Post by kim on Feb 13, 2012 6:57:04 GMT -7
Agenda & Minutes to GA of 02/12/2012
~ 25 people in attendance
Agenda
Review of process & principles of consensus.
Working under set stack: 10 comments taken, go through all before adding more comments to stack. Peacekeeper & doorkeeper facilitation team members added.
I. Announcements
II. Working group reports
III. Proposals
IV. Discussion of Proposals
V. Other Business
VI. Confirm date/time/place of next meetings
VII. Evaluation of Meeting
VIII. Adjournment: Discussion & Soapbox
Minutes
I. Announcements
a. Wrong time for GA in the Independent – says 5pm. Can someone call them to fix it?
b. Sunday Feb 19, 2:30 pm: March against coal exports starting at the University, first stop Denny Rehberg’s office at 3:00pm. Part of Power Shift? /No not directly but organizing to coincide witht the end of that gathering.
c. Update on national GA. Conference call coming up, previous call was about what is happening in Chicago in May. Meeting might be moved to Chicago on May 1, but not determined yet. Interesting idea is a tour of visiting multiple national GAs. Adbusters call to occupy Chicago on May Day, but they didn’t contact Chicago Occupy so the attitude towards that is generally negative in Chicago. Adbusters also made a call for a May 1 GA in Chicago, but had no communications with Chicago to that affect. Occupy Chicago is dealing with NATO/G8 and a very oppressive regime in place for that, so those that show up on May 1 may be jailed and not seen until after the NATO/G8 meetings. It is an attempt to create a national GA.
d. Olympia trip. Carpooling being arranged, leaving Friday morning. Will write up something when they return to summarize what they learn/see/do. OccupyOlympia.org has a link to the Occupy Solidarity Social Forum.
e. Occupy zine talked about last week at the Working GA. Everyone welcome to help write articles and artwork.
II. Working Group Reports
1. Occupy Congress Report: Evolution is occurring that many are working towards the national GA, Occupy congress is moving in that direction. “Now DC” next , March 30.
2. May Day: Still getting going, so no fixed meeting yet.
3. Union Working Group: Will be a the Working GA next week. Film festival went well!
4. Communications Group: Getting more events out there so all our events are out there on calendars around town. Poster is being made to distribute. Q: Which Occupy Missoula website is in use? Where does communication take place? /Occupymissoula.wordpress.net mostly informational and you can send stuff to comm. group to add to it, occupymissoula.com allows anonymous posting. Discussion list best source for communication.
5. Direct Action: Met at the working GA last week. Talked about a Montana State Bank, a conference call is to be held at the office of Molly Moody in the Union Hall, 7pm on Feb 22. Sara is working on a handout flier for OM events.
6. Foreclosure Defense Group/strategic planning group: Meetings every other Sunday at 12:00 noon at the Break. Met today. Discussed the strategic planning meeting. Overlaps with some other projects like the octopus, which prioritizes the big item direct actions. Will analyze the octopus handouts during the strategic planning session, everyone please bring them to that or give them to Direct Action group sooner. Foreclosure defense has been taking a back seat to strategy planning, but want to separate the groups back into two. Q: Is strategy session still planned for March? Will report on that separately
7. Move to Amend working group: Meeting Tomorrow 2pm at the Break. It’s on the calendar.
8. Facilitation: Meeting at 1:00pm on Sundays prior to each GA (both Decision and Working). We still need more people every time! Please participate, and wear a costume if you want. Someone who has done it before will be here to support. Facilitation is on everyone, if we go off process or something is not clear, chime in with POP, etc. Support roles are set up before hand, so if someone can’t stay for the entire meeting it can be arranged to relieve them.
9. Finance: Talked at the working GA but not too much going on right now so not very active. There is a proposal that passed on how to request money, and we do have some cash on hand. Denny’s account can be donated to, has a $10 balance now. Meant for printing material for Occupy. Procedure for access to funds is on the forums (“Finance Working Group Proposal 1”).
