Minutes from GA on Sunday 5/20/12

[Sarah Schubert]

Sorry everybody for the severe delay - there were a lot of announcements in this GA and a proposal.  Wish I got this out sooner but it has been busy week. We'll do better next time!

Solidarity.
Sarah


OCCUPY HARRISBURG
SUNDAY WEEKLY GENERAL ASSEMBLY (GA)
AGENDA and NOTES

05-20-2012 2:00pm - 3:30pm

Meeting held at the Capitol Steps Occupation
N. 3rd & State Street
Harrisburg, PA  17101
The agenda was created by Ryan L., Sarah S., and Darryll H. acting as the Facilitation Working Group.  
You are encouraged to show up and contribute your input suggested topics of discussion and proposals may be submitted here: http://bit.ly/ohbg-ga-topics-prop-col



Opening
(15 minutes)

Opening Statement
-Thank you for being here right now and occupying this space with us.
- This is a non-violent peaceful movement.  
**Good Will Statement:
It is assumed that all members are participating in a spirit of goodwill and cooperation, unless there is direct evidence to the contrary. It is always appropriate to ask for an explanation of how a proposal or a concern is in the best interest of the group.
- We are here to make consensus based decisions.
- Smokers: Please smoke at the rotundas at the ends of the Steps, Thank You.

Assign Roles - summarize roles (pg 50-58 OCAC, 2007)
Co-facilitators - Josh & Josh| Peacekeeper and Doorkeeper - Julie| Stacks - Darryll | Notes and Timekeeper – Sarah

Review of Hand Signals
Agreement | Disagreement | Undecided | Point of Information | Point of Process | Clarifying Question | Louder | Shorten/Condense | Block – very serious, not to be used lightly

Suggested Topics of Discussion and Proposals read by Facilitator(s)
preferably submitted before the Agenda Planning meeting here: http://bit.ly/ohbg-proposals-sunday-ga
PROPOSAL SUMMARY:
FUNDS TO FMH - THIS IS A PROPOSAL TO USE ALL MONIES DONATED AT OHBG’S TABLING EVENTS THROUGH AUGUST 31 2012 TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE FRIENDS’ MEETING HOUSE BILLS AND IMMEDIATELY TO RENEW OHBG’S RENTAL OF THE PORT-O-POTTIES. ALL MONIES DONATED AT THE STEPS, WEPAY, PO BOX, WILL REMAIN FOR OHBG’S USE.  ANYONE WHO WOULD CARE TO CONTRIBUTE INDIVIDUALLY TO FMH OR OHBG MAY DO SO WHENEVER THEY PLEASE.

Review/Revision of Proposed Agenda – All consent to the announced

Potential Groups to Report - Reports are to be brief.  Please hold discussion and questions for the presenter at break or after the Assembly.
(~30 minutes about 3 min each)

Movement and Development –   There have been no rallies at the Capitol steps as of this past week. M&D (Sammy) has a need for regular internet access, and a computer.   Jackie adds that this Wednesday, 5/23/12 at 10am there will be a rally at the steps of teachers, parents and a high school band. Call for OHBG to be present.
Public Relations – The Protest play at Midtown Scholar Bookstore last Thursday was well promoted and quite a few people came out.  The Free Store was poorly promoted, but still successful.  Will do better next time.
Garden & Brewing – The garden is waiting for a delivery of wood.  Brewing will start when the equipment is delivered.
Occupy Your Mind – The Protest play event had a great turn out (everybody be sure to thank Lisa! Maybe we can get another play lined up!), the next Occupy Your Mind event is the Who is Occupy?  panel discussion hosted by Nel on Monday 5/21/12 at 5:30-7pm at the Midtown Scholar Bookstore.  We really need to thank Eric – make a card, or something cool, for the hospitality.  We have June’s line up ready as well (June 4, 11 and 18).
Long-term Occupation – The proposal at today’s meeting has a lot to do with what is going on this week.
Facilitation – The ongoing On Conflict and Consensus (OCAC) discussions (at Friends’ Meeting House every Tuesday 6:30-8:30pm  and Saturday 5-7pm) have been well attended with nice broad open discussion.  Really recommended for everyone to stop by – you can jump in at any meeting.  On Saturdays after the book discussion, Facilitation meets and sets up the Sunday GA agenda.
Living Documents (Values List/Mission Stmt, discussion after break) – Lots of ideas are coming out of the OCAC discussion groups, leading to a shared values discussion.  We should work to find a way to come together to list values.  Everyone is welcome to the OCAC meetings.
Paradigm Shift – The OCAC discussions are being held in lieu of regular meetings. . .because consensus process is a paradigm shift.
Theatre – The dancers will meet today after GA at 5:30pm and again Monday 5/21/12 at 7:30pm after the Occupy Your Mind panel.  Karl is writing a play about founding fathers.
Finance – The Steps donation box has been low, the Mutual Aid Free Store table brought in $26.
Steps Occupation – We have been having good foot traffic, seeing new faces.  A Chicago Occupier stopped by and shared some stories.  Occupy Philadelphia would like to do an event July 2 2012, something involving improv. . .
Health & Safety – Drink plenty of water, take care of your feet, wear sunglasses.  To re-stock the First Aid kit, talk to Dan V. Sue D., Karl, or Barbara.  Suggested this group meet up to discuss logistics of re-stocking.
Mutual Aid – Free Store was a great success, lot of people came, we left with more than we came with – and that is accounting for new donations that showed up on site during the event.  We are thinking of doing the next Free Store June 9 or 23.  We need people dedicated to helping to set up, but it was great to see all the support from Occupiers throughout the 3 hours.  We would like to see a skill-share pop up along with the Free Store, so if anyone has a skill to share, see Chris or Sarah.

