Post by kim on Dec 4, 2011 21:10:34 GMT -7
Agenda & Minutes to General Assembly of 12/04/11
Agenda (passed by consensus, ≈30 people attending)
Overview of Process
I. Announcements
II. Working Group Reports
III. Proposals from Working Groups
1. Occupy should respond to notice that was sent around (which will be read later). Proposal: (Form a delegation to achieve) expeditious response to address the image of the camp re: the flag.
2. Finance Group Proposal 1: (See attachment) Revised proposal from last week, out for consensus. Discussion Proposals 2&3 sent around for reading only, no need to discuss or consense today (will be revisited in a future GA).
3. Find a way to keep the encampment up all winter. Begin discussion debates/on how to keep encampment going though the winter.
IV. Other Business
V. Open Discussion
VI. Confirm Next Meeting Times
I. Announcements
[Note: The following is a brief overview of announcements. Please see the calendar at occupymissoula.org for more events & details. If your announcement is not here, or not clear, please email the details to the tech people to have it added to the calendar at occupymissoula@gmail..com (see it at occupymissoula.org, click on Calendar of Events in the right side menu), or add it to the paper calendar at the GA & it will be added to the online calendar! Please state your events (what, when, where), then post details on the calendar.]
1. Dick Saddler with Firedog Lake Occupy Supply: Website & blog in support of progressive movements, very involved in occupy movement. Supplying needs to campers. Providing cold weather gear, sleeping bags, etc (3 0 degree bags on their way to the camp. Union made in the USA with sustainable materials whenever possible. All funded by donations online, volunteer efforts because the occupy movement is changing the discussion. Let them know if things are needed.
2. Griz game yesterday-went to courthouse lawn first and had “99%” and “OM” painted on face. Got a reaction, talked to a few people. No other signs of occupy at the game (!).
3. ICLEI membership renewal discussion at City Council. A group of people “against sustainability” disrupted the meeting, so the discussion was moved to this week, Monday 7pm at council chambers.
4. In follow up to [#3]: Other important topics will being addressed at this meeting as well, and the City Council Work Group will meet prior to the city council meeting at 6 pm at Break Espresso, everyone please join.
5. There is a 75 acre tract of land being proposed for development as Alexander Estates. This is fertile farm land and CFAC is encouraging citizens initiative to prevent the develop, Meeting Wednesday at 1:30 at either the Courthouse or council chambers, will clarify on calendar at camp and online. [Note: this from the CFAC website: Send an email to all 3 County Commissioners at bcc@co.missoula.mt.us, or speak at the public hearing on Wed., Dec. 7, starting at 1:30 in Room 201 of the County Courthouse.]
II. Working Group Reports.
1. Communications: Working on internal organization and communicating to wider community.
Will post Sunday GAs on the city calendars (Missoulian, Missoula Events.net, etc)
Various work group communications have been put out, will work with encampment next to help communicate from there.
Reading of UN Declaration of Human Rights reading on December 10 for International Human Rights Day, at Free Speech corner, talk to Ethel for more details. UN Declaration booklet is available at Jeanette Rankin Peace Center for $1.
2. Direct Action: Meeting Saturdays at 4 generally except on Saturday the 10th, Human Rights Day: Picket Denny Rehberg’s office at 4pm. National Day of Foreclosure and December 12 Close the Ports actions are in development.
3. Tech Online Group: Minutes posted following GA. Tuesday minutes not being posted, outline the process for posting to the proboards. Working groups may also post their minutes or notes there. Please ask for help if you don’t understand how to use the proboards!
4. Consensus: 7pm Wednesdays downstairs basement at Union Hall generally, through Chapter 2 of Butler’s consensus book. This Wednesday 12/07, there is an important movie screening at the library so the meeting will be moved to 5:30. Also: May form into a working group for wider GA and community consensus education.
5. Campus Working Group: Meetings twice a week. 3pm Wednesday Development Working Group. Should have a tent put up on Monday morning, Closer to Spring will have tents set up on Campus. Will seek GA support.