10. Consensus Group: Meets on Wednesdays at 7pm in Union Hall basement. One more meeting expected but coming to the end of the meetings. Have about 6 pages of information describing structure of the GA, its processes, and principles of consensus. This information will all be proposed for adoption. Would like to have a broad consensus work group meeting at the next Working GA where everyone participates to discuss this information. Information printed and available for everyone to review prior to discussion next week, where the information will be modified or revised in preparation for formal proposal at the Decision GA in two weeks. The information will also be posted on the forums in the Consensus working group thread.
11. Educational Working Group/Forum: Tuesday’s forum is becoming an education group. Discussion group is developing. Would like to add some rigor to that in terms of studying and learning. One option is to attend the President’s Lecture Series every Tuesday. Second option is to choose a book and start reading and discussing it. Q: Lecture series at the U seems interesting, but how can we meet as a group and then attend those? What are the details?/7pm to 8:30pm, UC theater, $5 per lecture or $20 for the series. The forum this Tuesday is at 6pm here at Union Hall. Q: What is the forum? /Still being defined, “pressure release” for discussion.
12. Encampment working group: Food Not Bombs Sundays at 4pm. Q: is food not bombs only serving at 4pm on Sundays at the Courthouse?/Yes, as far as is known.
13. Strategy Planning: After last GA, we talked about starting a strategy session. Reached out to Gwen to join. Sign up sheet went around. March 10th & 11th currently being considered.
III. Proposals
A. Statement of Proposals – Scribed
a. Proposal: The GA endorse the University’s March Against Coal Exports.
b. Proposal: Endorsement of the Olympia delegation.
B. Other points of discussion:
a. National Congress meeting/does it speak to Steven and Brandon’s point?
b. Article about houseless and Jimmy Lee
IV. Discussion of Proposals
Prioritization of Proposals: Will be in order presented.
a. Proposal: The GA officially endorse the University’s March against Coal Exports Feb 19
Questions:
i. Is this coming from Occupy the Oval?/Occupy the Oval is in a state of disarray right now, so not officially from them.
ii. What is the framing and what will be on the signs? Major concerns are how local pollution affects us here in Missoula, as well as climate change once it is on the international market, and the economic impact of turning Montana into a coal colony for the international market.
iii. What slogans are there around it?/Signs not made yet.
iv. Is there a specific entity behind this?/Arch Coal, Amber Energy supported by MT governor and state government. Private coal companies with state backing.
v. What is on the table now that could stop these exports?/ In order to bring these to fruition is they will need lots of funding, so one stop is Wells Fargo to insist they don’t supply funding, also government to withhold permits for new mines.
vi. Are there other organizations or group that you’re seeking solidarity from?/Yes, student group.
vii. Have you asked any of the high school groups to participate?/No, but if you can help we would love to do that.
viii. What is stance on carbon stance & carbon credits?/No official stance, not part of this action.
Comments & concerns:
i. How do we encourage/support/enable the University? This is a chance to show our support
ii. Title of March suggests we should burn it here, not over there. Hopefully the message is anti-coal (leave it in the ground) not just anti-coal exports?/Yes
iii. Along with our endorsement is to try to get out and march with them, though it is happening during the working GA next week./Denny Rehberg’s office about 3pm, then loop up near the tracks and back to campus./Stop GA early so we can join them to march back to the University?/The timing of the march is aligned with the end of the Rocky Mountain Power Shift gathering, so people will join.
iv. This seems to have become two different proposals: 1) endorsement of the march, and 2) how the GA can participate. Will separate into two proposals, deal with whether to endorse first, then how to participate.
v. Concerns in endorsing the march? None/
Synthesis/Conclusion: OM
vi. Passed by consensus to endorse the March Against Coal Exports.
b. Proposal: The GA endorse the delegation the Olympia Social Forum.
Questions:
i. What are the alternatives to endorsing? Do you go as something else?/Endorse or not. When you sign up they ask if the hometown occupy group endorses you.
