diff --git a/choam/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/choam/CHOAM.java b/choam/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/choam/CHOAM.java
index 104d086bc..10a1b8fc7 100644
--- a/choam/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/choam/CHOAM.java
+++ b/choam/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/choam/CHOAM.java
@@ -210,10 +210,9 @@ public static String print(Join join, DigestAlgorithm da) {
     }
 
     public static Reconfigure reconfigure(Digest nextViewId, Map<Digest, Join> joins, int checkpointTarget) {
+        assert Dag.validate(joins.size()) : "Reconfigure joins: %s is not BFT".formatted(joins.size());
         var builder = Reconfigure.newBuilder().setCheckpointTarget(checkpointTarget).setId(nextViewId.toDigeste());
-
         joins.keySet().stream().sorted().map(joins::get).forEach(builder::addJoins);
-
         return builder.build();
     }
 
@@ -232,13 +231,6 @@ public static Block reconfigure(Digest nextViewId, Map<Digest, Join> joins, Hash
                     .build();
     }
 
-    public static Map<Digest, Member> rosterMap(Context<Member> baseContext, Collection<Digest> members) {
-        return members.stream()
-                      .map(baseContext::getMember)
-                      .filter(m -> m != null)
-                      .collect(Collectors.toMap(Member::getId, Function.identity()));
-    }
-
     public static List<Transaction> toGenesisData(List<? extends Message> initializationData) {
         return toGenesisData(initializationData, DigestAlgorithm.DEFAULT, SignatureAlgorithm.DEFAULT);
     }
diff --git a/choam/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/choam/Committee.java b/choam/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/choam/Committee.java
index ecc92f48e..eb318320a 100644
--- a/choam/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/choam/Committee.java
+++ b/choam/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/choam/Committee.java
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 import com.salesforce.apollo.cryptography.JohnHancock;
 import com.salesforce.apollo.cryptography.Verifier;
 import com.salesforce.apollo.cryptography.Verifier.DefaultVerifier;
+import com.salesforce.apollo.ethereal.Dag;
 import com.salesforce.apollo.membership.Member;
 import com.salesforce.apollo.membership.MockMember;
 import io.grpc.StatusRuntimeException;
@@ -35,6 +36,8 @@ public interface Committee {
 
     static Map<Member, Verifier> validatorsOf(Reconfigure reconfigure, Context<Member> context, Digest member,
                                               Logger log) {
+        assert Dag.validate(reconfigure.getJoinsCount()) : "Reconfigure joins: %s is not BFT".formatted(
+        reconfigure.getJoinsCount());
         var validators = reconfigure.getJoinsList().stream().collect(Collectors.toMap(e -> {
             var id = new Digest(e.getMember().getVm().getId());
             var m = context.getMember(id);
@@ -47,7 +50,6 @@ static Map<Member, Verifier> validatorsOf(Reconfigure reconfigure, Context<Membe
         }, e -> {
             var vm = e.getMember().getVm();
             if (vm.hasConsensusKey()) {
-
                 return new DefaultVerifier(publicKey(vm.getConsensusKey()));
             } else {
                 log.info("No member for validator: {}, returning mock on: {}", Digest.from(vm.getId()), member);
diff --git a/choam/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/choam/Producer.java b/choam/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/choam/Producer.java
index fb003c225..9538fe8ce 100644
--- a/choam/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/choam/Producer.java
+++ b/choam/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/choam/Producer.java
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 import com.salesforce.apollo.cryptography.DigestAlgorithm;
 import com.salesforce.apollo.ethereal.Config;
 import com.salesforce.apollo.ethereal.Config.Builder;
+import com.salesforce.apollo.ethereal.Dag;
 import com.salesforce.apollo.ethereal.Ethereal;
 import com.salesforce.apollo.ethereal.memberships.ChRbcGossip;
 import com.salesforce.apollo.membership.Member;
@@ -325,8 +326,8 @@ private void publish(PendingBlock p, boolean beacon) {
 
