General Assembly Notes Wed 12/21

[Sandra]

12/22: A few corrections and clarifications were made by others (thanks!). I can't seem to update the attachment, just the post. Apologies for the inconvenience, please see the revised notes below in the thread.

The corrections have been incorporated in what are now revised notes. The list of changes is below, and at the bottom of the notes.
Corrections made:
a) added link to video of GA
b) removed error on MLK Day date; it’s Monday 1/16/12
c) address for Phillips Seminary is 901 N Mingo, not 401 N Mingo
d) clarification on vote on ‘Daniel Lee’ agenda item
e) web/tech group discussion included approval to make effort at transferring occupytulsa.com to officialoccupytulsa.com, and switch host servers

********

Attached are the notes from tonight's GA. Let me know if you have any issues downloading. Video will hopefully be posted soon.

If you have any clarifications, corrections, additions, etc, please reply only on a thread where the notes are primary discussion (ie, here or where the notes are directly posted - not a comment) for easier tracking and revising of the notes.

Thanks!

Attachments:

[Official Occupy Tulsa]

Thanks, Sandra!

--C. J. Williams

[Official Occupy Tulsa]

Regarding Daniel Lee, we decided that we were going to remove his name and that of Stephanie Lewis from any further discussion and just stick to the matter of judicial issues involving their infractions to apply in the future, which will be handled by the facilitation and mediation workgroup. This had consensus.

In other words, the facilitation and mediation workgroup needs to work out guidelines for dealing with matters of this magnitude, namely web admin abuses, sowing dissent, spreading misinformation and theft of money and supplies belonging to Occupy Tulsa GA.

The IT workgroup will work out who the admins are among themselves, while Spokes council will work out the policies for admins.

[Sandra]

Thanks for clarifying CJ!

[Sandra]

Revised meeting notes with corrections and clarifications attached. Sorry for the errors!

~ Sandra

Attachments:

[Sandra]

More details coming in on Midwest Conference in St Louis for March 15-18. Via OccupyCoordination:

We, the General Assembly of Saint Louis, in the spirit of solidarity
call upon our brothers and sisters in occupied spaces across the
country to join us in forming the Midwest Regional Summit. We feel
that it is time for us to create new spaces to connect in; new ways to
share knowledge, experience, resources, and to express our solidarity.
St Louis is centrally located and has the space available to host an
event of this size. We invite you to bring the spirit and culture of
your occupation into a Midwest General Assembly. We feel that
connecting with each other is a vital step in elevating our movement
to the next level.
No single occupation can take on a task of this size alone. We
encourage you to participate in the planning and execution of this
event. There is a detailed execution plan attached directly following
this invitation.
Please join us on March 15th, 2012 at 7pm CST under the Gateway Arch
for the first meeting of the Midwest General Assembly! We have chosen
this site as our first meeting spot as it symbolizes much of what we
are fighting for. The site on which it now stands used to be low
income and working family housing. It was taken from these families in
order to build this monument. We would like to meet there and propose
that we rename this monument as the Gateway to Freedom!
The conference will last from March 15th-18th. During this time we
will be commemorating the 6 month anniversary of the Occupy Movement
with direct action. Additionally, our objectives for this gathering
are to:
Establish regional communication avenues to organize action and the
sharing of resources
Share best practices and learn from each other on how we can be more
effective in our individual occupations
Establish a Midwest General Assembly that any city in our region can
call on moving forward
Determine how we communicate and act in solidarity both regionally
and nationally
Please review this proposal and bring this invitation to your General
Assembly for consideration and approval. Please state your interest in
participating by 12/20/2011. In a time when our solidarity is being
tested on every front, we must stand together to show the world that
the people united will NEVER be defeated.
For all questions and correspondence (including stating interest in
participating!!) please contact us at:: [e-mail] or
find us on facebook at occupy the midwest.
Solidarity!
Regional Working Groups
In order to execute this initiative, regional working groups will be
formed. The work groups will be formed from members of all
participating occupations. We want to make sure that everyone is
represented and has an opportunity to participate. As cities state
their intentions to participate in the summit, we will begin forming
these groups.
Facilitation: Facilitation of General Assemblies, determining a
consensus process that we can all use for this process, keeping the
work groups in contact with each other, ensuring that time lines are
being met as we prepare for the execution of this event. Facilitation
will serve as a central hub for all work groups during the planning
phase and publish a final agenda of activities.
Town Planning: Town planning will identify space in St Louis, identify
risks with the space and contingency plans, formatting of the space to
accommodate everyone. St Louis is full of parks, but based on the size
of this event, town planning will need to identify alternative spaces
to ensure everyone is cared for.
Finance: Finance will manage monies for this event. It is our intent
to have the working groups budget for items that they will need
outside of what we can reasonably offer. We intend to reach out to
Occupy Wall Street to ask for additional funds to help us cover these
items.
Food: Food Committee will be responsible for the Procurement and
distribution of food and services, and find ways to work together to
solve the overall food needs of everyone in attendance on a daily
basis. They will also coordinate donations of food etc.
Safety: Safety will work closely with town planning to ensure that the
space is safe and peaceful during the event. Safe from both internal
and external risks. We would like to ensure that we can offer a drug,
alcohol, and weapons free environment for this event.
Direct Action: Direct action will meet to determine what actions will
happen during the event. St Louis is home to several US Senators
office, Regional Bank of America and US Bank Offices, Monsanto and
Peabody Coal. Additionally, this work group would remain intact after
the event to coordinate days of action and find ways we can work
together regionally in our direct actions.
Media: Will manage social media, press releases, and communication for
the event. Media will also be responsible for documenting with audio
and video, including live stream.
Arts & Recreation: Will be responsible for booking entertainment and
also booking guest and motivational speakers for the event.
Outreach: engaging the general public at all times during the event
and the distribution of literature, flyers etc. during marches and
other actions. Engaging folks internally within their specific
occupations and smaller local occupations to answer questions and
provide information on the event
Time Line
The event is being planned across Spring Break 2012. March 15-18th
2012. In order to pull this event off, we will be working on a quick
timeline.
12/20/2012 – Cities interested in participating should have responded
by this date
12/31/2012 – Working groups are formed and begin meeting
1/15/2012 – Budget items should be submitted from working groups to
finance working group
1/20/2012 – Finance group will send communication to New York General
Assembly detailing needs and request additional funds
2/15/2012 – Town Planning will have identified the space to be used
and announce to other working groups
2/29/2012 – All working groups plans finalized in ready to go form.
3/12/2012 – The Midwestern General Assembly calls to order at 7pm CST
Schedule and Structure
A tentative schedule has been put together as a rough outline. It
focuses heavily on allowing communication between different
occupations and direct action. The exact topics will be decided by the
virtual working groups as they plan. Facilitation can change the
schedule as needed during the planning stages. This is not an exact
schedule, but rather a tool to plan from.
3-15
– 8PM – Event Kicks off With Midwest General Assembly
-1030PM – set up camp – Music and Entertainment
-11PM – group discussions and conversation
3-16
-10 AM – Working Groups and General Discussion
– 1 PM – Direct Actions
– 5 PM – Teach Ins
– 8 PM – Music and Entertainment
3-17
– 10 AM -Working Groups and General Discussion
– 1 PM -Direct Actions
– 5 PM – Teach Ins
– 8 PM – Culture and Entertainment
3-18
-10 AM – Midwest General Assembly
-1 PM – Discussions and Wrap Up
-3 PM – Official Event Ends