Nov 25: Black Friday March - Support Local Biz!!

[evanne]

So, without further ado:
WHAT: A Black Friday march in support of local businesses.

Start at Melbourne Square Mall and march to downtown.

• Signs should emphasize people owned business over corporation owned business.
  
• We can talk about corporations not paying taxes and getting products from sweatshops.
  
• Along the way we can stop at banks and atms so people can withdraw cash to pay in cash downtown. Explain how when you pay with your card the merchants have to pay part of their money to a national corp who takes the money out of your local economy entirely.
  
• Once downtown we could have small flyers that showed atm locations and their fees in downtown so people can pay cash.
  
• Some local merchants will be offering 5% off purchases made with cash!
  

We arrive at the little park in downtown Melbourne and literally start telling people about the local businesses, and what they can buy wear.

The inside of the following brochure will have examples of some stores you can find in Down Town.
www.lookpastit.com/OccupyMelbourneFL/OMFBFM_Outside.jpg

Or you can utilize this map from restortmaps.com
www.resortmaps.com/uploads/printable_version/printable_map/328/melbourne_downtown_printable.pdf

After that we have a people's mic. If we have a huge crowd we can continue to front street park, perhaps? I don't want people blocking the roadways in downtown, but feel we at least need to pause there to encourage people to frequent local businesses.

Perhaps we can plan to wind up the day with a picnic and craft time for kids to make their own christmas presents with inexpensive (aka recycled) supplies while adults learn about the Federal Reserve and what individuals can do to make a difference in today's economy.

WHY:
Big box stores crush locally owned business and suck money out of the local economy. Credit card companies bleed local merchants with higher rates than national stores and lure consumers into debt. Give a gift that supports your community and the people that live there, not corporate profit.

This route is simple and direct. It has clear targets we can reference, and it seems pretty short.

It is 3 miles, perhaps 3.5 with the little jaunt down to Suntrust. I think we should count 2 or maybe 2.5 hours for the stroll. Coz I really do think we should walk at quite the leisurely pace.

Also, the forecast for the day is 80 degrees for the high and 70 for the low.

HOW:
I've added the start and end (Money->Buying) in yellow on the DAT map. maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=
216134080825264819227.0004b17b1782c47e40081 It is about 3 miles and google thinks it will take 55 minutes to walk it. I think an hour and half would be a better time frame. People who couldn't or didn't want to do the entire thing would be encouraged to join from a chain store along the way.



FAQ's:

Where do we park? Where we'll be meeting, the parking lots on the south side of the mall closest to the Chase and Wells Fargo.

What if we can't walk all four miles? Join in anywhere you'd like! We encourage anyone to start at any big box store along New Haven(192) and let the people know you're joining the march instead and spending your money in a local store. Help encourage others to do the same. Or just quietly doing it as often actions speak louder than words.

What if we can't walk at all? We have volunteers willing to push wheelchair bound if you have a chair. We also have a few who are driving along the route to encourage passer-by support and offer water or a place to sit for anyone in need of emergency rest. You can certainly join that volunteer list.

What if we cannot attend all day? Join us when you can! This is to create awareness and offer education. You can always check back at our website for more information!

Where in down town will you be stopping? 1109 E New Haven Ave Melbourne 32901, though we've had trouble getting a hold of the owners we plan to clean up while we're there and take out their trash in thanks for utilizing their property. If asked to leave we will file out to the Front Street Park.

1109 E New Haven:


Note the parking lot. Anyone who is bringing water, drinks, coolers or other supplies for the activities in DownTown are encourage to park in this parking lot and set up in the grass after cleaning up any debris that might be there.

For questions on the day of, please call 407-952-6520 and speak to Mandy Elliott. She may be handling something on the ground so leave a Voice Mail so she can call back as soon as possible.

[Solus Hospes]

I think we should also post weather conditions that are expected once we can get them to be sure people dress for the occasion and to help us pick a time frame to ensure no bad weather to deter people.

Also, I don't think we need a permit so long as we obey the cross walks and don't block the roads. This will mean that once part of our party crosses a street, if any were unable to cross before the no-crossing, we have to wait for a new walk and occupy that intersection until all our people are across and then keep marching. This will add some time so it might be up to two hours.

I haven't gotten a response from the Lawyer recommending any particular officer so on Monday I'll try to fit in calling the PD to let them know what we're thinking and see what they say. At the very least they need to be aware of our plans.

[evanne]

Absolutely. If you are good on the phone and feel comfortable, please go for it. My job keeps me on the phone a lot so calls are hard for me to do.

I think that the members of the DA team can step up and act as protest leads for our actions. So we can work with the PKs to make sure we can keep people within the law.

Also, good call, I will check the weather report.

Any thoughts on the still up in the air things?

QUESTIONS FOR THE DIRECT ACTION TEAM:
Do we want to try to use this as an opportunity to test out a downtown occupation site?

Do we want to toe the legal line at the beginning of the march to try and get people to literally leave big box stores and join us to walk downtown?

[Solus Hospes]

Like...continue the march to a proposed 24/7 site and see how we fare and how long before someone tells us to leave?

