Global English Language Assembly Meeting - Saturday 11am PST 2pm EST

[Jay/ Global Assemblies]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Hey Everyone,

This Saturday at 7pm UTC (all the times for the world are listed at the end of this email), we will be having a Global English Language Assembly.  We can fit up to 10,000 participants on the server so tell everyone you know, especially on facebook, twitter, and other venues, because this just might the biggest and most important Global Meeting yet!  This link has all the info:https://pad.riseup.net/p/GlobalEnglishJan7

Overall what I am recommending is to having this meeting as a neutral space, for all projects, organizations, and movements,  where everyone comes as equals and to define the group and the structure of the organization by the language that is used.  So what I call it is the Global Fluent English Language Assembly.  So I strongly encourage you all to be comfortable with leaving names and projects out of the initial introduction of this group to the world, and instead propose names, when needed within the workgroups and to the larger group in future meetings as part of the participatory decision-making process. 

All the information and Agendas are bellow.  Please make comments and suggestions, everything is DRAFT.  We are also still looking for possible Facilitators, Note Takes, and Translators.

Many thanks for all of your work and collaboration, and I hope that this meeting can be a foundation for building on for the rest of the year.

Jay

Jay Blas Jacob Cabrera

(415) 323-5833

http://GeneralAssemblies.info

http://JaysLIFE.net

http://Heeo.in

Meeting Details for the Global English Language Assembly:

Time: Saturday January 7th, 2012 at 11am PST 2pm EST (7pm UTC)

Online Location: Mumble Take the Square Server (tomalaplaza.net) Room: International

(more information about Mumble and tech support is at the bottom of the email)

Link to Agenda & Minutes: https://pad.riseup.net/p/GlobalEnglishJan7  (and it is all in this email)

For Scheduling future Global Fluent-English Language Assembly meetings use this Scheduling Form to vote:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dDg2a21aSWo0VzQ0RWRsbDVNTXNrQnc6MA

Temporary Email List:

http://wc.tc/mailman/listinfo/fluentenglish_global.generalassemblies.info

This is for the overall Global English-Language Assembly

Why and what is the Global English-Language Assembly?: - Background -

On a call last friday, it was made clear that a tech group that had come together to discuss major technological innovations wants and needs much more than just an other website and an other disconnected tech team.  The foundation of what is to be created is an integration between human systems and tech systems and therefore just creating a tech team is not enough, we need an entire global organization that facilitates the full spectrum of human activity and its integration with technological applications, web presences and collaboration between innovative tools.

All you really need to understand is that if there are 30-50+ people on this Saturday meeting, and there could easily be a few 100, it could be the most important global meeting that has occurred to date.  So if you do not have time to read details bellow, simply attend the global meeting, tell as many people as you know, and everything will be explained. 

Many people from many organizations and tech projects are coming together and we need to create a safe space where everyone feels as equals no matter what project or organization they are coming from.  There are at least 5 separate global web based social network projects going on, not to mention the 100's of Occupy, DRY, and Global Revolution websites.  This is not an attempt to create a new project, or even to combine current projects.  Instead this is a time to bring together everyone to discuss how we can all work together and also create the keys, and channels to connect all the existing open source tech and human organizations and human systems infrastructure that is already in place and see what is missing to fill in the gaps.  

Even in the context of this organizational coalition, once formed, will not have any decision-making authority in the context of the larger global movement.  First of all, real decisions are made by individuals and local general assemblies and organizations at the local level.  Global groups do not have the power to direct local groups, in fact it is the other way around and eventually more discussion will occur on the global consensus process.  Second, English is only one of 10-15 languages that will all be autonomous global organizational coalitions that will all have equality.  English will NOT be the de-facto language of this movement.  Therefore, although we can make decisions on behalf of our english language group, we will be interfacing and collaborating with many other languages through translation and also space for what is called "Globish" (simplified and slowed down english).  There will be real time translation available at this meeting and future meetings, but it will take time to get it set up well.  More will be explained about Multi-Organizational-Entities (MOE's) on the call to bring comprehension and understanding about the relationship between the Global English Assembly with the 10's of other language and cultural groups that will be formed or already exist on the Global level.  

Lastly if there are 20 or less people at the meeting, we will be focusing exclusively on the Tech part of the Agenda, as we will not have quorum to begin the larger Assembly.

