G.A. Minutes 5-15-12
There were some new developments today. G.A. was in the Courtyard. Mainly we discussed some new strategies that will be necessary. If you are wondering what this is all about come to the next G.A. (Sat. 5-19-12 in the Courtyard).

G.A. Minutes 5/12/12
Mike N. states he has written a letter to the editor of the DNT. We will watch to see if it actually gets printed. A lengthy discussion then takes place re: ways we can protect and improve our meeting and storage places. People accept various tasks to find more information and possible knowledgeable people who would be willing to help us. A beautiful night.

G.A. Minutes 05/08/12
There have been two G.A.s since May Day (5/01). Minutes were not taken at either of these meetings but a good time was had by all.
On 05/08 /12 we discussed our general impressions of our May Day event. It was decided that in spite of an hour or so of unwarranted police harassment, the event was successful and we learned a lot of things we will be able to use in the future. It was also decided that we will organize a benefit to assist several Occupiers with their legal expenses. These expenses were incurred as a result of the police harassment.

201204291227 Notes, Occupy General Assembly, Saturday 6pm April 28 Paul Robeson Ballroom Courtyard.
We worked the Really Really Free Market all afternoon, and small groups of people passed through, taking mostly clothing and all the hot delicious home-made corn chowder,served with Great Harvest bread. The remaining RRFM donations will be given to Goodwill. We also did some chores, moving compost to the roof for the raised bed gardens and reorganizing our space for support of oncoming direct actions.
This was, as it turned out, a watershed meeting. The main topic of conversation was much larger than any of us, and addressed a question which is crucial to the future of the movement. Those present included representatives from the Save Our Homes working group, Take Action Minnesota, and Credo.
Present: Kathy, Mike, Jesse, Richard, Reese, Marcia, Scot, Adam, Ben, Justin, Allen, Tyler, Lara, and Monique.
Agenda: Foreclosure report, Mayday actions.
Foreclosure: Adam reported on the status of the Save Our Homes action in support of Mary Anne and her disabled children. Conditions remain pretty much same as at last meeting. Petition drive is wrapping up, actions going on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday at branch outlets of Wells Fargo bank. The petition will be delivered to the main Wells Fargo store in downtown Duluth on Thursday. A deadline has been set for Wells Fargo to respond. If they do not come up with a plan to save Mary Anne’s home, the protests will escalate.
Adam also delivered a request from the SOH group that undisciplined autonomous protesters keep out of it.
Mayday actions: Rain in the forecast. We will adjust accordingly, the action will go on. Speakers and musicians continue to sign on. Tents and tables are being prepared. Money for food and other supplies was raised at the “Rise Like Lions” movie night, courtesy of Zinema II, which waived the showing fee.
Announcements: There will be a debate between occupy members and The Tea Party Thursday May 3rd at the Friends Meeting House. SOH is working with a new foreclosure project in Washburn. A meeting has been set in Washburn at 2 pm, May 5th at Stage North.
Mayday activities will continue from noon to midnight at the Minnesota People’s Power Plaza, corner of Lake and Superior, Duluth.
Next Occupy General Assembly, Wednesday May 2nd, Paul Robeson Ballroom and Courtyard, 6pm. Agenda: review of Mayday actions. What did we do right? What could we do better? Note that this meeting is on Wednesday, not Tuesday as usual. Tuesday May 1st we will be celebrating Mayday at the plaza. Everyone is welcome to participate in our meetings and actions.

201204291227 Notes, Occupy General Assembly, Saturday 6pm April 28 Paul Robeson Ballroom Courtyard.

We worked the Really Really Free Market all afternoon, and small groups of people passed through, taking mostly clothing and all the hot delicious home-made corn chowder,served with Great Harvest bread. The remaining RRFM donations will be given to Goodwill. We also did some chores, moving compost to the roof for the raised bed gardens and reorganizing our space for support of oncoming direct actions.

This was, as it turned out, a watershed meeting. The main topic of conversation was much larger than any of us, and addressed a question which is crucial to the future of the movement. Those present included representatives from the Save Our Homes working group, Take Action Minnesota, and Credo.