6. Finance: Meeting at Break Espresso, Friday at 6pm, everyone welcome, accountant needed. Called someone for help, waiting on response. Ongoing discussion of how to use funds in OM. Revised proposal from last week to present today and seek consensus. Two other proposals in process, seeking feedback, will bring it back for consensus another week. Bank account needed (?) can’t seem to get around it, opes many more questions such as tax ID number, 501c3 status, etc. Will present proposals in
7. Free School Class meeting at the UC Commons 5:30 pm Wednesday, currently studying Transition Towns.
III. Proposals from Working Groups
1. Occupy should respond to notice sent around (which will be read later). Proposal: (Form a delegation to achieve) expeditious response to address the image of camp.
2. Finance Group Proposal 1: (See attachment) Revised proposal from last week, out for consensus. Discussion Proposals 2&3 sent around for reading only, no need to discuss or consense today (will be revisited in a future GA).
3. Find a way to keep the encampment up all winter. Begin discussion debates/on how to keep encampment going though the winter.
Discussion of Proposals:
[Note: Proposals are taken down verbatim. Discussion is paraphrased. If I missed something you feel is important, please add your thoughts by replying to this posting on the proboards.]
Address oldest business first?/consensed.
Proposal 1: Finance proposal.
Reading of the proposal presented last week.
Q: Review of what was changed? (Shown in bold &/or italics on copy)
Concerns: None. Consensus reached.
Please read the other proposals brought, respond with concerns on the proboards and the finance group will address those concerns before bringing it back to the GA for consensus.
Proposal 2: Occupy should respond to notice sent around (which will be read later). Proposal: (Form a delegation to achieve) expeditious response to address the image of camp.
Corporate Flag flying upside down: someone owns it, must take their feelings into account, but has there been a response to the courthouse concern?
Reading of Statement from judge and some correspondence that has taken place, which included the following points: Delegation representing Occupy to show the courts that this is a corporate flag symbolic of the movements concerns. It is not in competition with the main flag, nor is it an upside down flag technically as it has corporate emblems in place of flags. Send a framed corporate flag to the judge. Member advises we continue to foster a working relationship with the courthouse. (The entire reading can be made available)
Group issue: respond to the county, whether in the ways outlined in the letter or otherwise.
Q: Clarify that this is the flag with corporate labels instead of stars., displayed on the big tent, not known who owns that flag.
Q: Upside down flag is an international signal of distress. Can it also signify white supremacists? No.
Q: Some white supremacists groups have used it upside to signal we are a nation in distress.
Flag came from moveon.org? No, it’s from Adbusters. People who camp there put it up, and turned it upside down. The put it up and they take it down every day.
Concerns/discussion: "Bruce’s point is good, this is not an American flag, it has corporate logos. There is no flag protocol with this flag. Responding to county when they should be responding to us, reacting is counterproductive. If America is in trouble, it should be the American flag upside down to have real punch, not a flag from someone else, in which case it is disrespectful to have it on the courthouse lawn. Concerns do not address the proposal? Addressing whether or not the flag should fly. Statement came from district state court through the judge—if we do not respond we could be considered in contempt if we do not respond and continue to fly the flag. Right of free speech and freedom of expression impeded if we take it down clarification: the issue at hand is how to address the judge, not whether we can fly flag upside. Flying the flag is a direct action and we can all take direct action. Respond and treat them with respect or they won’t treat us with respect. Trying to decide whether or not to respond to the court-if we decide to respond, Kathlene’s letter was sent as a personal response, do we adopt it as our (the OM) response?"
Summary of concerns:
a. Treatment of flag, it’s not a real flag.
b. Not replying back to judge: cooperation of the court,
c. Direct Actions/right of free speech.
d. Conflict, maintaining respect.
Suggestions: "No an American Flag, not disrespectful, send a letter with one of the flags to the court in response. Corporate flag or otherwise won’t matter to those complaining, they won’t distinguish and will go to the judge. POP: Proposal is whether to do a response or not, if so we should move on to that response. (Consense). Vibe check. Decision is whether to respond. Table proposal: form a workgroup to formulate a response. Concern: Not expeditious to table it, time sensitive. Differing opinions welcome, suggestions: no official response, give personal responses. POI: Clerks original email was responded to by Kathlene (individual response). Hierarchical treatment, response is acquiescing to power. Nothing to respond to, actions are clearly protected under freedom of speech, Suggested restatement of proposal: those who want to respond, those that don’t, don’t; no official response. Proposal was for official OM statement, but we are in support of members voicing their response if they choose. GA at this time does not have an official response but we stand in solidarity with our members’ free speech, and members should clarify that it is a personal response and not from OM. Do we want to set out as a group with actions that might be largely offensive, and say offend, say 20% of the population? Have those that are passionate and see if they will look at for a few hours, create a response that the group can critique online and modify."
