RE: Free University meeting

[Amsler, Sarah]

Hello all,

I've sent this to the Google group, but am also copying here in case people aren't yet signed up to it. Apologies for cross- and duplicate posting

I think all the venue suggestions are very good. I've been to a number of events at Oaklands in Handsworth, and it's a very good space indeed for this sort of thing. I've also been to Carrs Lane Church and know someone who works there; it is equally good. There is another community centre in Lozells. Unfortunately, though, I'm not in Birmingham any more and can't help with these logistics.

I think Muhammed's suggestions on the process are very useful. In terms of the agenda, while being mindful of the need for not 'wasting time', I'm not sure that this is yet a coherent enough group of people/project to begin forming working groups on agendas and etc. I am also not clear how it is related to the already quite extensive set of notes published on the Free University Facebook page (linked to the Bank of Ideas and the Occupy movement)...which, if it is closely aligned, already suggests a number of well-formulated questions and issues to be discussed. My own feeling is that time spent exploring what we are doing is valuable time; this is going on elsewhere as well (in other free university projects, the Social Science Centre, etc.) and I suspect there may be some major points of convergence that people would like to discuss. Some of the subheadings of the notes mentioned above might be useful starting points as they are broad enough to be exploratory but focused in terms of practices and crucial to any free university project: why are we here, who do we want to reach out to, critiques of the current system/conditions, what do we want to do; and in addition, alternative imaginaries/practices/experiences.

One thing that does not seem discussed much in these spaces is the history of free universities, the traditions we are embedded in, building on, diverging from, etc. Not necessarily at this meeting, but at some point, I think this is important to discuss.

All best,
Sarah

Dr Sarah S Amsler
Lecturer in Sociology
Aston University
Birmingham, B4 7ET, UK
+44 (0) 121 204 3072
s.s.a...@aston.ac.uk<mailto:s.s.a...@aston.ac.uk>

Campaign for the Public University: http://publicuniversity.org.uk
________________________________
From: sherry...@btinternet.com [sherry...@btinternet.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 04, 2012 8:51 PM
To: joel lazarus; melski...@yahoo.co.uk; willia...@yahoo.co.uk; jennifer...@gmail.com; nearym...@hotmail.com; Amsler, Sarah; joyce...@blueyonder.co.uk; gordo...@hotmail.com; annadh...@gmail.com; muhamm...@gmail.com; freeuniv...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: Email group

Hi
I am Oxford based but regularly in Brum, and happy to co-organise. Joel, I agree with your comments, and I think we do need a structure and agenda in advance. Anyone who feels strongly can opt out, but it means we won't spend all day discussing what to discuss.

Suzette
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
________________________________
From: joel lazarus <joel_l...@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 4 Jan 2012 20:46:16 +0000
To: <melski...@yahoo.co.uk>; <willia...@yahoo.co.uk>; <jennifer...@gmail.com>; <nearym...@hotmail.com>; <s.s.a...@aston.ac.uk>; <joyce...@blueyonder.co.uk>; <gordo...@hotmail.com>; <sherry...@btinternet.com>; <annadh...@gmail.com>; <muhamm...@gmail.com>; <freeuniv...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Email group

Dear all,

Since Mel raised the point, I thought I'd say that I have already actually set up a google email group.
It's freeuniv...@googlegroups.com<mailto:freeuniv...@googlegroups.com>.
I suggest that everyone gets themselves onto that. You may need to set yourself up with a google account, but it's easy.

In the meantime, let's stick with the old-fashioned email chains.

VENUES
Mel, thanks so much. I agree that it's better to support a good venue offering a fair price for reasonable facilities.
Not knowing B'ham, I'd rather someone from/in B'ham organise the venue. But if no one comes forward, I'll do it based on your recommendations.