The following text in italics is my own opinion, written autonomously. The weather was cool and bright, with clear skies to the North and a high layer overcast to the South. The boundary between these two conditions was a smooth straight line of demarcation, clean cut as a vapor trail, right down the middle of the sky, everything South cloudy, everything clear in the North. I often find it enlightening to look to the sky.

Present: Kathy, Mike, Jesse, Richard, Reese, Marcia, Scot, Adam, Ben, Justin, Allen, Tyler, Lara, and Monique.

Agenda: Foreclosure report, Mayday actions.

Foreclosure: Adam reported on the status of the Save Our Homes action in support of Mary Anne and her disabled children. Conditions remain pretty much same as at last meeting. Petition drive is wrapping up, actions going on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday at branch outlets of Wells Fargo bank. The petition will be delivered to the main Wells Fargo store in downtown Duluth on Thursday. A deadline has been set for Wells Fargo to respond. If they do not come up with a plan to save Mary Anne’s home, the protests will escalate.

Wells Fargo continues to keep a close hand, offering small hopes and conditional promises to the solemn group of protesters in mourning, who have politely waited in the lobby while the bank forecloses on hundreds of thousands of homes across the nation. The decisions are made by big shots in closed board rooms back East. Presumably the local bank manager is innocent, merely carrying out orders which come from far away. That excuse is pretty shop worn, having been used by individual Nazis after WWII. (For those who may not remember, it went something like this: “What!?? The government was doing THAT? I didn’t know. I was only working a job, pushing papers. You surely can’t blame me for following orders?” “Yes,” said the Nuremburg jurists. “We do hold you accountable. Go back to your cell and stay there so long as you may live.” That decision has since served widely as a legal precedent. Human tools of the corporations need to be reminded as often as necessary.

Adam also delivered a request from the SOH group that undisciplined autonomous protesters keep out of it. If you attend the SOH protests, be sure to take a bath, wear nice clean clothing, polish your shoes, comb your hair (or better, get a haircut for gods sake), be polite and mournfully concerned, and do not in any way jeopardize the order of business and the delicate negotiations. Especially, keep quiet and leave your noise makers at home.

Discussions of this request took up much of the rest of the meeting.

This request is the watershed part. On one side of the divide, young committed persons who have nothing better to do than parade up and down the street wearing rags and funny costumes. On the other side, old time established liberals who have been standing mournfully against the Beast for the past sixty years, while the political machine marched steadily to the right. Did you know that Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan were once considered conservative? Subsequent history has made them look like champions of the radical left. I am sorry, old time liberals, but this is not progress. The old tactics have failed.

I have seen this before. In the 1970′s the hippies were divided and reduced to yippies, the yippies transformed to yuppies, and the yuppies into mass middle class consumers with no voice of their own. George McGovern, or “Clean Gene” as we knew him then, asked the young left to get in line, put on suits, and get a haircut for god’s sake. Will this happen again? Wait and see.

Mayday actions: Rain in the forecast. We will adjust accordingly, the action will go on. Speakers and musicians continue to sign on. Tents and tables are being prepared. Money for food and other supplies was raised at the “Rise Like Lions” movie night, courtesy of Zinema II, which waived the showing fee.

Announcements: There will be a debate between occupy members and The Tea Party Thursday May 3rd at the Friends Meeting House. The Tea Party leadership reportedly has pressured their members not to participate. Evidently being reasonable and factual is not their style. The debates will go on anyway.

SOH is working with a new foreclosure project in Washburn. A meeting has been set in Washburn at 2 pm, May 5th at Stage North.

Mayday activities will continue from noon to midnight at the Minnesota People’s Power Plaza, corner of Lake and Superior, Duluth.
Next Occupy General Assembly, Wednesday May 2nd, Paul Robeson Ballroom and Courtyard, 6pm. Agenda: review of Mayday actions. What did we do right? What could we do better? Note that this meeting is on Wednesday, not Tuesday as usual. Tuesday May 1st we will be celebrating Mayday at the plaza. Everyone is welcome to participate in our meetings and actions.