Conclusion: Study it and bring it up again later this week to determine if and what will be an official response from the group, but encourage people to respond individually in the meantime.
Proposal 3. Find a way to keep the encampment through the winter. Encampment work group is in place to address this, anyone can join. The encampment work group meets Saturdays and Tuesdays at 11am. Table this for working groups? Consensed. Also, message from camp: want to attend but to tired to meet today. Work group consists mainly of those that have been camping, but everyone welcome.
4. Proposal: Have more fun. Consensed wholeheartedly
IV. Discussion:
Springtime party planning activities.
Montana kitchen had a carnival downtown
March: (Brooklyn & Curtis) Organizing a 4-state region march from MT to DC, start from the spring party? Priority march? Local initiative, not coming down from on high. Estimated that it will take about three months to arrive. When is occupy reaching DC? Already there. Avoid becoming a democratic version of the Tea party.
National call for a general Assembly on the 4th, occupying the congress in July (in Philadelphia).
Fun:
Dancing was done, some hootchie-gootchie and turning around.
Discussion points not addresses:
Winter fun
Local business expo (Curtis)
12/12
Film series
Port Action & Train Actions (goes to Direct Action)
V. Other business? None
VI. Time for next meetings: Sundays at Union Hall 2pm (facilitation meeting at noon at the Union Hall, discussion forum at 1pm right before the Sunday GA at the Union Hall), Tuesdays 5:30, at the Library. Fridays, Noon at Campus.
VII. Evaluation of GA. Process worked really well for the Finance proposal. Impressed by the process, and with the balance. Experiencing democracy is difficult and cumbersome but fascinating.
VIII. Adjournment: 5:06pm
Agenda (passed by consensus, ≈30 people attending)
Overview of Process
I. Announcements
II. Working Group Reports
III. Proposals from Working Groups
1. Occupy should respond to notice that was sent around (which will be read later). Proposal: (Form a delegation to achieve) expeditious response to address the image of the camp re: the flag.
2. Finance Group Proposal 1: (See attachment) Revised proposal from last week, out for consensus. Discussion Proposals 2&3 sent around for reading only, no need to discuss or consense today (will be revisited in a future GA).
3. Find a way to keep the encampment up all winter. Begin discussion debates/on how to keep encampment going though the winter.
IV. Other Business
V. Open Discussion
VI. Confirm Next Meeting Times
I. Announcements
[Note: The following is a brief overview of announcements. Please see the calendar at occupymissoula.org for more events & details. If your announcement is not here, or not clear, please email the details to the tech people to have it added to the calendar at occupymissoula@gmail..com (see it at occupymissoula.org, click on Calendar of Events in the right side menu), or add it to the paper calendar at the GA & it will be added to the online calendar! Please state your events (what, when, where), then post details on the calendar.]
1. Dick Saddler with Firedog Lake Occupy Supply: Website & blog in support of progressive movements, very involved in occupy movement. Supplying needs to campers. Providing cold weather gear, sleeping bags, etc (3 0 degree bags on their way to the camp. Union made in the USA with sustainable materials whenever possible. All funded by donations online, volunteer efforts because the occupy movement is changing the discussion. Let them know if things are needed.
2. Griz game yesterday-went to courthouse lawn first and had “99%” and “OM” painted on face. Got a reaction, talked to a few people. No other signs of occupy at the game (!).
3. ICLEI membership renewal discussion at City Council. A group of people “against sustainability” disrupted the meeting, so the discussion was moved to this week, Monday 7pm at council chambers.
4. In follow up to [#3]: Other important topics will being addressed at this meeting as well, and the City Council Work Group will meet prior to the city council meeting at 6 pm at Break Espresso, everyone please join.
