GA minutes from 1/10/2012

-Introductions

-Working Group Report-backs

1-Occupy the Lot is becoming a positive force in their community. A greenhouse has been built and a community garden is also being worked on. Many of the “weaker links” have been weeded out. They have expressed their need for resources like tarps, tents, lumber, soil, transportation and food. They are located at 2526 Annette, have permission from the land-owner but do not have full support for new occupiers at this time. However, people are definitely encouraged to visit, help and view the positive impact they have created.

2-Occupy the Stage is still in construction. No other information is available right now.

3-Facilitation Group seeks to further improve the General Assembly process by making some modifications. They seek to assist in clarification and to allow more calculated discussion.

4-Occupy the Dream was given props. I don’t know who this is, though.

5-Direct Action Working Group creating a stir with the on-coming MLK March on January 16th, starting at 2pm in front of City Hall at Avery Alexander/Duncan Plaza (the flier is on this site). They need assistance with passing out fliers. Tulane, Loyola, SUNO and Xavier were all discussed. I plan to pass out fliers tomorrow morning at Xavier.

6-The Neighborhood Outreach Working Group made some noise with a press release on their goals and philosophy. It was highly reminiscent of the goals of the yet-so-far unfounded Promotion and Outreach Working Group. I strongly recommend that any of those interested in outreach and engaging the community with The Occupy Movement please contact Bill Rogers at 504 569 0308 (afternoons or evenings) or at nazorai@aol.com, or Tara Jill at tarajill.smallaffair@gmail.com.

7-Resource and Correspondence Working Group still growing. The meetings are from 10am to 11am at the UU Church, Thursdays, 5212 S. Claiborne Ave.

8-Digital Media Working Group is getting pretty big. The meetings follow the Res/Corr WG meetings at the same location, from 11am until 2:30pm at the latest.

~Consensus  was met regarding no proposals to be made, with one exception. New GA locations and times were met with a request we break into groups to discuss and brainstorm. Fairgrinds cafe was determined to not be a good location for permanent use do to future schedule conflicts at their location. However, we did reach consensus regarding the next 3 GAs, after a lengthy, group-oriented discussion. The brainstorming session seemed to serve its purpose.

1/12/2012 Thursday- GA to be held at Avery/Duncan, 7pm. Italian Pie is the back-up location if the weather is too cold and/or rainy.

1/14/2012 Saturday- GA to be held at Avery/Duncan, 1pm in the afternoon. This accommodates those that do not feel safe in the park at night.

1/17/2012 Tuesday- GA to be held at Fairgrinds Cafe, 3133 Ponce de Leon, 7pm.

There was one dissent regarding scheduling a new time on Saturday, as well as one “stand-aside”. After some discussion, the dissent was withdrawn.  The objection raised in the dissent was that changes in schedule were being made less than a week in advance.

Other locations that were agreed upon for future use? The UU Church,  St Judes Church, and Avery/Duncan to serve as a default meeting location. Other locations that were discussed includes the Little Zion Baptist Church.

Minutes recorded and transcribed by Christoph

Related posts:

1. Minutes from 1/3/12
2. General Assembly Minutes 12/20/2011
3. Current Known Locations for Occupy NOLA
4. General Assembly Minutes 12/15/2011
5. Update & Schedule