10/29 GA Notes

[markm]

Thanks Maya!

Occupy Saratoga General Assembly
Broadway and Church
October 29, 2011, 2:00-3:00 PM

Facilitator: Mark
Video of meeting: Kim
Minutes: Maya

If anyone sees wrong or missing information that was said at the meeting, please let me know.

• Review of process of GA
• Request of Bill Charton to videotape meetings and post video on OS website.
o Opened to discussion – comments/concerns:
 Will not take place of minutes.
 Transcriptions of video would be helpful for web searches, but if not transcripted, content of meetings will be unsearchable via search engine.
 If transcripted, individuals could be identified.
 Video could be very important to record any interaction with law enforcement.
o Proposal made and Motion for a vote. Attendees unanimously voted in favor of videotaping meetings.
• Working Group Reports
o Points of Process:
 People do not have to have “permission” to work on a project together. We are a leaderless organization.
 Working Groups can be followed on the Proboards.
 We need contact info of those in working groups.
o Events: (I did not hear clear info on this report.)
 Limited contactability of current point person
 Library Meeting
 Citizen Artist
o Media: (I did not hear a report from this group. Was there one?)
o Legal: Looking for legal council.
o Outreach:
 Have put posters up.
 Have put a letter in to Saratoga Coffee Traders for permission to use the coffee house for small working groups. Waiting for response.
 Spoke with Chad of Bread Basket for same purpose. Waiting for response.
 Group point person expressed need for informational flier that would clearly explain what OS is/does/stands for + against.
• A box of such fliers has been made and will be made available.
 Calls made to individuals of other organizations.
 Emails sent regarding today’s event.
 Request made for everyone to send out emails.
 Freecycle mentioned as an excellent resource for donations for the occupiers.
o Facilitation
 Need facilitators to plan agendas and running threads for agendas.
 Point of Process: If you have a proposal for a direct action, you can:
• Contact Outreach on Proboards
• See Facilitator or others on Facilitation
• Bring proposal to meeting
o Mission Statement
 Will have a statement done soon.
 Leaderless, broad, inclusive, consensus-driven
 “Just Zach” on FaceBook framed the Occupy Movement very well and could be used as a resource.
• New Business
o Al, as a representative from Saratoga Springs MoveOn, made a Proposal that OS join them in an event in front of Bank of America on Division St. on Saturday, November 5th, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm.
 Message: Take your $ out of big banks and put it into local banks and credit unions.
 A “Flash Mob” (dance and chant), called by Skidmore students, will be showing up. Wear green to symbolize money.
 Clarifying Questions:
• If business is still open, is there a chance for arrest? Will we be blocking entrance? – Permit for this event has been obtained. We will not block entrance.
• Do we know of actual accounts that will be closed that day? – Don’t know, visibility and message more important.
• Will we have fliers to hand out? –Yes
• Is this coordinated with the national Nov. 5th movement? –Yes, through an alignment with MoveOn and OWS.
• Aren’t Flash Mobs supposed to be secret? –Used to be, not anymore.
 Motion for a vote: Agreed upon unanimously to support the Nov 5th event.
 Can OS have a General Assembly after the event, at 12:00?
 Can there be a modification so that the Saratoga Peace Alliance can attend the Assembly, but not disrupt its ongoing Saturday event on Broadway?
• Discussion:
o Fears expressed by several people that if we wait an hour for the SPA, people will disperse.
o Can SPA move their protest to BoA for that day? –No, SPA meets at same place every week.
o Can we have the meeting indoors because of cold? – A sentiment was expressed that it should be held outdoors for now in solidarity with occupiers.
• Motion for a vote: Agreed upon unanimously that OS’ GA will be held at 12:00 in front of BoA.
o Announcement: Please bring donations to Occupy Albany. Proboard has lists of needs. The Dollar Store is a good resource for needs.
o Carpooling to Albany today? – Mark, Bob and Maya made arrangements.
• Assembly ended.