[Street] [Ideas] proposal to table GA until Friday (in lieu of community forum on immediate problems)

Allison Nevitt asnevitt at gmail.com
Wed Dec 14 15:11:36 EST 2011


I really like the idea of pre-GA update time. My only concern would be the
ability to end it in a timely manner. Especially, right now, as we have
some GA locations where we don't have enough time for the GA itself.

We do this in the facilitation working group and I think it helps to
reconnect us all to the bigger picture. So, I'd love to see this as a
pre-cursor to the more formal part of the GA. How do we make sure it stays
timely and can we do it with our current limitations?

 - Allison
Una at DailyKos
<http://www.dailykos.com/user/UnaSpenser><http://bostonlyme.blogspot.com/>

<http://kossacksnetworking.ning.com>


On Wed, Dec 14, 2011 at 3:07 PM, Aria Littlhous <aria at littlhous.net> wrote:

> I feel strongly that before "where" proposals regarding a location are
> discussed FIRST a decision needs to be made whether we want one or many
> locations. In other words, not being able to get what you want is one
> thing, not knowing what you want is another.
>
> I'd also suggest that one way to address the need for more informal
> discussions is to invite people to come to GA early (30 minutes) for a less
> formal "update and check in session". This worked well for another group I
> was a part of and can help facilitate the flow of information.
>
> On Wed, Dec 14, 2011 at 2:56 PM, Patricia Downer <
> patricia.downer at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> +1
>>
>> Patricia Downer
>>
>> On Wed, Dec 14, 2011 at 2:25 PM, Allison Nevitt <asnevitt at gmail.com>wrote:
>>
>>> I guess I don't understand why having this Friday meeting means we
>>> shouldn't have a GA on Thursday. They are not mutually exclusive.
>>>
>>> I very much appreciate the desire for some community conversations which
>>> are facilitated quite differently from the decision-making process at a GA.
>>> GAs are for decision-making in a very large group and that requires
>>> careful, methodical consideration and more structure to ensure that people
>>> are in the right headset for each section of consideration and that each
>>> person knows when they can get their input into the process. Open
>>> conversation is for a very different purpose. GAs were never meant for
>>> this. Both venues are equally valuable. The demonizing of the GA because it
>>> can't be all things has been problematic. Making room for open conversation
>>> is exactly why we cut back to 4 GAs per week. We fully expected people to
>>> step up and organize topic-centric community conversation evenings. So,
>>> let's get that going. I'd love see us go from Cuppa (5-7pm on Mondays) into
>>> a community conversation about a predetermined topic.
>>>
>>> Sounds like this Friday will be about housing the houseless and
>>> continuing to think about OB space for meetings and things. That's great.
>>> Let's do it.
>>>
>>> I'd like to see another one on "why we're doing this and what our
>>> long-term visions are". Not a conclusive, decision-making process, but a
>>> personal outpouring of the issues that sparked this movement and our dreams
>>> about what we think a future would look like if we were successful. I think
>>> having this be the subject of a community conversation on regular basis
>>> would help to keep us connected to our common ground and maintain the
>>> foundation for all our decisions, both collective and autonomous.
>>>
>>> I know there are many hours of meetings about action planning on Sunday.
>>> I'd love to have a "why we're here and our visions" conversation before
>>> then. That means Saturday. I don't know if we can pull that off. I might
>>> have a place to do so, if we'd like to.
>>>
>>> I don't have an issue with the many creative autonomous actions people
>>> are discussing. I like seeing the energy and I haven't seen anything that
>>> is counter to our issues: waking US citizens up to the income and justice
>>> disparities in our country. I do think we need some very clear
>>> communications systems so that if a group has a concrete plan and is moving
>>> forward, there is a centralized place where we can all learn about
>>> opportunities to join in. And most definitely need to let media know just
>>> before or after the fact (if surprise is important to the action) so that
>>> we can document all that we're doing.
>>>
>>> Certainly, if someone has an idea for some kind of action which requires
>>> a lot of people or wants to be deemed an "official" Occupy Boston effort,
>>> then they need to gather the support for that, plan it out, bring final
>>> plans to GA and have the "official" part consented to.