Comments & concerns:
i. Reading about it, want to ensure there is a healthy skepticism and not being euphorically excited about something. Heard there is a lot of liberal sentiment about reform (“ the movie Thrive?”).
ii. Amendment - Use the same format we used with Occupy Congress: letters etc.
iii. Ensure we support the participants by providing any info they might want to share.
iv. Groups have decidedly different views, so good to share perspectives with a critique.
v. Not about getting brainwashed; example is discussing green washing at the green conference-raising the dialogue.
vi. Interested in the report following, of who was there and what happened./ Participants are planning to provide a synthesis, and hope to create some alliances.
Synthesis/Conclusion:
i. Endorse the unique and talented individuals going to Olympia, who agree to bring back what they have learned./No concerns. Passed.
c. Proposal: Amendment to first proposal: Retiming the next Working GA, so that we can break to join the march, then meet back here for the working groups.
Questions:
i. Could we shorten the introductory part and just do the working group meetings, so we can join them at 3?
Comments & concerns:
i. Suggestion that we meet from 1pm to 3pm at next week’s GA, so the meeting is done at 3pm and we go join them.
ii. Vibe check on meeting at 1pm – 3pm and then joining the march?
iii. Any concerns about that? The marchers can call to let us know when they’ll be close.
iv. Discussion of how the Working GA go last week? (Relevant to how this one will go).
Synthesis/Conclusion: OM
v. 12:45 facilitation meeting at the Union Hall, 1pm Working GA. Yes/Consensed.
V. Other Business: Discussion Topics
a. Article in the paper.
i. Discussion.
A summary of the article for those who haven’t read it, and one camper’s feelings about what was written-feelings that what happened in the final 10 days changed what the occupation was about. Work was ongoing to bring ways the camp and GA could work to address homeless issues but was not developed to a point to be brought to the GA. / There were people supporting the people at the camp before those final days, when a different kind of population had moved into the encampment. The camp had lost its steering, there was abusive behavior. The Good Food Store account remains open for ongoing work. Ideas were proposed for other ways to use the tent. We have not turned our back on the Encampment working group. / The city tore the tent down to remove our presence. / Semantics of who would take it down, GA had agreed to do so. /Companion article to the main article outlines the future of services to homeless in Missoula. Framed as what the agencies are doing./ Positive sign is a big article in the Willard high paper about issues of homelessness./ Second article about recent and future plans to help houseless people come up with rent and assistance-personal call received from a council member to let a GA member know about the resources being put in place./ (Summary of general discussion/not word for word).
b. National congress meeting (member who brought it up had left). Brandon and Steven will send out some links about the upcoming national points they are aware of-Tuesday 21st at 7pm is the next national conference call.
VI. Confirm date/time/place of next assemblies: Generally, 2pm at Union Hall. Facilitation group meets at 1pm
**** The Working GA will take place from 1pm to 3pm on Sunday Feb 19. *****
The next General Assembly has been moved up to allow the GA to join the march against coal exports.
Sunday: Union Hall 1pm, Facilitation 12:45
Tuesday: Forum, 6 pm Union Hall
Friday , Occupy the Oval: School is back in session, Monday meeting 3pm.
VII. Evaluation of Meeting
Horns are wonderful! Good job facilitating, good luck in Olympia/Really glad to see good participation/Not a lot of proposals to work through, but good practice!/Went well, glad we are going to finish by 4:30!/Stayed on track, glad to see we can mold our processes to focus on a action/what are we going to do next?/ Went well, thanks to facilitiator! Can’t remember all the signs, but appreciated todays flow/Good meeting but we have more issues we have to deal with, will have to move more briskly so we don’t get too bogged down/not a lot of proposals but we moved though it/see no speak no hear no/good/fair meeting/agree that we will need to pick up the pace a little/good afternoon thanks to facilitation team/good meeting/first time heard “has anyone who hasn’t spoken want to say anything?”, really good to hear that. Tension /appreciate the working groups/people are becoming familiar with the process and speaking accordingly. Easy agenda today.
VII. Adjournment 4:22 pm.
Post Meeting Discussion & Soapbox
~ 25 people in attendance
Agenda
Review of process & principles of consensus.
