Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Coordinating Council minutes 10.29.12

Minutes of Occupy Asheville Coordinating Council 10-29-12
Present: Mark, Tom, Lindsey, John, James, Bev, Susan and Kathryn facilitating and taking minutes
Discussion of whether the list of e-mail addresses taken from the original website should be kept by one person (Susan) or shared.  Decided: it should be kept by one person, used frugally once or twice a month to announce events.  If you have an event to be announced which is directly related to Occupy, let Susan know and she will see it is announced.
Finance:  Mark is leaving and Lindsey shouldn’t be the only one left “holding the bag.”  Decided: John will join her on the finance committee.  They will open a new account at SECU.  Policy making on finance should be separate from disbursing.  A check has been cut for Ben Scales.
Further acknowledgement for Ben Scales: NVDAT will pursue holding a meal at Rosetta’s to honor Ben.
Transit: Tuesday there will be a joint survey with Homeless Network people helping City of Asheville employees to distribute information at the bus depot.  They have extended service to 6 holidays.  The City could use money from parking meters and lots to increase service, especially on Sundays.
John also told us about a letter he has written to the Citizen Times about homeless people and cold weather (Code Purple).  We discussed whether such actions should be taken in the name of Occupy.  We would like to have it recognized that Occupy includes a number of groups which are taking independent action.  Further discussion is needed on which actions should be identified with Occupy.
The status of the Monday evening meetings.  After discussion on e-mail and in the meetings it was decided that the Monday evening meetings will be called the “weekly Occupy meeting” and open to all.  We will continue to request that proposals be made one week and decided upon the next to allow for maximum participation within the community.  We will continue to focus on action.  We will continue to have an outdoor GA on the first Saturday of the month.
James told us that the national Inter Occupy vision has been refined and asked us to consider the 21 statements to see what we would like to adopt for our local Occupy.  We agreed to make this the first item on the agenda for next month.  We will also take into account the visioning process done locally in June and the recommendations of that group.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Move Your Money Day Actions

Update:  Saturday Nov 3rd 2:00 PM @ Vance Monument.  Move Your Money Day in the “Free Speech Zone.”  Signs, flyers, info sheets, hollering, and cornering pedestrians.  GA to follow 4:00 PM @ Pritchard Park. 

Also, still doing flyering at bank branches Monday Oct 29. People will meet at Pritchard @3:30 and split into groups to go to different banks.

Coordinating Council minutes 10.22.12

Coordinating Council minutes 10.22.12

Present: Lindsey, Jacob, Meggen, Tom, Kasha, James, Susan
Facilitator:  Kasha
Notes: Meggen

Agenda Items:
Recap & new discussion about restructuring (or “de-structuring”) OA from current structure.  Would like to have OA-wide meeting about this in the next 6 weeks.  Meggen will send an email to as many regularly involved people as possible to start the conversation online before making big announcement.  Need to put the feelers out about it and figure out a good date/time/place for actual meeting.  Question about whether this idea conflicts with the Visioning results.  We can talk about this with any who are concerned about that possibility.

Donation to Ben Scales and possibility of fundraiser.  Kasha volunteered last week to take point person on fundraiser.  Still no word from the person asking Rosetta.  Suggestion to also ask NVDAT if they’d like to help, since many in that group were involved in the legal cases and have stronger connections with Ben than most of us.  Lindsey will attend their next meeting and ask, report back next week.  We will move immediately on the $350 approved from legal defense fund.

Speaking of which, Mark from finance will be moving out of the country and we need someone to join the Finance group because it can’t just be Lindsey.  Particularly need someone willing to hold onto the funds. 

Move Your Money Day
Flyering at banks on 29th--meet at Pritchard Park @ 3:30.
Event on Saturday Nov 3rd will be at Vance Monument.
  Signs, flyers, and at least one table for info.  2:00 PM, followed by GA (at Pritchard) @ 4:00.

