ifdef_var VARCHAR(255) NULL,
-  ifndef_var VARCHAR(255) NULL,
+  menuid INT NOT NULL,                               # menu ID
+  sequence INT NOT NULL,                             # sequence of menu item
+  itemtype VARCHAR(32) NOT NULL,                     # menu item type
+  enable TINYINT NOT NULL DEFAULT 1,                 # enable this menu item?
+  indent INT NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,                     # indent level of menu item
+  text VARCHAR(255) NULL,                            # text of menu item
+  linktype VARCHAR(32) NULL,                         # link type to use with menu item
+  link VARCHAR(255) NULL,                            # link for menu item
+  target VARCHAR(255) NULL,                          # target frame for menu item
+  title VARCHAR(255) NULL,                           # menu item title
+  on_click VARCHAR(255) NULL,                        # menu item onClick= property
+  perm_nsid INT NULL,                                # you must have this permission (namespace ID)
+  perm_name VARCHAR(255) BINARY NULL,                # you must have this permission (name)
+  ifdef_var VARCHAR(255) NULL,                       # show item if this variable is defined
+  ifndef_var VARCHAR(255) NULL,                      # show item if this variable is not defined
   PRIMARY KEY (menuid, sequence)
 );
 
 # The table mapping category IDs to category names.
 CREATE TABLE refcategory (
-  catid INT NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY,
-  parent INT NOT NULL,
-  symlink INT NOT NULL,
-  name VARCHAR(64) NOT NULL,
-  dontuse TINYINT DEFAULT 0,
+  catid INT NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY,                    # category ID
+  parent INT NOT NULL,                               # parent category
+  symlink INT NOT NULL,                              # if this is a symlink, what category does it link to?
+  name VARCHAR(64) NOT NULL,                         # category name
+  dontuse TINYINT DEFAULT 0,                         # 1 if this is a deprecated category
   UNIQUE INDEX display (parent, name)
 );
 
+# The master communities table.
+CREATE TABLE communities (
+  cid INT NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY AUTO_INCREMENT,         # community ID
+  member_gid INT NOT NULL,                             # group ID representing community members
+  host_gid INT NOT NULL,                               # group ID representing community hosts
+  host_uid INT NOT NULL,                               # UID of host
+  aclid INT NOT NULL,                                  # community ACL ID
+  catid INT NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,                        # community category ID (xref to "refcategory" table)
+  hide_dir TINYINT NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,                 # do we want to hide community from directory?
+  hide_search TINYINT NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,              # do we want to hide community from searches?
+  name VARCHAR(128) NOT NULL,                          # community name
+  alias VARCHAR(32) NOT NULL,                          # community alias
+  createdate DATETIME NOT NULL,                        # creation date/time
+  lastaccess DATETIME,                                 # last access date/time
+  lastupdate DATETIME,                                 # last update date/time
+  INDEX by_name (name),
+  UNIQUE INDEX by_alias (alias),
+  INDEX by_catdate (catid, createdate),
+  INDEX by_create (createdate),
+  INDEX by_catname (catid, name)
+  );
+
+# Community access table, which dictates if a community is public or private and the way people
+# have to authenticate to join it.
+CREATE TABLE commaccess (
+  cid INT NOT NULL,                                  # the community ID
+  ugid INT NOT NULL,                                 # user or group ID
+  is_group TINYINT NOT NULL,                         # 1 if this is a group, 0 if a user
+  single_use TINYINT NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,             # if 1, this will be removed after a join
+  auth_nsid INT NULL,                                # authenticator namespace ID (NULL for none)
+  auth_name VARCHAR(255) BINARY NULL,                # authenticator name (NULL for none)
+  source_data VARCHAR(255),                          # authenticator source data
+  auth_data VARCHAR(255),                            # authentication data
+  PRIMARY KEY (cid, is_group, ugid)
+  );
+
+# The community properties table.
+CREATE TABLE commprops (
+  cid INT NOT NULL,                                  # community ID
+  nsid INT NOT NULL,                                 # namespace ID of property
+  prop_name VARCHAR(255) BINARY NOT NULL,            # name of property
+  prop_value VARCHAR(255),                           # property value
+  PRIMARY KEY (cid, nsid, prop_name)
+  );
+
 ##############################################################################
 # Set table access rights
 ##############################################################################
diff --git a/src/venice-base/com/silverwrist/venice/CommunitySearchField.java b/src/venice-base/com/silverwrist/venice/CommunitySearchField.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..af22ce5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/venice-base/com/silverwrist/venice/CommunitySearchField.java
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+/*
+ * The contents of this file are subject to the Mozilla Public License Version 1.1
+ * (the "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at <http://www.mozilla.org/MPL/>.
+ * 
+ * Software distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" basis, WITHOUT
+ * WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the License for the specific
+ * language governing rights and limitations under the License.
+ * 
+ * The Original Code is the Venice Web Communities System.
+ * 
+ * The Initial Developer of the Original Code is Eric J. Bowersox <erbo@silcom.com>,
+ * for Silverwrist Design Studios.  Portions created by Eric J. Bowersox are
+ * Copyright (C) 2003 Eric J. Bowersox/Silverwrist Design Studios.  All Rights Reserved.