Draft Agenda for Global English-Language Assembly

Saturday January 7th Meeting 1pm PST, 4pm EST, 7pm UTC

SET UP (20m)

• Consent on Facilitator, Note Taker, Time Keeper
• Introduction (10m)
• How to Get on Stack, twinkle, etc...
• Quick intro to history of Global movement (3m)
• Introduce the Global MOE Concept (5m)
• Poll on English Comprehension of the Group
• Check in on Live Translation if possible
• Why this organizational coalition was convened:
•  Update on Last Friday's Call and Yesterdays US Call (5m)
• Agenda Review and Agreement (5m)

TOPICS (30-45m)

1. Decision on Decision Making for the Organizational Coalition (10m)

Proposal: Consensus Process: "Strive towards consensus (Default Measure 90% vote after multi-step resolution process) with a quorum of 20"  Note: Decisions on Decision Making technically can be passed with 50% majority.

If consensus cannot be reached, we will temporarily use what we can get 50% agreement on, and the issue will be sent into a "process" committee for further deliberation which could be within the. "long-term Strategy Main Workgroup, if the organizational structure proposal passes"

2. Organizational Coalition Structure Proposal & Understanding (15m) 

(see bellow for structure proposal)

--- the following sections are 4 proposals, one for each Main workgroup coming out of the Structure Proposal ----

3. Proposal:  Task Tech Group to Create Interconnections and keys between existing open-source tech-human interfaces (5-10m)

If consensus cannot be reached the proposal will go into the Tech Main Workgroup for discussion and amendment.

4. Proposal: Sponsor/Endorse (not decided) May 12th Global Day of Action (5-10m)

If consensus cannot be reached the proposal will go into the "Logistics/Actions" Main Workgroup for discussion and amendment.  (Note: Global Organizations cannot make decisions that affect local General Assemblies, and so we can only "Sponsor/Endorse" a date for Global Action, not make any final decision. It is up to those interested to send a resolution through Local General Assemblies Across the World to build consensus on any global decision)

5) Proposal: To tasks the "Outreach" group with the following: (5-10m)

 To create a plan to get standardized translation processes for 3-5 languages ASAP (English, Spanish, Arabic....  And to set up a plan for major outreach channels across the world for our next meeting.

If consensus cannot be reached the proposal will go into the "Outreach" Main Workgroup for discussion and amendment.

6) Proposal: To tasks the "Long-Term Strategy" group with the following: (5-10m)

To create a plan for conducting a global strategic research assessment of our resources and needs.

WRAP UP (15m)

7) Next Steps (5m)

8) Meeting Scheduling & Logistics (10m)

• Straw polls to reduce down and propose the time that came from the Scheduling Survey and come to consensus on our next meeting time and frequency.
  
  

MAIN WORKGROUP BREAK OUTS (45m) +  Extra time as needed after sending a representative to the "Coordination" Group Report Backs

See bellow for mini-agendas for Each Workgroup

"COORDINATION" WORKGROUP REPORT BACKS (30m)

2+ people from each Main Workgroup should report back and join the the "Coordination" Group and discuss the next step for the whole group moving forward.  Because it is possible that this "Coordination" group meeting will be simultaneously taking place during other continuing work-groups, NO important decisions will be allowed to take place.  This group will set up a meeting that will not meet ever again during the larger group meetings, and instead the entire group would come back together if necessary and get report backs for everyone.

SET UP:

• Consent on Facilitator, Note Taker, Time Keeper ( if small group, less than 7, can agree to do group facilitation, but you still need a note taker)
• Introductions - get at least name and affiliation (10m)
• Report backs from each of the other 4 Workgroups
• Agenda Review and Agreement (5m)

TOPICS:

1. Get 2 people to be the temporary point people for the workgroup so that everyone has a way of communicating with the group itself. (5m)

WRAP UP: (20m)

• Brainstorm Next Steps and possible Agenda Items for the first full meeting (5m)
• Schedule Next Meeting - Temporary
• Tasks Review
• Make sure someone is going to compile the minutes and send them out to the list
• REmind people of the next Large Meeting
• Remind people of the next "Coordination" meeting
• Check Out (10m)

STRUCTURE PROPOSAL:

5 Main Workgroups each consisting of many topics, and can coordinate their own sub-groups as needed.  They will semi-autonomously self-organize.