20120420212024 General Assembly notes Tuesday 6pm Clayton Jackson McGhie memorial.

Lovely to meet at Six and still afternoon. Folks strolling along First Street in the warm sun, shadows cool and a light Lake breeze. There is a great feeling of peace, even joy in this warm place out of the wind. A feeling that things can be put right after all, rectified, set straight, made whole again, even so. Not really of course. What happened here is another human tragedy, written anew on top of a long and terrible history, and we may not have remembered had not this safe place been created for us all. The solemn three silent watchers lend a sense of the importance, good or ill, of small steps taken together by groups of determined people. We may or may not remember, or want to remember, but nothing, NOTHING is forgotten.

Present: Kathy, Jesse, Richard, Arizona Tyler, Mike, Verne, Reese, JD. Agenda: Foreclosure group report, Mayday actions, Really Really Free Market, Critical Mass.

Verne reported for the foreclosure group. Wells Fargo has still not come forward with a refinance agreement. The picket continues at noon to one every week day in front of their store on Superior Street. Take Action and other progressive groups have offered to join in. If the bank does not come forward with a reasonable solution, the present grave and solemn group of faces on the picket line will likely be replaced by younger activists and a wider variety of tactics. The next steps, if necessary, will be discussed at the Emerson Coop Potluck, 6pm Friday, as well as at the meeting which is scheduled for 7pm. Verne also told us a nation-wide action against Bank of America is building up to take place Wednesday May 9th. We in Duluth are not blessed by a local branch of BOA, but we can and will make our opinions known in public forum.

Jesse reported that a ton of people have expressed enthusiasm for the Mayday Action at Minnesota (People’s) Power Plaza, corner of Lake and Superior, noon to Late Night on Tuesday May 1st. Musicians and performing groups have signed on, and so many people have asked to speak that it may be necessary to request that speeches be limited to as little as three minutes so that everyone may have a turn at try rant. There will be food, information tables, discussions, activities for children, sign making, giant puppets, Spin Collective fire dances, and more.

In an aside, someone mentioned the news report that the Minnesota headquarters of the GOP is undergoing eviction from their downtown St. Paul offices, because they haven’t been able to pay their rent in the past eleven months. Possibly some misfortune befell them, an accident preventing them from work, or a critically ill child requiring expensive medical treatment. Whatever. The question is, should Occupy offer to help them fight off the eviction, or just stand around laughing and making funny faces?

Reese reported that one more Really Really Free Market is planned at the Paul Robeson Ballroom for the last Friday in April, on the 27th, from 11am to 3 pm. This action has been very successful, but needs more space, so the next RRFM will likely be held in a public venue, probably Leif Erickson Park.

Critical Mass Bike Ride is scheduled to start at 5:30 pm from the Minnesota (People’s) Power Plaza. Flyers were passed out to all bike riders and other interested persons at the Magic Smelt parade last Saturday. Jesse also reminded us of the Rise Like Lions showing Thurday April 26th at Zinema 2, 7pm, suggested donation $7.00, but no one will be refused entry if they can’t afford the ticket donation. Money collected will be split with Zinema, our half going to support Mayday Activities. Rise Like Lions is a really great documentary about the origins of the Occupy movement.

In other news, the Occupy vrs. Tea Party debate is still on the schedule, even though the Tea Party Leadership has refused to participate. They even pressured the Tea Party affiliated volunteer, who had agreed to the debate, causing him to drop his principles and flee in terror of actual facts presented in an open and reasonable manner.

Next General Assembly will be held on Saturday 28th of April 2012, 6pm at the Paul Robeson Ballroom and Courtyard. Meeting adjourned at about 6:49 pm.

Present: Mike, Jesee, Lara, Reese, Scott, Blake, Tyler, Matt, Adam, Emily, Drake
Agenda: Pro/cons of assertive action, report on the struggle against foreclosure, non-violent action training day, Mayday, RRFM, grant writing, March 14th.

Our discussion on our assertiveness resolved that we must downplay the bad image being generated by those who choose not to understand us or report on us honestly.

Foreclosue report: Ann Lockwood is doing well; the Dunbars, however, face a Sheriff’s Sale on March 24th, with the deadline for petition submission being March 19th. While many may try tell you that people facing foreclosure simply bit off more then they can chew, The Dunbar’s are an honest, hard-working family that has had that house in their family for 3 generations.  It is the Dunbar’s who have been subject to lazy, dishonest, and unethical banking practices by US BANK.  Please contact Adam or Tyler (2184612540)  for more petitions.

