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.

201202041415 Saturday 4 February 2012, 2:15 pm Paul Robeson Ballroom  Occupy Duluth general assembly notes

Present: Margie, Tyler, Jesse, Justin, Blake, Jenn, Ellie, Reese, Scott, Ron, Adam, Matt, John, Kathy, Richard.

Agenda: USAgain, Screenprint, RRF Market, Critical Mass, ACTA Feb 11, Banner, Foreclosure Group Report, MOMDAD working group, Valentine’s Day.

Facilitator, Jesse.  Stack, Justin.  Time, Blake.  Notes, Richard.  Scribe: Kathy.

Reese spoke about the presence of green donation boxes around town, and the profit USAgain is making from them….not a non-profit, but resells clothes in Africa.  Proposes action, cautions about aggressive lawsuits against protesters by USAgain.

Reese volunteered to build a screen press to make t-shirts for the Respect Mother Earth Day celebrations.  A local business person has offered to pay expenses, may also make donation to help Ballroom repair utilities.  Homegrown Music Festival may also want us to make t-shirts.  Other groups may follow suit.  Could be a source of income for the building maintenance (M.O.M.D.A.D) working group.

Jesse commented that these proposals may best be treated as autonomous actions.  Temp check was warm for not blocking either action idea.

Reese spoke about the February 25^th Really Really Free Market.  People suggested places to put flyers.  Kathy said it would be nice if we had flyers to put.  She asked talented members to make a design or slogun for flyers before leaving the Ballroom.  Adam commented that we can have flyers posted all over UMD campus, one freebie allowed each semester for non-profits.  Tyler volunteered to head up the security team for the market.  He asked potential peacemakers to meet after the GA. 

Jenn asked what other volunteer positions are needed.  She mentioned the need to have food at the Market.  Also someone to insure no one dumps junk on us.  Jesse said we need trucks to haul away the inevitable trash.  Jenn suggested donors be assigned a space which can be tagged to them, and which they will be expected to clean up before leaving.  Tyler suggested two or three yellow band members to hang around and watch for trash.  Jenn said she can head up the potluck, and Kathy said she would make soup.  Jenn suggested a yellow band be stationed at the entrance to explain the trash policy and assign spots.  Have people sign up, fill out application, name and address.  Kathy suggested the Ballroom could donate some of the blankets that came from M.O.M.D.A.D camp.  Jesse said the Ballroom could donate stuff that we have cluttering up our space.  We have new furniture donations and could get rid of some of the old stuff.  Reese said whatever, we need to promote the event NOW.  Jesse said we can talk about it more at the next meeting.

Jesse discussed the Critical Mass event.  He would like to have a potluck at the Ballroom, and a band bash at the retro after the action.  Scott noted that the day of the critical mass is also the day MN ASAP, which has events planned for 7pm.  Jenn said the Critical Mass event is planned to start at five.  Tyler asked if we could send a group representative from the Ballroom, and Scott said we could, but the event is fully scheduled and there will be no floor time available.

Reese suggested the Critical Mass action and the Really Really Free Market both be advertised on the same poster.  Reese said Andrew from the Bike Collective is in support of the Critical Mass event.  Someone suggested contacting the Tall Bikes Clan, Loaves and Fishes, and other coalition groups.  Jenn suggested bike shops.

Reese spoke of ACTA, which is a European version of Sopa and Fifa, which were meant to place controls on the web.  Sopa and Fifa were rejected in the US.  Reese suggested planning a day of action to support our European cohorts day of action on the 11^th of February.

Kathy reported that the Banner working group needs consensus on what message the banner will display.   Last meeting some people said we should avoid using Occupy in the main title, but can still have links to websites.  Jesse said the concern is that Occupy could be painted ugly in the media, and we need to be wary of stereotyping.  Scott suggested “Peoples General Assembly”.  Kathy said it could be insulting to some people if we put our banner over the Paul Robeson Ballroom sign.  Tyler said we need to remember Paul. Justin suggested a mural featuring Paul’s profile.

Adam reported to the GA for the Foreclosure Working Group.  There is a core group of about ten, and they have been feeling swamped by all the media publicity.  Plans made before the bank caved have to be reevaluated.  The Wednesday event was more of a victory celebration than teach-in.  The attendees were a cross section of the public, with church members and union members rubbing shoulders with activists.  The working group will meet again on Thursday at 6pm, location to be determined, look on the projectsaveourhomes.blogspot.com for the location.  Adam said the Forclosure W.G. now has a telephone, number is also posted on the website.  About two dozen attendees signed up to help out.  One or two people who are being forclosed also asked to be considered as projects. 

Scott described a tactic to occupy bank lobbies by overwhelming them with deposits and withdrawals.

Adam went on to say that the forclosure group is now sending people with forclosure problems to Lutheran Social Services, but that organization is not proactive, and they only send a request to the bank for reconsideration.  When that doesn’t accomplish anything, Occupy will pick up with actions.  However it looks like direct actions may not be needed since attorney Peter Greenlee has been filing bankruptcy claims for people losing their houses, pro-bono, which means the service is at no expense to the client.  Jesse said we need to address the concept of foreclosure itself.  Housing is a human right and no one should ever have to face eviction. Tyler said the housing market should be abolished.  Anyone who agrees is invited to contact Tyler.  Jesse pointed out that the working group is doing a fantastic job, and no actions under consideration are meant in any way to challenge or criticize the working group.

Jesse talked about the M.O.M.D.A.D. working group, which needs to set up a meeting to discuss allocation of space and time resources in the Ballroom.  Justin said he would be willing to open the Ballroom on Thursday and Fridays.  Jesse said he would open the Ballroom on Sunday at noon.  Jesse suggested a signup sheet for hours that members can cover.  Tyler said he would be able to open the Ballroom from 9am to Noon on weekdays. 

Jesse also spoke about a Valentine’s day action, with props, and would involve meeting at civic center and march to the Plaza.  Jesse suggested the slogan “Have a heart, don’t go to Wells Fargo, move your money.”   He said we can make a lot of Valentine days cards with messages to distribute, and have a chant and march parade.  The action is planned for Civic Center to Plaza, 4:30 to 6:00 pm.

Jenn said the cool people are now using twitter, since facebook is vulnerable to hackers.  She suggested we change over, but there were questions from the less-than-tech-savvy. 

The meeting adjourned to the happy happy sunshine in the courtyard at 3:52 pm.