Working under set stack: 10 comments taken, go through all before adding more comments to stack. Peacekeeper & doorkeeper facilitation team members added.
I. Announcements
II. Working group reports
1. Occupy Congress
2. Communication
3. Direct Action
4. Foreclosure Defense
5. Move to Amend
6. Facilitation
7. Finance
8. Encampment
9. New Groups? – Strategy Session Planning Group
III. Proposals
1. State aloud/Scribe
2. Clarifications/questions
3. Concerns
4. Resolution
IV. Discussion of Proposals
V. Other Business
VI. Confirm date/time/place of next meetings
VII. Evaluation of Meeting
VIII. Adjournment: Discussion & Soapbox
Minutes
I. Announcements
a. Wrong time for GA in the Independent – says 5pm. Can someone call them to fix it?
b. Sunday Feb 19, 2:30 pm: March against coal exports starting at the University, first stop Denny Rehberg’s office at 3:00pm. Part of Power Shift? /No not directly but organizing to coincide witht the end of that gathering.
c. Update on national GA. Conference call coming up, previous call was about what is happening in Chicago in May. Meeting might be moved to Chicago on May 1, but not determined yet. Interesting idea is a tour of visiting multiple national GAs. Adbusters call to occupy Chicago on May Day, but they didn’t contact Chicago Occupy so the attitude towards that is generally negative in Chicago. Adbusters also made a call for a May 1 GA in Chicago, but had no communications with Chicago to that affect. Occupy Chicago is dealing with NATO/G8 and a very oppressive regime in place for that, so those that show up on May 1 may be jailed and not seen until after the NATO/G8 meetings. It is an attempt to create a national GA.
d. Olympia trip. Carpooling being arranged, leaving Friday morning. Will write up something when they return to summarize what they learn/see/do. OccupyOlympia.org has a link to the Occupy Solidarity Social Forum.
e. Occupy zine talked about last week at the Working GA. Everyone welcome to help write articles and artwork.
II. Working Group Reports
1. Occupy Congress Report: Evolution is occurring that many are working towards the national GA, Occupy congress is moving in that direction. “Now DC” next , March 30.
2. May Day: Still getting going, so no fixed meeting yet.
3. Union Working Group: Will be a the Working GA next week. Film festival went well!
4. Communications Group: Getting more events out there so all our events are out there on calendars around town. Poster is being made to distribute. Q: Which Occupy Missoula website is in use? Where does communication take place? /Occupymissoula.wordpress.net mostly informational and you can send stuff to comm. group to add to it, occupymissoula.com allows anonymous posting. Discussion list best source for communication.
5. Direct Action: Met at the working GA last week. Talked about a Montana State Bank, a conference call is to be held at the office of Molly Moody in the Union Hall, 7pm on Feb 22. Sara is working on a handout flier for OM events.
6. Foreclosure Defense Group/strategic planning group: Meetings every other Sunday at 12:00 noon at the Break. Met today. Discussed the strategic planning meeting. Overlaps with some other projects like the octopus, which prioritizes the big item direct actions. Will analyze the octopus handouts during the strategic planning session, everyone please bring them to that or give them to Direct Action group sooner. Foreclosure defense has been taking a back seat to strategy planning, but want to separate the groups back into two. Q: Is strategy session still planned for March? Will report on that separately
7. Move to Amend working group: Meeting Tomorrow 2pm at the Break. It’s on the calendar.
8. Facilitation: Meeting at 1:00pm on Sundays prior to each GA (both Decision and Working). We still need more people every time! Please participate, and wear a costume if you want. Someone who has done it before will be here to support. Facilitation is on everyone, if we go off process or something is not clear, chime in with POP, etc. Support roles are set up before hand, so if someone can’t stay for the entire meeting it can be arranged to relieve them.
9. Finance: Talked at the working GA but not too much going on right now so not very active. There is a proposal that passed on how to request money, and we do have some cash on hand. Denny’s account can be donated to, has a $10 balance now. Meant for printing material for Occupy. Procedure for access to funds is on the forums (“Finance Working Group Proposal 1”).
