GA Minutes - 2/5/12

2/5/2012 GA Minutes

Facilitators:  Katie, John, Ed (facilitatiors changed during the meeting)
Stack:  Carol
Minutes:  Jane

• Reviewed Hand Symbols

Committee Reports:

• Ed – Just got back from community event in Carlisle related to Dutch’s foreclosure.  There is a meeting after GA for more information and planning.
• Dani – Monsanto working group planning weekly vigils related to corporate ag issues.
• Tonda – Community garden community met to discuss where to get seed and ground.  Another meeting is scheduled for next week.
• Lynn – planning a Plan B meeting on Sat at the Teamsters.  Time is TBD.  Looking at space options;.
• Carol – ALEC working group website is up.  Identifying bills related to ALEC.  Look for actions to be planned later in February.
• Ed – we have $2,000 in our account.  Will pass the hat.

General Announcements:

• Dani – on Fri, all heat vents in the site were on.  Let’s watch this.  Press the “Unoccupied” button on the thermostat and it will keep the temp at 50 degrees.
• Carol – Ed Bloomer is still in jail and may need funds.  Others present thought this has been covered.  Carol offered to check on this.
• Jon – I have the Dell computer from camp at my home if it is needed.

Proposals:

Proposal:  David – ½ Day Strategy session this month.  Focus on lessons learned from the last 3 months and were we want to go in the next 6 mo to 1 yr.  Look at what is happening nationally and how it impacts us and how we grow.  Community building event too.   Proposal:  ½ Day Strategy Session Sun 2/19 from 1-5.   See David to plan after today’s GA.

• There was discussion if about inviting people outside Occupy to the session.  Believe consensus was that we wouldn’t strongly market to non-Occupy groups but didn’t have concerns if non Occupiers came.  Some discussion about GA and other meetings that day.  Seemed like most felt have a defined time made sense.

• Consensus reached.   

Proposal:  Occupy Wrapping Paper Proposal – tabled as Proposer (Elizabeth) was not present.

Proposal:  Occupy TV Show – tabled as proposer (Steve) was not present.

Proposal:  All proposals be submitted in writing  (Denis).   Proposals would include the date, wording of the proposal and clarifying issue.

• Concerns raised that we don’t have good communication methods for people to know what proposals have been made and what have been passed.  Minutes are not available.  Also, concerns that some people might not feel comfortable formulating written proposals.  Some said they felt others in the group would help with this.  Some concern about getting too rule oriented and structured.  
• Suggested to revive the facilitator working group and have them work through the entire proposal process.
• Some felt that while they agree this doesn’t solve all the issues, it is a start.
• More discussion and consensus was not being reached.
• Denis withdrew proposal.

Proposal (Katie):  Form Occupy the Runway working group.  Would hold a fashion show event in June.  Tie in issues related to big corporations and how they manipulate us to continue to buy, take advantage of workers, etc.    Consensus Reached to form group.

New Proposals:

Ed – Foreclosure group working on the Dutch foreclosure issue but need to move fast as the eviction is date is 2/14 and there won’t be time for GA approval.  Does GA need more info?   

Temp check consensus reached that the group needs to move ahead with planning and not bring plans to GA for official approval.  Good to give others information as soon as possible including press releases.

Clark – This is a tabled proposal from the past.  Would like payment for WI FI bill from camp.  I have tried and haven’t been able to get an itemized bill.  Would Ed go with me to Verizon to view bill on-line there if they can do it?   If others at camp abused the internet use, don’t feel I should be responsible for those charges?

After much discussion, some asked if revised proposal of GA paying for $250 or $300 of the bill and going to those at camp that may have used internet for their own use would cover the rest?   Clark indicated that he didn’t feel he should have to shoulder responsibility for going to those folks to collect the bill.   Others present still felt it was important to have an itemized bill as we require this for other payments.   John said he felt we should have a group look at getting the itemized bill, reviewing past minutes and talking to those at camp.   Proposal was tabled for Thursday.

David – New Proposals:

– Form a Facilitation Working Group.   They would work on issues like note taking efficiency/proposal making efficiency.  

- Need guidelines for Press Releases, Tweets and Text Message Service.   
  
- Review and update the mission statement.  

Shawn:  in Dec we passed statement of intent.  We agreed we need to continue work on demands, goals and longer term thinking.  So, my proposal is to have a Statement of Intent Working group continue these efforts.

Kaylynn – anything that says we are occupying Stewart Square needs to be updated.

Dani – Dani shared several concerns.  I have concerns about tweets being done on behalf of Occupy DSM that have not been approved by GA.  I also have concerns that the mission statement was updated when we left Stewart Square and the new statement was in a press release w/o GA approval.   If someone does things as Occupy DSM when they were not authorized, the group needs a way to address this.  I have felt bullied when I brought up these concerns and the other party that I have concerns with skipped the mediation session that was set up.

After discussion, Ed as facilitator suggested the following:  How about an emergency proposal that we go back to the original mission statement and just remove that we are occupying Stewart Square and make any other grammatical changes needed so that the statement makes sense.    Consensus reached.

Jess M agreed to make the updates right away.    

Ed – there is a lot of emotion around this.  Suggest we address early at Thurs. GA.

Dani – I’ll research Occupy Wall Street’s procedures around this in the meantime as a possible model for us to use.

Tony – Just ask when discussing issues, to be careful about personal criticisms. We operate as a community and we need to be very careful about how we talk about others.  

Meeting adjourned.