Welcome and Explanation
Hira: Consensus description: it’s not necessarily about debate; it’s about conforming your ideas to meet the needs of the people here. Also, there are many different hand gestures. General explanation of consensus and hand motions ensues. Done by Cailyn. Well done.
Sean: If you want to get on stack, don’t wiggle your fingers when you raise your hand.
Hira: We use mic check to get people in unison and listening.
Announcements
Hira: Specifically for upcoming events. News updates.
Rob: Press conference at 11AM. Meeting at 9PM for Media.
Anon: We have 5 days left in the park. We need to be active and get our things together.
Luke: Clarifying Q about the announcement: Where is the meeting? Under the tent.
Anon: I’m trying to get some events planned inside the park like political documentaries playing on a projector w/ a white sheet. And I’m also in conjunction with an education committee so I want a whiteboard. Also, poetry and art showing and I’d like everyone to write songs for OATL.
Jersey: Just so you know I’m willing to bring my drum kit down here for the musical events. But I need someone to go up to Kennesaw with me to pick it up.
Luke: idk if you’re aware but as a part of media committee and arts committee you should talk to them.
Hira: We have notebooks and paper so you can take notes to coordinate betwixt various committees
Jim: If anybody needs a ride anywhere, I live about 2 miles from here so I’m down for giving rides.
Anon: I want everybody to know that all of us as a collective it’s so crucial I’m glad to be here. It’s important.
Jersey recommendation by Hira: Since lots are new. We have several committees.
Hira: For those of you that are new here, please write your name on the yellow pad going around. Is everyone cool with that?
Proposals
Hira: I have a proposal on behalf of the demands committee. Also, raise your hand if you have a proposal and you will be put on stack. A proposal is something you’d like to put forward to the GA and is not specific to other committees. So recycling drive wouldn’t really be a proposal. You can just go ahead and take that responsibility. Is that clear as to what proposals are? If not you’ll get it bc we’ll mess up a lot.
Tim: For those of you that have been here all day, you already know that the whole world is watching. We have an outpour of support from all kinds of people in ATL. We had Yung Joc, will have more. Kasim Reed gave us 5 days he won’t mess with us in. But one thing people are upset about is the noise complaints. We have to do something about this. We are being torn apart in the media and we sorta deserve it. We have residents that live around here with jobs. People in tents with jobs. I propose a strict noise curfew for 11PM.
Luke: Last night the same proposal was put forward and amended about cops. It wasn’t enforced though. It’d be nice if people that wanted to make noise were at the GA.
Hira: Silent at 11?
Chris: Is there someone that can make sure people follow the curfew.
Hira: Everyone here has authority to ask them to shut up.
Roar: I have four separate proposals from logistics. 1) For clarity and transparency we propose that it be compulsory that all committee meeting times and locations be recorded on the central committee board which will be at the welcome center or in the tent.
Q: Can those be online too?
John: Should be up soon.
CONSENSUS
Roar: 2) Part of the large tent be dedicated to a central command post for info and material, a security outpost, and welcome when raining, and that this space may not be used for sleeping.
Anon: Who would man the command post?
Roar: Someone from tactical unity at all times, so if there is suspicious activity there will be someone with a walkie talkie.
Hira: So don’t come up for stack. Also, Clarifying questions now.
Mark: What is the security post exactly?
Roar: A place that tactical unity would have a person manning at all times.
Luke: Do you have outlined what space of the tent would be used?
Roar: We’d like the approx right half to 3/4. From about 1/2 way over.
Marlon: For the other half of the tent, the space would be public and could be slept in?
Roar: Correct.
Catherine: Concerns now? I have a concern about dedicating half of that space to be a space that is not for sleeping bc some people may not have a shelter when it is raining and may need to use that space to stay dry.
Roar: That was tricky. The main thing is we don’t want to keep anyone from shelter. But when we don’t have that area clear it makes it so that is unsure whether or not the space is being used for central command and gives the illusion that it isn’t a space for goods and info and is distraction.
Hira: My concern is that this will ultimately go to tactical unity and I don’t know how thin they’re being spread. So if there are enough volunteers I’m cool but I’d also like to make amendments.
Liz: this is in direct response. I think it’s possible to make that space clear for its function esp. if it’s very late, by signs and other means while allowing people to sleep in it.