*** call for any other working group ***

OHBG University – Still looking to work on a formal system of signing out stuff, is it needed and suggestions for how to do it.  May be run on a “take-one, leave one” system. There is a Kindle to use, with $45 credit. Unclear when the credit expires.

Proposals - proposals present by a presenter with details
process: http://bit.ly/ohbg-achieving-consensus
(10 minutes)
1.  Presentation (read out loud to the GA): A proposal to contribute monetarily to the maintenance of Occupy Harrisburg’s (OHBG’s) presence at the Friends’ Meeting House (FMH):

It has been anticipated by FMH that OHBG will incur an increase in total bills through the year of 2012 of approximately $5,250.00 (**this figure as per the Proposed Budget of the FMH: a total of $10,500 increased cost due to the daycare and OHBG, we are assuming that half of that estimate is attributed to OHBG**).   We have no set amount of money we are required to contribute to FMH, but donations are welcome and necessary.  [The amounts listed in this section were amended during the Proposal section of the GA (see below).  Cat provided new information after attending a finance meeting at FMH.  The FMH is estimating a contribution from OHBG of $2,500 through 2012 and the installment of the water heater – run with gas heat – was $4,800.  This is a total amount of $7,300.00 attributable to OHBG through 2012.]

In an effort to contribute to the bills and needs at the FMH that are increased due to our encampment’s presence, it seems a good idea to allot a portion of OHBG’s donations to the Friends.  Specifically, we have a donation box at tabling events (such as Broad Street Market, Occupy Your Mind, Free Store etc.) and we could contribute ALL of these funds to FMH through at least August 31st 2012 (we will re-address this proposal at the next GA after 8/31/12).  We should consider that the donations from tabling will likely NOT cover the full estimated amount of OHBG’s costs at FMH - this donation will only help to defray the costs.

This would help particularly with the maintenance of the Port-o-Potties, electric, and water costs.  The port-o-pottie rental MUST be renewed THIS MONTH (May 2012) and costs approximately  $300 for 3 months which includes service of the port-o-potties (this figure has not been verified to date, but is from verbal confirmation from Darryll).  This is an IMMEDIATE need that the tabling funds could address.

OHBG traditionally has less than $300 in the established bank account, it is unlikely that dipping into these funds would be the best thing for OHBG. We are not proposing a new bank account for FMH bills, just that money donations from tabling events go to FMH for the summer. We can revisit this proposal at ANY time, particularly if our tabling event donations exceed our expectations.

(We have also learned that the dumpster on site may be gone as it is a rental by the daycare group and they have discussed removing it.  We may have to consider renting our own, but this is not part of today’s proposal).

All money donations from the Steps, post office box, and We-Pay account  will remain totally allotted to OHBG’s needs.  Anyone who would care to contribute individually to FMH or OHBG may do so whenever they please.

AGAIN:  THIS IS A PROPOSAL TO USE ALL MONIES DONATED AT OHBG’S TABLING EVENTS THROUGH AUGUST 31 2012 TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE FRIENDS’ MEETING HOUSE BILLS AND IMMEDIATELY TO RENEW OHBG’S RENTAL OF THE PORT-O-POTTIES. ALL MONIES DONATED AT THE STEPS, WEPAY, PO BOX, WILL REMAIN FOR OHBG’S USE.  ANYONE WHO WOULD CARE TO CONTRIBUTE INDIVIDUALLY TO FMH OR OHBG MAY DO SO WHENEVER THEY PLEASE. 