We will also be taking our opinions on the housing market in Minnesota, and its relationship to the jobs market, to the Duluth City Council meeting, Monday night at 7pm on the 3rd floor of the City Hall (the one the racists ran and hid in, we should ask for a smudging of the interior or something).  Please join us in support of HF 1886 and SF 1521, the Foreclosure Moratorium.

MaryAnn, however, a lady struggling with Hell’s Cargo, is facing a Sheriff’s Sale at the end of April, a sale that Hell’s Cargo (AKA Wells Fargo) is not legally required to notify MaryAnn of.  Furthermore, two days following her Sheriff’s Sale, the 3rd party investigation of the manner in which Hell’s Cargo handled her mortgage will wrap up two days following her sale.  Again, the investigation of MaryAnn’s mortgage and potential crimes committed by Hell’s Cargo will finish after the sale.

The next PSOH meeting will take place at Jitters on March 14th around 6PM, following the day’s rallies.

March 14th’s rallies include a 2PM rally at Duluth’s very own Obama for America office, located at 210 West Superior Street.  Organized by Lara and sponsored by Rebuild The Dream, please contact her for more information, this will be protesting the George-W-Bush appointed Edward DeMarco, head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency.  There will also be a 5PM Project Save Our Homes Rally, please contact Tyler for more information.

There is going to be a non-violent protest training day on April 14th at 1pm, hosted by Tyler, Vern, and Scot at the Unitarian Universalist House of Worship.  Contact us for more information.

RRFM is going to have its 15 minutes of fame on Tuesday morning, at 8am on Northland Morning, 103.3

201202181400 Paul Robeson Ballroom General Assembly 2 pm Saturday February 18th 2012. The assembly began a few minutes after two o’Clock. Present: Sue visiting from Florida, Eli from Occupy Minnesota (Minneapolis), Kathy, Reese Justin, Blake, Mike, Tyler, Jen, Richard. Kathy was scribe and Richard took notes. Group decided to meet informally, so process was conversational rather than formal consensus. Matt and Nadia were late joiners.

Agenda: Bike and Pedestrian trail group (February 21st and February 23rd and forward)
Critical Mass (Friday February 24th)
Really Really Free Market (Saturday February 25th)
White Power hissy-spitty fit (3rd March Civic Center 10:00 am)
Transistor
Building update
Horse building
Super Hero Funk
Mayday actions
Fundraising
Reese informed us about a bike trail and pedestrian path improvement group which meets in West Duluth on Tuesday and Thursdays at 6:00 pm. The next meetings are on February 21st at City Center West, 5830 Grand Avenue, and February 23rd at Portland Community Center, 4601 McCulloch. Reese said this is a very active group and we should link up with them. He and Tyler are planning to attend one of their next meetings and will recruit for Critical Mass cooperation. Two further meetings are scheduled for Central Hillside Community Center and Kirby, UMD. Call Reese or Tyler for more information.

Reese said he has been in contact with members of the Bike Cave cooperative/collective, and has an offer of the use of fifteen or twenty rebuilt bikes to be available for anyone who wants to ride in the Critical Mass event this Friday, 24th February, 5pm starting at Civic Center and proceeding via routes to be announced to the Paul Robeson Ballroom for food and fun, and then there will be a birthday bash for Ben “Black Block” Butter across the street at The Retro. Critical Mass participants will be passing out half-sheet flyers on the ride, explaining the purpose of the event. Justin offered to look for graphics on the web, and Eli said he has the address of a web site where historic Critical Mass event posters are available for download. Jen asked if there will be costumes, and Eli said costumes will be good for attracting new members. Eli is concerned that Black Block references could be alienating to some potential allies. He asked us to consider the goal of the event.

The Really Really Free Market will be held for the first time at Paul Robeson Ballroom this coming Saturday. Discussion of details included how to handle people who bring trashy stuff and then leave it here. People will be directed to take any of their stuff that is left over home with them. Eli said the RRFM in Winona keeps leftovers and puts them out again the next month. Jen suggested the organizers should screen donations to keep trash out. One of the features discussed is to have warming fires in the courtyard. Jen said her landlord has assured her that he would not mind if a group of people came and gathered firewood in the forest around Jen’s place. Kathy offered use of a truck and trailer to haul the wood. Jen said she would contact the landlord and ask for a specific time. She said it would probably be late afternoon, since she works until 3pm this week.

