diff --git a/.onf/README b/.onf/README
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2904dba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.onf/README
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+This directory is used to as a non-invasive mechanism for triggering
+a jenkins build or release job.  No explicit dependencies exist so
+any jobs failing based on content in .onf/* will be a sure sign
+of corruption.
+
+% date >> nop
+% git add nop
+% git ci --message "job trigger"
+% git review
+
+# [EOF]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/.onf/nop b/.onf/nop
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..93135e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.onf/nop
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Fri Dec 16 02:41:44 AM EST 2022
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index a8fdfda..00f91b8 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.8.1
+1.8.1-dev