Proposed Mission Statement 1st draft

[markm]

To be brought up and discussed at our next GA this Saturday

Occupy Saratoga is part of the growing people powered movement that began on September 17,2011 in Liberty Square in Manhattan’s financial district. We join in solidarity with Occupy Movements everywhere in fighting back against the corrosive power of major banks and multinational corporations over the democratic process, and the role of Wall Street in creating an economic collapse that has caused the greatest recession in generations. By exercising our Constitutional right to freely assemble in public space to discuss and debate the issues confronting us we empower real people to create real change from the bottom up. We vow to remain leaderless, operate by consensus and remain inclusive and open to all. We are the 99% that will no longer tolerate the greed and corruption of the 1%.

I would like some feedback and comments and suggestions before this is brought up Saturday.

[admin]

I think you hit the nail on the head with this.

[brynin]

hey mark, sorry i haven't been apart of whats been going on, iv been reading and listening to anything i can find. Help me understand where everyone is coming from and help spread the information i find. I'm apart of occupy voices-media group, they have been working with groups around the country recording peoples thoughts and ideas, is there anyway we could get some people together in Saratoga and Albany to do recordings of people apart of the movement. This is whats been done so far, their still getting the site together and uploading videos. I think recording and sharing thoughts would help spread ideas coming out of saratoga and albany. I don't have the equipment to do recording. Here is the site so far. occupyvoices.com/voices#!prettyPhoto

[brynin]

In regards to your mission statement, I think the way in witch you write is very...Uplifting. Id like to see part of the mission to focus on issues other then, money. I think more topics should be addressed. Energy, technology and how we use it, how can we change it, improve it, apply it to society and will it or can it lower the coast of living, so many services can be done at lower costs, for free even, there's even ways to have free communication with all the texting you want, but of course there is not money in that. use our technology to create a sustainable society that we all gain from. I would ask people in the groups what they want added to the mission statement. Also watch some of the occupy voices videos on topics to discuss.

[markm]

All good ideas. Our next OS meeting is tentatively set for Thursday 12/3 at 7PM at the Saratoga Library. A group is getting together to plan for the meeting this Sat at 11AM at the Saratoga Library. You are welcome to attend. We are looking for help and input on ways to raise awareness for OS. We need a core group willing to work towards promoting and planning our 12/3 meeting so we can have a large crowd and a successful event. Come help if you can.

[Frenchy]

The Community Room at the Saratoga Springs Public Library has been reserved for Monday (tomorrow) eve 7pm to 8:30pm - if we want to have a meeting? If we are not using it, want to release the room back to the Library. Your feedback please. - Frenchy -

[brynin]

Mark i haven't been able to go to meetings because of transportation issues, So iv been spending my support sharing information i get from groups linked to OWS in NYC. If you start to video tape idea and issues talked about during meeting, ill be happy to share them with the occupy network group and occupy voices group, and have them posted on there site. Ill get the guideline they emailed me to help with interviews.

[brynin]

Building an Interview Team (Draft 1)
Recommended Supplies
Interviewer Supplies
o Camera, Mic, Batteries, Tapes/Disks, etc. See Video Camera recommended specs here
o Tri-Pod
o Stand for mic if necessary
o Two stools or chairs. Most interviewees seem to like to sit up on the edge of their charis, so a stool may be better
o Small table for interviewer
o Privacy screen
o Whiteboard and dry-erase pen
o OV Interview cards and pen (~50)
o Sheet with permission statement and two questions
Coordinator Supplies
o Sign “The Occupy Voices Project” “Share Your Story”
o 3 clipboards: 2 for survey, 1 for volunteer list and interview queue
o 2 copies of survey questions in plastic cover sheets
o ~50 survey answer strips
o 3+ pens
o Poster board with 2 questions on it. (Something to point at)
Interview Team Roles and Responsibilities
Interviewer Role
Interviewer should stay focused on the interview process only during the interview session
Interviewer is responsible for getting video edited or to the Editing Team
Preparations:
o Read tech doc on video interview setup. Light/sound, etc.
o Obtain Batch # and fill out batch information.
o Pre fill out OV Interview Cards with Batch/Sequence numbers. Estimate how many you may do and stop a few short to prevent waste
o Camera Equipment Prep
o Batteries charged
o Adequate tapes, mem cards, etc.
o Upload equipment if applicable
o Setup Interview space
o Lighting (is applicable)
o Sound check

