Occupy Central Vermont

Check-ins:  Heather, Colin, John, Sue, Margaret, Yeshua (for first 10 min), Dell (at 6:25)

Proposal (rework as amendments consensed upon by those on the call):

Occupy Central Vermont will hold General Assemblies once each month, with other events, actions, and/or activities on other Saturdays of the month. The work of Occupy Central Vermont will be largely carried out by Working Groups. Working Groups can call for a General Assembly and contact the Facilitation Working Group to organize that event at any time when necessary. The next decision-making General Assembly will be on Saturday, 7/7, followed by General Assemblies on the first Saturday of each month (either in Montpelier or at Pop-Up location). Per Occupy Central Vermont process, proposals to change this schedule can be made at any time. The schedule will come up for review at the September General Assembly.

Tentative monthly schedule (order depends on the needs of the assembly / WGs. Saturdays are consistent, though time of day may vary, and will be announced on the email list and by other means including flyers)

• General Assembly (Decision making) facilitated by the Facilitation Working Group
• Working Group time and/or Operations facilitated by Direct Action Working Group
• Educational/Teach-in/Discussion-based assembly facilitated by Education & Empowerment
• Working Group time and/or Alternative Social Gathering, facilitation to be rotated

CONSENSUS: YES!!!

Discussion:
Some standing questions:

• How do the regularly scheduled monthly GAs match up with the pop-ups? If they are during the pop-ups, should there be regularly scheduled GAs in Montpelier? If they are not during the pop-ups, who will facilitate the GAs during the pop-ups?
• Will DAWG facilitate one of the Montpelier non-GA assemblies?
• If a lot of new people, maybe hold off on this proposal? Might turn people off, if we’re not on same page together.
• Go around and say what issues are now:
• Margaret — Totally convinced that we should do 1 GA / month which is facilitated, decision-making, and during the pop-up if possible, whenever that is, and then have the WG-focused assemblies by DAWG, E&E. I am willing to facilitate some sort of gathering on the other week, for 1 month to start, and hopefully someone else would do the other months. Problem is burn out, and need for more variety, experimentation, move forward.
• Sue — Problem with having GA only at popup; not best place for contentious issues. Feels strongly that something happening on Saturdays from 3-5 is important. Happy with revisiting in September. Willing to go along.
• Heather — This is a scheduling proposal that could be innocuous, but side issues have come up — tensions that I wasn’t aware of people having (maybe them either). Surprising/discouraging, but shows how much work there is to be done for us/the left to be strategic and work together. Unfortunate that this has kept this proposal from happening, because the intention was to reinvigorate the group: some people don’t want to go to meetings every week; the intent was, as Margaret said, to add more variety and experiment with other ways of being involved. Also meant to address capacity – hard to do basic work, hard to implement new ideas. Let’s do this one thing really well, and then branch out as we get more interest and energy. Also concerned about Facilitation – idea of people getting credit for the other work they are doing/not stepping up to facilitation. Facilitation is hard – meeting every week; sometimes those calls have been long, though we are now down to less time than the GA itself, but still a lot of work. Not just the calls and planning, but maintaining focus on the big picture.
• John — New to Facilitation. Not what I want to do but stepping up. Biggest issue is declining attendance. We need to get out there more – addressing the issues of the day that are relevant to the broader public. Don’t just want to do something, want to do something that is effective. Need working groups to do effective things. Facilitation can’t run the whole thing. Can’t make up an agenda every week without having WGs bring items. Internal procedure is meant to get us out publicly. Have to deliberate and find ways to be effective.
• Colin — Doesn’t have very much to add, appreciate what people have been saying. Do people need to be refreshed on what the language is now. Any questions about the language?
• Dell – Wonder if we will get our regular people at those pop-ups, also it would be easier if we knew what saturday instead of an arbitrary date. Alternative amendment was to have a GA in Montpelier on 1st saturday, if not the same day as pop-up, then people organizing the pop-up will deal with facilitation on those days.
• John — Yes, supports in Montpelier, or at pop-up, if on the same day.
• Dell — what about the strategy/vision group (it’s in limbo); that topic took on new meaning in last few weeks.
• Margaret — maybe it’s something we could have at the alternative social gathering.
• John — keeping stack for these alt-assemblies is still important, brainstorm about strategy together. Also, taking actions and getting feedback on those actions, then re-calibrating if necessary.
• Sue — if we have GA on first saturday, then do citizen’s action first.
• Heather — I want to encourage these ideas to keep getting out there, because this is how we get back on track and move forward after this proposal is passed. Can we get back to the proposal? Keep language about first Saturday for GAs. Leave time flexible so that we might choose to do GA at noon, after Citizens’ Bank is Closing protest.
• John — Or 1pm, after Farmers’ Market. Should be more flexible. Identifiable location and rough time, but doesn’t have to be exactly the same every week. Some discretion on the time of day, doesn’t have to be a rigid time, nor have we actually decided that 3-5 is it always.
• Heather — Or, for other assemblies, might need it to be dark to show films or something.
• Dell — need to get the word out if different times; be good to have a permanent visible place to have consistent postings.
• Colin — this is a good point and was talked about in the old Outreach group; something that each of the other group and individuals need to figure out in terms of what and how.
• Heather — If Facilitation gets a breather, some of us may be able to work on outreach.
• Dell — Inclined to go with first Saturday GA. If pop-up, whoever is organizing can decide what to do. Might not need to be decision-making GA.
• John — Or time to talk with people in towns about their issues.
• Margaret — We’re like a Fall planting, blooming in the Spring. We got nervous about the pop-ups when attendance at the meetings dwindled. Pop-ups are like our coming out; we’re more exposed as just Occupy organizing the events. I’m grateful that people had their meltdowns before we started. I feel like I know people better now, that deeper sharing has happened inadvertently. I think this is going to be a good summer for us.
• Dell — I appreciated at the last GA that one of the things that happened is that we now have a core group of committed people. I really appreciate that about the people who are willing to come. A deep heart-connection.
• Sue — should we check with others who couldn’t be on the call?
• Heather — I left messages with Jay and Brian. I asked them to call me. Would be helpful if others reach out as well. Think we should post these minutes soon so people can comment there. If there are any bad feelings, we should know about it ahead of time. People are scared to air their dirty laundry, but it’s kind of what Occupy is all about. Exposing the issues that are confronting us. We can’t be afraid of GAs during popups; direct democracy is messy. We need to be doing this much more. Too much fracturing is part of the broader issue we’re facing in society; we need to keep talking it out. Encourage people to bring story objects for the grounding exercise of the GA – object that represents the way you or your family/friends/community are affected by the economic/political/environmental crisis.
• Dell — what are we supposed to bring? Problem is that I don’t feel like I’m in crisis.
• Heather — I didn’t either when I did it at SoliSchool. For the first time, I’m making livable wage and life seems pretty good, but not always this way. Had to think back.
• Sue — we also can tell story of our community, which is what spoke to me.
• Margaret — or your family members
• Heather — yes, idea is that we are all personally connected to the crisis and affected by it, but rarely talk about it with each other.
• Heather — One more question, and I hate to leave things on a dour subject after such a great call, but I wonder if people could think about how to address the worry about “co-option” by other organizations or affinities, because this has come up in Occupy groups around the country, and has pushed people away in other parts of VT. Issue we need to address if we are going to build a movement.
• John — Ties in with strategy conversation. Let’s explore that then.