10. Consensus Group: Meets on Wednesdays at 7pm in Union Hall basement. One more meeting expected but coming to the end of the meetings. Have about 6 pages of information describing structure of the GA, its processes, and principles of consensus. This information will all be proposed for adoption. Would like to have a broad consensus work group meeting at the next Working GA where everyone participates to discuss this information. Information printed and available for everyone to review prior to discussion next week, where the information will be modified or revised in preparation for formal proposal at the Decision GA in two weeks. The information will also be posted on the forums in the Consensus working group thread.
11. Educational Working Group/Forum: Tuesday’s forum is becoming an education group. Discussion group is developing. Would like to add some rigor to that in terms of studying and learning. One option is to attend the President’s Lecture Series every Tuesday. Second option is to choose a book and start reading and discussing it. Q: Lecture series at the U seems interesting, but how can we meet as a group and then attend those? What are the details?/7pm to 8:30pm, UC theater, $5 per lecture or $20 for the series. The forum this Tuesday is at 6pm here at Union Hall. Q: What is the forum? /Still being defined, “pressure release” for discussion.
12. Encampment working group: Food Not Bombs Sundays at 4pm. Q: is food not bombs only serving at 4pm on Sundays at the Courthouse?/Yes, as far as is known.
13. Strategy Planning: After last GA, we talked about starting a strategy session. Reached out to Gwen to join. Sign up sheet went around. March 10th & 11th currently being considered.
III. Proposals
A. Statement of Proposals – Scribed
a. Proposal: The GA endorse the University’s March Against Coal Exports.
b. Proposal: Endorsement of the Olympia delegation.
B. Other points of discussion:
a. National Congress meeting/does it speak to Steven and Brandon’s point?
b. Article about houseless and Jimmy Lee
IV. Discussion of Proposals
Prioritization of Proposals: Will be in order presented.
a. Proposal: The GA officially endorse the University’s March against Coal Exports Feb 19
Questions:
i. Is this coming from Occupy the Oval?/Occupy the Oval is in a state of disarray right now, so not officially from them.
ii. What is the framing and what will be on the signs? Major concerns are how local pollution affects us here in Missoula, as well as climate change once it is on the international market, and the economic impact of turning Montana into a coal colony for the international market.
iii. What slogans are there around it?/Signs not made yet.
iv. Is there a specific entity behind this?/Arch Coal, Amber Energy supported by MT governor and state government. Private coal companies with state backing.
v. What is on the table now that could stop these exports?/ In order to bring these to fruition is they will need lots of funding, so one stop is Wells Fargo to insist they don’t supply funding, also government to withhold permits for new mines.
vi. Are there other organizations or group that you’re seeking solidarity from?/Yes, student group.
vii. Have you asked any of the high school groups to participate?/No, but if you can help we would love to do that.
viii. What is stance on carbon stance & carbon credits?/No official stance, not part of this action.
Comments & concerns:
i. How do we encourage/support/enable the University? This is a chance to show our support
ii. Title of March suggests we should burn it here, not over there. Hopefully the message is anti-coal (leave it in the ground) not just anti-coal exports?/Yes
iii. Along with our endorsement is to try to get out and march with them, though it is happening during the working GA next week./Denny Rehberg’s office about 3pm, then loop up near the tracks and back to campus./Stop GA early so we can join them to march back to the University?/The timing of the march is aligned with the end of the Rocky Mountain Power Shift gathering, so people will join.
iv. This seems to have become two different proposals: 1) endorsement of the march, and 2) how the GA can participate. Will separate into two proposals, deal with whether to endorse first, then how to participate.
v. Concerns in endorsing the march? None/
Synthesis/Conclusion: OM
vi. Passed by consensus to endorse the March Against Coal Exports.
b. Proposal: The GA endorse the delegation the Olympia Social Forum.
Questions:
i. What are the alternatives to endorsing? Do you go as something else?/Endorse or not. When you sign up they ask if the hometown occupy group endorses you.
