Post by Arie on Oct 20, 2011 9:45:25 GMT -5
Meeting Location & Info:
Occupy Albany (OA)
Human Resources/Food Work Group (HR/F WG)
Social Justice Center
33 Central Avenue
Albany, NY
Hosted by: Food not Bombs (FnB) during their dinner
Meeting called to order: 8:00 PM
General Assembly Notes pertaining to the HR/F WG:
-Occupy Albany will begin assembling at Lafayette park on Friday October 21st. There will be a general assembly (GA) meeting at 5:00 PM.
-CSEA has offered its parking lot for a place to meet up, discuss, and find refuge. They have also offered use of their bathrooms for OA.
-It has been decided that occupier’s intend on sleeping in tents, as the legal working group (LWG) has not indicated that it is illegal, only that there is a curfew for that park of 11:00 pm.
-The current budget for the HR/F WG is roughly $90 (ninety dollars and 00/100).
Discussions:
-FnB will NOT be holding it’s dinner at the Social Justice Center – it will be
facilitating the cooking/serving of Occupy Albany (OA).
-Other cities have run into problems with metal silverware being considered a
“weapon”, so it is important to bring plastic or wooden utensils. While it hasn’t
been anything LWG has researched, it’s beneficial to avoid any unnecessary and
foreseeable (potential) issues.
-Occupiers are encouraged and asked to bring their own mess kit. This would
include (but isn’t limited to) plastic or wooden utensils, a bowl and a cup.
Everyone would be responsible for keeping track of, and cleaning, their own
mess kit.
-Water concerns were an issue of debate. One idea was to have 55 gallon food-
grade barrels for holding clean water. Another idea was bringing gallon jugs of
water in to the “kitchen” area of the park as needed. It was deemed most
appropriate to have large beverage coolers (approx 5 gallons each) and refill them
as necessary. When/If this becomes a long term occupation, water concerns will
be addressed again at a later meeting. <PL>
-Donations are expected to start accumulating. The Furnace (84 Grand Street,
Albany) has graciously offered to let us use their space. We will need to start a
chart or spreadsheet to keep track of what comes in, and who it is from (to send
thank you letters).
-An Albany Resident (name with held) has offered to use his kitchen and facilities
while we get the kitchen started, and a location firmed up. He has also suggested
using his tap to supply water until a more permanent solution is determined.
New Business:
-The kitchen will be set up on a remote location (to be determined) until
LWG has determined if we can use BBQ’s in the park. We will prep, cook,
assemble and store as much food ahead of time as possible.
-The first meal will be served prior to the first GA, in Albany. The second
planned meal will be Saturday morning, for breakfast. The meal prior to the GA
is to be determined. The first breakfast will be hot oatmeal and coffee, fruit if
available.
Immediate Needs:
-Determine if barbeques are allowed in Lafayette park. This would allow food to
be heated, as well as encourage those occupying to engage and interact with
each other and build a sense of community.
-An interactive “wish list” or an automatic updating supply/demand sheet needs to
be generated. Does anyone on the Tech Work Group (TWG) have suggestions for
this? Possibly something we can upload to the web and access via smart phones
as needed?
-A sanitation sub-working group needs to be formed to be in charge of cleaning
up litter, recycling and general park “cleanliness”
-A first aid sub-working group needs to be formed to attend to any first aid or
medical needs that arise. This will also require someone(s) with knowledge in
this area, as well as donation of supplies.
-A comfort sub-working group needs to be formed to help with general comfort
as well as with weather-proofing, water proofing and pillows/blankets/bedding.
-Keeping food within the health department’s parameters of “safe” hot/cold
temperatures is important. We need food-grade thermometers for this purpose.
-In addition to keeping the park clean, we need to make sure that people are
keeping their cigarette butts to dispose of properly. Perhaps having a “butt can”
near the trash cans is an idea?
-It has been suggested that we provide maps of the park with key notes (suggestions/rules) for people who are not familiar with the area.
-Signage would be helpful to indicate what tables/areas are which. Examples: kitchen, first aid, library, donations, charging station (has this been addressed yet?), car pools, art/crafts etc.
Discussion Parking Lot:
-Water concerns: quantity, storage, waste water, filtering.
-Respect for the park needs to be on everyone’s priority list. The park holds
emotional, historic and significant importance to many people. Additionally,
there is a concern for the wildlife, and everyone should remember that they
are the original, peaceful inhabitants of the park.
-Personal sanitation: public bathrooms are a significant issue in regards to
personal sanitation. Most restaurants and ‘fast food’ locations have public
restrooms, however, they are privately owned and have the right to label
them as “for customer use only”. This being said, it is important to remember to
clean up after yourself (or after someone who may have forgotten to shut the water off, or missed the trash can with their paper towel, for example). The
idea of renting porta-potties has come up, though speculation is that they would
require a significant security deposit, and would most likely require a permit. (LWG – please look into if a permit is needed?)
-What are the different memorials in the park? What are their significance? Perhaps we could hold vigils at these memorials? (SWG)
-Has there been any plans/discussions on childcare for those who intend to bring their children, but would like to participate in any events? What are the repercussions to this? What is the security/safety/liability of this?
-Sticks/Handles are NOT allowed with signage. It must be hand held or attached to your belongings. (LWG – can you please verify this?)
