Occupy Vermont Solidarity Network

[Stephen Marshall]

Greetings to everyone.

I have been struggling with how to make the Occupy Vermont Communications
Network (Being renamed as "Solidarity network") more effective and
meaningful,
and decided that I have not been reaching out in ways that other people
find useful.
Evidence of this need is the fact that you may not know about the network.

The Occupy Vermont Solidarity Network is organized on the spoke and hub
model. It has been endorsed by the Vermont General Assembly. It is not
intended as a decision-making mechanism. It is intended strictly as a
communications tool, to facilitate connections between groups across the
state.

I decided to start a Facebook group to connect us a little better. But
getting connected is much larger than having a facebook page.

I am also sending this letter to people on at-large lists, to get feedback.

I am aware that the facilitation group has already been communicating
across the state, So the question arises, "is the communications network
redundant?" Another question is "can we confer about what our needs are
and how best to meet them?" I am struck by the fact that there was a New
England General Assembly and the news didn't go out on the network, and
that the Descend on the Conference march and rally has not tapped our
resources. No one needs a new way to expend energy. The intent is to
provide a useful resource. Is there something in the original vision,
and the work done so far, to justify further work on this network? I can
continue to put my energy into the network, but if it doesn't offer a
service that the Occupy community needs, What's the point?

My self-reflection is that I have not done a good job of explaining the
vision, or of preparing people to use the network, or of finding the
relevant uses, or of putting useful resources in front of people. I have
also not done a good job of sharing the work. Sharing the work implies
co-ownership of the project. In other words, working together to address
mutual needs. I have not been sensitive enough to what other people
think is important.

My two goals are to foster bonds of solidarity between our various
expressions of Occupy across the state, and to make this network
self-sustaining. How to do this is the central question I am trying to
answer at this time.

I will be posting to <Dispolemic.wordpress.com> as a record of our
conversations about the uses of this network. You can post comments
there, and you can become an author.

So reply to all, send thoughts. Thanks.

Stephen Marshall
Dispolemic.Blogspot.Com
802-922-1446 Cell

*Please note that Visi...@burlingtontelecom.net will expire .
I have a new address, visi...@occupyburlington.org. *