A group which promotes white supremracist movements around the USA has announced plans for a rally at Duluth Civic Center, March 3rd at 10:00 am. Counter demonstrations are under consideration. Justin described a tactic to approach business, civic, and religious organizations to make pledges to donate some amount of money for each minute that the supremracist rally continues. The longer the supremracist speakers talk, the more money will be donated to a cause white supremracists detest. YWCA was suggested as a likely recipient of the pledge money. This plan has the additional benefit of showing Occupy in our community acting in a peaceful and creative way to frustrate racists. Our members will get to know and be known in the neighborhood by conducting door knock campaigns and local business visits. Tyler called for a working group to meet after the GA.

Blake said we need to get Transistor to update our meeting announcements. We changed our mid-week meetings to Tuesday some months ago, but the announcements still show us meeting on Wednesday. Tyler said he would look into it. He said it would help if as many people as possible sent emails to the respective editors. (ed.: don’t bother transistor any more……they know.)

Richard said puppet making was successful and the giant human heart puppet has seen some street action. Next we will be building a giant mutant corn monster. Please come help on Sunday afternoon, fun times. Contact Richard or Kathy.

Reese said he met with Eric and Doug about free cabinets and counters we can pick up at Bayside Warehouse in Superior. Tyler and Jesse are planning to pick up said furniture on Monday. Tyler commented that Eric and Doug are very supportive of our work, and Eric even suggested we open more of the building to our community center. There is a storefront and apartments on the street level.

Jen told us about a Horse Building Workshop given by Lee Stuart of LISC. She is an organizer with successful experience in The Bronx neighborhood of NYC. Her workshop is full of practical organizing knowledge, and is given in four sessions. Building the horse refers to putting the horse before the cart….that is, to focus on community relationships and building power in the people. She says one big flaw in social movements these days is that there is no plan of what to do when we win. The next session in her current workshop series is Tuesday at 6:00 pm at Central Hillside Community Center. Further workshops will begin next week. Dinner will be served.

Jen then talked about her proposal for a Super Hero funk dance party, and Justin said it would be a great way to get more UMD students involved. Reese suggested it be part of a repeating monthly series of events. He said for example a party was given recently at the Totally Free Space, 215 E. 1st Street, where 70 people arrived. The event was not advertised, but spread rapidly by word of mouth. Many people are eager for events that do not involve drugs and alcohol. Reese said the Retro basement is a huge space and awesome for a party. A hundred to a hundred and fifty people could fit in there.

Eli asked if Duluth does anything for Mayday. Hangdog looks and reluctant answers indicated a high level of frustration and disappointment . No, Duluth does not do anything for Mayday, but probably should. Eli said there is a call to Occupy Mayday nationally. It calls for a general strike, no school, no work. Posters and ‘zines are available online from national groups. Tyler mentioned the NATO G8 summit meeting in Chicago, and he said Occupy Chi has a plan to reoccupy Chicago sometime in April. There has been some talk among our occupiers of sending a delegation to Chicago for one or another or both of these events. Nadia said Occupy Minnesota (Minneapolis) is organizing busses and asking people to sign up. Matt said a good place to find information about these and other actions is at Interoccupy.com.

Tyler mentioned a good film, “Into Eternity” about nuclear waste storage, which is coming to Zeitgeist 7pm Monday. No, the film is coming to Zeitgeist, not the waste itself. Jen added a recommendation for the movie “Thrive”, which will be shown Monday at 1:30pm at Interfaith Community Church, 9th Street and 14th Avenue, with a meal to follow. Information about Thrive can be found on web at Thrivemovement.com.

Reese said he has seen some nice projectors selling for around $100.00 on Ebay and Amazon. He said he is in contact with Frost River, which makes backpacks, and they have scrap canvas that could be sewn together to give us blackout curtains for showing films in daylight hours. Frost River also makes outdoor tents to order, which is of interest to our own plan to re-occupy.
There being no further business and because many cigarettes needed to be smoked, the meeting adjourned at 4:41 pm.