5. There is a 75 acre tract of land being proposed for development as Alexander Estates. This is fertile farm land and CFAC is encouraging citizens initiative to prevent the develop, Meeting Wednesday at 1:30 at either the Courthouse or council chambers, will clarify on calendar at camp and online. [Note: this from the CFAC website: Send an email to all 3 County Commissioners at bcc@co.missoula.mt.us, or speak at the public hearing on Wed., Dec. 7, starting at 1:30 in Room 201 of the County Courthouse.]
II. Working Group Reports.
1. Communications: Working on internal organization and communicating to wider community.
Will post Sunday GAs on the city calendars (Missoulian, Missoula Events.net, etc)
Various work group communications have been put out, will work with encampment next to help communicate from there.
Reading of UN Declaration of Human Rights reading on December 10 for International Human Rights Day, at Free Speech corner, talk to Ethel for more details. UN Declaration booklet is available at Jeanette Rankin Peace Center for $1.
2. Direct Action: Meeting Saturdays at 4 generally except on Saturday the 10th, Human Rights Day: Picket Denny Rehberg’s office at 4pm. National Day of Foreclosure and December 12 Close the Ports actions are in development.
3. Tech Online Group: Minutes posted following GA. Tuesday minutes not being posted, outline the process for posting to the proboards. Working groups may also post their minutes or notes there. Please ask for help if you don’t understand how to use the proboards!
4. Consensus: 7pm Wednesdays downstairs basement at Union Hall generally, through Chapter 2 of Butler’s consensus book. This Wednesday 12/07, there is an important movie screening at the library so the meeting will be moved to 5:30. Also: May form into a working group for wider GA and community consensus education.
5. Campus Working Group: Meetings twice a week. 3pm Wednesday Development Working Group. Should have a tent put up on Monday morning, Closer to Spring will have tents set up on Campus. Will seek GA support.
6. Finance: Meeting at Break Espresso, Friday at 6pm, everyone welcome, accountant needed. Called someone for help, waiting on response. Ongoing discussion of how to use funds in OM. Revised proposal from last week to present today and seek consensus. Two other proposals in process, seeking feedback, will bring it back for consensus another week. Bank account needed (?) can’t seem to get around it, opes many more questions such as tax ID number, 501c3 status, etc. Will present proposals in
7. Free School Class meeting at the UC Commons 5:30 pm Wednesday, currently studying Transition Towns.
III. Proposals from Working Groups
1. Occupy should respond to notice sent around (which will be read later). Proposal: (Form a delegation to achieve) expeditious response to address the image of camp.
2. Finance Group Proposal 1: (See attachment) Revised proposal from last week, out for consensus. Discussion Proposals 2&3 sent around for reading only, no need to discuss or consense today (will be revisited in a future GA).
3. Find a way to keep the encampment up all winter. Begin discussion debates/on how to keep encampment going though the winter.
Discussion of Proposals:
[Note: Proposals are taken down verbatim. Discussion is paraphrased. If I missed something you feel is important, please add your thoughts by replying to this posting on the proboards.]
Address oldest business first?/consensed.
Proposal 1: Finance proposal.
Reading of the proposal presented last week.
Q: Review of what was changed? (Shown in bold &/or italics on copy)
Concerns: None. Consensus reached.
Please read the other proposals brought, respond with concerns on the proboards and the finance group will address those concerns before bringing it back to the GA for consensus.
Proposal 2: Occupy should respond to notice sent around (which will be read later). Proposal: (Form a delegation to achieve) expeditious response to address the image of camp.
Corporate Flag flying upside down: someone owns it, must take their feelings into account, but has there been a response to the courthouse concern?
Reading of Statement from judge and some correspondence that has taken place, which included the following points: Delegation representing Occupy to show the courts that this is a corporate flag symbolic of the movements concerns. It is not in competition with the main flag, nor is it an upside down flag technically as it has corporate emblems in place of flags. Send a framed corporate flag to the judge. Member advises we continue to foster a working relationship with the courthouse. (The entire reading can be made available)
Group issue: respond to the county, whether in the ways outlined in the letter or otherwise.
Q: Clarify that this is the flag with corporate labels instead of stars., displayed on the big tent, not known who owns that flag.
