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.