     private void reconfigure() {
         final var slate = assembly.getSlate();
-        assert slate != null && !slate.isEmpty() : "Slate is incorrect: %s".formatted(
-        slate.keySet().stream().sorted().toList());
+        assert slate != null && !slate.isEmpty() : slate == null ? "Slate is null" : "Slate is empty";
+        assert Dag.validate(slate.size()) : "Reconfigure joins: %s is not BFT".formatted(slate.size());
         var reconfiguration = new HashedBlock(params().digestAlgorithm(),
                                               view.reconfigure(slate, nextViewId, previousBlock.get(),
                                                                checkpoint.get()));
diff --git a/choam/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/choam/ViewAssembly.java b/choam/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/choam/ViewAssembly.java
index cf31987be..98a510a8c 100644
--- a/choam/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/choam/ViewAssembly.java
+++ b/choam/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/choam/ViewAssembly.java
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 import com.salesforce.apollo.cryptography.JohnHancock;
 import com.salesforce.apollo.cryptography.proto.Digeste;
 import com.salesforce.apollo.cryptography.proto.PubKey;
+import com.salesforce.apollo.ethereal.Dag;
 import com.salesforce.apollo.membership.Member;
 import org.slf4j.Logger;
 import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
@@ -142,9 +143,9 @@ void assemble(List<Assemblies> asses) {
         }
         views.forEach(svs -> {
             if (view.validate(svs)) {
-                log.info("Adding views: {} from: {} on: {}",
-                         svs.getViews().getViewsList().stream().map(v -> Digest.from(v.getDiadem())).toList(),
-                         Digest.from(svs.getViews().getMember()), params().member().getId());
+                log.debug("Adding views: {} from: {} on: {}",
+                          svs.getViews().getViewsList().stream().map(v -> Digest.from(v.getDiadem())).toList(),
+                          Digest.from(svs.getViews().getMember()), params().member().getId());
                 viewProposals.put(Digest.from(svs.getViews().getMember()), svs.getViews());
             } else {
                 log.warn("Invalid views: {} from: {} on: {}",
@@ -377,6 +378,8 @@ private void vote() {
                       params().member().getId());
         }
         var winner = ratification.getFirst();
+        assert Dag.validate(winner.getCommitteeCount()) : "Winner committee: %s is not BFT".formatted(
+        winner.getCommitteeList().size());
         selected = new Vue(Digest.from(winner.getDiadem()), assemblyOf(winner.getCommitteeList()),
                            winner.getMajority());
         if (log.isDebugEnabled()) {
@@ -408,8 +411,8 @@ public void certify() {
                 transitions.certified();
             } else {
                 countdown.set(4);
-                log.info("Not certifying: {} majority: {} slate: {} of: {} on: {}", nextViewId, selected.majority,
-                         proposals.keySet().stream().sorted().toList(), nextViewId, params().member().getId());
+                log.debug("Not certifying: {} majority: {} slate: {} of: {} on: {}", nextViewId, selected.majority,
+                          proposals.keySet().stream().sorted().toList(), nextViewId, params().member().getId());
             }
         }
 
@@ -420,7 +423,7 @@ public void checkAssembly() {
             if (proposals.size() >= selected.majority) {
                 transitions.chill();
             } else {
-                log.info("Check assembly: {} on: {}", proposals.size(), params().member().getId());
+                log.trace("Check assembly: {} on: {}", proposals.size(), params().member().getId());
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/choam/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/choam/ViewContext.java b/choam/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/choam/ViewContext.java
index 46a0c9d71..4f7a71d1f 100644
--- a/choam/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/choam/ViewContext.java
+++ b/choam/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/choam/ViewContext.java
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 import java.util.HashMap;
 import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.Set;
+import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicInteger;
 import java.util.function.Supplier;
 
 import static com.salesforce.apollo.cryptography.QualifiedBase64.publicKey;
@@ -48,11 +49,10 @@ public ViewContext(Context<Member> context, Parameters params, Supplier<CHOAM.Pe
         this.validators = validators;
         this.pendingViews = pendingViews;
 
