Autonomy

[Esteban Gil]

I want to plant the idea in peoples' heads about autonomous action, I
think it is very important

The actions committee can put on autonomous actions! This doesn't mean
it has to ignore the General Assembly, obviously, Or that it can't
think about actions to propose to GA that can be endorsed by the group
as a whole (like a general strike, or a mass action of some kind) but
as we grow, I suggest we start thinking about ways to encourage
autonomy and spontaneous action, this way General Assemblies don't get
bogged down with too much minutia,,,because as we grow, you'll find
that making things too focused on getting group approval will weigh us
down heavily,,,at the beginning of OLA for example, the actions
committee was asking for permission to do outreach events like
flyering and the like,,,,if you want to flyer,,,,flier!

For example, here in Oakland the actions group does autonomous actions
all the time, but the General Strike was called by the GA, and was
carried out (with their actions work group) through a General Strike
meeting which broke up into subgroups (unions/workers, outreach,
publicity, actions)

Another example from Madrid: one man started organizing "Walking tour
to congress!!!" where he'd just march to congress with a bull horn and
a sign,,,,,eventually hundreds of people started going with him, and
the General Assembly endorsed it thereafter as something they stood
behind!

Conversely, after last night's events here, I'm willing to be the
General Assembly of Oakland will pass some sort of statement
disavowing themselves of the selfish individuals who took it upon
themselves to smash up windows and tag-up walls--in fact, many have
already been putting up signs around the damage saying that the GA did
not endorse such a thing! And then cleaning up the vandalism! (but the
news doesn't cover that, of course)

Lastly, think about scheduling meetings during the week to talk more
and plan things out! This way more people could attend!

[Jeff Rudisill]

I think Esteban's observations are accurate. Bogging the GA in minutia
is counter productive and time consuming.

As we form, storm, norm and perform (Tuckman's stages of group
development: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuckman's_stages_of_group_development),
mutual trust becomes the "coin of the realm".

During our "forming" stage, I think it would be helpful to vet
proposed SIGNIFICANT actions with the GA. This means that the Action
Committee would present a well defined Plan of Action, as an
information item, and solicit comments from the GA. This would permit
our relatively small GA group to offer comments and suggestions.

Trusting the Action Committee to interpret "SIGNIFICANT" action is
necessary. It's not difficult to discern between flyering the PCC
campus re: an upcoming event, and deciding to occupy Mayor Bogaard's
office.

I think I'm reinforcing Esteban's observations, emphasizing balance in
decision making, sensitivity to Occupy principles, and discernment.
One of the conundrums
we face is autonomy of action vs. group mores.

More anon,

Jeff

[Esteban Gil]

ah! Great way to put it Jeff! Ah the collective intelligence of this group is refreshing!

see you all sunday!
-e