As for the second question, I think we could toe that line with the flyers and fact sheets on the local business and the big-stores and offer them to people approaching the stores as we go by or maybe having two person teams splitting off the march and to the stores so we're not intimidating the stores and their personal into thinking we might do something dangerous or harmful. Keep it peaceful but make our points as I presume all the big-stores can see 192 and therefore our marching party so the teams could just point us out and say "follow them" or some such.

(edit-continued thought)

I was also thinking we could list popular items that might be on purchase lists at these big stores and offer alternatives (or the same) offered at the local Merchants as a way to offer proof that they can get what they need and don't have to worry about wasting a trip.

[evanne]

Yes, I am thinking that we can get volunteers to meet super early and go to the worst offender big box stores with targeted info. We can pass it out outside, or inside, depending on how brazen we wanna be, I guess. Nothing violent to people or property, no intimidation, just facts.

I also had the thought that we could wait among the people in the box stores and then flash mob style all start to announce we're going to vote with our money like the corporations always tell us is our right and that we're leaving to walk downtown.

And yes, that is exactly what I am thinking with the potential 24/7 occupation site. Peacefully disburse, put up no resistance and be very polite, but feel it out. See what happens, make sure to leave it cleaner than we found it. Walk the walk.

[Solus Hospes]

I love your flashmob idea. Peaceful, but pointed. I think it might make an impact on the people inside for sure. We might even get a few to join us. We should coordinate with the media team to get pictures and or video of this in a few of the stores.

I'm going to announce the 24/7 site poll on the facebook group page and at the GA so we can see if people are willing and from there we can determine if a test run is plausible. I like the idea.

[evanne]

Yes, emphasis should be on supporting local business, 100%. Big Box stores do employ locals, but they don't put as much money back into the economy, even through whatever they pay out in payroll.

Some sort of tandem thing would be awesome, I noticed that there is a local business day on the 26th already set up, so I wanna get in touch with those people to talk to them about cross promoting as well.

I hadn't thought of that route idea, but I do think we should go through the business district though, bc part of what we're trying to do is literally bring shoppers to the business district. And the little park at the end of downtown is good for a people's mic.

[Solus Hospes]

Yes, to show the shoppers that others are already making the choices to support their local businesses over the big box stores. If we think about it, if we supported our local business more, than they would be able to expand in our areas and be those bigger employers of our local people. We have to help to be helped.

[evanne]

That's absolutely how I always feel about your suggestions, Randy, and I appreciate that about you!

A meeting would be good but I don't know when would work...I have a friends wedding tomorrow and rehearsals for it. I could do Sunday?

I would like to get a time by the end of the day for the start of the march. What are your thoughts?

[Solus Hospes]

end of today or end of sunday? We could post another pole and blast it on facebook to try and get answers to the when question... -off to prep for Peace Corner-

[evanne]

As soon as possible...let's start thinking in terms of a day long schedule of stuff to figure it out.

?-10 AM	Flash announcements in stores.
10 AM	Begin gathering on the sidewalk in front of the mall.
11 AM	March leaves the mall headed to downtown.
2 PM	March arrives downtown: People's Mic/Soapbox & Working Group Meetings/Recruitment Fair
4:30 PM	Teach-ins
7 PM	GA (Some people still work on Black Friday.)

By keeping people doing stuff downtown we encourage local business. Every time I go to a march in Orlando I eat at a local restaurant. I see other occupiers dispersing into downtown Orlando after the marches and I am betting they do the same.

[Solus Hospes]

Excellent. I just posted a poll on facebook group page (www.facebook.com/group/occupymelbournefl) on when we should get started and I'll add this post as a reference for what we're thinking so far.

[evanne]

Sure, what can I do?

(I can't find an edit button for calendar entries :/)

[Solus Hospes]

I fixed the calendar... You have to click the event then the post will have a modify button.
Also, I would love to help but my day is full and I'm trying to make arrangements not to miss the GA either but tomorrow I can dive back in.

[evanne]

Thanks Mandy! I am sometimes terrible and finding little things like that!

Based on the poll I am thinking we should start this baby at 10 unless anyone has any objections? It's kind of the median of the times that people have votes for.

[gaiaally]

Pat Thomas here. I’m still newish to Occupy MLB (been to 2 “peace corner” thingies) + haven’t made time to introduce myself on the board, yet. Also, just beginning to grok how to dialogue on this forum / FB pages, so feel free to guide me how to / where to do better.

1. I can help a wee bit w signage / printing flyers today (Tue) and Thurs. What’s needed?

2. On Friday 2pm-ish I can be at the little park before RR tracks(?) to help do __what?__. Also, I can drive anyone as needed back to their car or to the Peace Corner if anyone’s going there (at 4pm).

3. Randall or anyone--any more to report (or have I missed same?) re feedback from downtown businesses or their Association? Have we asked them how we can SUPPORT (totally neighborly) their “local business day” Nov. 26???

4. My interest in the Black Friday action is towards the Long View… As various crises continue / systems melt down through next year and beyond, we need to band together as a community. Starting (continuing) with ongoing relationships w. locally-owned businesses. Perhaps, sometime, start a board about the progress in this regard?