-        var remapped = CHOAM.rosterMap(params.context(), context.allMembers().map(Member::getId).toList());
-        short pid = 0;
-        for (Digest d : remapped.keySet().stream().sorted().toList()) {
-            roster.put(remapped.get(d).getId(), pid++);
-        }
+        var pid = new AtomicInteger(0);
+        context.stream(1).forEach(m -> {
+            roster.put(m.getId(), (short) pid.getAndIncrement());
+        });
     }
 
     public static String print(Certification c, DigestAlgorithm algo) {
diff --git a/fireflies/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/fireflies/Binding.java b/fireflies/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/fireflies/Binding.java
index 2bbe4fe53..c8f84fdb5 100644
--- a/fireflies/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/fireflies/Binding.java
+++ b/fireflies/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/fireflies/Binding.java
@@ -152,7 +152,13 @@ private void complete(Member member, CompletableFuture<Bound> gateway, HashMulti
         } catch (InterruptedException e) {
             Thread.currentThread().interrupt();
         } catch (ExecutionException e) {
-            log.warn("Error retrieving Gateway from: {} on: {}", member.getId(), node.getId(), e.getCause());
+            var cause = e.getCause();
+            if (cause instanceof StatusRuntimeException sre) {
+                log.warn("Error retrieving Gateway: {} from: {} on: {}", sre.getMessage(), member.getId(),
+                         node.getId());
+            } else {
+                log.error("Error retrieving Gateway from: {} on: {}", member.getId(), node.getId(), cause);
+            }
             dec(complete, remaining);
             return;
         }
diff --git a/fireflies/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/fireflies/View.java b/fireflies/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/fireflies/View.java
index 7a1ded956..044d8e854 100644
--- a/fireflies/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/fireflies/View.java
+++ b/fireflies/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/fireflies/View.java
@@ -83,9 +83,10 @@
  * @since 220
  */
 public class View {
-    private static final String FINALIZE_VIEW_CHANGE  = "FINALIZE VIEW CHANGE";
+    private static final String FINALIZE_VIEW_CHANGE  = "Finalize View Change";
     private static final Logger log                   = LoggerFactory.getLogger(View.class);
     private static final String SCHEDULED_VIEW_CHANGE = "Scheduled View Change";
+    private static final String CLEAR_OBSERVATIONS    = "Clear Observations";
 
     final            CommonCommunications<Fireflies, Service>    comm;
     final            AtomicBoolean                               started             = new AtomicBoolean();
@@ -98,7 +99,7 @@ public class View {
     private final    Executor                                    viewNotificationQueue;
     private final    FireflyMetrics                              metrics;
     private final    Node                                        node;
-    private final    Map<Digest, SignedViewChange>               observations        = new ConcurrentSkipListMap<>();
+    private final    Map<Digest, SVU>                            observations        = new ConcurrentSkipListMap<>();
     private final    Parameters                                  params;
     private final    ConcurrentMap<Digest, RoundScheduler.Timer> pendingRebuttals    = new ConcurrentSkipListMap<>();
     private final    RoundScheduler                              roundTimers;
@@ -109,6 +110,7 @@ public class View {
     private final    EventValidation                             validation;
     private final    Verifiers                                   verifiers;
     private volatile ScheduledFuture<?>                          futureGossip;
+    private volatile boolean                                     boostrap            = false;
 
     public View(DynamicContext<Participant> context, ControlledIdentifierMember member, String endpoint,
                 EventValidation validation, Verifiers verifiers, Router communications, Parameters params,
@@ -325,6 +327,7 @@ boolean addToView(NoteWrapper note) {
     }
 
     void bootstrap(NoteWrapper nw, Duration dur) {
+        boostrap = true;
         viewManagement.bootstrap(nw, dur);
     }
 