>>>
>>> From what I can see, there are those who want us to intensely link with
>>> existing community organizations as we move forward and those who feel that
>>> this would allow those organizations to co-opt our movement. We don't need
>>> to reconcile this, per se. Some of us can work with community orgs and
>>> others can continue on independent paths. I would not feel comfortable with
>>> anything else.
>>>
>>> That said, coming together periodically for a community-wide meeting
>>> which is solely about action planning - whether independent or not - sounds
>>> like a great way to keep centered and connected. So, I love the idea of
>>> these meetings, as long as we're not going to them to argue about what to
>>> do and what not to do. Let people bring up their ideas, update us on how
>>> their plans are coming along and ask people who are interested to join
>>> them. Members of the community will self-select based on their interests,
>>> personalities, time available, etc. If I bring an idea and it resonates,
>>> people will sign up for it. If not, I must accept that it didn't resonate.
>>> I trust us, as a community, to generate powerful actions, as long as we
>>> keep connecting to one another.
>>>
>>> Given my back, I'm not sure how many meetings I can make in the near
>>> future, so I would be very appreciative if someone, or more than one, would
>>> convey some of my thoughts here.
>>>
>>> In solidarity,
>>>  - Allison
>>> Una at DailyKos <http://www.dailykos.com/user/UnaSpenser><http://bostonlyme.blogspot.com/>
>>>
>>> <http://kossacksnetworking.ning.com>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Wed, Dec 14, 2011 at 9:56 AM, Daniel McCarey <
>>> daniel.coexistence at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> +1 Aria
>>>>
>>>> On Wed, Dec 14, 2011 at 9:54 AM, Aria Littlhous <aria at littlhous.net>wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> I agree with the sentiment but don't think you will be able to
>>>>> successfully cancel Thursday GA on such late notice; whomever shows
>>>>> up---and someone will--will feel they have a right to make decisions. Maybe
>>>>> start the healing Thursday/ask for input for Friday?
>>>>>
>>>>> On Wed, Dec 14, 2011 at 7:04 AM, rita sebastian <rita at brandeis.edu>wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Thank-you Katie for saying this...I agree!
>>>>>> Rita
>>>>>> Off to Court
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Wed, Dec 14, 2011 at 1:55 AM, Jennifer Mazer <jmmazer at gmail.com>wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>       THANK YOU KATIE (not yelling, emphasis)
>>>>>>>         I felt some very bad vibes at tonight's GA.  Enough to make
>>>>>>> me fear for OB...
>>>>>>>       My birthday is Thursday.  One of my major birthday wishes will
>>>>>>> be for
>>>>>>>          OB to survive because when we aren't dysfunctional we are
>>>>>>> powerful.
>>>>>>>           We have the power to change Boston and the world.  Not
>>>>>>> being "starry-eyed" here.
>>>>>>>            I KNOW we can do it.
>>>>>>>             My thoughts.
>>>>>>>               In hope, Jen Mazer
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Wed, Dec 14, 2011 at 1:35 AM, Katie Gradowski <
>>>>>>> katie.gradowski at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Hey all,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I'm forwarding this email widely because it seems pressing.  The
>>>>>>>> past two GAs following eviction have felt very out of place -- I feel like
>>>>>>>> we, as a community, have not yet dealt with the eviction from Dewey Square,
>>>>>>>> which has resulted in a creeping sense of sprawl and dysfunction.   This
>>>>>>>> email is a tentative call for a reset!
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> *A brief overview of my concerns:  *
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Over the past two days, we have seen hours worth of working group
>>>>>>>> announcements, in many cases for working groups whose purpose and identity
>>>>>>>> has irrevocably shifted.    We have seen "message" proposals, even as we
>>>>>>>> have houseless occupiers who have gone days without a place to stay.    We
>>>>>>>> have had a proliferation of hastily planned actions, with no thought or
>>>>>>>> coordination of how we, as a community, want to respond to eviction, or of
>>>>>>>> coordinated actions between working groups in response to eviction from
>>>>>>>> Dewey Square. Reports so far on tonight's GA (contentious issues of
>>>>>>>> storage, personal attacks, a proposal to send homeless occupiers to DC?)