National Occupy Update from James.  National movement / coordination is waning.  Maybe we should think about Asheville being on the national map more prominently.  More action, not less.  “Why can’t Asheville be the center of the national movement?”


Announcements:
Friday Oct 26, 7-9:30 PM:  David Swanson (nationally known author, activist, speaker) presenting “Confronting the Military Industrial Complex,” cosponsored by New South Network, Veterans for Peace, Non-Violent Direct Action Training Group of Occupy Asheville, and other groups.  @Battery Park Rooftop at Battery Park Apartments.  Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/events/514174755279200

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Planning for Move Your Money Day

Here’s what’s in the works for Move Your Money Day 2012:

Monday Oct 29:  Flyering at bank branches.  People will meet at Pritchard @3:30 and split into groups to go to different banks.  We have a “How to Move Your Money” brochure that Jonathan will make copies of.  He has also ordered 200 Wells Fargo “Occucards” (you can see them at http://www.occucards.com/cards/wells-fargo/.)  Steve from MTA is working on a “Why to Move Your Money” flyer, as well.  It was suggested that people could wear costumes. 

Saturday Nov 3:  We’re hoping to have an event of some sort in advance of GA. , but we don’t have any firm details yet.  People have been in the process of contacting other credit unions, but I don’t know what the responses are other than SECU has declined this year, and Self Help Credit Union plans to be there, but they’re waiting for us to provide more details.  So far, an elaborate plan for Saturday seems to be getting little traction, but it may be worth while to at least set up some tabling for MYMD related stuff?  If you’re interested in helping out, please comment on this post and I’ll direct you to the right person if need be.

Monday Nov 5:  This is the "official" Move Your Money Day.  More flyering? 

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

General Assembly Minutes from 10-6-12



Occupy Asheville General Assembly
October 6, 2012

Proposal regarding legal fund:  Meggen brought forward a proposal to give $350 out of the OA legal fund to Ben Scales who did a lot of pro-bono work for OA arrestees.  Background:  For a long time we’ve been talking about giving B Scales some money as a gesture of appreciation for his representation of more than 40 OA arrestees.  There was another a request for funds for a federal civil rights suit from GloLady - For $450 for a transcript.  WGs said the support her effort in spirit but would like her to look at her other options for funding.  Recently AHN had asked B. Scales for some pro bono help and he said he couldn’t because he needed to focus on law work to earn money.  The request from GloLady and the news from AHN prompted a discussion at the CC about giving B Scales some money, this proposal come out of that conversation.  Included in the proposal was our intention to work on a fundraiser to raise an additional $150  for B Scales.  Lindsey and TJ are working on picking up the ball for this fundraiser.  The proposed $350 comes to about half of the current balance in the OA legal fund.

Jonathan had one concern about the use of the word “crimes” in the proposal, Meggen will look at this language.  The proposal passed with full consensus of the GA.  (No ‘stand asides’ or ‘blocks.’)

Move Your Money Day:  Move Your Money Day (MYMD) is Saturday November 3rd.  It was noted that last year OA did not officially endorse Move Your Money Day and it was not an OA project per se, but that lot of folks very involved in OA were also involved with MYMD, it was talked about at most GA’s, and it was a successful project that it was not bad for OA to be associated with.  We discussed wanting to actively promote MYMD this year.  We discussed and agreed upon the following.  MYMD falls on the same Saturday as our next GA; we will make MYMD the focus of that GA.  We will contact local credit unions and find out if they have plans for MYMD and if not invite them to come be part of a MYMD event at Pritchard park on the 3rd.  We agreed that we would promote MYMD and also develop materials that explained how to move your money from a large bank to a credit union and some of the reasons to divest from large banks.  In addition we agreed to leaflet at downtown banks on Monday  October 29th.   We will gather at Pritchard Park around 3:15 and then move to one or more downtown banks to leaflet.  Meggen will work on written materials and will start an email list to folks who were at this GA.  Jonathan, Lindsey, and Kathryn will work on contacting area credit unions.  (We noted that at the September GA we initiated the idea of doing something for S17, which was successful, and now we are planning an Oct action, maybe one action and one GA a month is sustainable?!)

