Sunday October 9 2011 6PM
Occupy Atlanta – day 2 – Troy Davis Park
Moderator – Hira Mahmood
Facilitator – John Reynolds
Facilitator – Ron Allen
Stack-taker – Sean ?
Note-taker – Daniel Clay
6:22
Welcome Intro by Hira
Explanation of rules to make the process painless for everyone.
Decision making process is consensus – practical questions – nobody is forced to do anything in consensus – want to make sure that it is productive collective intelligence.
Process for participating in consensus here involves using certain hand signals
Explanation of processs – Tim Franzen
What is stack? It’s a list for talking in turn.
Point of process – not for approving – It is for clarification of what the proposal
Block – adamant opposition to the proposal to the point where the blocker would leave if the group if the proposal was passed
Hira – Order of discussion/ clarification of process:
Taking proposals from committees first
Proposal – clarifications – blocks – or consensus reached
ANNOUNCEMENTS
List of announcements in order of people who contacted Lindsey first
1) Travis? – A new committee is forming a Sustainability Initiative
2) Jim Nichols – Teamsters Union 728 here in solidarity with Occupy movements all over the country – Will be joining other occupations outside the AtlGA for a march starting at TDPark to ATL chamber of commerce on October 15th
3) Kaylin, from media – After GA we’ll have a workshop for anyone who wants to attend on how to interact with the media. It’s also good for talking to family and friends. Also, we want to hear from you. Email your pics, art, and media related stuff to contact@occupyatlanta.org
4) Tom Smith – Tomorrow is a court date for a crime – the accused is probably innocent. A woman’s child died and she’s being blamed for it. Tatiana Jazeera. Trial starts 10AM October 10, 2011. Tom will be leading people from TDPark to the courthouse.
5) Colin – Tomorrow at 3PM there will be a Know Your Rights training followed by a Cop Watch training.
6) Clara – Yesterday we had a problem with childcare. We need to address the problem of childcare if we want to attract the communities of women, mothers, etc. We need a diverse group, men not just women.
7) Tony with Logistics – C7 there is a giant kitchen that we have access to. There’s a sign-in sheet at the Logistics table. There’s rain in the forecast, share your tent. We also have access to canvas for shelter. We need people to do that.
Tim – There’s an action group planning a march on Tuesday from this park to Bank of America. iF you are interested in participating we will be meeting after the GA.
9) Jack – The legal team is momentarily out of working condition. Trying to get the Natl Lawyers Guild to take over.
10) Regina from Demands – Meeting tomorrow at 2:30 at TDPark – add yourself to the email list
11) Nataly – Yesterday other occupations celebrated Jewish holidays. If anyone is interested get in touch.
12) Joe – Action that will take place tonight – Today is Troy Davis’ bday – Tonight at 10 there will be a noisy Birthday vigil in honor of Troy’s birthday. At 11:08 there will be an observation of silence in memory of his life.
13) Jason – Laundry exchange- baskets or bags for different types of clothing for different genders – If you want some clean clothes take them – wash clothes and donate – share and clothe one another
14) Clara – Childcare now, let’s go play soccer
15) Sarah – John Lewis incident has become Natl news. There are fears that we have alienated a major political figure and that makes us a natl laughing stock.
Hira- this is not the time or place for soapboxing, this is announcements
16) Matt – Time sensitive – someone needs help to cut a hot air balloon to make a temp shelter in the case of rain – 8-10 ppl are needed – they can meet at Logistics table – also those folks can bathe etc.
6:57
17) Jonoh – Events are in planning stage, Jonah is also focussed on education – if you want to share or help with that – come find him.
6:57
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PROPOSALS
___________________________
List of proposals
1) Kevin, since there was some hesitation to let John Lewis speak at the GA that he be invited back next Friday to speak before the GA
What if he can’t come? Could we invite him at a different time?
Kevin meant prior to the GA
We have people who know him personally trying to get in touch with him
P’process – already addressed – BUT – How would we phrase the invitation? Would it include an apology?
Hira – steps in to clarify – restate the proposal “Do we want to invite him back?”
Direct opposition?
CONSENSUS REACHED
___________________________
PROPOSAL 2)
Travis – We’ve been trying to encourage people to reuse their plastic bottles – So . . .
