General Assembly #4
Location: Hurt Park
Motion: When a disruptive person appears at an occupation, general assembly, or any action associated with Occupy Atlanta, a team of volunteers who are experienced with and ABSOLUTELY committed to non-violence will talk to the person peacefully on the outskirts of the event.
–Reading of Guidelines–
Proposed amendments to guidelines:
add ableism
“discuss” ideas not “debate” ideas
transparency in deletion, warning system in place for deletion
-all admins are elected and checked upon, to be removed if found unfriendly
-read guidelines and minutes at beginning of each meeting
- will there be degrees of moderation, warnings?
-Tyler: from out of state in Houston TX, goes to Auburn. Interested in collaborations in solidarity with other organizations.
-Shana: we are in collaboration with people from Bloomsbergville.
-Carter: Any opposition to my being facilitator? I see myself as restating motions, asking for opposition or blocking, and asking for points of order.
-There should be a moderator too.
- Matt volunteered to moderate.
-Lindsey: Read minutes
-AGENDA: TActical Unity group to maintain the peace. Minutes group, Facilitators work group, Social Media moderation team.
-Talk about starting on October 15th in conjunction with international movements
-Proposal to alter or shut down fb group.
- Adding an Outreach group, and action medical team
- Make a committe responsible for location
Proposal/Motion for outreach committee: passed
Motion: Social media, tactical unity, minutes, and medical, and location team, food, funding
Blocking opposition to motion to create groups. Subject changed.
- Proposition for location to be gotten
- Propose to vote on the location in General Assembly
- Have things decided by the 15th
Proposal to vote on a location right now. Blocked.
-propose creating a constitution.
- If legal space to occupy can be found AFL-CIO involvement more likely.
- Tim – Democracy is slow. An occupation is where we take what’s already ours. Our discussion has to be democratic and determined whether or not it is effective. Question is where is the most effective place. A private park where owner says its ok? That doesn’t really send a message of occupation.
-Kendall – how many more assemblies? she wants leaders to tell her where to go.
- Matt – we have to address the blocking opposition to the proposal plz.
-Sally – no opposition to discuss a location. opposition is to voting immediately
Counterproposal to discuss a location for occupation. Initially blocked. Blocking opposition then lifted.
G.A. split into two groups, whomever whishes to discuss location meet by the fountain. Those who do not wish to discuss location, gather in.
Harvey – This process takes time. And organization takes planning. Don’t get frustrated with the process.
Matt- Read about committees plz.
Raj – wants to provide leadership. Practicing chest surgeon. Sense of direction needs to be restored. His Essay This I Believe. Instead of making committees and establishing a bureaucracy, we want to give a new shape and direction to this movement and develop a central message, I will deliver that message.
Hira – blocked and counterproposal – we have existing committees, establish people that are willing to bottomline these committees.
Tyler – counterproposal – wait until we have reassembled in whole.
Joe – Proposal – in reaction to frustration – propose point of process. No motion necessary to propose topic for discussion, only motions to bar a topic or speak exclusively about a subject.
-Restate when all reconvene.
Kathy – If you haven’t read assembly minutes from other occupations, you should. We shouldn’t try to reinvent the wheel.
Sasha – people are becoming restless and making brash decisions. This is a process. We’re utilizing positive and constructive suggestions.
James – Propose to use people’s mic so we can hear each other.
Rick – Wants to be steered to logistics committee.
Maris(t)(e)(?) – proposal stated in smaller group.
Reconvening of group
- Location Faci – We decided location. On Friday 10/7 there will be a permitted occupation whose organizers have forwarded an invitation for G.A. Woodruff park is permitted 8AM – 11PM. Possible march to Centennial after. Invitation is after 6 pm. Original permit until 11PM
-Opening of discussion via stack on issue of location.
-Guy – Great idea to start on 7th because its the anniversary of Che’s death.
- Matt – information that news media is requesting an interview, proposal that we use the peoples’ mic to conduct the interview.
-Interview ends up not happening, just some b-roll footage taken.
-Taylor – Clarification – we would decide at Woodruff General Assembly what our action will be.
-Matt- Friendly amendment – reconvene a general assembly at woodruff on 10/7.
-Jenny – Is the proposal for a G.A. and not the occupation?
-Matt – 10/7 – The proposal is for a General Assembly that would flow into an occupation.
Consensus reached on proposal.
-Matt- now there are other things which need to be discussed.
-Joe – quick proposal in reaction to frustration felt regarding discussion about the discussion for choosing a location. My proposal is that given that the frustration was regarding boundaries about what we may discuss. That from this point forward, there will be no Motions necessary for the proposal of topics for discussion. Change will be that motions will only be necessary for the barring or making exclusive of topics.
Consensus reached on proposal
-Matt: Would Lindsey be willing to read a list.
-Lyndsey: Committess so far are demands, logistics, media/tech, social networking/outreach, medical outreach, legal, minutes, facilitation, food and funding.
-Luke – I propose that the groups would be read off and explained what is included in those groups and set a location in this park right now for each person that is interested to meet up tonight and discuss what they’d like to do and exchange contact information.
-Matt – This includes what was a sub proposal to have bottomliner picked by each committee. This bottom liner would have no power greater than that which is allocated by each respective committee. Is there any opposition to moving forward into defining committees and breaking into them immediately.
- Anon – I would like to propose that in order to make breaking up into groups easier we have someone from each group raise their hand and describe groups.
- Anon – Rip paper and make signs for committees. For bottomliners to hold.
- Anon – Clarification. Are we going to hear descriptions of each committee?
- Matt – Any opposition for having committees define themselves and then asking for consent from GA.
- Sara – I think people would like some kind of non-binding general very vague description of the committee that they would be most helpful in.
- Someone – Lets list the committees and then we can decide which one we feel at home in / create new ones if need be.
- Matt – Could members of previously established committees please breifly explain what has been done so far in said committees?
-Brief summation of pre-existing committees with help of minutes from previous GA.
-Split into committees-
MEDIA GOALS
- Anon – Is it ok to have an overarching committee over proposed subcommittees like Writing, Outreach, Tech, Art, A/V Team ?
-General Answer – Yes
-Randy – Have experience with audio and visual technology, art, and graphic design. I own a small studio we could use for production if need be.
-Emerald – I’m a photographer. Should we make a list of what people can do to help out?
-General Answer – Yes
Maris(t)(?) – part of outreach, create literature that gets general message across. Ride transit and get message out.
Matt – Questions: acceptable to have diverse multiform flow of propaganda circulating city?
-General Answer – Yah
- Michelle – Opening statement on what has already been established
- Anon – Media should mean communication inside and outside the group. Outreach – keep in touch with other occupy movements: in atlanta, and nationally, and internationally.
- Should we get volunteers from universities?
-General Answer – Yeah
Writing, Outreach, Tech, Art, A/V Team were, in essence, subcommittees generally agreed to be necessary AND fall under the category of Media.
- Various people – There is a need to address the fear/resistance/denial of some to have their photos taken internally. We should all be totally open and transparent which includes putting your face behind this movement.