>>>>>>>> suggests that things are not getting better.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> While this is all happening, there are pressing issues that have
>>>>>>>> not yet been resolved.    I feel deeply uncomfortable moving forward in any
>>>>>>>> sense until we can take time, as a group, can resolve the question of space
>>>>>>>> and housing.   I would like to propose tabling Thursday's GA, and in its
>>>>>>>> place scheduling an open community forum this Friday, at St. Paul's
>>>>>>>> Cathedral, from 6-8:30 p.m. to find immediate, community-wide solutions to
>>>>>>>> the following three concerns:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> ******************************************************************************************************************************************
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> IMMEDIATE ISSUES  (to be resolved in the next few days)
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> *1)   Permanent space for GA + reassessment of working groups *---
>>>>>>>> Without a site, we have sprawl on all sides.   Working groups that no
>>>>>>>> longer have space, GAs are tentatively planned, lots of options on the
>>>>>>>> table for sites but no solid choices, defunct groups consolidating with
>>>>>>>> other groups.   We need to sit down and map out the new terrain.   What is
>>>>>>>> the new "site" for OB, in the absence of Dewey Square?  (don't outsource
>>>>>>>> this to a working group!  let's solve it together)   Do we want a central
>>>>>>>> space for everything or several diffuse spaces?   Do we want roving GAs in
>>>>>>>> JP, Chinatown, Dorchester, and elsewhere? (and is it important for Gas and
>>>>>>>> working groups to be in the same space?)   Do we want to rent or borrow?
>>>>>>>> Do we want a food truck and a caravan of tiny houses?   And if so, how do
>>>>>>>> we make that happen?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> *Between now and Friday, I propose that *everyone* who has an idea
>>>>>>>> or plan about permanent space take this week (facilitation, logistics,
>>>>>>>> outreach, Eric, Greg, Brian, myself) write it up as a proposal, and bring
>>>>>>>> it with actionable items to Friday's community forum*.   In line
>>>>>>>> with that, I propose that as many working groups as possible check in with
>>>>>>>> updated information about where you are meeting and how you are situated,
>>>>>>>> post-eviction. *This is a top priority at the moment*.   Without a
>>>>>>>> space to assemble and a concrete proposal for what space we want to
>>>>>>>> inhabit, post-Dewey, we will not be able to settle long enough to
>>>>>>>> accomplish anything of substance.   We'll split up, peter out, start
>>>>>>>> meeting separately, stop checking in, and that will be the end of Occupy
>>>>>>>> Boston.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> *2)   Long term winter solution for houseless occupiers * --  At
>>>>>>>> the moment, we have up to 10 people remaining who are active occupiers who
>>>>>>>> need a place to stay.   At least 4 are couples and cannot go into the
>>>>>>>> shelter system.   *We cannot rely on occupiers who have stepped up
>>>>>>>> to offer short-term housing as a long-term solution to this issue.
>>>>>>>> * Those of us who have offered space are already stretched thin
>>>>>>>> and are trying hard to fill in the gaps.   Many of these people have stuck
>>>>>>>> it out after eviction,  helping to coordinate space logistics and
>>>>>>>> participating in GAs and working groups, in spite of the very real
>>>>>>>> possibility of spending the night in a bus station.The occupiers who remain
>>>>>>>> are part of our community, and we need a community solution to this issue.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> *We need an immediate solution to the question fo where they will
>>>>>>>> be housed. *  Possible short term solutions: rotating couch space,
>>>>>>>> church space, others?  long-term solution:  outreach to places that will
>>>>>>>> allow us to pitch tents (not a good option over winter)?  large indoor
>>>>>>>> spaces with housing?   renting an apartment for houseless occupiers over
>>>>>>>> winter?   Sending people to other occupations is not an option -- nor is
>>>>>>>> farming this out to a working group or a dedicated set of individuals.   If
>>>>>>>> we are truly a community, we need a community solution to this issue.