[Solus Hospes]

Pat, I also e-mailed you with more detail but here's the basic answers to these questions:

1. So far the only flyer is this one(www.lookpastit.com/OccupyMelbourneFL/BlackFirdayFlyer01.jpg) by Evanne I think. I will probably make a few tonite and post them after I get started on the map.

2. If you want to help me in Materials and hold down some water for arriving folks to be able to drink when we get to the park that'd be a great help. Also, for those who are worn out or have to go, you could potentially car-pool people back to their cars and up to the Peace Corner around 4 for those who want to do that. We thank you so much for the help! Really and truly.

3. Evanne met with them today so I'll let her explain what they talked about. From the sounds of it, they're in support of us supporting them so we'll bring continued support into the 26th up during the day no doubt. If you have any additional specific information about what they're doing on/for the 26th we'd appreciate it if you'd share it here so we can try to incorporate that too.

4. You are absolutely correct and the outreach work group would be the perfect place to head up those relationship building discussions. I'll add a board there when I'm done posting this and I apologize for the bare bones. (occupymelbournefl.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=outreach&thread=119)

Thank you again Pat, you're being a big help if you're able to do even one of these things for us. We really appreciate the efforts so thank you so much.

[Solus Hospes]

Here are two more flyers:


URL to share: www.lookpastit.com/OccupyMelbourneFL/BlackFirdayFlyer02.jpg


URL to share: www.lookpastit.com/OccupyMelbourneFL/BlackFirdayFlyer03.jpg


URL to share: www.lookpastit.com/OccupyMelbourneFL/BlackFirdayFlyer04.jpg

[evanne]

I met with the leader of the downtown business association as well as a married couple who owns a business in downtown.

They are in complete support of our action Friday and are excited for us to be supporting them.

The Saturday Local Business Day is sponsored by American Express. We talked about how we are encouraging people to pay cash.

The business owners that were supporting us in the meeting have suggested that local businesses could offer a discount of 5% (or whatever they pay to the credit card companies) to customers using cash. They also pointed out that checks are an issue as well, not as much used any more, but still require local merchants to pay fees to accept them. At any rate, the potential cash discount would be an ongoing campaign and they were discussing some kind of window sign to promote it "Buy local, pay cash, save 5% HERE" kind of thing.

Also we discussed supporting local restaurants while we are downtown, which is very important, too!

Also the leader of the downtown business group has gotten in touch with Randy to get a quote into our PR for the event. Woot woot!

[gaiaally]

The Chandlery [911 E. New Haven Ave., ph [phone]] says on their Facebook page that they’re offering 10% off on Saturday the 26th IF shoppers use their American Express card.

[rwparkinson]

Please update pro-boards calendar to show start time (10 am) and meet-up location (SW parking lot of Melb Sq Mall) of Black Friday march.

[evanne]

Mandy, I think it might be your mod status, bc on the Calendar section I don't see any modify or edit buttons for the posts like in other sections. If you could fix the stuff Randy is looking for that would be awesome!

Thanks everybody for everything you've done to make tomorrow happen.

Also I hope today everyone is having a great Turkey Day!

[Solus Hospes]

Done, updated with a map and such. Working on the flyer again.

[Solus Hospes]

This is what we have on the brochure so far...yes I realize the "individuals in" needs a space, we'll fix that. Any other suggestions/comments before tomorrow?

Due to their size (For print quality), I'm only linking them.

www.lookpastit.com/OccupyMelbourneFL/OMFBFM_inside.jpg
www.lookpastit.com/OccupyMelbourneFL/OMFBFM_Outside.jpg

[rwparkinson]

All of these maps are great; too late to be effective during our Black Friday event, but let's keep that karma going so when our next event comes alive we are ready.

Good work everyone.

[evanne]

On the bottom of the back 'individualsin' needs a space.

Inside next to the map i'd suggest "money's impact and minimize fuel use." Leave out the part about CO2, it's a natural by product of fuel use. If you wanna get it in there, i'd suggest: "money's impact, minimize fuel use and CO2 production."

It looks so great!

[Solus Hospes]

Round two on the brochures:

www.lookpastit.com/OccupyMelbourneFL/OMFBFM_inside2.jpg
www.lookpastit.com/OccupyMelbourneFL/OMFBFM_Outside2.jpg

[rwparkinson]

We need to stop, look, and listen. The Black Friday event had less people than the first Peace Corner protest. OMF should not do anything - purge all proposals - until we can sponsor an event that brings more than our first one.

The Black Friday march had less people than attend the Monday night GA meetings. What is the point?

We don't need to watch a video at the Henegar (good idea, but not appropriate at this time). We don't need to do anything but raise awareness by sponsoring an event at which a large number of people attend.

Perhaps we need to coordinate an action with the other groups; Orlando, Space Coast, etc. But whatever we do, it better be big.

Ideas anyone?

[gm0ney]

Hey, can someone put up some photos of the event!!!

[James]

I moved some posts concerning our next action or event to an existing thread here: occupymelbournefl.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=omflgeneral&action=display&thread=121

Try and stay on topic within threads, and don't double post. ;D This will keep us all less confused.