10-31-2011 GA Minutes

Date: 10-31-2011
Time: 19:00-23:00 (7pm-10pm)
Location: The Sun Shoppe Café (540 E New Haven –aka 192- in Downtown Melbourne, FL)
Facilitator: Randy
Attendance: 28

Introduction to the GA: [7pm-7:19pm]
(Review of the GA process -see hand out, select minute takers and moderators)
Minute Takers: 2 (Evanne and Mandy)
Moderators: 2 (Dominic and David)


Old Business [7:19pm-7:40pm]
Old Proposals:
1.Emphasis on only blocking a proposal if you morally or ethically disagree and would discontinue your participation of said proposal was passed. Blockers should be prepared to explain why they are blocking and to work with the author of said proposal to see if a compromise can be reached.

2. Brief review of last week’s proposals which were passed. Please see the forum page here: (http://occupymelbournefl.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=ga&thread=10)

3. Previous proposal to change the Face Book (FB) name from “Occupy Melbourne Fl.” To “Occupy Melb-FL” addressed with additional information as follows:
a.The name cannot be changed once the page passes 100 “likes” and we are now over 200 “likes.”
b.FB hides some posts to a “hidden wall” that only admins can see, this is NOT a deliberate action taken by the moderators! Rather, the admins take the time to check this hidden wall and push comments and posts to the “everyone wall.”
i.If you feel your comments are being hidden, please contact an admin and politely inform them of your situation.

4. Since the previous GA passed the proposal for a website the web-team has been working on getting it up and running through wordpress; in the meantime:
a.The message board is up and running: occupymelbournefl.proboards.com
i. The MB is best for discussions, Work Group Coordination, and archiving.
b.The website will have a similar URL
c.FB is currently the best source of needed information but soon the website will be the best source for static information.

Local Occupy Updates:
1. Occupy Space Coast (OSC) has been doing their own sign waving at the corner of 520 and Courtenay (The 2nd biggest intersection in Brevard) on Merritt Island between 11am and 2pm. This week they will be doing this on Saturday instead of Friday.
a.(Facebook Event Page: www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=106179746161987)

2. This is in tandem with Occupy Melbourne FL (OMF) and our Sign Waving every Friday evening between 5pm and 6:30pm on the Peace Corner located at the intersection of New Haven (192) and Evans Road (Hollywood on the south side) which is said to be the busiest intersection in Brevard.

Working Group Reports/Updates:
1. It’s important to remember that the division of labor is necessary to ensure across the board action and to protect the performance of the individuals. Please keep in mind that we are here for a common goal and we should work together when we can utilize our group/team’s skills and responsibilities. (To sign up for one of these groups please check out the “Working group” Section of our MB)

2. ANYONE can propose action for any of the work groups using the proposal method.

3. The Web Work Group is still working on the website

4.Suggestion for “Work Group” section of the website/MB to include contact info for the facilitator of each group

5. Web Work Group asks for more participation from The People in submitting topics/info/suggestions for what we want to see on the website

New Business [7:40pm-9:11pm]
•Proposal: “Should we have a representative communicate with the Police Department (PD)?”
Concerns: The PD has worked with us, knows our rights, and will respect us. We have no need for a mediator; we don’t plan on breaking the law.
Consensus: TABLED- for Legal Team and Direct Action Team (later established)

•Proposal: “A march from Down Town Melbourne’s Front Street Park on the Water to City Hall”
Concerns: Needs good advertisement to show strength. ( Maybe start a work group for the marches before planning on where or when.) Suggestion for an Action Group to be discussed during a later proposal.
Consensus: WITHDRAWN until work groups are established. (Direct Action and transportation groups can/will work on this)

•Proposal: “Have a person or group to FB Politicians” on current issues
Concerns: Add media team to facilitate this? (A more specific group would be better.) Is it better to let individuals do it or a group? (Both, individual action done together makes for the best results and the biggest impacts.) What if we have a troll/rogue/instigator saying they speak for the The People?(Propose a template per issue that we can reach consensus on and offer to The People to amend per their personal views.) Do we want one person to speak on behalf of The People? (Anyone can propose an issue and anyone can contact their politician on any issue but they speak for themselves though they support the Occupy Movement.) Could we add links to these Politicians FB pages to our website?(Yes.)
Consensus: PASSED the creation of an “Issues Working Group” to coordinate and facilitate specific topics addressed to our politicians. Further outlined below in the “Working Group Proposal”