Hira: Now friendly amendments.
James: My amendment would be that if it’s raining people would be able to sleep there otherwise we have many sleeping materials that could keep you warm.
Hira: Are there any more amendments to Roar’s 2nd proposal?
Roar: Restatement. Part of the large tent be dedicated to a central command post for information and dissemination of materials a sec outpost and space for the welcome table when it is raining. And that this space may only be used for sleeping if it is raining.
PoP Luke: For in the future it’s important to note that amendments have to come to consensus b4 added.
Marlon: You’re supposed to call for stand asides and then blocks. Are there stand asides?
Luke: Stand aside
Roar: 4pm everyday is a time for the entire community to clean the park.
Anon: Yesterday I spoke to a guard and he talked to his boss about arranging a time.
Sultan: Do you all have any restroom facilities available?
Hira: I was told by a park ambassador on Sat night that the public RR would be open all night. Also 60 Walton St is down the street.
Sean: any more questions or concerns.
John: What about donations?
Hira: You can donate, but we’re talking about the 4pm cleaning proposal. Stand asides? Blocks?
CONSENSUS
Roar: Yesterday it was brought to the attention of the GA that the save troy Davis bank account could be presented to us to contain the funds of the weshare account online. We currently have over 1k there that we have no access to. The only other option was for us to create some kind of legal entity in order to create a bank account in order to get these funds. We would like to propose to accept the offer of the save troy Davis account.
James: Just clarifying that creating our own nonprofit or pending nonprofit isn’t that difficult.
Matt: I’m concerned with whom, how many people, and how would it be decided who could access this? Transparency is important.
Roar: We haven’t discussed that yet. It would probably be that the members of the finance committee and log committee would designate certain people with access to that account. That’s all I can think of.
George: We talked a little about this. We think 3 should have access. Those 3 should post public information about themselves that makes them traceable and sueable if they do something stupid with the money. A modification would be that the GA nominates the 3 once the finance committee gives names. That people want this responsibility should meet with the finance committee after GA.
John: I’ve been in this discussion because I have sole access right now. It’s uncomfortable. I want it changed ASAP. I also want completely transparent record of every cent spent through docs@occupyatlanta.org. I’d like to add that it be transparent and public.
Tron: My name is LaTron Price. I’m president of the Jo Beasley foundation and he is an individual based here in ATL who has been influential in fighting against the corporations. He also is a very resourceful person in the ATL community. I ask that we consider utilizing the JB Found to help with this cause of a nonprofit.
Dianne: For issues of transparency unless there is a sig downside to creating your own nonprofit that that would be the clearest way to do it w/o concern for other parties interfering or finding out something happened later.
Tron: Give you tools for foundation. That’s what I meant so you can create a 501c3.
Hira: I feel like we’re veering off. George made a friendly amendment to have 3 people voted on here. Now we’re evolving into a discussion about forming a nonprofit.
Roar: Restate. We accept the use of the Save Troy Davis acct for the weshare and admin of the account should be 3 people reviewed by fin committee and presented to GA and that all transactions made from acct are given full transparency.
Dianne: I was addressing issue of using account.
Tim: I feel there should be some clarification bc I think there’s some confusion. There is no troy Davis fund. GPJC has a statewide acct that is a state recognized nonprofit. We started civil disobedience fund around Troy Davis case. At this point there are 2 with access. Wanted to clarify. It might be that a committee could weigh the options and we trust them.
Anthony: I propose that if you know how to set it up you could educate fin on how to do so.
Tron: Would be happy to.
Anon: If you want legal protection Registering as a doing business as
Earthworm: What if we just use TDA until we have time to make an entity?
Marlon: This discussion is moving away from GA discussion topic.
Anon: Take a temp check on original proposal. Doesn’t pass send it back.
Hira: Sounds like we need a dialogue between logistics legal and finance. George also made a friendly amendment to have 3 in charge. I propose that the diff committees meet and discuss and next GA we have conclusive decision.
Roar: Basically, we need this money ASAP. I want access to this money. ASAP. I propose that we accept the TDA temporarily until we can come up with a better solution so we have access to the money.
Sean: Blocks?
John: CQ? Any type of group consensus on how funds are spent or left up to log and finance?
Roar: I don’t want the money going anywhere right now, just available until we figure out a discussion on a process.