Check-ins:  Colin, Heather, Steven, John, Emma, Yeshua 

Standing business:

• Space/Location: Pop-Up Location, Montpelier
• Agenda for the GA: (two hour):
• Intro – 30 min
• Hand signals, agreements, process
• Context — Occupy Central Vermont has been doing this every week since the big rally in Montpelier last fall. National/international connection. What we’re doing and why (grounding exercise).
• Grounding exercise – story object sharing. Personalizing the economic, political, and social crisis. ~2 minutes each – first 4 or 5 with flexibility.
• Pop-Up Plus/Delta/Insight – not all about us, also about folks who have come for first time
• Working Group (WG) Reports Back – 30 min
• E&E (JH), DAWG (Sue?Brian? – HP), FWG (Colin or Heather)… Finance/fundraising (Sue? – HP), Feminist Caucus (KW?, – JH), Arts (David Klein can’t stay for the GA), Basic Needs (Irvin will not be in town), Strategy (David Kreindler? – HP), Tech (Yeshua or John? – Heather) Outreach (???)
• Include descriptions of each group – aims and what they have done, then what they are doing
• Solicit issues that people are concerned about. Feedback on what WGs are working on.
• Gets good ideas, but doesn’t always get across the fact that they need to organize to make them happen. A chance to see if people want to work with OCV. Or complain about what WGs have dropped, get issues back on the radar, join us to organize around them.
• WG Proposals – 40 min
• Facilitation WG (Steven proposing): Occupy Central Vermont will hold General Assemblies once each month. Activities of Occupy Central Vermont will be driven by Working Groups and affinity groups. The next General Assembly will be on Saturday, 7/7, followed by General Assemblies on the first Saturday of each month. Working Groups can contact Facilitation to call for a General Assembly at anytime when necessary. Per Occupy Central Vermont process, proposals to change this schedule can be made at any time. The schedule will come up for review at the September General Assembly.
• 4-week monthly Schedule (In June (a 5-Saturday month) the extra Saturday (6/23 is the Village Gathering, so no OCV-related events will be scheduled. The next 5-Saturday month is September, when we will be reviewing this schedule during the General Assembly)
• First Saturday: General Assembly (Decision making)/ Facilitation Working Group facilitates
• Second Saturday: Working Group time/ Direct Action Working Group facilitates
• Third Saturday: Educational/Discussion or workshop based assembly/ E&E facilitates
• Fourth Saturday: Working Group time/ alt. social gathering
• Announcements – 20 min
• Village Building Convergence, Village Gathering
• July 3 Parade
• Philly gathering
• People’s convention / social forum
• Energetic End [Soapbox/Open--People’s--Mic]… Lea’s poem.