AGENDA
Muhammed, thanks for taking the lead. Your suggestions sound excellent. I like 'organic but professional'. Although, wishing to avoid any connotations of market logic, I'd probably substitute the 'professional' for efficient.
Who would be willing to form a sub-group to discuss meeting agenda? Maybe some people think we should just turn up and allow participants to fully determine the day's activities? That might be most democratic, but may take up valuable time? Anyone with greater experience of these things?

Thanks
Joel

[joel lazarus]

Apologies too for cross-posting.
Thanks to all who've responded.
It's not my instinct to take executive decisions or delegate duties, but I will..

VENUES
So, it's Oaklands or Carrs Lane. I think the promise of good Indian vegetarian food swings it towards the former. Mel or Joyce, could you contact Oaklands?

AGENDA
Some great ideas. I've just started a discussion topic on the forum website. I think this is a much better place to embark on a group discussion. It's also more public so we could attract passing traffic! It's here. Let's start creating an agenda for the day through this forum.

Thanks
Joel

[joel lazarus]

Apologies too for cross-posting.
Thanks to all who've responded.
It's not my instinct to take executive decisions or delegate duties, but I will..

VENUES
So, it's Oaklands or Carrs Lane. I think the promise of good Indian vegetarian food swings it towards the former. Mel or Joyce, could you contact Oaklands?

AGENDA
Some great ideas. I've just started a discussion topic on the forum website. I think this is a much better place to embark on a group discussion. It's also more public so we could attract passing traffic! It's here. Let's start creating an agenda for the day through this forum.

Thanks
Joel

> From: S.S.A...@aston.ac.uk
> To: sherry...@btinternet.com; joel_l...@hotmail.com; melski...@yahoo.co.uk; willia...@yahoo.co.uk; jennifer...@gmail.com; nearym...@hotmail.com; joyce...@blueyonder.co.uk; gordo...@hotmail.com; annadh...@gmail.com; muhamm...@gmail.com; freeuniv...@googlegroups.com
> Subject: RE: Free University meeting
> Date: Thu, 5 Jan 2012 00:05:00 +0000
>

[joel lazarus]

Apologies too for cross-posting.
Thanks to all who've responded.
It's not my instinct to take executive decisions or delegate duties, but I will..

VENUES
So, it's Oaklands or Carrs Lane. I think the promise of good Indian vegetarian food swings it towards the former. Mel or Joyce, could you contact Oaklands?

AGENDA
Some great ideas. I've just started a discussion topic on the forum website. I think this is a much better place to embark on a group discussion. It's also more public so we could attract passing traffic! It's here. Let's start creating an agenda for the day through this forum.

Thanks
Joel

> From: S.S.A...@aston.ac.uk
> To: sherry...@btinternet.com; joel_l...@hotmail.com; melski...@yahoo.co.uk; willia...@yahoo.co.uk; jennifer...@gmail.com; nearym...@hotmail.com; joyce...@blueyonder.co.uk; gordo...@hotmail.com; annadh...@gmail.com; muhamm...@gmail.com; freeuniv...@googlegroups.com
> Subject: RE: Free University meeting
> Date: Thu, 5 Jan 2012 00:05:00 +0000
>

[canaan joyce]

Hi all,
Thanks Sarah, Joel, Mohammed and Mel for your thoughtful contributions. I can book the Oaklands tomorrow. Given that people will be coming from elsewhere, shall we have an 11 am start and finish by 4? I will tentatively suggest that and we can then finalise it later. Re: Indian food, all I need to know is numbers but that can happen a week beforehand so no rush on that.
Re: agenda, can we all look at the Free University, Social Science Centre and Bank of Ideas as suggested?
Joyce

[joel lazarus]

Agreed.