Take up a plastic bottle collection and reuse them.
John – This doesn’t need to be discussed by GA
From a health safety perspective you’d have to sanitize the bottles
Hira – send it back to committee and let someone bottom line it
everyone should buy there own reusable bottle
John – People might not have the money
Proposal was DISMISSED, sent back to committee
___________________________
PROPOSAL 3)
Shob and Elijah – Get permission to reach out to bands in Atlanta – bands coming through Atlanta – music for solidarity
some guy has amps and a PA system
Shob – After GA if you want to help come find us after
CONSENSUS REACHED
___________________________
PROPOSAL 4)
Zack – Form a coordinating committee to communicate between occupiers with problems or complaints and the appropriate committee to enforce resolutions of the problems
John – this isn’t a proposal – just form and bottom line the committee
Sent back to Zack
___________________________
OPEN FORUM PROPOSALS
___________________________
PROPOSAL 5) Sean – Organize a bike co-op.
John – That’s not a proposal. But its a fantastic idea.
___________________________
PROPOSAL 6) Jonah – Organize the sleeping area for more efficient implementation of logistics, medical, safety,
John – That’s already being handled by Tactical Unity.
Tactical Unity – If anyone wants to learn more about how they are addressing that need come talk to Colton or Hector after the GA
___________________________
PROPOSAL 7) Allison – Want’s to designate an area for group meditations.
Not a proposal – JUST DO IT.
___________________________
PROPOSAL Should we ask GSU profs to have classes here.
DIRECT CONSENSUS
John – Please get in touch with Outreach committee about that
___________________________
Joe – We should institute daily speak-outs at 2PM
___________________________
PROPOSAL 9) Lauren from Outreach – We have a lot of people here not on committees. We need a list of people on committees
Lauren’s contact 404 406 2972
Tim Franzen – Outreach has a list that you can sign for volunteering
DISMISSED, NOT A PROPOSAL
___________________________
PROPOSAL 10)
John – Designate a smoking area, that people will respect.
Away from tents, away from food,
not near chess players
Fountain?
Hira – Send to Tactical Unity?
BLOCKS? None.
CONSENSUS REACHED
___________________________
PROPOSAL 11)
Ron Allen – Move GA back to 7PM
BLOCK – Some people work at night
AMENDMENT – Two GA’s one at 11PM one at 7PM
11AM/7PM gives people options
Jonah does like that idea. One issue that we may encounter . . . .
AMENDMENT – Provide an opportunity and a way for people to catch up with GA’s they miss
John’s REVISED PROPOSAL – Two assemblies a day, one at 11AM and one at 7PM that are shorter with dedicated minute takers.
BLOCKS in general
Hira – Restates where we are in the process – closing the stack
CONCERN – really an idea for an amendment – do 6:30 as a compromise
Kaylin – We are more productive in committees – not in favor of two GA’s per day
Monica -
Matt – By having more assemblies we increase the amount of people who will miss GA’s
John – Supporting statements for his proposal for two assemblies a day
Daniel – Minutes will help people catch up
STACK-CLOSED
John restates proposal: Beginning tomorrow we institute two GA’s one at 11PM and 7PM
BLOCKS in general
Idea that we can keep meetings to an hour is hopelessly utopian. Multiple meetings will bog us down.
REVISION – Keep GA’s at 6pm and the following morning at 11pm meeting people can go over minutes from previous evening.
John REVISION – Alternate GA’s – 11PM one day, 6PM the next day
CONCERN – Elijah, I trust the community - If I miss a 6PM GA and attend the 11PM minutes meeting I’ll be informed.
Google docs is sufficient for reviewing minutes.
Hira – General indecision and disagreement
John rescinds his proposal
PROPOSAL RESCINDED – Which one?
Jonah removes his BLOCK and says he will bottom line a Minutes Meeting
Original proposal reinstated: Move daily GA’s to 7pm
DIRECT CONSENSUS REACHED
__________________________
Ron Allen – Proposal for Education Committee
Tim Franzen – already exists, no action on it, bottom line it and do it.
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8:13
John – Closing statements of solidarity – move into the Speak Out