Hira:
Anon: hearing that temp time, will it be transparent?
Roar:
John: Maybe meetings can be scheduled in public so they can be videoed or whatevs, visited.
Hira: Any blocks or opposition?
Roar: The proposal now as follows> We propose that the Troy Davis account be approved as a temp way to retrieve the funds from the wepay account. That all meetings about spending these funds be done in public in a known and shared place and time.
Anon: If you want his name on things, Troy Davis, to who approve?
Anthony: He wants a foundation.
Hira: We’re addressing the proposal now.
Juan: We aren’t properly using the mic check and we need to use it so we can hear.
James: I have to block only bc I don’t feel there’s enough info about this acct made public to us.
Sean: Any more blocks.
Anon: Bc management of this acct hasn’t been worked out yet, and understanding urgency, I want log to better work the proposal and bring it back tomorrow.
Anthony: I would like to propose that we find qualified individual to handle this account. Who will make informed decisions and keep total records of everything going in and out of the account.
Hira: I’m going to interject bc this is taking a while. Final proposal. Log team revisit 4th proposal and bring it back.
Roar: The people involved have a time and place they can meet right now. Is there a time n place tomorrow that could be dedicated to discussing this?
Hira: Anyone concerned work out a time with Roar, is that ok? And then at next GA we have more conclusive proposal. Can we move on?
Rob: My proposal is that we don’t schedule committee meetings that go on during the meetings but that they have to end meetings for the GA. If they don’t close meeting on time they can’t air proposals this evening.
Paul: Discretion of moderators to decide such I believe was addressed in an earlier GA.
Sean: The people that are on these committees are making decisions to bring for discussion in GA. The people making those proposals need to be here to discuss them. If they talk in a meeting and don’t know what we’re talking about at the GA. How can they make acceptable proposals?
Hira: Can you restate the proposal?
Rob: That committees don’t schedule meetings that conflict with GA. If conflict, end before GA.
Earthworm: How late could we schedule a meeting?
Anon: Where’s consensus and peoples mic? Makes it hard for people like me who just got here to have any idea what’s going on.
Jersey: Yesterday I believe we decided that we didn’t have to use the people’s mic if people were uncomfortable with it.
Paul: Can everyone hear me? I’d like to restate his proposal. I propose that any committee meeting that is about to conflict with the general assembly is the responsibility of the moderators and those in attendance to 10 b4 start of GA, regardless of what’s happening, end meeting, table discussion, and come to the fucking GA.
Hira: Any opposition to final proposal.
Earthworm: What’s the earliest time you could start a meeting after GA has begun?
Paul: The demands committee meeting that the guy was referring to started at 5, the GA was at 7. They had 2 hours, which sounds like a lot.
Matt: So earthworm’s concern is that based on the assumption that the meeting was planned b4 the general assembly but was to occur after 7 what time is appropriate to plan for that bc what if the GA just keeps going? Is 9 ok? That’s when medic meeting is and we don’t want conflict.
Rob: What about after GA.
Earthworm: How about 9.
Hira: To restate proposal end committee meetings by 7. GA by 9.
Luke: If this rule had been in place the first night we wouldn’t be here now. I think the GA should go on as long as it has to and if different groups need to have meetings during but starting after they can break off and go do that.
Earthworm: That.
Daniel: I think that GAs address everybody and no one should have to not be a part of any of it. I propose we keep them ending at 9.
Matt: If committees are permitted to begin after the assembly starts, I think they must be forced to give a report back b4 being allowed to leave. Also, no committee that doesn’t do report backs should be legit.
Misty: Friendly amendment: We try to end at 9. We go on longer if we have to. Committees are allowed to leave at 9 if they have to maybe after a report back.
Consensus.
Hira: Everyone with a proposal that you feel isn’t well thought out I encourage to think it out.
George: I will stand next to Hira. What I’d like to do in part to refute concerns from outside that we all have this one idea that we are all anti capitalist. There are anticapitalists here. Its good, necessary. But doesn’t necessarily reflect all our views. Such broad a brush makes us dismissible. I would like to form a few small teams to put a very fast start up thing together to generate money to put in the account so we can establish a long term nonprofit charitable something. So we can leave something lasting. I want shirts or buttons we can get out fast w/in 24 hours. So we can do something permanent and tell Neal Boortz to shove it. I propose that we start startups in the name of Occupy Atlanta to create a permanent charitable thing.