>>>>>>>> Most of these people have arrangements that are expiring by the end of the
>>>>>>>> week.  This issue must be dealt with, before any broader questions of
>>>>>>>> message and direction are considered.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> *3)  OB actions this week, next week, and moving forward.  * I had
>>>>>>>> a conversation with some folks in media a few days ago about message, and
>>>>>>>> someone remarked (quite rightly) that the way we make statements now is not
>>>>>>>> with words, but with actions.   There are a number of very exciting actions
>>>>>>>> coming out of the community organization meetings, as well as a
>>>>>>>> proliferation of exciting, small-scale actions (tiny tents, anyone?) that
>>>>>>>> are in progress.   Let's coordinate TOGETHER, plan across working groups,
>>>>>>>> and approach these actions in a really intentional way!
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> This week has seen more sprawl than usual, with a proliferation of
>>>>>>>> actions, many reactionary, quickly planned with little coordination or
>>>>>>>> thought of execution.  Autonomous action is fine, but too easily becomes an
>>>>>>>> excuse to throw things together at the last minute -- let's NOT use GA
>>>>>>>> announcements as a place to plan actions in the hopes that people will just
>>>>>>>> show up -- let's actually sit down and plan them together!   *There
>>>>>>>> are two meetings taking place this weekend -- an OB action summit (Sunday
>>>>>>>> at 1) and a community-wide spokescouncil meeting to plan for a mass day of
>>>>>>>> action sometime in January or February.*   Let's prioritize these
>>>>>>>> meetings, and use that space as a jumping-off point for a larger discussion
>>>>>>>> of what we, as a community, want to prioritize going forward.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> *********************************************************************************************************
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> WIDER POST-EVICTION THOUGHTS - on GA, facilitation, and the need
>>>>>>>> for open community spaces
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> (this is less urgent - feel free to skip it if you like -- they
>>>>>>>> deal with my broader concerns about GA, and how we can move forward as a
>>>>>>>> community in the wake of eviction from Dewey Square
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> *Reclaiming GAs as a public space* -- the past two GAs have felt
>>>>>>>> very closed at a time when they need to be radically open -- they have
>>>>>>>> carried on with "business as usual," instead of reclaiming GAs as an open
>>>>>>>> forum (which they initially were).   In the wake of eviction, we need SOME
>>>>>>>> spaces for "loose" facilitation, for town hall stye forum, similar to what
>>>>>>>> we had in the beginning --->  perhaps reviving the PROPOSAL FOR COMMUNITY
>>>>>>>> NIGHTS?   how to deal with the sprawl of announcements??   replacing WG
>>>>>>>> announcements with print copies to circulate -- info desk at GA? -- all of
>>>>>>>> these and more. now, more than ever, we need to make it a radically open
>>>>>>>> space, and be proactive about inviting new people in
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> In the days and weeks leading up to eviction, many people remarked
>>>>>>>> privately to me that they felt OB becoming a closed community, with people
>>>>>>>> onsite "taking care of their own," and offsite working groups operating in
>>>>>>>> total isolation of each other.   Post-eviction, we have followed "business
>>>>>>>> as usual" -- continuing meetings, highly procedural GAs, prioritizing an
>>>>>>>> hour of working group announcements, and dragging on for hours.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> We need to respond to GA specifically -- but we also need to
>>>>>>>> actively create spaces for people to meet and socialize, building in time
>>>>>>>> for social events, community forums  (like the one I'm proposing right
>>>>>>>> now), discussion meetings, teach-ins, and debate -- planning them in
>>>>>>>> advance and publicizing them widely, so that people outside the mailing
>>>>>>>> lists will know about them and can come.    In line with this, we need to
>>>>>>>> actively make use of the website, wiki, facebook, and twitter make sure we
>>>>>>>> are publicizing our events, keeping people up to date, and coordinating
>>>>>>>> within Occupy Boston in order to get the word out in a timely manner.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> *Taking care of our own*.   When occupied, Dewey Square was in a
>>>>>>>> constant state of crisis.   It was impossible to respond, react, or slow
>>>>>>>> down long enough to deal with the myriad issues  -- chief among them, the
>>>>>>>> marginalization of houseless occupiers and people of color.  Their needs
>>>>>>>> need to be addressed and put front and center in any discussion of how we
>>>>>>>> as a community move forward as a community  (whether they be clothing,
>>>>>>>> shelter, living assistance, a place to take showers, etc)
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> *Prioritizing people over process:*   David made a proposal at
>>>>>>>> Saturday's facilitation meeting to go back to loose process and allow
>>>>>>>> people to speak openly at the post-eviction GA.   This didn't happen, and
>>>>>>>> to date, no space for this kind of open conversation has been made.