@@ -344,45 +347,23 @@ void finalizeViewChange() {
             return;
         }
         viewChange(() -> {
-            final var current = currentView();
+            removeTimer(View.FINALIZE_VIEW_CHANGE);
             final var supermajority = context.getRingCount() * 3 / 4;
             final var majority = context.size() == 1 ? 1 : supermajority;
-            final var valid = observations.values()
-                                          .stream()
-                                          .filter(vc -> current.equals(Digest.from(vc.getChange().getCurrent())))
-                                          .filter(svc -> viewManagement.observers.contains(
-                                          Digest.from(svc.getChange().getObserver())))
-                                          .toList();
-            log.trace("Finalize view change, observations: {} valid: {} observers: {} on: {}",
-                      observations.values().stream().map(sv -> Digest.from(sv.getChange().getObserver())).toList(),
-                      valid.size(), viewManagement.observersList(), node.getId());
-            observations.clear();
-            if (valid.size() < majority) {
-                log.info("Do not have majority: {} required: {} observers: {} for: {} on: {}", valid.size(), majority,
-                         viewManagement.observersList(), currentView(), node.getId());
-                scheduleFinalizeViewChange(2);
+            log.info("Finalize view change, observations: {} observers: {} on: {}",
+                     observations.keySet().stream().toList(), viewManagement.observersList(), node.getId());
+            if (observations.size() < majority) {
+                log.info("Do not have majority: {} required: {} observers: {} for: {} on: {}", observations.size(),
+                         majority, viewManagement.observersList(), currentView(), node.getId());
+                scheduleFinalizeViewChange(1);
                 return;
             }
             log.info("Finalizing view change: {} required: {} observers: {} for: {} on: {}", context.getId(), majority,
                      viewManagement.observersList(), currentView(), node.getId());
             HashMultiset<Ballot> ballots = HashMultiset.create();
-            valid.forEach(vc -> {
-                final var leaving = vc.getChange()
-                                      .getLeavesList()
-                                      .stream()
-                                      .map(Digest::from)
-                                      .distinct()
-                                      .collect(Collectors.toCollection(ArrayList::new));
-                final var joining = vc.getChange()
-                                      .getJoinsList()
-                                      .stream()
-                                      .map(Digest::from)
-                                      .distinct()
-                                      .collect(Collectors.toCollection(ArrayList::new));
-                leaving.sort(Ordering.natural());
-                joining.sort(Ordering.natural());
-                ballots.add(new Ballot(Digest.from(vc.getChange().getCurrent()), leaving, joining, digestAlgo));
-            });
+            observations.values().forEach(svu -> tally(svu, ballots));
+            viewManagement.clearVote();
+            scheduleClearObservations();
             var max = ballots.entrySet()
                              .stream()
                              .max(Ordering.natural().onResultOf(Multiset.Entry::getCount))
@@ -391,17 +372,15 @@ void finalizeViewChange() {
                 log.info("View consensus successful: {} required: {} cardinality: {} for: {} on: {}", max, majority,
                          viewManagement.cardinality(), currentView(), node.getId());
                 viewManagement.install(max.getElement());
+                scheduleViewChange();
             } else {
                 @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
                 final var reversed = Comparator.comparing(e -> ((Entry<Ballot>) e).getCount()).reversed();
                 log.info("View consensus failed: {}, required: {} cardinality: {} ballots: {} for: {} on: {}",
                          max == null ? 0 : max.getCount(), majority, viewManagement.cardinality(),
                          ballots.entrySet().stream().sorted(reversed).toList(), currentView(), node.getId());
+                viewManagement.initiateViewChange();
             }
-
-            scheduleViewChange();
-            removeTimer(View.FINALIZE_VIEW_CHANGE);
-            viewManagement.clearVote();
         });
     }
 
@@ -419,7 +398,7 @@ boolean hasPendingRebuttals() {
     }
 
     void initiate(SignedViewChange viewChange) {
-        observations.put(node.getId(), viewChange);
+        observations.put(node.getId(), new SVU(viewChange, digestAlgo));
     }
 
     void introduced() {
@@ -521,6 +500,13 @@ void schedule(final Duration duration) {
         Entropy.nextBitsStreamLong(duration.toNanos()), TimeUnit.NANOSECONDS);
     }
 
+    void scheduleClearObservations() {
+        if (!started.get()) {
+            return;
+        }
+        timers.put(CLEAR_OBSERVATIONS, roundTimers.schedule(CLEAR_OBSERVATIONS, () -> observations.clear(), 1));
+    }
+
     void scheduleFinalizeViewChange() {
         scheduleFinalizeViewChange(params.finalizeViewRounds());
     }
@@ -582,7 +568,7 @@ void stopRebuttalTimer(Participant m) {
         m.clearAccusations();
         var timer = pendingRebuttals.remove(m.getId());
         if (timer != null) {
-            log.debug("Cancelling accusation of: {} on: {}", m.getId(), node.getId());
+            log.info("Cancelling accusation of: {} on: {}", m.getId(), node.getId());
             timer.cancel();
         }
     }
@@ -691,8 +677,8 @@ private void accuse(Participant member, int ring, Throwable e) {
         member.addAccusation(node.accuse(member, ring));
         pendingRebuttals.computeIfAbsent(member.getId(),
                                          d -> roundTimers.schedule(() -> gc(member), params.rebuttalTimeout()));
-        log.debug("Accuse: {} on ring: {} view: {} (timer started): {} on: {}", member.getId(), ring, currentView(),
-                  e.getMessage(), node.getId());
+        log.info("Accuse: {} on ring: {} view: {} (timer started): {} on: {}", member.getId(), ring, currentView(),
+                 e.getMessage(), node.getId());
     }
 