Matt: So I assume that you made the proposal bc everyone is forced to be in the startup; otherwise it would have been an announcement where people who wanted to be involved would meet up outside of the GA.
George: I didn’t want to put something online selling shirts with the name occupy Atlanta w/o asking occupy Atlanta for its permission.
Will: I wonder who will provide the start up funds, how the revenue will be proportioned, and if this will be officially linked with the OATL movement.
Kevin: I’m a little concerned about what the money would be used for.
Seth: I would like us to empower a start up working group to form and come back to the GA when they’ve reached a specific proposal.
Misty: I second that and idk if you know. There are shirts online.
Dianne: First. Design of the shirts or whatever you sell. Does that go b4 the art committee? Proceeds from those sales for now, will they support OATL. If there is money after, that could go for further donation.
Hira: One DR, 2 on stack, then moving proposal.
Sara: he has already elicited the support of A&L committee
John: I honestly can’t believe we’re sitting around here discussing the possibility of creating goods to sell when we should be talking about our governing body or econ system. We don’t need to generate income off of charging people. If you want to leave a lasting impression, we can do so with ideas and actions.
Matt: As an ardent anticapitalist. I will block until I’m dead, any proposal that doesn’t include the self management and empowerment of industrial proletariat around the world.
Hira: I will ask George to restate proposal, or consider amending knowing you’ll have blocks, or consider tabling. So far George has considered altering the proposal and bringing it back tomorrow.
Kevin: I think someone has to propose it’s tabled.
Hira: If any of you had particular questions to ask George. Please see him after the GA. Is everyone ok with that? Great.
Chris: I wrote this down bc it’s a little complex and I’ve included points that will preclude concerns and questions. The GA begin with announcements and if necessary a brief summary of the topics that will be discussed during the current GA. Then the GA will split into breakout session by committee for discussions on issues and proposals that should go through that committee before being brought to GA. These will last 40 minutes. Regular committee meetings would continue with the understanding that they would bring info to the breakout sessions. Each break out session would vote by majority not consensus to present things to GA. Which will then do consensus. Each session would have bottom liner or liners. Justifications 1) to render GAs more productive and efficient bc proposals that need to go through the committees can do so within the space of single GA. 2) To lift the spirits of participants who want to see action and participate in decision making process of spec issues. 3) To render the decision making process more transparent and accessible and democratic. 4) More directly involve the actual occupiers in decision making. 5) Show more consideration for working people who cannot attend committee meetings during the day and who would like to not only have their ideas heard but also actively discuss with others and hear responses first hand. I’m one of those working people so please consider that.
Liz: So does that mean that all committee meetings will be after the committee meetings will be after 7 during the GA.
Chris: I did say regular meetings will continue but. I do think concerns have been expressed in lots of times and places about being involved in committees and transparency.
Hira: Has this proposal been brought to the faci/process committee to formalize this entire set up?
Chris: No bc I feel like the point of the proposal is to make the GAs more effective and more directly empower the people meeting and sleeping here.
LaTron: I would like to get a summary of what you’re saying clearly.
Chris: Since committees currently meet totally separate from GAs we will have breakout sessions after announcements during GAs which will last 40 minutes and will report back after that time when GA reconvenes.
Matt: I kind of have one but I think it’s another part of the proposal that makes it easier to understand. A list of proposals will be read off and then accordingly funneled into the breakout sessions so they can be discussed b4 entire assembly can be blindsided by opinions.
Juan: My concern is for those that would like to attend more than one.
Chris: Currently most people can’t attend any bc they don’t exist and bc the meetings can’t be attended simultaneously either.
Earthworm: Did you say they’d vote in breakout and bring it to GA and go by consensus?
Chris: MY reason for suggesting this is that to go by consensus in breakout sessions would be inefficient when consensus afterward.
Earthworm: If I’m going to block it? Why wouldn’t I in the GA if I did in breakout.
Matt: I think that the idea is more people would be able to offer insight which could possibly sway blocks, but the idea would still be put forth to GA and there would be broader more direct participation in breakout groups and even if this isn’t perfect the real question is might it be better?
CONSENSUS
Hira: Can we cut down on any of the 6 proposals left?