201202111400 Occupy General Assembly, Paul Robeson Ballroom
Agenda: Save Our Homes foreclosure report.
Ruckus Review
Make Out Not War
RRFM
Movie Night….totally free space
PBR Open 12-4
Fair Share
Members present: Richard, Scott, Kathy, Tyler, female friend who came with Reese, Reese, Blake, Justin, Ron, Dianne, Matt, Mike

Reese has been attending Save Our Homes meetings, and commented that their meetings are moving very smoothly. Our own meetings seem more casual and less decisive by comparison. Kathy commented that the Save Our Homes meetings are composed of older members who have been in the movement a long time, while Occupy Ballroom is more youthful, but less experienced.

Tyler reported on the Thursday St. Paul Capitol Ruckus action. A large group of demonstrators stood silently as legislators arrived for a session at the capitol. The demonstrators wore replicas of US $100.00 notes taped over their mouths, in protest of the way big money (in the form of “free speech” for corporate personhood) is now allowed to gag the voices of ordinary people by drowning them out in big campaign contributions.

Jesse said the puppet project is developing nicely, but needs more hands. Sunday there will be puppet forming activity at the Arts Coop at 1:00 pm. Call Jesse or Richard if you can volunteer.

The Really Really Free Market is only 2 weeks away, and flyers are ready to go out for posting. Several people took posters, with the idea that they will have them reproduced and distribute them to public bulletin boards. Kathy commented that if we are going to have warming fires in the courtyard, we will need donations of firewood.

Tyler commented that he is showing the movie, Inside Job, at the ballroom tonight. He asked for help setting up for a large group of people. Tyler suggested that Thursday nights be free movie night at the ballroom .Scott suggested a future showing of “I am,” a movie which presents interviews with many well-known activists, including for example Howard Zinn, the author of several excellent books on the real history of the people, not just a narration of leaders and their wars. Dianne suggested showing “Margin Call,” a video about inside workings at Wall Street. She also suggested posting a list for people who have ideas for other films to screen.
Reese volunteered to keep the Ballroom open for funny business every day, seven days a week, from noon to 4pm. He hopes other members will be able to extend those hours. He commented on our need to re-establish utilities. We have space heaters but need to get the steam company to supply heat. We have a connection to electricity but it is only one line and we seriously worry about overloading it. We also need water, which at this time is carried to the ballroom in buckets and jugs. Reese suggested setting up a steam fund for next year’s heating season, allocating perhaps 3% of incoming donations to a fund dedicated to that purpose. Meanwhile some generous members have picked up the tab for the porta-potty, the cellphone, and fuel for the heaters. Reese pointed out that we have been relying on these members, but the burden of payment needs to be shared among our members and our community. In other words, we need to secure additional sources of income.

Reese said he would use the open hours at the Ballroom for cleanup and preparation for the Really Really Free Market, which is now less than two weeks away. Reese said we should also be planning actions in support of Henry Bank’s project to change the zoning ordinance which currently makes it impossible for store owners of small shops downtown to live in the second floor space above their stores. The zoning fight is now about two months away.

The representative who was planned to speak to us about Fair Share did not show up. Tyler filled us in on what Fair Share is and does.

Tyler also read to us from a statement made last November by the Oakland Police Union, asking that Occupy members stand in solidarity with the police department. Since November, there have been violent encounters between Oakland police officers and Occupy protesters. These violent encounters may have been provoked, in part, by Black Block members, a violent anarchist group which has engaged in rock and bottle throwing and destruction of property in close proximity to peaceful Occupy actions. There is speculation that Black Block could be a false flag operation, designed to press peaceful Occupy members into violent encounters with the police. Whatever the Black Block intent, they have given the enemy plenty of opportunities to paint Occupy ugly in the media.

Next GA meeting will be Tuesday 14 February, 7 pm here at the Paul Robeson Ballroom, after the Make Out Not War action, which begins at the Civic Center (in front of City Hall and the Federal and County Courts buildings) at 4:30 pm and will frolic-march to Power Plaza.

The meeting adjourned informally as there were no more topics under discussion.