+ * 
+ * Contributor(s): 
+ */
+package com.silverwrist.venice;
+
+import java.util.*;
+import org.apache.commons.lang.enum.*;
+
+public final class CommunitySearchField extends Enum
+{
+  /*--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+   * The actual enumeration values
+   *--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+   */
+
+  public static final CommunitySearchField NAME     = new CommunitySearchField("NAME");
+  public static final CommunitySearchField SYNOPSIS = new CommunitySearchField("SYNOPSIS");
+
+  /*--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+   * Constructor
+   *--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+   */
+
+  private CommunitySearchField(String name)
+  {
+    super(name);
+
+  } // end constructor
+
+  /*--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+   * Standard static method implementations
+   *--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+   */
+
+  public static CommunitySearchField getEnum(String name)
+  {
+    return (CommunitySearchField)getEnum(CommunitySearchField.class,name);
+
+  } // end getEnum
+
+  public static Map getEnumMap()
+  {
+    return getEnumMap(CommunitySearchField.class);
+
+  } // end getEnumMap
+
+  public static List getEnumList()
+  {
+    return getEnumList(CommunitySearchField.class);
+
+  } // end getEnumList
+
+  public static Iterator iterator()
+  {
+    return iterator(CommunitySearchField.class);
+
+  } // end iterator
+
+} // end class CommunitySearchField
diff --git a/src/venice-base/com/silverwrist/venice/CommunityVisibility.java b/src/venice-base/com/silverwrist/venice/CommunityVisibility.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..167134a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/venice-base/com/silverwrist/venice/CommunityVisibility.java
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+/*
+ * The contents of this file are subject to the Mozilla Public License Version 1.1
+ * (the "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at <http://www.mozilla.org/MPL/>.
+ * 
+ * Software distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" basis, WITHOUT
+ * WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the License for the specific
+ * language governing rights and limitations under the License.
+ * 
+ * The Original Code is the Venice Web Communities System.
+ * 
+ * The Initial Developer of the Original Code is Eric J. Bowersox <erbo@silcom.com>,
+ * for Silverwrist Design Studios.  Portions created by Eric J. Bowersox are
+ * Copyright (C) 2003 Eric J. Bowersox/Silverwrist Design Studios.  All Rights Reserved.
+ * 
+ * Contributor(s): 
+ */
+package com.silverwrist.venice;
+
+import java.util.*;
+import org.apache.commons.lang.enum.*;
+
+public final class CommunityVisibility extends Enum
+{
+  /*--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+   * The actual enumeration values
+   *--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+   */
+
+  public static final CommunityVisibility SEARCHDIR  = new CommunityVisibility("SEARCHDIR");
+  public static final CommunityVisibility SEARCHONLY = new CommunityVisibility("SEARCHONLY");
+  public static final CommunityVisibility NONE       = new CommunityVisibility("NONE");
+
+  /*--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+   * Constructor
+   *--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+   */
+
+  private CommunityVisibility(String name)
+  {
+    super(name);
+
+  } // end constructor
+
+  /*--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+   * Standard static method implementations
+   *--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+   */
+
+  public static CommunityVisibility getEnum(String name)
+  {
+    return (CommunityVisibility)getEnum(CommunityVisibility.class,name);
+
+  } // end getEnum
+
+  public static Map getEnumMap()
+  {
+    return getEnumMap(CommunityVisibility.class);
+
+  } // end getEnumMap
+
+  public static List getEnumList()
+  {
+    return getEnumList(CommunityVisibility.class);
+
+  } // end getEnumList
+
+  public static Iterator iterator()
+  {
+    return iterator(CommunityVisibility.class);
+
+  } // end iterator
+
+} // end class CommunityVisibility
diff --git a/src/venice-base/com/silverwrist/venice/community/CommunityService.java b/src/venice-base/com/silverwrist/venice/community/CommunityService.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..221f302
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/venice-base/com/silverwrist/venice/community/CommunityService.java
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+/*
+ * The contents of this file are subject to the Mozilla Public License Version 1.1
+ * (the "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at <http://www.mozilla.org/MPL/>.
+ * 
+ * Software distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" basis, WITHOUT
+ * WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the License for the specific
+ * language governing rights and limitations under the License.
+ * 
+ * The Original Code is the Venice Web Communities System.
+ * 
+ * The Initial Developer of the Original Code is Eric J. Bowersox <erbo@silcom.com>,
+ * for Silverwrist Design Studios.  Portions created by Eric J. Bowersox are
+ * Copyright (C) 2003 Eric J. Bowersox/Silverwrist Design Studios.  All Rights Reserved.