     /**
@@ -754,15 +740,15 @@ private boolean add(AccusationWrapper accusation, Participant accuser, Participa
                                                                 accused)) {
                     if (!accused.verify(accusation.getSignature(),
                                         accusation.getWrapped().getAccusation().toByteString())) {
-                        log.trace("Accusation discarded, accusation by: {} accused:{} signature invalid on: {}",
+                        log.debug("Accusation discarded, accusation by: {} accused:{} signature invalid on: {}",
                                   accuser.getId(), accused.getId(), node.getId());
                         return false;
                     }
                     accused.addAccusation(accusation);
                     pendingRebuttals.computeIfAbsent(accused.getId(), d -> roundTimers.schedule(() -> gc(accused),
                                                                                                 params.rebuttalTimeout()));
-                    log.debug("{} accused by: {} on ring: {} (replacing: {}) on: {}", accused.getId(), accuser.getId(),
-                              accusation.getRingNumber(), currentAccuser.getId(), node.getId());
+                    log.info("{} accused by: {} on ring: {} (replacing: {}) on: {}", accused.getId(), accuser.getId(),
+                             accusation.getRingNumber(), currentAccuser.getId(), node.getId());
                     if (metrics != null) {
                         metrics.accusations().mark();
                     }
@@ -790,8 +776,8 @@ private boolean add(AccusationWrapper accusation, Participant accuser, Participa
             if (accuser.equals(predecessor)) {
                 accused.addAccusation(accusation);
                 if (!accused.equals(node) && !pendingRebuttals.containsKey(accused.getId())) {
-                    log.debug("{} accused by: {} on ring: {} (timer started) on: {}", accused.getId(), accuser.getId(),
-                              accusation.getRingNumber(), node.getId());
+                    log.info("{} accused by: {} on ring: {} (timer started) on: {}", accused.getId(), accuser.getId(),
+                             accusation.getRingNumber(), node.getId());
                     pendingRebuttals.computeIfAbsent(accused.getId(), d -> roundTimers.schedule(() -> gc(accused),
                                                                                                 params.rebuttalTimeout()));
                 }
@@ -841,41 +827,44 @@ private boolean add(NoteWrapper note) {
      * @param observation
      */
     private boolean add(SignedViewChange observation) {
-        final Digest observer = Digest.from(observation.getChange().getObserver());
-        if (!viewManagement.isObserver(observer)) {
-            log.trace("Invalid observer: {} current: {} on: {}", observer, currentView(), node.getId());
+        var svu = new SVU(observation, digestAlgo);
+        if (!viewManagement.isObserver(svu.observer)) {
+            log.trace("Invalid observer: {} current: {} on: {}", svu.observer, currentView(), node.getId());
             return false;
         }
         final var inView = Digest.from(observation.getChange().getCurrent());
         if (!currentView().equals(inView)) {
-            log.trace("Invalid view change: {} current: {} from {} on: {}", inView, currentView(), observer,
+            log.trace("Invalid view change: {} current: {} from {} on: {}", inView, currentView(), svu.observer,
                       node.getId());
             return false;
         }
-        var currentObservation = observations.get(observer);
-        if (currentObservation != null) {
-            if (observation.getChange().getAttempt() < currentObservation.getChange().getAttempt()) {
-                log.trace("Stale observation: {} current: {} view change: {} current: {} offline: {} on: {}",
-                          observation.getChange().getAttempt(), currentObservation.getChange().getAttempt(), inView,
-                          currentView(), observer, node.getId());
-                return false;
-            }
-        }
-        final var member = context.getActiveMember(observer);
+        final var member = context.getActiveMember(svu.observer);
         if (member == null) {
-            log.trace("Cannot validate view change: {} current: {} from: {} on: {}", inView, currentView(), observer,
+            log.trace("Cannot validate view change: {} current: {} from: {} on: {}", inView, currentView(),
+                      svu.observer, node.getId());
+            return false;
+        }
+        if (!viewManagement.isObserver(member.id)) {
+            log.trace("Not an observer of: {} current: {} from: {} on: {}", inView, currentView(), svu.observer,
                       node.getId());
             return false;
         }
-        return observations.computeIfAbsent(observer.prefix(observation.getChange().getAttempt()), p -> {
-            final var signature = JohnHancock.from(observation.getSignature());
-            if (!member.verify(signature, observation.getChange().toByteString())) {
-                return null;
+        final var signature = JohnHancock.from(observation.getSignature());
+        if (!member.verify(signature, observation.getChange().toByteString())) {
+            return false;
+        }
+        return observations.compute(svu.observer, (d, cur) -> {
+            if (cur != null) {
+                if (svu.attempt < cur.attempt) {
+                    log.trace("Stale observation: {} current: {} view change: {} current: {} offline: {} on: {}",
+                              svu.attempt, cur.attempt, inView, currentView(), svu.observer, node.getId());
+                    return cur;
+                }
             }
-            log.trace("Observation: {} current: {} view change: {} from: {} on: {}",
-                      observation.getChange().getAttempt(), inView, currentView(), observer, node.getId());
-            return observation;
-        }) != null;
+            log.trace("Observation: {} current: {} view change: {} from: {} on: {}", svu.attempt, inView, currentView(),
+                      svu.observer, node.getId());
+            return svu;
+        }) == svu;
     }
 