201202081010 315 GA Tuesday February 7th 2012 Paul Robeson Ballroom
Present: Nadia, Kathy (Scribe), DJ, Mike, Reese, Jesse, Richard (notes), Matt.
Due to the small and familiar size of the group, we decided to suspend the usual rules of concensus, and proceed with today’s business conversationally.
Agenda:
Thursday trip to St. Paul plan report
Really Really Free Market report
Valentines Make-Out event report
Puppets working group report
Occupy The Hood Solidarity action proposal
Ballroom working group needs and fundraiser
Jesse reprted that the trip to St. Paul would commence with a training and tactics review session at the Labor Temple at 7:30 am. Two passenger vans and two cars will be leaving at 8:00 am, Scott and Allen driving the vans. For more information contact Allen. This action is in support of the SCSIU protest against legislation which would impose Voter ID requirements.
Reese reported on publicity for the RRFM on perfectduluthday and Craigslist. Jesse said an event invitation has been sent to about a thousand Occupy supporters and allies. Flyers are being prepared to poster and leaflet the neighborhood Reese said he will make a sign announcing the event, to be posted on the courtyard wall. Kathy asked about firewood for the campfires, and was reassured that it would be provided. Reese and Jesse agreed it should go on the needs list. Reese suggested people who are still not sure what a Really Really Free Market action is about. He suggested looking it up on Wikipedia, which has a really good article. Events are held world-wide on the last Saturday of every month. Bring good useful items you no longer need or want, choose what you need or want among the items other people bring, and no dumping. If you bring something and no one wants it, take it with you when you leave.
Jesse reported that Make Out Not War actions with puppets and props and street theatre will be playing in traffic at or near the civic center and on the road to the Plaza on the 14th from 4:30 to 6 pm. A fire pit will be provided for comforting cold demonstrators. Allen has agreed to arrange two playful speakers to address the maddening crowds at the plaza. Jesse is hoping someone will provide hot beverages and soup whatnot to comfort the hungry and thirsty demonstrators, who can be expected to need to recover from the frenzied parade activities. Flyers are being prepared.
The meeting was then interrupted by someone pounding on the door, someone evidently ignorant of the secret codes. Jesse went to see who it was. Fortunately it was not the police or homeland security, but a supporter delivering a gift of old newspapers. This person was greeted warmly and thanked enthusiastically, and the newspaper will be mache’d into puppet flesh by the puppet working group.
Nadia suggested a possible opportunity for action in support of the Occupy The Hood protests being planned for late February by Occupy Minneapolis. The plan is for a spoken word and music event at a café or bar, with outreach to communities of color. Watch this space for further details TBA.
Matt suggested we look into the possibility of showing movies at Leaf Ericson park, or alternately, on the wall of our building, to be viewed from the parking lot.
The conversation then turned to Ballroom needs and fundraising. Reese said we need to maintain open hours so people can always find us. He said he can be available between the hours of 12 and 4 pm. He also described a website named Kickstarter which acts as a host for fundraisers. Other sites are also available for the same purpose. There are also alternatives to the Assange treacherous Paypal, something named like “Payme” or “Mypay” or “Billme”, look it up yourself, I’m not your google slave. Some discussion of handling funds ensued. This discussion reflected the usual Occupy disdain for the capitalist economic system, except we still need some stuff…….like heat, light, and water hookups for the Ballroom, money for the camp phone bill, money for the Portapotty, and further projects such as a composting toilet. Reese suggested looking for cheaper telephone service. Several plans were discussed. Matt suggested a signup sheet on the door, where members can volunteer to open the ballroom for funny business. Reese said he can open the ballroom between 12 and 4 a couple days a week. Other members mumbled about their disposable personal discretion hours, and in usual Occupy fashion, it was consensed not to be too controlling in trying to define and then fill every slot, but to let it happen as people volunteer for hours, then try to cover the empty spaces.
Meeting adjourned at about 7:30 pm, but discussions continued as members broke up and reassembled in ad hoc committees for smoke and joke in the courtyard.
Next meeting: Wednesday 12-4 for the puppet working group, contact Richard at 830 0109. Thursday 7:30 am at the Labor Temple for the trip to St.Paul, contact Allen. Next GA is Saturday at 2:00 pm at the Paul Robeson Ballroom.