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Date: Thu, 5 Jan 2012 17:57:28 +0000
Subject: Re: Free University meeting
From: joyce...@blueyonder.co.uk
To: S.S.A...@aston.ac.uk
CC: sherry...@btinternet.com; joel_l...@hotmail.com; melski...@yahoo.co.uk; willia...@yahoo.co.uk; jennifer...@gmail.com; nearym...@hotmail.com; gordo...@hotmail.com; annadh...@gmail.com; muhamm...@gmail.com; freeuniv...@googlegroups.com

[Gordon Asher]

Hi all - do we have a short blurb about the meeting that I could send on to folk that might be interested?
Cheers
G

Work like you don't need money
Love like you've never been hurt
and dance like no-one's watching

"Education either functions as an instrument which is used to facilitate
integration of the younger generation into the logic of the present system
and bring about conformity or it becomes the practice of freedom, the means
by which men and women deal critically and creatively with reality and
discover how to participate in the transformation of their world."  
Paulo Freire (Pedagogy of the Oppressed)

[joel lazarus]

Hi Gordon,

I'll have a go at a 'blurb' but anyone please, please feel free to change it...

'On Saturday 25th February, there will be a national meeting for all those actively engaged in or interested in engaging in the development of alternative 'free' universities in the UK. Participants from all around the UK will come together to share information, experiences, and ideas about providing radical popular education that is accessible to all.
The meeting will be held in Birmingham between 11am and 4pm at a venue to be announced soon. The meeting will be followed by a dinner at a nearby Indian vegetarian restaurant.'

Is that ok?

Joel

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From: gordo...@hotmail.com
To: s.s.a...@aston.ac.uk; sherry...@btinternet.com; joel_l...@hotmail.com; melski...@yahoo.co.uk; willia...@yahoo.co.uk; jennifer...@gmail.com; nearym...@hotmail.com; joyce...@blueyonder.co.uk; annadh...@gmail.com; muhamm...@gmail.com; freeuniv...@googlegroups.com

Subject: RE: Free University meeting

Date: Fri, 6 Jan 2012 16:15:03 +0000

[Amsler, Sarah]

Hello all,

Thanks, Joel - I've no idea about the logistics of the restaurant, but think the first part looks good. It should get people there from various routes.

Best,

Sarah

Dr Sarah S Amsler
Lecturer in Sociology
Aston University
Birmingham, B4 7ET, UK
+44 (0) 121 204 3072
s.s.a...@aston.ac.uk<mailto:s.s.a...@aston.ac.uk>

Campaign for the Public University: http://publicuniversity.org.uk
________________________________

From: joel lazarus [joel_l...@hotmail.com]
Sent: Friday, January 06, 2012 11:04 PM
To: gordo...@hotmail.com; Amsler, Sarah; sherry...@btinternet.com; melski...@yahoo.co.uk; willia...@yahoo.co.uk; jennifer...@gmail.com; nearym...@hotmail.com; joyce...@blueyonder.co.uk; annadh...@gmail.com; muhamm...@gmail.com; freeuniv...@googlegroups.com

[joel lazarus]

Yes, maybe leave the restaurant bit out...
Thanks Sarah

[Gordon Asher]

Cheers Joel - we ok to put your details down as the contact?
Best

G

Work like you don't need money
Love like you've never been hurt
and dance like no-one's watching

"Education either functions as an instrument which is used to facilitate
integration of the younger generation into the logic of the present system
and bring about conformity or it becomes the practice of freedom, the means
by which men and women deal critically and creatively with reality and
discover how to participate in the transformation of their world."  
Paulo Freire (Pedagogy of the Oppressed)

 

---

From: joel_l...@hotmail.com
To: gordo...@hotmail.com; s.s.a...@aston.ac.uk; sherry...@btinternet.com; melski...@yahoo.co.uk; willia...@yahoo.co.uk; jennifer...@gmail.com; nearym...@hotmail.com; joyce...@blueyonder.co.uk; annadh...@gmail.com; muhamm...@gmail.com; freeuniv...@googlegroups.com

Subject: RE: Free University meeting

Date: Fri, 6 Jan 2012 23:04:41 +0000

[Joyce Canaan]

Agreed; we can have Indian food for lunch from the local take away. All we will need by Monday of that week is accurate numbers.

Joyce