Q: Upside down flag is an international signal of distress. Can it also signify white supremacists? No.
Q: Some white supremacists groups have used it upside to signal we are a nation in distress.
Flag came from moveon.org? No, it’s from Adbusters. People who camp there put it up, and turned it upside down. The put it up and they take it down every day.
Concerns/discussion: "Bruce’s point is good, this is not an American flag, it has corporate logos. There is no flag protocol with this flag. Responding to county when they should be responding to us, reacting is counterproductive. If America is in trouble, it should be the American flag upside down to have real punch, not a flag from someone else, in which case it is disrespectful to have it on the courthouse lawn. Concerns do not address the proposal? Addressing whether or not the flag should fly. Statement came from district state court through the judge—if we do not respond we could be considered in contempt if we do not respond and continue to fly the flag. Right of free speech and freedom of expression impeded if we take it down clarification: the issue at hand is how to address the judge, not whether we can fly flag upside. Flying the flag is a direct action and we can all take direct action. Respond and treat them with respect or they won’t treat us with respect. Trying to decide whether or not to respond to the court-if we decide to respond, Kathlene’s letter was sent as a personal response, do we adopt it as our (the OM) response?"
Summary of concerns:
a. Treatment of flag, it’s not a real flag.
b. Not replying back to judge: cooperation of the court,
c. Direct Actions/right of free speech.
d. Conflict, maintaining respect.
Suggestions: "No an American Flag, not disrespectful, send a letter with one of the flags to the court in response. Corporate flag or otherwise won’t matter to those complaining, they won’t distinguish and will go to the judge. POP: Proposal is whether to do a response or not, if so we should move on to that response. (Consense). Vibe check. Decision is whether to respond. Table proposal: form a workgroup to formulate a response. Concern: Not expeditious to table it, time sensitive. Differing opinions welcome, suggestions: no official response, give personal responses. POI: Clerks original email was responded to by Kathlene (individual response). Hierarchical treatment, response is acquiescing to power. Nothing to respond to, actions are clearly protected under freedom of speech, Suggested restatement of proposal: those who want to respond, those that don’t, don’t; no official response. Proposal was for official OM statement, but we are in support of members voicing their response if they choose. GA at this time does not have an official response but we stand in solidarity with our members’ free speech, and members should clarify that it is a personal response and not from OM. Do we want to set out as a group with actions that might be largely offensive, and say offend, say 20% of the population? Have those that are passionate and see if they will look at for a few hours, create a response that the group can critique online and modify."
Conclusion: Study it and bring it up again later this week to determine if and what will be an official response from the group, but encourage people to respond individually in the meantime.
Proposal 3. Find a way to keep the encampment through the winter. Encampment work group is in place to address this, anyone can join. The encampment work group meets Saturdays and Tuesdays at 11am. Table this for working groups? Consensed. Also, message from camp: want to attend but to tired to meet today. Work group consists mainly of those that have been camping, but everyone welcome.
4. Proposal: Have more fun. Consensed wholeheartedly
IV. Discussion:
Springtime party planning activities.
Montana kitchen had a carnival downtown
March: (Brooklyn & Curtis) Organizing a 4-state region march from MT to DC, start from the spring party? Priority march? Local initiative, not coming down from on high. Estimated that it will take about three months to arrive. When is occupy reaching DC? Already there. Avoid becoming a democratic version of the Tea party.
National call for a general Assembly on the 4th, occupying the congress in July (in Philadelphia).
Fun:
Dancing was done, some hootchie-gootchie and turning around.
Discussion points not addresses:
Winter fun
Local business expo (Curtis)
12/12
Film series
Port Action & Train Actions (goes to Direct Action)
V. Other business? None
VI. Time for next meetings: Sundays at Union Hall 2pm (facilitation meeting at noon at the Union Hall, discussion forum at 1pm right before the Sunday GA at the Union Hall), Tuesdays 5:30, at the Library. Fridays, Noon at Campus.
VII. Evaluation of GA. Process worked really well for the Finance proposal. Impressed by the process, and with the balance. Experiencing democracy is difficult and cumbersome but fascinating.
VIII. Adjournment: 5:06pm