Each Main Workgroup is tasked with Creating their own Name, Description, and eventually a purpose statement and purview of decision making.  The list of decisions it takes purview over will need to be consented on by the larger group.

List of the 5 Main Workgroups (there will be no other Main Workgroups, only sub-groups of these 5 Main groups.  There can be an infinite number of sub-groups and anyone can create a Sub-group at anytime, but there can only be 5 Main Workgroups, and to add an other Main Workgroup and RE-structure there must be a proposal to the entire larger group)

There will of course be overlap between all the groups, but there are also clear distinctions.  Some sub-groups will be inter-connected into multiple Main-groups as needed, but specific proposals coming from sub-groups or anywhere will be encouraged to go through a single Main Workgroup before being brought to the Larger Group for consensus.

Group 1 Topics and Themes:
Coordination/Facilitation/Admin/Moderation/mediation/Resolution/Finances/Budgets/Training...

This group will not be allowed to meet when any other of the 4 groups are meeting and must have representatives from the other 4 Workgroups to meet quorum.

Group 2 Topics and Themes:

Communications/Web/Tech/Databases/Applications/Lists...

Group 3 Topics and Themes:
Events/Actions/Logistics/Campaingns/...

Group 4 Topics and Themes:
Outreach/Liaisons/Networking/Media/Messaging/Education/Translation...

Group 5 Topics and Themes:
Long range strategic planing/ Process/Research/Institutional Democratization/Structure/Politics...

Note: Broader Global Structure: (this is not being voted on now, but is for your information)

The English Language Assembly is and will be part of many language based assemblies all with Autonomous Decision-Making and there are multiple English Language Assemblies as well.  Our decisions do not supersede and we cannot allow us to affect any other Assembly without them being involved in the decision.  So we need to be mindful with every decision we make, that it is temporary and does not speak for all the existing Global Meetings already happening, and only speaks for ourselves as one part of the whole.

In future meetings there may be a brief time for Continental Updates from the 7 main continents.  There will not be time for each country or each City to give updates on Global Calls, so we all need to self organize into Continents!  Additionally Continental Updates may instead take place within Multi-Language Assemblies like the Global English-Spanish-Aribic Language Assembly where every sentence is translated into each language live during the meeting.

Global Decision-Making:

No global Assemblies have any right to make Global Decisions. The foundational level of the global Structure is Local General Assemblies and the local level has full decision making power over all global decisions using some type of inter-ga consensus process if it becomes necessary to have a global decision.  Up to this point there has not been any need for it.  A Global Inter-GA consensus process based on integrity would not start with a proposal at all, having a proposal is step 13 an would take 6-8 months to even get there, step 0 is getting consensus on the Inter-GA process itself and the need for a global decision in the first place.

To coordinate our meetings we will need an Email list for Each Sub-Group.  These will be made once we come to consensus on the structure proposal.  But since there already is consensus on the tech group, we have created that global email list for now, although this is temporary as there could already be an other one in existence since there is an other global english tech group that is meeting at the same time on the london server, we will be interconnecting the meetings as best as possible..

Temporary Global English Tech Group Email List:

http://wc.tc/mailman/listinfo/tech-en_global.generalassemblies.info

-----------------------
Sub-Agendas for Each Main WorkGroup Meeting:

-----------------------

"Tech/Communications" Workgroup Rough Draft Agenda (45m)+ extra after 2 people are sent to "Coordination"

SET UP:

• Consent on Facilitator, Note Taker, Time Keeper ( if small group, less than 7, can agree to do group facilitation, but you still need a note taker)
• Introductions - get at least name and affiliation (10m)
• Agenda Review and Agreement (5m)

TOPICS:

Note: After 45 minutes Make sure to Get 2 people to be the temporary point people for the workgroup so that everyone has a way of communicating with the group itself and send them to the "Coordination" REPORT BACKS (5m)  After this the group can continue to meet.

1. Build understanding and agreement on what it means to create "keys" and communication between existing internet based applications and social networks using Open Source code. (10-15m)

2. Make sure there is a location to List the Existing Projects, and discuss what needs to be done to start the process of ensuring that these separate projects, and future ones, will be able to communicate with each other (10m)

3. Brainstorm where there are GAPs in the existing set of projects and web tools available to the movement.  Prioritize them and see if there is anyone working on them.  We need everyone working on at least 1 of everything we need before duplicating.

