Post by Mireille on Feb 22, 2012 19:17:51 GMT -5
The General Assembly met on 2/20/2012 at the Sun Shoppe & Cafe at 7 pm. There were 12 attendees. The meeting was held in an informal open discussion format.
Attendees discussed the direction of OMF and ideas for increasing participation. Some members indicated that they wanted to incorporate community organizing and outreach activities, such as food reclamation, soup kitchens, music/art festivals. Other members expressed that they wanted to continue actions on politicians both as individuals and as a group effort to affect legislation concerning the 99%.
Amy Tidd from the progressive political talk radio show (The Amy Tidd Show) briefly spoke about the Florida legislature trying to cut hourly wages from $4.65 to $2.13. She suggested members write a letter to stop SB 2106 at fightforflorida.com/heresatip
Mireille introduced a proposal in writing by Ron Van Dyke soliciting an action at Brevard County Sheriff's Office to protest the enforcement of illegal foreclosures. Evanne as direct action facilitator called Ron during the meeting to obtain information on an effective date and to clarify details. The group reached consensus that a protest/rally action would take place at the Brevard County Sheriff's Office at 2825 Judge Fran Jamieson Way on March 2nd at 4:00 pm.
There was a discussion on the current internal conflicts within the group, specifically about the members having an "organizational meeting" at House of Joe (herein referred to as the HOJ group) and whether that meeting was conceived and approved at the 2/13 GA to replace the current GA, in a manner consistent with Occupy guidelines established at the third OMF GA.
The guidelines call for the use of a direct democratic process with consensus and subsequent transparency. A member who had attended the 2/13 expressed that this process was not used and the change was simply dictated, and a second member who had been present agreed. Since the process for making group decisions had not been altered at any previous GA, and no minutes were provided stating otherwise, the change was not considered valid.
Three members who attended the House of Joe meeting and arrived at the GA expressed that the HOJ group felt their actions were legitimate. Mandy offered to mediate between the groups to resolve the conflict by suggesting the possible use of focus groups (similar to the working group concept already in place). She agreed to contact the HOJ group and report back. Several members expressed the desire to preserve the democratic process as established for the entire group (OMF) and specifically the GA and that the HOJ group should not speak for the entire OMF group. Also, it was stated that in order to continue as one group, someone other than the current admin or those within the HOJ group, would have to be added as admin on the Occupy Melbourne Fl. page. Consensus was reached on delaying definitive action until the mediation was concluded, with a goal of resolving the issue by the next GA at Sun Shoppe on 2/27 at 7 pm.
However, it was proposed that the GA be moved thereafter to a different time and location as to not interfere with the ongoing "organizational meeting" at House of Joe every other week and so that members wishing to attend both, can. Members discussed and reached concensus to have a more open location at a time when members might be more available. The day, time and location selected was Saturdays at 3:30 pm at Manatee Park near downtown Melbourne starting on March 3rd, 2012.
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:50 pm.
Attendees discussed the direction of OMF and ideas for increasing participation. Some members indicated that they wanted to incorporate community organizing and outreach activities, such as food reclamation, soup kitchens, music/art festivals. Other members expressed that they wanted to continue actions on politicians both as individuals and as a group effort to affect legislation concerning the 99%.
Amy Tidd from the progressive political talk radio show (The Amy Tidd Show) briefly spoke about the Florida legislature trying to cut hourly wages from $4.65 to $2.13. She suggested members write a letter to stop SB 2106 at fightforflorida.com/heresatip
Mireille introduced a proposal in writing by Ron Van Dyke soliciting an action at Brevard County Sheriff's Office to protest the enforcement of illegal foreclosures. Evanne as direct action facilitator called Ron during the meeting to obtain information on an effective date and to clarify details. The group reached consensus that a protest/rally action would take place at the Brevard County Sheriff's Office at 2825 Judge Fran Jamieson Way on March 2nd at 4:00 pm.
There was a discussion on the current internal conflicts within the group, specifically about the members having an "organizational meeting" at House of Joe (herein referred to as the HOJ group) and whether that meeting was conceived and approved at the 2/13 GA to replace the current GA, in a manner consistent with Occupy guidelines established at the third OMF GA.
The guidelines call for the use of a direct democratic process with consensus and subsequent transparency. A member who had attended the 2/13 expressed that this process was not used and the change was simply dictated, and a second member who had been present agreed. Since the process for making group decisions had not been altered at any previous GA, and no minutes were provided stating otherwise, the change was not considered valid.
Three members who attended the House of Joe meeting and arrived at the GA expressed that the HOJ group felt their actions were legitimate. Mandy offered to mediate between the groups to resolve the conflict by suggesting the possible use of focus groups (similar to the working group concept already in place). She agreed to contact the HOJ group and report back. Several members expressed the desire to preserve the democratic process as established for the entire group (OMF) and specifically the GA and that the HOJ group should not speak for the entire OMF group. Also, it was stated that in order to continue as one group, someone other than the current admin or those within the HOJ group, would have to be added as admin on the Occupy Melbourne Fl. page. Consensus was reached on delaying definitive action until the mediation was concluded, with a goal of resolving the issue by the next GA at Sun Shoppe on 2/27 at 7 pm.
However, it was proposed that the GA be moved thereafter to a different time and location as to not interfere with the ongoing "organizational meeting" at House of Joe every other week and so that members wishing to attend both, can. Members discussed and reached concensus to have a more open location at a time when members might be more available. The day, time and location selected was Saturdays at 3:30 pm at Manatee Park near downtown Melbourne starting on March 3rd, 2012.
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:50 pm.