Prepare for Saturday

[mikerancourt]

Someone at the GA yesterday reminded WGs to be ready for a larger turnout on Saturday. This, of course, concerns the Facilitation WG.
Here's what I suggest we plan for:
1. Rebecca should be one of the co-facilitators of the GA that day. She's great (actually, we're all getting pretty good), and I think she handled the big crowd well last Friday. I would love to facilitate the discussion (because I think it would be wicked fun) but don't think I should because I got my name and photo on the front page of the paper last time, and I don't think we should take the chance of me looking prominent on another potentially big media day.
2. Facilitation Trainings, perhaps several times on Saturday. I think groups from out of state would really appreciate that, and the whole movement would probably benefit. I would like to take that time to share with outside groups our modified definition of what constitutes a blocking concern because I really think the previous definition has the potential to do serious damage to collectives.

What more should we do to prepare?

[Emma]

Thanks for starting this discussion Mike.

I think we should look at two things:
Programming
Logistics

For Logistics:
I think we should try to get port-o-potties to the park
All the detritus among the tents needs to be cleaned up (in tents, or off-site) as of early morning Saturday. (Any valuables should be removed from the site.)

For Programming:
I think it'd be good to have a bunch of different things going on throughout the day, some concurrently, for people to participate in. Take advantage of the crowds to get some good thinking and sharing & boost movement energy & participation. To that end:
Peoples Speak Outs on various topics or for various groups (POC speak out? Teens speak out? Rural upstate speak out?)
And sort of round-table discussion groups on whatever issues people want to organize.
We should get the word out to all the other occupy's around the state that they can get on the program - pick a time and a topic and we'll designate them a space and put them on the program.
We could do printed programs as well as lots of good signage.
Singing/music stuff - participatory, not performance.
Other participatory arts things, perhaps along the lines of the cardboard at the front of camp with "Why are you here?" (Someone suggested yesterday that we also have a "Why do you support Occupy?" for folks who don't think of themselves as *being* there but do stop by to indicate their support. Maybe a mail-in component.. this could be a longer-term project, not just Saturday.)

Regional cross-pollination like your suggestion of facilitation training - other things too, basically sharing working strategies and seeing how we can help each other into the future. Perhaps the Outreach working groups from all the different occupations can have one big idea-sharing meeting, etc?

Brainstorming here. Happy to see some of these ideas happen, if not all, and happy to have other ideas thrown in as well.
I'm also happy to help with organizing this. Perhaps a temporary working group?
Feeling the time pressure...

[Emma]

ok, I got all general there, rather than thinking just facilitation.
There's now a new thread, or rather a new Working Group, for Saturday's event.
occupyalbany.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=occupycapital

I'm going to be putting my energy into that for now.
I've thought all along that the facilitation group was not my best long-term contribution/involvement. It was the greatest need when it was first formed and I'm thrilled that it's come so far and proud to have been a part of that. I am happy to continue to help out as part of the facilitation team, but I don't think making the working group meetings is the right thing for me to prioritize right now.

My partner is starting a new job tomorrow and my schedule is a bit in flux. I should be available more evenings soon, I think, and will keep you updated for when I'll be able to be around for teh GA to help out.

I hope this doesn't look like I'm dropping you guys... It's more that I see a really strong wg here and see my time & energy needed more in other ways for right now. If folks think it's uncool for me to stop attending wg meetings for now, please talk to me (in person or private msg). Nothing's set in stone.

[Emma]

BIG question:
GA on Saturday. Do we really want everyone from around the state participating in the consensus decision making process for our own small local occupation??
I'm thinking NOT.
I'm thinking either explicitly say you only participate in the GA if Albany is "your" occupation, or not have a GA on Saturday.
But, clearly a large meeting is kind of expected and possibly called for... Maybe a meeting of a different structure. Which could well be more attractive to participants anyway. Not that I know *what* structure. But something to seriously consider.

I'm going to try to make the F&L meeting this evening, assuming it's still at 4:30.

[Dan L]

I know there might be concerned about the GA’s ability to remain autonomous and useful to the people in the park, but let me raise a point here.

We can’t be afraid of what people are going to do when confronted with democratic process. Sure, we’ve worked hard in the park to make things work and struggled with some serious procedural issues. I understand those are things that we would all like to protect.

But this is movement isn’t about any one of us or giving any one of us the right to say who can and can’t have a voice in the public square. If anything, if we are saying that people have a right to have their voices heard, then we have a responsibly to provide the conditions for that to happen.

So. I think people who have never been to a GA can be brought in and shown the process in a way that is productive. It’ll mean that facilitation will need to do some serious outreach in the next few days and during Saturday to get the kind communal understanding we’re talking about going, but it can be done without excluding anyone or telling them that there is a single occupation to which they belong.

I’ve been to Wall Street, spoken to Saratoga Springs, Worked in Albany and take part in the preliminary motions for Troy. None of us have a single occupation, but we can focus on being respectful to any occupation that we go to.

This movement is powerful because it gives people a taste of what real democracy and justice look like. When I participate in this, that’s what’s most important to me because a demand can be ignored, rules can be reversed, but you can never take the desire for social interaction and democratic process away, once it’s taken root in a person’s heart.

Let’s meet our brothers and sisters with open arms and help create a General Assembly that will live on in the hearts of people long after they leave the square.

[Emma]

Dan - perfect. Thanks for bringing that perspective. I agree that the process and the experience is what we're about for now. I have a hard time imagining what we could discuss in a GA that isn't oriented at a particular city/occupation, but I guess I'll just have to wait and see what comes up.

[Emma]

who's on the facilitation team for Saturday?
I'm going to be around, and am volunteering for stack-taking.
Seems like there should probably be lots of us? And really super duper emphasize PROGRESSIVE stack - maybe a 5 minute refresher for stack volunteers right before the meeting starts? While the hand signs are being reviewed perhaps?
I really don't want to see the same problems we were having at teh beginning of this week with the same couple white guys getting on stack over and over... Gotta address that for the long term, but at least should be able to easily avoid it for Saturday with as many people as we'll have... right?

[colin]

I'll be there Saturday and am happy to be part of the facilitation team. Agree with Emma about progressive stack for sure. : )