Note: Request for a Spanish Wiki as a sub version of the existing English Wiki, and other Multi-Language Wiki's (we should just try to have WikiMedia Foundation on the Meeting) they should be able to send someone??? )10-15m)

4.  Agree on a Name for the Group (5m)

5.  Get a simple Temporary Description about what the group does. (5-10m)

6.  Brainstorm the Purpose, Scope, and decision-making purview of the Group

Task someone(s) to Write that up and draft it for further discussion and editing to build consensus in future meetings. (15m)

WRAP UP: (20m)

• Brainstorm Next Steps and possible Agenda Items for further meetings (5m)
• Next Meeting - Temporary until full scheduling process can take place
• Tasks Review
• Make sure someone is going to compile the minutes and send them out to the whole group
• Check Out (10m)

---------------------------

"Events/Actions" Workgroup (45m)Rough Draft Agenda + extra after 2 people are sent to "Coordination"

SET UP:

• Consent on Facilitator, Note Taker, Time Keeper ( if small group, less than 7, can agree to do group facilitation, but you still need a note taker)
• Introductions - get at least name and affiliation (10m)
• Agenda Review and Agreement (5m)

TOPICS:

Note: After 45 minutes Make sure to Get 2 people to be the temporary point people for the workgroup so that everyone has a way of communicating with the group itself and send them to the "Coordination" REPORT BACKS (5m)  After this the group can continue to meet.

1. List Possible Action Days & Events (What is already going on???)

2. Brainstorm Planing for Global Day of Action for May 12th (if this was consented on), other wise try to build consensus around a global day of action. (how to we get out the word)

3. Task a small group to write out a statement to be sent to GA's across the world to pass in support of the Global day of Action.

4.  Agree on a Name for the Group (5m)

5.  Get a simple Temporary Description about what the group does. (5-10m)

6.  Brainstorm the Purpose, Scope, and decision-making purview of the Group

Task someone(s) to Write that up and draft it for further discussion and editing to build consensus in future meetings. (15m)

7.  Make Goals for this Group.

WRAP UP: (20m)

• Brainstorm Next Steps and possible Agenda Items for further meetings (5m)
• Next Meeting - Temporary until full scheduling process can take place
• Tasks Review
• Make sure someone is going to compile the minutes and send them out to the whole group
• Check Out (10m)

----------------------

"Outreach/Translation" Workgroup Rough Draft Agenda (45m)+ extra after 2 people are sent to "Coordination"

SET UP:

• Consent on Facilitator, Note Taker, Time Keeper ( if small group, less than 7, can agree to do group facilitation, but you still need a note taker)
• Introductions - get at least name and affiliation (10m)
• Agenda Review and Agreement (5m)

TOPICS:

Note: After 45 minutes Make sure to Get 2 people to be the temporary point people for the workgroup so that everyone has a way of communicating with the group itself and send them to the "Coordination" REPORT BACKS (5m)  After this the group can continue to meet.

1. Set up a plan to get translators, who how, where.

2. How do we translate, and what are the priorities for translation?

3. Brainstorm Outreach plans to get more people on the next BIG Global English Language Assembly, and other Global Meetings.

4.  Agree on a Name for the Group (5m)

5.  Get a simple Temporary Description about what the group does. (5-10m)

6.  Brainstorm the Purpose, Scope, and decision-making purview of the Group

Task someone(s) to Write that up and draft it for further discussion and editing to build consensus in future meetings. (15m)

7.  Make Goals for this Group.

WRAP UP: (20m)

• Brainstorm Next Steps and possible Agenda Items for further meetings (5m)
• Next Meeting - Temporary until full scheduling process can take place
• Tasks Review
• Make sure someone is going to compile the minutes and send them out to the whole group
• Check Out (10m)

--------------

"Long Term Planning" Workgroup Rough Draft Agenda (45m)+ extra after 2 people are sent to "Coordination"

SET UP:

• Consent on Facilitator, Note Taker, Time Keeper ( if small group, less than 7, can agree to do group facilitation, but you still need a note taker)
• Introductions - get at least name and affiliation (10m)
• Agenda Review and Agreement (5m)

TOPICS:

Note: After 45 minutes Make sure to Get 2 people to be the temporary point people for the workgroup so that everyone has a way of communicating with the group itself and send them to the "Coordination" REPORT BACKS (5m)  After this the group can continue to meet.