Comments & concerns:
i. Reading about it, want to ensure there is a healthy skepticism and not being euphorically excited about something. Heard there is a lot of liberal sentiment about reform (“ the movie Thrive?”).
ii. Amendment - Use the same format we used with Occupy Congress: letters etc.
iii. Ensure we support the participants by providing any info they might want to share.
iv. Groups have decidedly different views, so good to share perspectives with a critique.
v. Not about getting brainwashed; example is discussing green washing at the green conference-raising the dialogue.
vi. Interested in the report following, of who was there and what happened./ Participants are planning to provide a synthesis, and hope to create some alliances.
Synthesis/Conclusion:
i. Endorse the unique and talented individuals going to Olympia, who agree to bring back what they have learned./No concerns. Passed.
c. Proposal: Amendment to first proposal: Retiming the next Working GA, so that we can break to join the march, then meet back here for the working groups.
Questions:
i. Could we shorten the introductory part and just do the working group meetings, so we can join them at 3?
Comments & concerns:
i. Suggestion that we meet from 1pm to 3pm at next week’s GA, so the meeting is done at 3pm and we go join them.
ii. Vibe check on meeting at 1pm – 3pm and then joining the march?
iii. Any concerns about that? The marchers can call to let us know when they’ll be close.
iv. Discussion of how the Working GA go last week? (Relevant to how this one will go).
Synthesis/Conclusion: OM
v. 12:45 facilitation meeting at the Union Hall, 1pm Working GA. Yes/Consensed.
V. Other Business: Discussion Topics
a. Article in the paper.
i. Discussion.
A summary of the article for those who haven’t read it, and one camper’s feelings about what was written-feelings that what happened in the final 10 days changed what the occupation was about. Work was ongoing to bring ways the camp and GA could work to address homeless issues but was not developed to a point to be brought to the GA. / There were people supporting the people at the camp before those final days, when a different kind of population had moved into the encampment. The camp had lost its steering, there was abusive behavior. The Good Food Store account remains open for ongoing work. Ideas were proposed for other ways to use the tent. We have not turned our back on the Encampment working group. / The city tore the tent down to remove our presence. / Semantics of who would take it down, GA had agreed to do so. /Companion article to the main article outlines the future of services to homeless in Missoula. Framed as what the agencies are doing./ Positive sign is a big article in the Willard high paper about issues of homelessness./ Second article about recent and future plans to help houseless people come up with rent and assistance-personal call received from a council member to let a GA member know about the resources being put in place./ (Summary of general discussion/not word for word).
b. National congress meeting (member who brought it up had left). Brandon and Steven will send out some links about the upcoming national points they are aware of-Tuesday 21st at 7pm is the next national conference call.
VI. Confirm date/time/place of next assemblies: Generally, 2pm at Union Hall. Facilitation group meets at 1pm
**** The Working GA will take place from 1pm to 3pm on Sunday Feb 19. *****
The next General Assembly has been moved up to allow the GA to join the march against coal exports.
Sunday: Union Hall 1pm, Facilitation 12:45
Tuesday: Forum, 6 pm Union Hall
Friday , Occupy the Oval: School is back in session, Monday meeting 3pm.
VII. Evaluation of Meeting
Horns are wonderful! Good job facilitating, good luck in Olympia/Really glad to see good participation/Not a lot of proposals to work through, but good practice!/Went well, glad we are going to finish by 4:30!/Stayed on track, glad to see we can mold our processes to focus on a action/what are we going to do next?/ Went well, thanks to facilitiator! Can’t remember all the signs, but appreciated todays flow/Good meeting but we have more issues we have to deal with, will have to move more briskly so we don’t get too bogged down/not a lot of proposals but we moved though it/see no speak no hear no/good/fair meeting/agree that we will need to pick up the pace a little/good afternoon thanks to facilitation team/good meeting/first time heard “has anyone who hasn’t spoken want to say anything?”, really good to hear that. Tension /appreciate the working groups/people are becoming familiar with the process and speaking accordingly. Easy agenda today.
VII. Adjournment 4:22 pm.
Post Meeting Discussion & Soapbox