Working Group Reports:
Outreach meets on the first Saturday of the month at Wall St Café at 2:30.
Social Justice Caucus meets every other Wednesday at Wall St Café at 7:30.  (10-10-12 is next meeting date.)
Susan asked people to put meetings on the facebook page as well as on the occupyasheville.org calendar.

Visioning:  Kathryn reported about visioning.  She noted some parts of the visioning that we are already working on informally and others that seem to be less of an emphasis right now.  For example – on piece of the vision was to use mediation to deal with internal interpersonal conflicts, this seems to not be as prominent because there are less interpersonal conflicts, it feels like we are treating each other well right now.  Promoting effective actions, was another piece of the visioning;  as noted above we planned the S17 demo in September and now we are working on something for MYMD (whether or not these are “effective” would still need to be determined, but they are actions.  Kathryn’s conclusion was that we are moving forward with many of the ideas in the visioning just not in a formal way.   Daniel suggested that there may be more opportunities to move forward with the visioning after the election.  Meggen proposed that we look at the visioning at the December GA, that this will be an opportunity not only to review the visioning document but also to use the visioning  document as a means to reflect on the past 6-9 months, and use it as a Spring board to think about activity in the first part of 2013.  Kathryn suggested that we do this inside.  We agreed to hold the December GA inside and that we would take a look at the visioning document at that GA.  

Announcements: 
Daniel reported that folks at Liberty Corner are speaking out about cuts to mental health and human  services. 
Meggen noted that PrideFest continues till 7pm on 10/6/12.
RK announced that he is finishing his book about emancipation of  astronomy.

Monday, October 15, 2012

Coordinating Council minutes 10.15.12

Coordinating Council minutes 10.15.12

Present: Outreach, Seniors and Friends, Finance, Social Justice, Committees of Correspondence, Asheville Homeless Network, & other individuals.
Facilitator:  Kasha
Notes: Meggen

Agenda Items:

  1. Ben Scales proposal (see prior weeks notes for description) gets “yes” consensus from NVDAT.  Meggen will alert Mark and Lindsey but wait for further details on upcoming fundraiser before requesting the funds.
  2. Fundraiser for Ben Scales:  Kasha willing to get the ball rolling; Lindsey, Bev willing to help.  Stay tuned.
  3. Move Your Money Day action progress report:

  • Flyering at bank branches planned for Monday 10/29 in advance of MYMD
  • Actual date is Monday Nov 5th, but we’d like to hold an event before GA on Saturday Nov 3rd.
  • We have a tri-fold “how to move your money” brochure, working on a “why to move your money” flyer. 
  • Working to contact credit unions, other individuals involved in working to get City money reinvested in credit unions.
  • Updates will be posted on OA blog (see website for link)
  • Self Help is on board
  • suggestion to bring handouts to businesses about moving to credit unions


4. Discussion about where Occupy Asheville stands as of now and where we’d like to go. 
  • Bev would like to see OA actively focus on Move to Amend (there’s local action but nothing from OA specifically), genetically engineered foods (Monsanto, etc.), and foreclosures. 
  • Working groups have not been consistently taking on much direct action lately (with the exception of Asheville Homeless Network & others on decriminalization of homelessness and the bus service (Sundays & holidays) petition.) 
  • John: Lack of coordination (in spite of having a coordinating council) may still be a problem, both within OA and externally with other Asheville groups and orgs.
  • Meggen: Numbers in many working groups have been small.  We’re probably stretched too thin for our current structure given the numbers we have now.  Suggestion to think about merging/creating an “Occupy Asheville working group” with everyone who’s still involved in OA in place of individual working group meetings & see how that works in terms of pooling resources and energy for more action.  Meggen will start an email discussion to get the ball rolling on an OA-wide meeting about this (not at GA.)
  • NVDAT: trainings haven’t been as necessary lately, would like to offer services to wider activist community. 
  • Social Justice:  would welcome a merging with other working groups
  • Committees of Correspondence:  back after long illnesses (so good to see you two!) , would still like more OA involvement with InterOccupy calls.