     private boolean addJoin(SignedNote sn) {
@@ -1049,7 +1038,7 @@ private BloomFilter<Digest> getNotesBff(long seed, double p) {
     private BloomFilter<Digest> getObservationsBff(long seed, double p) {
         var n = Math.max(params.minimumBiffCardinality(), observations.size());
         BloomFilter<Digest> bff = new BloomFilter.DigestBloomFilter(seed, n, 1.0 / (double) n);
-        observations.keySet().stream().collect(Utils.toShuffledList()).forEach(bff::add);
+        observations.values().stream().map(svu -> svu.hash).collect(Utils.toShuffledList()).forEach(bff::add);
         return bff;
     }
 
@@ -1263,13 +1252,12 @@ private ViewChangeGossip.Builder processObservations(BloomFilter<Digest> bff) {
 
         // Add all updates that this view has that aren't reflected in the inbound bff
         final var current = currentView();
-        observations.entrySet()
+        observations.values()
                     .stream()
                     .collect(Utils.toShuffledList())
                     .stream()
-                    .filter(e -> Digest.from(e.getValue().getChange().getCurrent()).equals(current))
-                    .filter(m -> !bff.contains(m.getKey()))
-                    .map(m -> m.getValue())
+                    .filter(svu -> !bff.contains(svu.hash))
+                    .map(svu -> svu.viewChange)
                     .forEach(n -> builder.addUpdates(n));
         return builder;
     }
@@ -1344,6 +1332,25 @@ private Update response(Gossip gossip) {
         return updatesForDigests(gossip);
     }
 
+    private void tally(SVU svu, HashMultiset<Ballot> ballots) {
+        var vc = svu.viewChange;
+        final var leaving = vc.getChange()
+                              .getLeavesList()
+                              .stream()
+                              .map(Digest::from)
+                              .distinct()
+                              .collect(Collectors.toCollection(ArrayList::new));
+        final var joining = vc.getChange()
+                              .getJoinsList()
+                              .stream()
+                              .map(Digest::from)
+                              .distinct()
+                              .collect(Collectors.toCollection(ArrayList::new));
+        leaving.sort(Ordering.natural());
+        joining.sort(Ordering.natural());
+        ballots.add(new Ballot(Digest.from(vc.getChange().getCurrent()), leaving, joining, digestAlgo));
+    }
+
     /**
      * Process the gossip reply. Return the gossip with the updates determined from the inbound digests.
      *
@@ -1380,13 +1387,12 @@ private Update updatesForDigests(Gossip gossip) {
         biff = gossip.getObservations().getBff();
         if (!biff.equals(Biff.getDefaultInstance())) {
             BloomFilter<Digest> obsvBff = BloomFilter.from(biff);
-            observations.entrySet()
+            observations.values()
                         .stream()
                         .collect(Utils.toShuffledList())
                         .stream()
-                        .filter(e -> Digest.from(e.getValue().getChange().getCurrent()).equals(current))
-                        .filter(e -> !obsvBff.contains(e.getKey()))
-                        .forEach(e -> builder.addObservations(e.getValue()));
+                        .filter(svu -> !obsvBff.contains(svu.hash))
+                        .forEach(svu -> builder.addObservations(svu.viewChange));
         }
 