• Roles for the GA:

• speaking facilitator: Colin and Emma
• stack: John
• time-keeper: Colin
• notes: Heather
• props (big paper/white boards, banner, markers): Heather
• signage/hand signals/outreach materials/agenda: Heather and Colin
• posting the FWG meeting notes to the blog/announcement: Colin
• greeter/welcomer/de-escalator: Kelly? Dell?

Proposals / Feedback on Upcoming Proposals:

• John — 3 problems – declining attendance, working groups not bringing enough to warrant General Assemblies, Facilitation WG burnt out

• Jay’s Concerns — There might be loss of continuity, prefer having every other week, “non-public” GA, one in addition to the pop-up, didn’t understand amendments, process rushed
• John — Second every other week
• Heather — Will continue to be a burden on Facilitation. We as a working group  should discuss how to divvy responsibilities to make them happen. Would be glad if others are willing to make calls, develop agenda, conduct process, etc.
• Sue’s Concerns — Also wants 2/month, but wanting to find happy place. Per email today – OK with Brian’s amendment from Saturday but more clarity. With Direct Action-focused public session in addition to E&E, and something else (not sure, either general WG coordination, social event, etc). Also wants the proposal to include built-in review at end of summer, in September.
• Yeshua — RE: evaluate in September. Seems over-thinking. Isn’t it implicit? Fear that things are going to fall apart. Combined with frustration that doing too much. Needs aren’t being discussed. Solutions are getting partially discussed. Not taking care of specific solutions to specific needs.
• Colin — There’s a hole where people are taking responsibility for getting word out, developing agenda, doing the other events, reporting out, etc. during the “off-weeks.” People need to take that on. Other groups being asked to step up to take that on, but are individuals in the WGs willing?
• Steven — Make part of the proposal that specific groups facilitate assemblies/meetings on the “off-weeks” for purposes that they deem appropriate (i.e. Direct Action facilitates a meeting for planning for the next pop-up, Education facilitates a 2-hour discussion.)
• 5-week months – next includes VBC, next after that is far off.
• John — part of the proposal to get WGs functional
• Heather — WGs are feeling burned out. Capacity issue. Left is fear-based as much as the right but in different ways. Turns on each other. Part of the issue here is that there’s the notion that the process is being co-opted by a small group. These fears have played out in other Occupy groups with VWC, ISO. Here around BSB – almost comical. I’m really tired and frustrated. Complicated for the left to get our shit together and thought that OCV could be the moment where that happens. Saddened that this factionalism is happening here.
• John — Have to undo paranoid tendency. FWG not a cabal.
• Emma — Wouldn’t call it a paranoid tendency. Legitimate worry of power of a collective and affinity group. Recognizing that BSB people are well-practiced in radical political practice. Others have not had that support recently. Can see where people are coming from.
• John — Occupy is supposed to be open to broader public. People feeling deprived into entree into broader movement.
• Colin — bringing back to the proposal. Interested in having wider conversations around things that are coming up, but back to proposal.
• Brian’s amendment – 1 GA, alternate week of WGs or social gathering, 1 E&E Teach-In, alternate week of WGs or social gathering.
• Sue’s amendment — 1 GA (FWG), 1 DA (DAWG), 1 E&E (E&EWG), and 1 ???
• Can we get commitments from the other working groups to facilitate each of those other weeks? Needs to be a chance for working groups to figure out who can carry that load. Focuses and spreads the load. (Heather and John will discuss with DAWG and E&E)
• Margaret’s Concerns — Decision-making was going to be happening by working/affinity groups. Clarified that working groups and affinity groups are carrying out the work, but decisions in General Assemblies. Had been concerned about affinity groups, but resolved (maybe). Request for information about affinity groups.