Minutes from 10-27-11 GA

[mikerancourt]

GA Minutes for 10-27-11

Direct Action WG – They are planning a march at 5PM on Saturday, likely after the GA at 5PM, though time may change

“Saturday” WG (WG for coordinating Saturday’s events) – Let them know if you have an event (use the forum or you can get Emma’s contact info from the Welcome tent). They’re hoping to have a schedule to put out tomorrow.

Tents – According to the previous GA, tents should be moved to face outward along the sidewalks in preparation for snow. This has not been done because of bad weather. Maybe tomorrow if things dry out.

Hydrofracking WG – There is now a WG for this. Mayor Jennings vetoed the Albany ban on hydrofracking today. There will be a Hydrofracking rally and Press Conference tomorrow on the steps of City Hall at 4PM

Food WG – they need dedicated food servers. Also, who is in charge of the generators? They’d like to know to have hot food all night.

Generator – Victorio and Mike want to set up an internet café, so Mike bought a generator with his own money (not assuming he would be reimbursed). The GA consented on reimbursing him, anyway.
Mike expressed interest in putting that money back into the finances to invest in a yurt, per something else to keep us warm all winter.

Baby Bloc WG – An 8 year old named Bear came up with the idea to Occupy Halloween. They will pass out OA flyers when the trick-or-treat.

Senior Citizens – Africa is initiating a Senior Citizens WG to make the space safe and accommodating for seniors. Contact her to help out.

Safety WG – They need help to have a few people awake at night. Contact Cookie to help.

Nonviolence training – Tim is here to offer nonviolence training after the GA.

Comfort WG – They could really use a light for their tent.
Homeless Action Committee is offering free warm-ups in their van on down-time. Abe knows how to get a hold of them.

Dylan – Consensus was made to give $300 for port-a-potties for this weekend ($400-$100 that someone in attendance offered to donate). This may not be necessary since one has already been donated by Pastor Charlie, and there may be more from him.

Legal – Mark was called by the city lawyer about the port-a-potty that’s already here. The GA consented to him having a dialogue with the city lawyer about it.

Direct Action – Mark wanted to bring up Ben’s proposal re: Robin Hood Tax actions, but withdrew as a result of bad weather and only about 15 people present.




PS. I hope this is more readable than my previous minutes.

Attachments:

[markm]

Excellent job. Are they being released to the media?

[maryb]

Very readable, in light of my not being able to attend today. I am especially grateful for the Senior Citizens WG, and will contact Africa to help out.

[mikerancourt]

Oct 27, 2011 21:27:26 GMT -5 markm said:

Excellent job. Are they being released to the media?

You mean the minutes are being released? I don't know. I just posted them here.
Mike

[markm]

If they are not being released to the media they should be. A better informed media will lead to better coverage. You are doing an excellent job producing the minutes. THEY SHOULD BE DISTRIBUTED by PR. It would be an effective way to let everyone know what we are doing and keep the message out front on a daily basis.

[rebecca]

I'm not sure that sending out all the details of our minutes is the best idea. It invites outsiders to come up with all kinds of random criticisms of what they'd be doing differently. Coming up with a cliffs notes version to send out, with a link to where full minutes are posted here, might be better. If someone is up for that.

[hz]

PR concurs with rebecca. minutes are internal document. i don't want people to be concerned that what they are saying at GA may be released to the public. i think too much self-editing may take place. i -personally- would like for people at the GA to feel free to speak openly, especially since this is the central method of communication for the group.

PR takes the relevant points and includes them in press releases. WG are invited to let us know of any news worthy info directly at:

[e-mail]

p.s. nice, clear minutes. they look great!

[Dan L]

Would there be a way to post the minutes onto a board that didn't have guest access?

[markm]

I think you are overlooking the benefits of releasing minutes (in some form) AND assuming that the general assembly does not want their collective work released. Remember, the GA's are already streamed, taped and available on our web site. I am of the thought that this should be brought up for broad discussion before the GA especially if the main argument being made here, by working groups, is that it would limit speech. I just don't agree with that and I am sure that this could be done while addressing people's privacy concerns, perhaps be leaving names out of the minutes.

I believe the benefits would be multiple:

I think it would lead to BETTER press coverage. A more informed press will ask better questions, look deeper and give us better coverage. I would welcome a discussion with those who think differently.

A question that is heard a lot outside the occupation is what are they doing and what do they want. What better way to answer this than to have our GA minutes released.

It would keep our message and actions out front every day. It could eventually become the centerpiece of a daily brief briefing.

It would help avoid confusion and could get out in front of issues before they become overblown controversies created by the media. It would demonstrate how proactive we are with concerns and issues. Last week on a newscast it was stated that dissension was building in OA. I just caught the headline and not the whole story but this is not the press coverage we want.

By giving the press more, by releasing daily GA minutes, it would help foster an environment where the press would be more inclined to come to someone in PR with clarifying questions before they released a story. Misinformation and misconceptions could be addressed before unfavorable information was released by the press.

I would like to see more discussion on this proposal pros and cons, possibly before a future GA.

[hz]

Mark,

I think these are interesting questions, and if GA would like PR to take different course of action I am totally into being a part of that discussion. I am just trying to do what it seems like is in the best interest of the movement in general, and take counsel from PR group actions at OWS.

Also I didn't hear that newscast. If you have a link to it, or remember the day and channel I ought to look into it.

-Hezzie

[hz]

Re: keeping conversations public.

www.newyorkcitizenone.com/index.php/home/7139-tales-from-the-inside-occupyalbany

this addresses some of my concerns.

[Dan L]

I think that we can't start hiding stuff. I know we're afraid of getting made fun or or that there'll be section of the public who'll say nasty things about us including the things we're working on.

Me? I'm not a shamed of a single thing I've done in that park and I am proud of what we have accomplished. Trying to hide hour minutes now isn't going to make things better for us- it's just going to let us believe that paranoid voice in the back of our heads that tells us 'oh no! They're all gonna laugh at us!"

I revise my previous opinion- I think we should post our minutes front and center and let everyone know that that this is what a free and open democratic process looks like.

[hz]

I don't mean to imply that we should hide the democratic process, but rather that by sending some things out to media outlets directly we may undermine our ability to strategize or have some members speak their opinions openly.

I think also that this warrants a discussion on short-tern vs. long-term goals.

[Dan L]

Ah. And here I was taking a polemic. Mountains out of molehills.

None the less, open notes are good, but we should probably encourage the media to do their jobs on that point.

[shage]

I wouldn't worry about Albany Fascist One or anyone else 'ridiculing' the group. Their attention only shows that they feel threatened by what we represent and our continued existence. It's a sign of success and achievement. Given that they haven't been able to stop the group by other means, they will sink to name calling, trying to create divisions that don't exist or aren't important... it should be easy to see through this if one is actually involved at any level. The lying and maturity level of those bloggers also helps us to more clearly see them for what they are, it clarifies things for those involved in any way, which is a great thing going forward.