         biff = gossip.getJoins().getBff();
@@ -1463,6 +1469,19 @@ private boolean verify(SelfAddressingIdentifier id, SigningThreshold threshold,
         return verifiers.verifierFor(id).map(value -> value.verify(threshold, signature, message)).orElse(false);
     }
 
+    private record SVU(Digest observer, SignedViewChange viewChange, int attempt, Digest hash)
+    implements Comparable<SVU> {
+        public SVU(SignedViewChange signedViewChange, DigestAlgorithm algo) {
+            this(Digest.from(signedViewChange.getChange().getObserver()), signedViewChange,
+                 signedViewChange.getChange().getAttempt(), algo.digest(signedViewChange.toByteString()));
+        }
+
+        @Override
+        public int compareTo(SVU o) {
+            return Integer.compare(attempt, o.attempt);
+        }
+    }
+
     public record Seed(SelfAddressingIdentifier identifier, String endpoint) {
     }
 
diff --git a/fireflies/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/fireflies/ViewManagement.java b/fireflies/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/fireflies/ViewManagement.java
index b4d33a528..2008a0c05 100644
--- a/fireflies/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/fireflies/ViewManagement.java
+++ b/fireflies/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/fireflies/ViewManagement.java
@@ -188,6 +188,48 @@ BloomFilter<Digest> getJoinsBff(long seed, double p) {
         return bff;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Initiate the view change
+     */
+    void initiateViewChange() {
+        view.stable(() -> {
+            if (vote.get() != null) {
+                log.trace("Vote already cast for: {} on: {}", currentView(), node.getId());
+                return;
+            }
+            // Use pending rebuttals as a proxy for stability
+            if (view.hasPendingRebuttals()) {
+                log.debug("Pending rebuttals in view: {} on: {}", currentView(), node.getId());
+                view.scheduleViewChange(1);
+                return;
+            }
+            view.scheduleFinalizeViewChange();
+            if (!isObserver(node.getId())) {
+                log.debug("Initiating (non observer) view change: {} joins: {} leaves: {} on: {}", currentView(),
+                          joins.size(), view.streamShunned().count(), node.getId());
+                return;
+            }
+            log.debug("Initiating (observer) view change vote: {} joins: {} leaves: {} observers: {} on: {}",
+                      currentView(), joins.size(), view.streamShunned().count(), observersList(), node.getId());
+            final var builder = ViewChange.newBuilder()
+                                          .setObserver(node.getId().toDigeste())
+                                          .setCurrent(currentView().toDigeste())
+                                          .setAttempt(attempt.getAndIncrement())
+                                          .addAllJoins(joins.keySet().stream().map(Digest::toDigeste).toList());
+            view.streamShunned().map(Digest::toDigeste).forEach(builder::addLeaves);
+            ViewChange change = builder.build();
+            vote.set(change);
+            var signature = node.sign(change.toByteString());
+            final var viewChange = SignedViewChange.newBuilder()
+                                                   .setChange(change)
+                                                   .setSignature(signature.toSig())
+                                                   .build();
+            view.initiate(viewChange);
+            log.trace("View change vote: {} joins: {} leaves: {} on: {}", currentView(), change.getJoinsCount(),
+                      change.getLeavesCount(), node.getId());
+        });
+    }
+
     /**
      * Install the new view
      *
@@ -427,17 +469,22 @@ void maybeViewChange() {
         if (!joined()) {
             return;
         }
-        if (context.size() == 1 && joins.size() < context.getRingCount() - 1) {
-            log.trace("Cannot form cluster: {} with: {} members, required > 3 on: {}", currentView(),
-                      joins.size() + context.size(), node.getId());
+        if (bootstrap && context.size() == 1 && joins.size() < context.getRingCount() - 1) {
+            log.trace("Cannot form cluster: {} with: {} members, required >= {}} on: {}", currentView(),
+                      joins.size() + context.size(), context.getRingCount(), node.getId());
             view.scheduleViewChange();
             return;
+        } else if (!bootstrap) {
+            if (context.size() < context.getRingCount()) {
+                log.trace("Cannot initiate view change: {} with: {} members, required >= {}} on: {}", currentView(),
+                          joins.size() + context.size(), context.getRingCount(), node.getId());
+                view.scheduleViewChange();
+                return;
+            }
         }
         if ((context.offlineCount() > 0 || !joins.isEmpty())) {
             initiateViewChange();
         } else {
-            //            log.trace("No view change: {} joins: {} leaves: {} on: {}", currentView(), joins.size(),
-            //                      view.streamShunned().count(), node.getId());
             view.scheduleViewChange();
         }
     }
@@ -556,48 +603,6 @@ void start(CompletableFuture<Void> onJoin, boolean bootstrap) {
         this.bootstrap = bootstrap;
     }
 