2.  Clarifying Questions
Q:  How will we track how much money is being contributed to FMH from the tabling event donations?
- A:  It will be reported weekly at GA by Finance (Darryll, Marie,  Nelson)
Q:   Will you set a goal to reach with how much money we receive from tabling?
- A:  It is not realistic to set a goal since the donations at tabling events are gifts from the general community. We cannot predict how much we will receive, and raising money is not the main reason we are tabling.  We acknowledge that money from tabling will not likely reach all the needs presented at FMH.
Q:  How much is needed for the Port-O-Pottie and when do we need this money?
- A:  $300 is needed to renew by 6/1/12. **This is not a cost by FMH, but this is OHBG’s cost as we are renting them.
Q:  Who was at the FMH meeting this morning?
- A: Cat was, she may be able to clarify some of the costs.


{Break}
(7 minutes)

Proposal  continued
(10 minutes)
3.  Clarifying Questions continues
[Cat is present and provides new information from the FMH Finance Meeting]
FMH drafted a new proposed budget for their facilities which will be submitted for approval next month.  They have estimated $2,500 contribution from OHBG through 2012 and the new water heater installment costs $4,800 (*FMH uses gas heat).
AMENDMENT:  Given the new information, the Proposal will be amended to reflect the costs the FMH have listed that are attributable to OHBG.  Rather than $10,500, the total is $7,300.

-Q:  Is it possible to hold a special event to raise money specifically for FMH – like a carwash or bake sale?
- A:  Absolutely, we will consider what we can do there.

4.  Concerns
There are no concerns.  This is Consensus.

Open Stacks  .  . .which is mistaken with Announcements .
(25  minutes)

– This June 14 2012 at Midtown Scholar Bookstore, Tony Angraffia of Cornell University will be speaking.  He is an investigator of fracking, and found things other scientists won’t talk about.  Will OHBG c-o-sponsor this event with Gas Truth?
Discussion ensues on the nature of “sponsorship” – A proposal should be brought to GA to consider if we should sponsor a group or event.  “Proposal” is a sticky word – it is concluded that Barbara is asking if we will “support” not “sponsor”.  Support meaning show up to the event, but should we help promote?   No conclusion from discussion.
- There may be a Verizon walk out in late June or early July
- This Saturday May 26 – Verizon union is having an action at the Rt. 22 location.
- National Gathering in Philadelphia this July 4 weekend -  A few OHBGers are going.
-  Saturday June 2 2012 Wormleysburg community “jubilee day” – Karl has obtained a table space at this event, he is looking for volunteers during any time on that day to assist with maintaining the table.  The festival is from 8:30am – 5pm.
- Monday June 4 2012 11am-1pm @ Steps – Karl will lead a discussion/teach-in on the Transition of Venus. He will teach people how to make goggles to view the “eclipse.”
- Tuesday June 5 2012 10am-2pm @ Steps – Transition of Venus is visible – bring glasses to watch
- Saturday June 2 – Awakening the Dreamer Symposium (Holly Hartman) - $10 suggested donation (there are 3 dates set for this summer so far, so if you miss this one, no big deal)
- On Conflict and Consensus book discussion, Tuesdays 6:30-8:30pm and Saturdays 5-7pm @FMH – these are really insightful and fun discussions that have been fairly well attended, different faces at each meeting, so the discussions are different each Tues and Sat.  We are currently discussing Chapters 5 and 6, Roles and Facilitation Techniques.
Discussion: Anyone can jump in at any time.  We won’t be filming it as it is just a discussion. Suggested minutes are taken – again, this is a discussion, not a meeting.  We are NOT making conclusions about anything but JUST trying to better understand the process.  We will hold another book discussion on different days later on after this one ends.

Time for anyone to speak who has not yet spoken during the meeting.
(3 minutes)

Announcements  Announce any event that you would like to share with the General Assembly.
(5 minutes)
- If anyone has questions regarding tax filing – repossession of properties – see Brett.
- Karl will be cooking at FMH this Tuesday for the Light Brigade on Wednesday 5/23/12.
- The Carlisle car show is the weekend of June 2 2012 – maybe we can get an action going around that?
- This Wednesday May 23 2012 at 6pm War on Women discussion by ACLU  @Hotel on Lindle Road.


Meeting Evaluation
(5 minutes)
-  Proposal went well, the Doorkeeper role was really well attended to  - Julie was quick to approach late comers, etc.
- Sarah feels like she called to many Point of Processes, but Faciliation met for 1-2 hours to plan and the agenda was formed with a lot of intention in it and sticking to it is important.
- Liked the flow.  It’s like we are owning the process rather than the process owning us.
- Dan C. states he hasn’t been to a GA since the fall and GA has improved.  Looks awesome.  Kudos to all those who are sharing their skills.
- We were really focused and on topic in this meeting, there was less bickering.
- The proposal was good to draft as an example – it was a group effort at Facilitation meeting.

Closing (brief synopsis)
(1 minute)

[marie baldys]

And after this productive meeting concluded, the long-dormant tradition of post-GA soap-boxing using the human mic was revived -- well done!

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