Sara: First I would like to say that there is a resident community here that is the center of OATL, but surrounding you, you have a support community. When the shit hits the fan your support community goes into action. What happened the other night after the popo came in and we thought the mayor was going to talk to us lead to a discussion of demands? I would suggest to you that things going on in this park are probably only concern of people that live here. My proposal is that if you discuss thing s like demands that effect all of us you give sufficient notice that that will happen bc otherwise support people must choose between participating in that convo and your safety. As much as I love to talk, given that choice I’d have to walk away.
Restated: Don’t carry on conversations about demands or other matters which concern the entire community during crisis. Please wait 24 hours.
Anon: Did we not have media training for that exact purpose?
K: Many of us are new and don’t know what that means. Can you clarify what we would do in a crisis?
Anon: I wasn’t there for that media training. They did hand out flyers concerning what can and can’t be said along with guidelines
Matt: I’m confused. But I think Sara means that
Hira: I feel like the proposal is good, I feel like when we are in a situation of urgency and timeliness we shouldn’t talk about stuff a committee has been discussing.
Sara: My main concern is that your support community be allowed to participate in discussions that include them as well and not have to choose between support and being here.
Marlon: I don’t know what phase of the meeting we’re in the meeting but I have a proposal that might address your concern. Process committee is kind of defunct but will hopefully reconstitute soon. One of its duties is to compose an agenda in advance of GA. Perhaps we could also publicize that in a way the support community could access.
LaTron: I wanted to get a clear understanding. For people that aren’t sleeping in the park you want them to have a voice in the function of OATL.
Will: So is your concern about the impromptu GA and we thought the mayor would come speak and that the GA was discussing demands in a GA that had not been scheduled in advance, is that your concern?
Mallory: I’m just trying to figure out exactly what we’re doing? What is the goal? How are we including new people and broadening our entity?
Hira: Sara made a proposal about how we use meeting time in a …nope.
Sara: What I ask is that bc demands affect everyone that everyone get a chance to discuss them and that in participation of some questions I actually think that the convo that happened shouldn’t have been made as demands bc we were talking about someone participating in the GA. We don’t make demands of each other. We make proposals. If anyone comes to a GA they could make proposals. Those aren’t demands.
Cailyn: It was an emergency situation. Should we be discussing protocol for the next one?
Will: Did you see in the AJC that the Mayor was presented with a list of demands. Is that where your concern comes from?
Sara: Not really, but I know about it.
Hira: Can Sara restate her proposal?
Luke: I think a lot of people need a little bit of history to understand the proposal. A history is given.
Sara: Refer this to process.
Referred to process.
Announcement
Allison: I would like to inform all that outreach now has a task force. We are called the student outreach task force and our goal is to go to every uni in and around Atlanta and flyer and inform. Anyone who would like to join should meet me after the assembly. Or call me at 678 849 2882. The colleges we esp need help for are as follows: Oglethorpe, SCAD, Perimeter, Cordon Bleu, GSU Alpharetta, Art Inst, Morehouse, Spelman, Agnes, Berry, and Bowder.
Kevin: DR It’s already been called independently of us of people in solidarity with us that tomorrow at 430 pm there will be a walkout at GSU and they’re going to come here and join us.
Sara: A&L Committee needs some creative people with interest in knowledge of hip hop bc that’s not my expertise. Email me at deadmadpoet@gmail.com Thanks.
Proposal
Earthworm: AFSC office needs an art show at beginning of November. Concerned we’re marking up walls by leaving bikes against them. Need people to help fix the space before the show. Make a team or something to do that.
Matt: Is that an announcement?
Liz: Let’s pass around paper and those that will help sign.
Dev: I propose that during the GA meeting there be a poster with flow diagram of what the meeting and proposal process from clarifying questions, concerns, to amendments so new people can understand upon walking up. And they can participate and not be left out feeling totally new.
Marlon: That’s a sweet idea and it’s good that people have ideas for process to work better. I would encourage people to get involved with process working group. If you want to do that. Talk to me after the GA.
Daren: I propose we get together a quick guide including flow chart that would be passed out.
Anon: My only concern, there have been people who have walked up off the streets and not been able to participate.
Hira: This needs to happen so there is some way to get people plugged in. How can we better involve everyone?