•Proposal: “Event Action group to better coordinate actions and events through volunteers.”
Concerns: See “Working Group Proposal” for details on the Direct Action Working Group.
Consensus: PASSED- Direct Action Working Group

•Proposal: “Ban for threats of violence or acts of violence only to support free speech in general”
Concerns: When guests see petty, derogatory, and name-calling comments and bickering on our facebook it may turn them away, banning will keep our page clean. (People have a right to their opinions and we should respect their right to it.) Perhaps we should simply remove hurtful comments? (Free Speech, we should pick the more important battles and simply ignore them.) People are banned in live stream chats, we shouldn’t have to deal with this. (There are existing standards we can use.) What is FB for, Info or Updates/Sharing/Discussions? (All of the above until the website is up) Do we want individuals making these calls? (No, concerns of individuals should have proof and bring it to the GA for consensus on what we want to do about it/them collectively.)
Consensus: TABLED- Web Team will find a list of guidelines used by other sites and offer it at the next GA for consensus and implementation for all to follow on FB and the MB.

•Proposal: “Create a press/media team since the last press release generated excellent results.”
Concerns: What will we be saying? (Offering our GA minutes within 24 hours, Press Releases on current events scheduled, communications with other occupy groups to more easily coordinate efforts.) The Public should know what we’re doing, we can start there.
Consensus: PASSED- Media Working group established per volunteers, see “Working Group proposal” below for more details.

•Proposal: “Have the next sign wave on the corner of Minton and Palm Bay Road.”
Concerns: When? (Evening because traffic is backed up for a mile or more.) Why there? (Traffic and there are three banks on that corner.) Where would we park? (Publix parking lot or the bank parking lots themselves.) Would it interfere with the peace corner? (Doesn’t have to.) We should keep it in the same place so people know where to find us and get familiar with seeing our presence. (Maybe a onetime change to see how it works out?) Maybe, but we need consistency to show strength and determination this early in the Revolution.
Consensus: TABLED- New Direct Action work Group will coordinate details

•Proposal: “Have the GA’s every two weeks- people work, meetings run long, people leave early, burnout will occur.”
Concerns: Two weeks is even longer than one week so that will cause more information needing to be discussed and make the meeting last even longer. Occupiers are doing GA’s daily.
Consensus: NOT PASSED- One Week GA’s, future proposals welcome.

•Proposal: “Each member submit proposals via ‘suggestion’ type box upon entering the meeting since mods miss parts of the conversations, hard for them to hear the proposal, very time consuming.”
Concerns: Should we use more moderators instead? Perhaps 1:20 ratio of moderators to members? (Maybe, but moderators are good for keeping an eye on and for the hand signals during consensus.) Should we offer proposals to the Working Groups? (Streamlining the process will save time and ensure less incomplete thoughts/proposals)
Consensus: PASSED- Suggestion Box for proposals will be created and all proposals will be removed from the box prior to the start of the proposal portion of the GA. Anyone can submit a proposal to the box, moderators, or a working group for review before or during the GA to ensure it makes it to the Facilitator of the GA.

•Proposal: “Propose that we support the efforts to support the closing of bank accounts with the major banks due to their participation in our current financial crisis.”
Concerns: There is a movement for nationwide closing of big-bank accounts on November 5th and a committee in Space Coast Credit Union is willing to help it’s ne customers with that transition. (OccupyOrlando offers fliers with a Credit Union search data base website…we will post soon) A template letter written by the proposer was read to the GA. (Note: She CC’d her House Representatives, we like this.) We should depict the reps with nascar jackets so we can see what companies/banks/lobbyists sponsor them. (www.opensecrets.org is a good source of information on our politicians.)
Consensus: PASSED- Letter which was read was accepted as an excellent template to the banks and suggested it be posted for availability to The People on the MB and FB.

•Proposal: Work Groups as follows:

• Peace Keeper-Watch for and try to amend dangerous protester activity and or conduct. Keep a list of people engaging in suspicious activities. Calm aggressive behavior and encourage peace and non-reaction.
  
• Legal- Provide legal information. Keep track of arrested community members. Monitor community for any and all illegal activity.
  
• Transportation-Contribute to community carpool .Organize Fuel Fund. Help map out parking for events.
  