-    /**
-     * Initiate the view change
-     */
-    private void initiateViewChange() {
-        view.stable(() -> {
-            if (vote.get() != null) {
-                log.trace("Vote already cast for: {} on: {}", currentView(), node.getId());
-                return;
-            }
-            // Use pending rebuttals as a proxy for stability
-            if (view.hasPendingRebuttals()) {
-                log.debug("Pending rebuttals in view: {} on: {}", currentView(), node.getId());
-                view.scheduleViewChange(1); // 1 TTL round to check again
-                return;
-            }
-            view.scheduleFinalizeViewChange();
-            if (!isObserver(node.getId())) {
-                log.debug("Initiating (non observer) view change: {} joins: {} leaves: {} on: {}", currentView(),
-                          joins.size(), view.streamShunned().count(), node.getId());
-                return;
-            }
-            log.debug("Initiating (observer) view change vote: {} joins: {} leaves: {} observers: {} on: {}",
-                      currentView(), joins.size(), view.streamShunned().count(), observersList(), node.getId());
-            final var builder = ViewChange.newBuilder()
-                                          .setObserver(node.getId().toDigeste())
-                                          .setCurrent(currentView().toDigeste())
-                                          .setAttempt(attempt.getAndIncrement())
-                                          .addAllJoins(joins.keySet().stream().map(Digest::toDigeste).toList());
-            view.streamShunned().map(Digest::toDigeste).forEach(builder::addLeaves);
-            ViewChange change = builder.build();
-            vote.set(change);
-            var signature = node.sign(change.toByteString());
-            final var viewChange = SignedViewChange.newBuilder()
-                                                   .setChange(change)
-                                                   .setSignature(signature.toSig())
-                                                   .build();
-            view.initiate(viewChange);
-            log.trace("View change vote: {} joins: {} leaves: {} on: {}", currentView(), change.getJoinsCount(),
-                      change.getLeavesCount(), node.getId());
-        });
-    }
-
     /**
      * @return true if the receiver is part of the BFT Observers of this group
      */
diff --git a/fireflies/src/test/java/com/salesforce/apollo/fireflies/ChurnTest.java b/fireflies/src/test/java/com/salesforce/apollo/fireflies/ChurnTest.java
index b689e159d..913623451 100644
--- a/fireflies/src/test/java/com/salesforce/apollo/fireflies/ChurnTest.java
+++ b/fireflies/src/test/java/com/salesforce/apollo/fireflies/ChurnTest.java
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ public void churn() throws Exception {
 
             toStart.forEach(view -> view.start(() -> countdown.get().countDown(), gossipDuration, seeds));
 
-            success = countdown.get().await(30, TimeUnit.SECONDS);
+            success = countdown.get().await(60, TimeUnit.SECONDS);
             failed = testViews.stream().filter(e -> {
                 if (e.getContext().activeCount() != testViews.size())
                     return true;