Luke: My concern is that I don’t think this proposal is complete bc it doesn’t propose a means for making that flow chart. I think proposals need to have in their proposals the means to enacting their proposals.
Sam: Regarding that perhaps the art committee should break off after the session and nominate amongst selves 2-3 people to do flow chart.
Cailyn: That seems like a job that the writing as well as the process could do together.
Hira: To clarify, not a proposal. Move forward.
Kalis: Last night some people were homeless were very inebriated were being disruptive. We need a procedure other than yelling and screaming to not belittle people. Some people sometimes can say things that irk you. Just take a deep breath. Step aside. Think about what you’re going to say. And go back in head strong bc if you don’t you’ll wind up just like them.
LaTron: I would like to see a man-at-arms that the GA can help manage interruptions when someone is inebriated.
Luke: That’s what tactical unity is supposed to be doing.
Matt: Tactical Unity is supposed to be handling things like that but I want to say preemptively
Kalis: I wanted to say it was actually after 2:00 when this incident occurred. My concern is that we should better handle ourselves when there is a person that are disrupting our cause or not down with our cause.
Chris: We should instead format meetings to learn how to handle ourselves better in these situations. Bc people like me sometimes react emotionally instead of rationally.
Luke: I don’t think either of these are proposals.
Hira: To summarize: While we see that disruptions, and their handling, is a problem, we would like to refer these to committees.
Kalis: I would like to propose that if someone else hasn’t talked that they have a chance to talk while other people are talking on the same topic more than once. Because that makes it too long for everybody.
Luke: To clarify, does that mean you’re proposing the facis/stack taker give priority to people who haven’t spoken yet?
CONSENSUS
Sam: I propose formation of official orientation committee which will have a few guys at the welcome desk at all time who know what all committees are and can direct new people to the committees to their skills can be properly utilized.
Anon: In regards to that does this mean that each committee should have an assigned person to receive people directed to them that can be found so that committee is not just wandering around?
Matt: This PoP is an important concern. idk if this GA has retained quorum and should continue making decisions. We should at least take note that this is becoming elite for those that don’t have other commitments. Also kind of a proposal to adjourn committee.
Daren: We talked about forming a list with 2 people from each group we can contact that we can send people to upon entering park. Something logistics is working on.
Misty: I was going to ask if you would be willing to bottom-line that.
Sam: Absolutely
Luke: Basically what Misty said. If you want a committee, start one and get it approved. More of an announcement.
Hira: Are there more proposals?
Luke: Nope.
Hira: Now last minute announcements.
Sean: Roger then Kenly.
Roger: 1) On Friday we’re organizing a march bc at Ptree and Pine there is a shelter that holds about 600 a night, when cold 1000 a night. They just filed a lawsuit against Emory University bc Emory trying to shut them down. The folks that live there are going to meet us here and lead the march at 5:00PM 2) I was at the ATL NGA Labor meeting tonight. 10s of thousands of workers. Tonight they discussed occupy ATL, unanimously voted to mobilize and help us on Monday. If we want we will set up a barricade. If we want we can surround you.
Anon: I and my friends witnessed 2 sketchy things in 2 hours. If you want to discuss them talk to me. Go either 2 or 3 at a time. Don’t go alone especially girls.
Derek: This thing is only 6 days old and I think you’re doing a great job. My first GA here.
Matt: For Saturday I want a really really free market here. People show up with stuff they would use but they don’t. Everything totally free. Gifting economy.
Chris: Please take your keepworthy belongings with you. 2) If you are on a committee and your contact info isn’t up please get it down.
Emory: 1) I checked out 15 October. Net. On Saturday I noticed a global day of action, just wanted to put it in peoples’ minds. 2) Help grass by not walking in muddy areas.
LaTron: This Saturday the Joe Beasley foundation is doing an unveiling of the MLK monument on the Mall. Anyone that wants to log on or go to the MLK library in DC which is the HQ. We will make sure we announce about what the movement is at this thing. Need it BEFORE SATURDAY. EMAIL BY FRIDAY.
Tommy Muhammad: Will be like a town hall meeting with interesting panelists. I will try to link with OWSATlanta for questions and it will be co hosted with Pacifica.
LaTron: On panel will be students. Congressman Hank Johnson, Naim Akbar Muhammad, Joe Beesley. They will discuss capitalism, econ dev, justice, etc.