• Materials/Medical-Keep track of equipment and supplies (including medical).Monitor community to keep areas clean. Organize list of materials needed for occupation.Dispose of waste and recyclables appropriately.Maintain First Aid Kit/Response dealing with the effects of pepper spray, exhaustion, dehydration, stings, cuts, etc
  
• Media-Be prepared to speak to the media. Graphic Design. Photography / Videography . Prepare print outs of fact lists. Prepare references and backup information for the community. Share updated info via social media and websites .
  
• Education-Gather information and create fact sheets for current events, legislations, economics 101, congress 101, etc. Organize teach-ins on various topics including finding volunteer teachers. Research questions pertaining to the movement as needed and provide this information with sources to the public .
  
• Issues-Maintain a list of current politicians. Maintain a list of current bills, petitions, events, etc related to the movement and the politicians supporting/opposing them. Utilize both lists to propose a topic/issue to the GA with a template proposing who to address our concerns to in addition to our general position on said issue. Then/Also coordinate efforts to contact said politicians in regards to said issue.
  
• Outreach-Maintain a list of and build relationships with current Unions, Churches, Clubs, etc. Maintain a list of current events which effect said groups. Utilize both lists to ouch reach and coordinate efforts to support said groups. Keep said groups up to date with our activities should they wish to help out too.
  
• Direct Action- Draft proposals for events to include: Location, Date, Time, and duration of the event, Free and paid parking options, Are permits needed? Should the Police be notified? Coordinate said event if consensus is reached including working with media to get it out there and advertised to the public.
  
• Web-Create and Maintain a website, Utilize feedback from the people on what is wanted on the web site. Create and Maintain a forum/Message Board (MB). (Tandem with the Media Team)
  

Concerns: Can we list these groups with the facilitator contact number somewhere? (Yes, on the forum or website.) Should we prioritize the work groups? (Not if we get volunteers for them.) We might not have enough people. (We will combine groups until we do.)
Consensus: TABLED- Until we recessed and got people to sign up for the groups, each group which had volunteers PASSED to a Working Group as outlined above.

•Proposal: “Let the courts know that we are aware of the conflict of interest of the judges presiding over foreclosure cases as they have a financial interest in the case’s outcome as it will affect their retirements which are funded by the same banks in these cases.”
Concerns: What?! (Occupy LA Has already served notice to its judges demanding they dismissed themselves.) Do we have proof of this and our judges? (Can we find out?) We definitely want to know more so please update the discussion board with more information! (Please?!)
Consensus: TABLED- To the newly created Issues Working Group to team with Education and legal to research this and offer a more informed proposal with template contact for approval at the next GA.


•Proposal: “OMF should establish a routine procedure for sending weekly updates to other groups via e-mail.”
Concerns: There are lots of people who support OMF but cannot be active in the group. (We should have a system to notify them so they can spread the word to others and so on. Include other originations like News Papers, Space Coast Progressive Alliance, etc.) Maybe we should table until we can establish our group identity? (www.occupytogether.org is collaborating with Occupy Sites nationwide to try and work together more closely. One conference call included about 90 people.) Getting off topic, two issues here (1) Notifying people of what we’re doing and when (2) Building relationships with people and groups who may support our actions/ideas.
Consensus: TABLED- Media team will work on templates for proposals, concerns, and updates to be implemented if approved later.

•Proposal: “Defund the banks by everyone filing for loan modifications on the same day; then open an escrow account in a local credit union. Send a letter to your bank that your mortgage payments will be made to the escrow account until the modification is approved. Instead of sending a check, send them a copy of the deposit slip.”
Concerns: What does that mean? (Basically it’s telling the bank you put their money in another bank until they modify your loan to suit your actual ability to pay or whatever you want modified.) Is that legal? (It may depend on the sort of loan you have and the specifics of your loan contract.) Will this really do anything? (You make change by individual action collectively.)
Consensus: TABLED- consult legal/education team for research of this idea and draft template to propose at the next GA.

Recess [9:11pm-9:26pm]

Announcements [9:26pm-10:00pm]
• Flyers or other Media to support the movement can be posted on the MB
-Gary can make flyers if you give him the general idea.
• Post the website while under construction on the MB for The Peoples review and suggestion.
• Do not leave all the signs with one person! (Precaution if they can’t make it to an event.)
• Old Business for next meeting:
-Move announcements to the beginning.
-Suggest templates form for proposals/concerns/suggestions.
-FB- to a group page because (refined proposal)
• Thank the Host!
• Clean-up after ourselves.