Saturday (1/22/12) GA Minutes

GA Notes Saturday 1/22/12 First Cong. Church
Ilan, facilitation; Alan, stack Meeting began 1:20 pm
(these are not minutes but hopefully they will do)

Early Proposals, not all of which were discussed
An Occupy newspaper distributed in boxes around town
A sit-in one night a week on Boulder city land
Occupy the calendar
Occupy foreclosed homes
A new hand signal
Reduce GAs from 3 to 2 per week (no Monday)

Announcements

City Council will hold public hearing on restriction of Jury trials/date?
Democracy School training video, more parts shown Friday
at 7pm at P&J Ctr
Jared polis meeting with the man himself in mid-Feb sometime
Film “How to start a Revolution” v good at Boedecker Theater about Gene sharp’s book Dictatorship to Democracy
First 9 occupiers have had initial hearing, Feb 9 is trial day at 6th and Canyon courthouse
Open Space meeting being created by Ilan and Kate for Feb 2, need space
Etta James, “I’ve Got my Freedom,” died/Ziggy Marley at Bldr Thea in no GMO concert this week

Proposals in stack and results

1. Reduce GA’s to 2 per week, Sat and Wed only, Monday was originally established to deal with camping issue over weekend. Camping ended. This was tabled to consider what kind of activities might replace the Mon GA, perhaps direct actions against foreclosures, etc.
2. New Hand signal called “Point of Inspiration” to take the GA someplace away from heady and procedural discussions to a minute of purely positive input, poetry, dance, song, joyful explosion, etc. Approved as one per break between GA agenda items at discretion of facilitator, hand signal is traditional two finger peace sign. This is a creative autonomous action on the part of occupiers.
3. Forum on the website, revamp and increase use of online communication which now underused and confusing to many. Tommy (Grandpa Tom) was a proponent of using the capacities of the forum to better speak to one another and post minutes etc. Kuba seems to have the keys to that kingdom and no one has lately seen him. No clear action taken although consensus that web site has much ability that folks don’t understand. Perhaps a tutorial?
4. Finance and Legal issues arose with some confusion about what had been approved at a prior GA and what had transpired at a recent meeting at Tommy’s place. What transpired was that Erin was named point person, Tommy was named registered agent and Lexi, Jessee, and Erin were designated co-signers for checks. “The importance of resolving this matter is because OB has several hundred dollars in funds that cannot be accessed by anyone currently involved and active so that currently we are not financially viable. Discussion revolved around what needs there were for the money and how much was designated for the campers as opposed to Occupy as a whole, as well as numerous other concerns and possible hold outs. The GA was on the point of approving a financial panel, including Renee as accountant, but did not reach consensus because of stand asides urging caution and a need for input from other GA members like Cliff.

Time ran out at 3:45 pm for the following stacked items: All night gatherings to protest the recent open space curfew, Newspaper and distribution and reinstating marches before the Sat GA.

The meeting ended and discussions moved outside at 4:02 pm.

Respectfully if not too accurately submitted, Tomas