1. If consensus couldn't be reached on decision-making, try to build consensus on a more long term decision-making process.

2. Brainstorm what types of questions we would ask the world to build a strategic assessment of resources and needs.

3. Brainstorm Outreach plans to get more people on the next BIG Global English Language Assembly, and other Global Meetings.

4.  Agree on a Name for the Group (5m)

5.  Get a simple Temporary Description about what the group does. (5-10m)

6.  Brainstorm the Purpose, Scope, and decision-making purview of the Group

Task someone(s) to Write that up and draft it for further discussion and editing to build consensus in future meetings. (15m)

7.  Make Goals for this Group.

WRAP UP: (20m)

• Brainstorm Next Steps and possible Agenda Items for further meetings (5m)
• Next Meeting - Temporary until full scheduling process can take place
• Tasks Review
• Make sure someone is going to compile the minutes and send them out to the whole group
• Check Out (10m)

GLOBAL English Language Assembly Meeting Times and HELP Support 

Call in Details:

• Saturday January 7th:
• 11:00 (UTC-8) West Coast of USA
• 12:00 (UTC-7 MST, Arizona...)
• 13:00 (UTC-6 Chicago,Texas)
• 14:00 (UTC-5 New York/DC)
• 16:00 (UTC-6 East Coast of Brazil)
• 19:00 (UTC+0 Canarias and UK)
• 20:00 (UTC+1 Europe)
• 23:00 (UTC+3 Western Africa)
• Sunday January 8th (same time, just different day in this part of the world)
• 2:00 (UTC +6 Central Asia [India is +5.5])
• 6:00 (UTC +10 Eastern Australia)

• This call will take place on the Take the Square Mumble Server

• host: tomalaplaza.net

• port: 64738

• Break Out Room: International (just double click after you get on the call)

• Download: http://mumble.com

• Instructions: http://takethesquare.net/2011/10/04/mumble-setup-walkthrough/

• Conference Call in #’s for Mumble Tech Support and to Listen (limited participation)

•  Skype from anywhere in the World:

• Add to contacts: freeconferencecallhd.2096471600

• Just call like normal free skype call, then key in access code: 891526

Phone Call in Numbers from Across the World:

• EurAsia
• Asia:
• Japan, Japon: +81 3 5050 5060  Access Code: 355540  Codigo de Accesso: 355540
• Europe:
• España, Spain: +34 91 119 6720   Access Code: 355540  Codigo de Accesso: 355540
• United Kingdom, UK, Ingletera: +44 (0) 784 843 2902 Access Code: 355540 Codigo de Accesso: 355540
• Austria:   +43 (0) 1 265 05 50    Access Code: 355540  Codigo de Accesso: 355540
• Czech Republic   +420 225 989 117   Access Code: 355540  Codigo de Accesso: 355540
• Netherlands: +31 (0) 20 322 3010  Access Code: 355540  Codigo de Accesso: 355540
• Portugal: +351 21005 1183  Access Code: 355540  Codigo de Accesso: 355540
• Romania: +40 317 807 030   Access Code: 355540  Codigo de Accesso: 355540
• France, Francia:  +33 (0) 1 8014 0660  Access Code: 355540  Codigo de Accesso: 355540
• Germany,Alemania:+49 (0) 631 206 9400 Access Code: 355540  Codigo d Accesso: 355540
• Switzerland, Swiza: +41 (0) 44 595 9040  Access Code: 355540  Codigo d Accesso: 355540
• Africa
• Nigeria: +234 1 667 0002  Access Code: 355540  Codigo de Accesso: 355540
• South Africa,Sur Africa:+27 87 825 0130  Access Code: 355540  Codigo d Accesso: 355540
• North America, Norte America
• United States,EEUU#1:+1 559 546 1401 Access Code: 355540 Codigo de Accesso: 355540
• United States,EEUU#2:+1 209 647 1600 Access Code: 891526 Codigo de Accesso: 891526
• Canada: +1 559 546 1444    Access Code: 355540  Codigo de Accesso: 355540
• South America, Sur America
• none :( nada :(
• Austrailia
• Australia: +61 1300 781 254     Access Code: 355540  Codigo de Accesso: 355540
• Pacific
• none :( nada :(
• Antartica
• non :( nada ;(