+ * 
+ * Contributor(s): 
+ */
+package com.silverwrist.venice.community;
+
+import java.util.List;
+import com.silverwrist.dynamo.except.DatabaseException;
+import com.silverwrist.dynamo.except.DynamoSecurityException;
+import com.silverwrist.dynamo.iface.DynamoUser;
+import com.silverwrist.venice.CommunitySearchField;
+import com.silverwrist.venice.SearchMode;
+import com.silverwrist.venice.iface.VeniceCategory;
+import com.silverwrist.venice.iface.VeniceCommunity;
+
+public interface CommunityService
+{
+  public List getMemberCommunities(DynamoUser caller, DynamoUser user)
+      throws DatabaseException, DynamoSecurityException;
+
+  public VeniceCommunity getCommunity(int cid) throws DatabaseException;
+
+  public VeniceCommunity getCommunity(String alias) throws DatabaseException;
+
+  public List searchForCommunities(DynamoUser caller, CommunitySearchField field, SearchMode mode, String term,
+				   int offset, int count) throws DatabaseException;
+
+  public int getSearchCommunityCount(DynamoUser caller, CommunitySearchField field, SearchMode mode, String term)
+      throws DatabaseException;
+
+  public List getCommunitiesInCategory(DynamoUser caller, int catid, int offset, int count) throws DatabaseException;
+
+  public List getCommunitiesInCategory(DynamoUser caller, VeniceCategory cat, int offset, int count)
+      throws DatabaseException;
+
+  public int getNumCommunitiesInCategory(DynamoUser caller, int catid) throws DatabaseException;
+
+  public int getNumCommunitiesInCategory(DynamoUser caller, VeniceCategory cat) throws DatabaseException;
+
+} // end interface CommunityService
diff --git a/src/venice-base/com/silverwrist/venice/iface/VeniceCommunity.java b/src/venice-base/com/silverwrist/venice/iface/VeniceCommunity.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c977ac4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/venice-base/com/silverwrist/venice/iface/VeniceCommunity.java
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+/*
+ * The contents of this file are subject to the Mozilla Public License Version 1.1
+ * (the "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at <http://www.mozilla.org/MPL/>.
+ * 
+ * Software distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" basis, WITHOUT
+ * WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the License for the specific
+ * language governing rights and limitations under the License.
+ * 
+ * The Original Code is the Venice Web Communities System.
+ * 
+ * The Initial Developer of the Original Code is Eric J. Bowersox <erbo@silcom.com>,
+ * for Silverwrist Design Studios.  Portions created by Eric J. Bowersox are
+ * Copyright (C) 2003 Eric J. Bowersox/Silverwrist Design Studios.  All Rights Reserved.
+ * 
+ * Contributor(s): 
+ */
+package com.silverwrist.venice.iface;
+
+import java.security.Principal;
+import java.security.acl.AclNotFoundException;
+import java.util.Date;
+import com.silverwrist.dynamo.except.DatabaseException;
+import com.silverwrist.dynamo.except.DynamoSecurityException;
+import com.silverwrist.dynamo.iface.DynamoAcl;
+import com.silverwrist.dynamo.iface.DynamoGroup;
+import com.silverwrist.dynamo.iface.DynamoUser;
+import com.silverwrist.dynamo.iface.NamedObject;
+import com.silverwrist.dynamo.iface.SecureObjectStore;
+import com.silverwrist.venice.CommunityVisibility;
+
+public interface VeniceCommunity extends NamedObject, SecureObjectStore
+{
+  public int getCID();
+
+  public int getMemberGID();
+
+  public DynamoGroup getMemberGroup() throws DatabaseException;
+
+  public int getHostGID();
+
+  public DynamoGroup getHostGroup() throws DatabaseException;
+
+  public int getHostUID();
+
+  public DynamoUser getHostUser() throws DatabaseException;
+
+  public DynamoAcl getAcl() throws DatabaseException, AclNotFoundException;
+
+  public int getCategoryID();
+
+  public VeniceCategory getCategory() throws DatabaseException;
+
+  public void setCategoryID(DynamoUser caller, int catid) throws DatabaseException, DynamoSecurityException;
+
+  public void setCategory(DynamoUser caller, VeniceCategory cat) throws DatabaseException, DynamoSecurityException;
+
+  public CommunityVisibility getVisibility();
+
+  public void setVisibility(DynamoUser caller, CommunityVisibility vis)
+      throws DatabaseException, DynamoSecurityException;
+
+  public void setName(DynamoUser caller, String name) throws DatabaseException, DynamoSecurityException;
+
+  public String getAlias();
+
+  public void setAlias(DynamoUser caller, String alias) throws DatabaseException, DynamoSecurityException;
+
+  public java.util.Date getCreationDate();
+
+  public java.util.Date getLastAccessDate();
+
+  public void setLastAccessDate(DynamoUser caller, java.util.Date date)
+      throws DatabaseException, DynamoSecurityException;
+
+  public java.util.Date getLastUpdateDate();
+
+  public void setLastUpdateDate(DynamoUser caller, java.util.Date date)
+      throws DatabaseException, DynamoSecurityException;
+
+  public void grantAccess(DynamoUser caller, Principal subject, String auth_namespace, String auth_name,
+			  String source_info, String auth_info, boolean single_use)
+      throws DatabaseException, DynamoSecurityException;
+
+  public void revokeAccess(DynamoUser caller, Principal subject) throws DatabaseException, DynamoSecurityException;
+
+} // end interface VeniceCommunity