>>>>>>>> Post-eviction, we need to reintroduce a sense of radical openness to GA,
>>>>>>>> even if it slows things down or breaks process.  *We need spaces
>>>>>>>> for loose facilitation, even at the expense of efficiency, both to take
>>>>>>>> into account (and deal with) our radically changed circumstances, and to
>>>>>>>> make space for new people to have a place in the dialogue.*
>>>>>>>> Strong facilitation is comforting to some and profoundly alienating to
>>>>>>>> others -- at this juncture, I feel pretty strongly that we need spaces for
>>>>>>>> both strong facilitation and open, spontaneous dialogue -- and that if this
>>>>>>>> isn't currently happening in GA, we need to make it so.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> *Collaboration across working groups.  * For anyone who was at
>>>>>>>> last night's community orgs meeting, it was an amazing example of
>>>>>>>> coordination across groups -- we had four solid proposals on the table for
>>>>>>>> upcoming actions (from January through March) and left with actionable
>>>>>>>> items on each one.   For the first time in the history of that meeting,
>>>>>>>> there were representatives from media,outreach, facilitation, and community
>>>>>>>> organizations from across Boston.   At the facilitation meeting last
>>>>>>>> Saturday,likewise,  there were representatives from almost all of the major
>>>>>>>> working groups.    It felt amazing, to see and begin to plan large-scale
>>>>>>>> collaborative actions as a group, with thoughtful, intentional buy-in from
>>>>>>>> everyone in the room.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Too often, we farm out difficult decisions to working groups or
>>>>>>>> create new ones on the spot, rather than do the workto have these
>>>>>>>> conversations.   We need to create spaces where we can collaborate TOGETHER
>>>>>>>> to solve pressing issues across working groups, marshal our existing
>>>>>>>> resources and work together, across working groups, to plan actions,
>>>>>>>> solutions, discussions, and next steps.     More conversations like this =
>>>>>>>> more work that can immediately get done (and can get done together!), which
>>>>>>>> is what's going to keep us together in the long run.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> *********************************************************************************************************************************
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Everything that's outlined above is hard.   We need to be
>>>>>>>> thoughtful, intentional, and have the courage to take things slowly rather
>>>>>>>> than rush to keep up with press coverage and the post-eviction spotlight.
>>>>>>>> We also need to try, as best we can, not to trash each other by email as we
>>>>>>>> work through these difficult issues.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Without a space -- and in particular, without concrete
>>>>>>>> accommodations made for our most marginalized members -- I feel it will be
>>>>>>>> very hard to move forward on any of the rest of it in a meaningful way.   I
>>>>>>>> propose that we start this conversation Friday at 6 p.m. at St. Paul's
>>>>>>>> Cathedral.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Those are my thoughts!   Please let me know yours.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> All best,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Katie
>>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Rita Monestersky- Sebastian
>>>>>> Brandeis, MA SID' 2009
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "If you cannot change yourself, how can you change the world?"
>>>>>> Gandhi
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> Ideas mailing list
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>>>>>>
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>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> 'A coalition is not a family. It's not where you feel comfortable or
>>>>> where you go to see people you like; it's where your boundaries are tested.
>>>>> It's where you get work done." Barbara Smith, African American feminist
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
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>
>
> --
> 'A coalition is not a family. It's not where you feel comfortable or where
> you go to see people you like; it's where your boundaries are tested. It's
> where you get work done." Barbara Smith, African American feminist
>
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