direct action

[paul99]

i think some direct action planning is needed if OS is going to be effective. i've seen a dwindling number of bodies at the three saturday demonstrations i've been to. actions will not only keep the movement alive in the minds of people with short attention spans but will likely bring out more participants. OS has a direct action working group.

[markm]

Direct action is important. We do have an outreach WG and they are looking at different actions we can take. Post some suggestions and reach out to Kathleen, she is looking for suggestions and help for future direct action. Were you at our Bank of America protest Sat which was right before our GA? There was a large crowd there. Our original plan was to hold our GA at the same site (it would have been better attended) but, at the last minute, the consensus was to move to in front of the PO for the meeting. We lost over half of the crowd in the move. Also we usually have our meeting AFTER the Peace Alliance Protest not DURING the protest. We still had about 20 people at our meeting INCLUDING SOME WHO WERE THERE FOR THE 1st TIME. Our small group accomplished a lot (notes to be posted later today) INCLUDING Agreeing to meet next Sat at noon to join the ongoing Saratoga Peace Alliance protest for peace. It was brought up that there is a Veterans Day March (ending at OA) on Friday starting at 10:30 which many of our members will attend. We also raised $68 for OA and had bags of donations (cloths, propane cylinders, food) that was delivered to OA. THere is also a protest on 11/17 that was mentioned and I am sure will be discussed at our next meeting. So although we are small we ARE doing things. You are right, we will always get more people to an event or protest than a meeting. More events are needed and suggestions and help planning them needed. RIght now we are working with OA and other groups to coordinate our events and protests in order to have the biggest impact. Just supporting OA is an action we can take. I go to Albany regularly and I know many from our group do too. It shouldn't be a matter of one or the other, we all need to support each other to grow big everywhere. We can certainly learn alot from OA as we grow in Saratoga. I suggested OS have a permanent presence at OA by having people sign up for 12 hr shifts.

As we grow we can do more. We are also looking for a place to have ONE LARGE INDOOR meeting in order to attract LOTS OF PEOPLE. The more people we have the more actions we can plan.

Please, stay interested, post some suggestions or ideas, reach out to Kathleen, ATTEND OUR NEXT PROTEST AND MEETING on Sat (bring people if you can) continue to check our website and message boards. We are always looking for help to plan and run our meetings if you want to help pan or run our next meeting let me know.

Thanks
Mark

[eteb]

I just wanted to mention as well that I believe the lady who was heading up the "Ethical Spectacles" group (aka Events) doesn't have much access to Internet or phone. I have not met her specifically so I don't know if she is still involved.

Since the group is what we make it, by all means if you have additional thoughts on events please pass them along.

I agree that moving the meeting meant we lost some people. I'm honestly not sure how that ended up happening that we moved (truly I was exhausted on Saturday as I had worked that morning already) so I didn't think to speak up.

You live and learn right!