Announcements:

Tomorrow morning (10.16):  9 AM Conference on transportation issues at City Hall 6th floor conference room.  City will take brief input on ART changes, etc. 

Anyone wanting to join the subcommittee of the Asheville Homeless Coalition working on decriminalization of homelessness, please contact John Spitzberg at Jspitzb227@aol.com.

Friday Oct 26, 7-9:30 PM:  David Swanson (nationally known author, activist, speaker) presenting “Contronting the Military Industrial Complex,” cosponsored by New South Network, Veterans for Peace, Non-Violent Direct Action Training Group of Occupy Asheville, and other groups.  @Battery Park Rooftop at Battery Park Apartments.  Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/events/514174755279200

Seniors and Friends still meet (usually) at 12:30 on Sundays at Wall St. Coffee House.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Coordinating Council Minutes from 10-1-12



Coordinating Council minutes 10.1.12

Present:  VFP, Outreach, Seniors and Friends, Finance, Socialist Caucus, Social Justice
Facilitator:  Lindsey
Notes: Meggen

Agenda Items:

1) Report-backs on discussions of Lisa Landis’ request for $425 for her legal transcripts, for purpose of filing a civil suit for unjust arrest.  So far, no group has consensus to pass this.

Points expressed:  This is more of a “legal offense” than a “legal defense” purpose.  Groups would like Lisa to ask more questions regarding her case, find out whether she can qualify for ACLU help, etc. and come back to OA with what she finds. She has been given Curry First’s number.  She may have other options.  Per the guidelines for disbursal of funds, she should be encourage her to seek funds on her own, possibly form a fundraising working group, which CC would support.  If she can raise the majority of the $425, OA would consider pitching in a smaller amount from legal.  People do support her cause in spirit, just not sure we can do so financially as OA.

Proposal tabled until we hear more from Lisa.  (Note: is anyone actually in contact with her about this, specifically?)

2) Report-backs on proposal to give some legal fund money to Ben Scales as appreciation for his pro bono work for OA arrestees.  So far, each group has reached a “yes” consensus.  Will bring to GA as a formal proposal on Saturday.  No specified amount in the proposal as yet.  Two suggestions:  $500 or $350.  Reminder that legal is supposed to be a revolving fund (generally understood as a loan) rather than a donation source. 

Related discussion about still doing a fundraiser for donations to Ben Scales.  TJ will check with Rosetta to see if she’s still willing (there were plans at one point that never materialized.)  Will announce that this is in the works at GA on Saturday.

3) GA agenda for Saturday Oct 6.

   Ben Scales proposal
   Visioning process (moving forward)
   Working group report-backs and announcements
   Possibility of connecting w/ other Asheville groups for this year’s Move Your Money Day (Nov 3rd)
   Anything else that comes up

Other Stuff:
Seniors and Friends:  OA should be moving on Move to Amend and foreclosures.  Find local groups to connect with.  Jacob will look into it. 

Announcements:

   Flotilla on Lake Julien on Oct 14 to protest Stacks.  (I didn’t catch the specifics on this--sorry.)

   International Noise Day (pot-banging parades) happening around the world Oct 13.  From website, looks like most of these events are in Europe and Latin America. (Indignatos and yosoy123 movements.) 

   Request from Bart Naylor, financial policy advocate for Public Citizen, for “people who want to take Rep. McHenry to task in local media (letters to editor, etc.) for putting Wall St. ahead of Main St.”  Have asked him for follow-up info.

   Socialist presentation Weds Oct 10 at Wall Street Cafe 7PM