Process:
1. Greet Interviewee
2. Explain Process
a. Hold up whiteboard with batch/sequence #
b. Will read permission statement and want them to answer yes. DO they have questions now?
c. Final camera adjustments
d. State two questions coming
e. Ask if they are OK to go?
3. Hold up card BEFORE you start the camera (this ensures that the batch/seq# will be on the interview thumbnail.
4. Start Recording
5. Take board after about 5 seconds
6. Ask permission statement. Get a “Yes” answer. Some folks get nervous or joke, and may not answer yes clearly. Ask again to make sure you get a “Yes”
7. Final camera check (Focus, distractions, boogers, etc.
8. “OK, Let’s go… Ask Q1, Answer 1, Q2, Answer 2
9. Stop Recording
10. Thank person
11. Stand and hand them the interview card, explain what the card is.
12. Escort them to exit and ask them to see the coordinator to take a post interview survey
13. Sequence white board for next interview. Should match next interview card.
14. Check battery level
15. Check Tape/Mem capacity remaining
16. -- REPEAT --

Coordinator Role
o Bring people in to interview (get them interested in telling their story)
o Manage queue
o Manage survey
o Help get interviewee into and out of Interview space
o Check in on Interviewer in-between interviews
o Manage external noise (to help interviews)

Bringing People In
o Everyone has a story, so ask everyone
o Don’t be pushy, if they say no thank them and move on
o Suggested Lead Statement. “Would you like to share your story? (Rhetorical question, keep right on talking.) We are asking everyone to answer two basic questions; “How have you …”, and “What would you…””
o People are often interested but want to think about the questions and formulate an answer before they are interviewed. Get them on the wait list, and give them their ETA so they know how long they have to prepare. Before leaving them, repeat the two questions.
o Don’t let people tell you their story. Listen politely for a short while, but then say “sounds like you have an interesting story to tell. You should save that for the camera. Think about how you will answer those two questions and I’m going to drum up some more folks who may be interested in sharing…”
o Some folks may seem like they would want to share, but say they have not been impacted. You may be able to spur some thoughts by saying stuff like “Well, not everybody has had insurance problems, owns a home or investments/pensions that have lost value, or is looking for work, but everyone who pays taxes or will pay taxes, like my 6 year old boy, will be paying off the Trillions our government gave to the big banks that continue to make record profits and pay their executives Billions in bonuses. Worst part is these are the same people who caused the economic crisis effecting most of us.” (or something like that. It may make them think of something that impacting them.)
o Be prepared to tell people about
o What we do with vids/audio and why
o Our goals
o Our process
o Who we are
o Where to volunteer
o How to get info on Occupy

[brynin]

Something to share with people.

ALERT from Occupy Portland

ALERT! A man named Justin James Bridges, musician & ASL translator for Occupy Portland General Assembly, was assaulted by @portlandpolice today during camp clean out.

He was beaten repeatedly in the back and has now lost use of his right arm. Though Justin was lying on the ground in compliance, Portland Police continuously beat him in the back with clubs until his eyes rolled back in his head. Fellow protesters thought he was dead. He is now in critical care.

IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION, ESPECIALLY PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE, DO NOT HESITATE TO COME FORWARD. National Lawyers’ Guild # 503-902-5340. Protect rights, protect the truth.

Please share. And if you have info or evidence, for the sake of justice, come forward.