Meeting 2 - 10/27/11

Introduction
The meeting began with introductions around the room, and we assigned meeting roles for facilitator, note taker, time keeper, vibe watcher, and blog summary writer. These roles will be assigned on a weekly basis. An improvised agenda was loosely agreed upon, but it was agreed that we would spend time at the end of each meeting to define the next week’s agenda.

Education
Discussion focused on how we could best educate ourselves, including both methodological and conceptual suggestions. The method that seemed to catch on was to start from what we were familiar with: learning in a classroom-type setting where an expert, or a few experts, present on a subject, followed by a group discussion, and supplemented with suggested reading material before and/or after. This led to a discussion on how exactly we would choose topics for presentation. We reached a consensus to create an open-ended curriculum (Occupy 101) of topics we find are essential for occupiers to know and spread to the community. There was much overlap with previous discussion on subjects for education goals (see Part 1 of previous meeting), but some new additions included the importance of understanding the US law making process, and the differences between a republic and a democracy. A rough outline for the curriculum was compiled, and will be refined before it is presented at the next meeting. It is suggested that presenters consider including descriptive, diagnostic, and prescriptive aspects whenever they are appropriate. Also, as part of our method, we will make efforts to apply what we learn through local legislation. In essence we will have created the time-honored academic combination of a “lecture” session, and a “lab” session.

Conceptually, we expanded on the nature of absolutism, and how we have a tendency to come to conclusions in isolation. Because many minds are always better than one, it is important to form conclusions as a group. It is likely that we have all spent much time thinking about these subjects independently or in like minded groups, so it is important that we remember to bring our REASONS for the conclusions to the discussion, rather than the pre-formed, individual conclusions themselves. Though it may not be efficient to sit through presentations on material we feel we already know well, it is imperative that experts be present for the discussion, not just for the benefit of others, but also to participate in those discussions with open minds, to hear other perspectives, and for all of us to allow ourselves to reform conclusions in light of the contributions from the community.

Goals
A brief, but fruitful brainstorming session covered the following suggestions: Form a mission statement, improve our use of consensus process, communicate with other occupy groups (discuss failures and successes, share expertise), write individual letters to the press in support of OWS, each member should invite five friends to get involved in the occupation, create opportunities for public speaking at rallies, rally at offices of representatives or any other social offenders, rewrite the constitution, maintain a publicly visible presence, and address corporate activity locally. Again, this was just a brainstorm, not a list of approved actions.

Next Agenda
The agenda for next week will include introductory material (20mins), presentations from Ben and Jedediah on corporate personhood (20mins), an update from Eric on the status of the national convention for OWS (10mins), a combined presentation from Gary and James on the Occupy 101 curriculum and the OWS-NYC Declaration (20mins), and further discussion on wider community education goals (10mins).

General Note: The meeting was notable for facilitating opportunities for everyone to speak and for the group to explicitly reach consensus on proposals. Much of the meeting was devoted to learning and attempting to follow the formal rules of consensus decision making. This continues to be a learning curve.

First Meeting

Thank you everybody who participated and made our first meeting the collaborative, creative, chaotic, constructive meeting that it was.

Part 2: Strategy (starting here so readers aren't immediately overwhelmed by the Part 1 list)

Thinking on multiple dimensions seemed to be the most prevalent concept. We should consider the conflicts and cohesion implicit in dualities such as having a top down message (a collective national vision or goal) and a bottom up (local, organizational) purpose; knowing how to work within the present framework and also expanding our possibilities to create a new paradigm; focusing inward on educating ourselves as well as focusing outward in forming a collective body of knowledge for the community; deciding whether to start small and work up, or go big right out of the gate; focusing on specifics and broadening appeal, while not deterring other would be occupiers; balancing timing to allow the movement time to grow, and acting before we lose momentum, all while keeping in mind this may be urgent for those who suffer. Though these options may pull us in opposite directions, we must also find balance between being all encompassing in our consideration, and acting decisively when the time comes (there's a certain beauty to the yin and yang of this whole process, no?).

There are also certain guiding values that serve as the foundation from which we draw all actions. Bettering society will start from fairness, compassion, and understanding that we are all interconnected (will likely be better defined by the Goals Committee). We believe the cornerstone of this process should continue to be the leaderless movement, centered around general assemblies, because that is the democratic format which best enables these ideals to prevail at all levels. With this in mind, education will not only focus on objectives, but also the means for, and the spirit behind those objectives.

From an organizational perspective, what was originally two separate committees -- the Education Committee and the Goals Committee -- have been combined in personnel, but maintain distinct objectives. This stems from the fact that we cannot have goals without first being educated, then we must educate the community on those goals. However, the merging is more logistical than ideological. As such, at future meetings, time will be dedicated exclusively to each group. The format for how we will do that has not been finalized, but rather will be determined experimentally. In the coming week we plan to spend one hour on the Education Committee's first objective, educating ourselves. The second hour will be dedicated to the Goals Committee's first objective, creating sound bites to give the community a better idea of what we're about. No "decisions" are made here, but rather, we will solidify the ether of ideas into objectives and actions that are presentable for greater consideration. We will then present to the local general assembly, and eventually other general assemblies across the nation.

We will meet every Thursday at 6:30, this week again at the Peace Center, and individuals are encouraged to arrange other meetings, possibly more social gatherings like potlucks, house parties, or outings where we can meet less formally but still use as a time to present information. Another interesting suggestion was to celebrate after rallies at local businesses, this way they would have something to look forward to on our rally days. (One other thing I forgot to bring up is the matter of clean up after rallies. One of my conservative co-workers claims there was a problem with the mess left after our Brunswick rally. This could be a rumor, but it may be prudent to arrange a small clean up party after the rally and before the post-rally celebration.)

Other Topics brought up: To begin the education process we could spread fliers and host teach-ins. Our actions will be more effective if we appeal to emotions, and we will be more effective as a group if we break large objectives down into more manageable steps.


Part 1: Objectives
Here's a list of objectives we came up with (the ether of ideas I referred to earlier), loosely grouped by subject:

• Corporations - eliminate corporate personhood, revoke unlimited campaign contributions, limiting other corporate powers, re-examine the EPA and FDA, and educate the community on how corporations have affected our democracy and our education system
• Change the decision making process - focus on the general assembly model, the leaderless movement, branching out locally then nationally, organizing all levels across artificial lines such as party affiliations, equal representation for all, either replace or work in parallel to representative democracy
  
• Economics - fix unemployment problem, start public works programs, correct the imbalance of wealth, understand the present macroeconomic situation (the Federal Reserve, taxation, monetary/fiscal policy), consider replacement, understand opposing theories, understand alternative economic models that are less based on consumption as a goal, maybe start some bartering programs
  
• Society - focus on people over profits, move away from ownership as a goal, focus on community, LOVE!, spread info on the constitution, focus on necessities for all, get past our differences
  
• Environment - be less damaging, plant trees
• OWS - Simplify and communicate, develop our language, don't shy from big issues, branch out to all, start a book club

Acting on the last item there, we are starting a recommended reading list immediately. Email me (yasu4303@gmail.com) the titles, or update the spreadsheet directly with any books you recommend. If you email me, I would prefer it be in the format: Title, Author, Subject, and maybe a one or two sentence endorsement of the book (see example on the spreadsheet).

I think that is all for now. If I missed something, please put it up in the comments, and a big thank you again to all who participated.