Occupy Edinburgh General Assembly, Monday 20th February 2012 at Edinburgh University
Attendance (19), a number of apologies were received.
Facilitator – Alan
Minute taker – Mike
Minutes
Minutes from previous meeting to be read out first and approved at all future GAs.
Contact with City of Edinburgh Council
Pat to take forward possible facilities and outreach weekends (rota) in Edinburgh communities (to start as soon as possible).
Occupy Media Coalition website
Arran is developing this tool for all the journalists in the Occupy movement with camera equipment, training, workshops and need based networking. Any funding raised may be donated to Wiki leaks.
Wood burning stove at Bilston Josh to arrange return of this to Nic.
Coalition/Contact with other groups/organisations
Willie suggested better contact with other organisations, sending delegates, joining in with marches and demonstrations. He will progress this as he knows lots of organisations that have similar aims. Everyone to think about this and come to next GA with list of organisations. Events and meetings of other organisations to be posted on Facebook pages and website. Josh to set up list of supporting organisations on website.
Resource Survey update
Mike We have 80 Resource Surveys completed. We need hundreds if not thousands of these to be completed on an ongoing basis. They are then used to create a data base (already in process) of skills, interests and time availability of individuals who can then be fed into working groups.
It is important that we pull together the names and remits of the working groups as soon as possible.
To this end we will use the Resource survey and the suggested list of working groups from our last meeting in the Melting Pot which were, Core Conversations with Occupy Edinburgh, Minutes, Facilitation of meetings, GA Facilitation Group, Non Violent Communication/ Circle Meetings Group, Camp(s), Events/Outreach Group, Media Group, Social Gatherings, Offsite Group/s, Social Networking Group, Arbitration Group, Fundraising Group, Treasurer (2). The number of working groups should be limited but their remits can be quite extensive. Mike would like a temporary working group set up to help with this and get together this week if possible and present to the next GA.
He will put up a request/details on Facebook Groups/Pages.
Future Events
Lance, Allan, Mike and Patrick will be looking into organising benefit gigs to raise funds for Occupy Edinburgh.
Willie suggested a big event with other groups involved in the summer.
Lance and Josh suggested the Himalayan Cafe (Sundays) as a venue for some events and workshops.
Tom will check out Fair Trade dates and participation.
Patrick will contact Comedy Club to investigate future involvement.
Chris will be arranging a day of speakers/workshops around the 4 themes on the Resource Survey. He already has a speaker from the Electoral Reform Society. He would like anyone who knows of good speakers on the topics of Environment/Sustainability, Social Change and Financial Reform to contact him.
Carly would like us to consider some fundraising for Compassionate Communication workshops.
Finance/Donations
Willie is making progress with trustees and suggesting that a simple PayPal account is set up on website and links and advertising on how to donate go on Facebook pages and leaflets etc…
Liverpool National Occupy Conference
This follows on from our attendance at national conferences in London and Sheffield and our own conference in Edinburgh. Occupy Edinburgh has 4 or 5 people attending. Contact Josh for more info.
May Council Elections
The election campaign is well underway with the parties almost finished writing their manifestos. They will be making decisions on our behalf for the next 4 years. It is very important that we all take action NOW and get our friends to do so as well.
Please see some suggested questions from Eric Swanepoel for you to email your Councillors on our Occupy Edinburgh Events, Meetings, Working Groups, Facebook Group. Feel free to make up your own questions. There is a link in the first comment on how to find out who your Councillors are and how to contact them.
Pat will be providing a list of hustings that we can attend.
Community Bill of Rights
Arran is developing a Community Bill of Rights which will include rights for nature and the crime of Ecocide.
This is an ongoing process and if you would like to be involved please contact Arran or Mike.
Systems Thinking
Jamie will write up the notes from this recent half day workshop and they will be available soon.
Walking Tents
We need up to 20 walking tents as soon as possible. Cost around £220. Please contact Mike if you can help.
Next meeting as usual on Monday, 6pm to 8pm. Venue to be confirmed.
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