Next Meeting Date:
October 18, 2011 – The Furnace
Occupy Albany (OA)
Human Resources/Food Work Group (HR/F WG)
Social Justice Center
33 Central Avenue
Albany, NY
Hosted by: Food not Bombs (FnB) during their dinner
Meeting called to order: 8:00 PM
General Assembly Notes pertaining to the HR/F WG:
-Occupy Albany will begin assembling at Lafayette park on Friday October 21st. There will be a general assembly (GA) meeting at 5:00 PM.
-CSEA has offered its parking lot for a place to meet up, discuss, and find refuge. They have also offered use of their bathrooms for OA.
-It has been decided that occupier’s intend on sleeping in tents, as the legal working group (LWG) has not indicated that it is illegal, only that there is a curfew for that park of 11:00 pm.
-The current budget for the HR/F WG is roughly $90 (ninety dollars and 00/100).
Discussions:
-FnB will NOT be holding it’s dinner at the Social Justice Center – it will be
facilitating the cooking/serving of Occupy Albany (OA).
-Other cities have run into problems with metal silverware being considered a
“weapon”, so it is important to bring plastic or wooden utensils. While it hasn’t
been anything LWG has researched, it’s beneficial to avoid any unnecessary and
foreseeable (potential) issues.
-Occupiers are encouraged and asked to bring their own mess kit. This would
include (but isn’t limited to) plastic or wooden utensils, a bowl and a cup.
Everyone would be responsible for keeping track of, and cleaning, their own
mess kit.
-Water concerns were an issue of debate. One idea was to have 55 gallon food-
grade barrels for holding clean water. Another idea was bringing gallon jugs of
water in to the “kitchen” area of the park as needed. It was deemed most
appropriate to have large beverage coolers (approx 5 gallons each) and refill them
as necessary. When/If this becomes a long term occupation, water concerns will
be addressed again at a later meeting. <PL>
-Donations are expected to start accumulating. The Furnace (84 Grand Street,
Albany) has graciously offered to let us use their space. We will need to start a
chart or spreadsheet to keep track of what comes in, and who it is from (to send
thank you letters).
-An Albany Resident (name with held) has offered to use his kitchen and facilities
while we get the kitchen started, and a location firmed up. He has also suggested
using his tap to supply water until a more permanent solution is determined.
New Business:
-The kitchen will be set up on a remote location (to be determined) until
LWG has determined if we can use BBQ’s in the park. We will prep, cook,
assemble and store as much food ahead of time as possible.
-The first meal will be served prior to the first GA, in Albany. The second
planned meal will be Saturday morning, for breakfast. The meal prior to the GA
is to be determined. The first breakfast will be hot oatmeal and coffee, fruit if
available.
Immediate Needs:
-Determine if barbeques are allowed in Lafayette park. This would allow food to
be heated, as well as encourage those occupying to engage and interact with
each other and build a sense of community.
-An interactive “wish list” or an automatic updating supply/demand sheet needs to
be generated. Does anyone on the Tech Work Group (TWG) have suggestions for
this? Possibly something we can upload to the web and access via smart phones
as needed?
-A sanitation sub-working group needs to be formed to be in charge of cleaning
up litter, recycling and general park “cleanliness”
-A first aid sub-working group needs to be formed to attend to any first aid or
medical needs that arise. This will also require someone(s) with knowledge in
this area, as well as donation of supplies.
-A comfort sub-working group needs to be formed to help with general comfort
as well as with weather-proofing, water proofing and pillows/blankets/bedding.
-Keeping food within the health department’s parameters of “safe” hot/cold
temperatures is important. We need food-grade thermometers for this purpose.
-In addition to keeping the park clean, we need to make sure that people are
keeping their cigarette butts to dispose of properly. Perhaps having a “butt can”
near the trash cans is an idea?
-It has been suggested that we provide maps of the park with key notes (suggestions/rules) for people who are not familiar with the area.
-Signage would be helpful to indicate what tables/areas are which. Examples: kitchen, first aid, library, donations, charging station (has this been addressed yet?), car pools, art/crafts etc.
Discussion Parking Lot:
-Water concerns: quantity, storage, waste water, filtering.
-Respect for the park needs to be on everyone’s priority list. The park holds
emotional, historic and significant importance to many people. Additionally,
there is a concern for the wildlife, and everyone should remember that they
are the original, peaceful inhabitants of the park.
-Personal sanitation: public bathrooms are a significant issue in regards to
personal sanitation. Most restaurants and ‘fast food’ locations have public
restrooms, however, they are privately owned and have the right to label
them as “for customer use only”. This being said, it is important to remember to
clean up after yourself (or after someone who may have forgotten to shut the water off, or missed the trash can with their paper towel, for example). The
idea of renting porta-potties has come up, though speculation is that they would
require a significant security deposit, and would most likely require a permit. (LWG – please look into if a permit is needed?)
-What are the different memorials in the park? What are their significance? Perhaps we could hold vigils at these memorials? (SWG)
-Has there been any plans/discussions on childcare for those who intend to bring their children, but would like to participate in any events? What are the repercussions to this? What is the security/safety/liability of this?
-Sticks/Handles are NOT allowed with signage. It must be hand held or attached to your belongings. (LWG – can you please verify this?)
Next Meeting Date:
October 18, 2011 – The Furnace
