General Assembly Notes Full 10-25-2011

We are publishing the full notes.

PDF and Text versions can be found here. Please refer to the Live Stream for specific information that may not have been captured in the notes. Note-taking is a best-effort undertaking. Please direct all discussion to  the new forums.

Outline of resolutions and announcements:

Proposal 1:

Reconstruction of the finance committee. Finance be formed of one member of each committee. New members approved by members of the finance committee via an open communication process.

Approved amendments:

- If you’re a member of one committee you cannot join the other

- All minutes from finance committee be available at info and online within 48 hours of any meeting.

- There is also a substitute member approved by the finance committee to prevent a committee not being represented in the absence of the approved member.

- The current members of the finance committee will be included in the new committee because they know what’s going on.

- We will include a member from the spending committee on the finance committee who has no voting rights but is able to relay information between the two committees. (A liaison.)

Proposal Announcements:

- Proposal to form a spokes counsel comprised of all committees.

- Proposal to move someplace indoors for the winter for the safety of the vulnerable and to regroup.

 

 

david facilitator.

Justin facilitator

mj stack

austin backup

marla note taker

 

announcements / proposals

 

how many people are new? A few.

 

How many camping? Lots!

 

How many people are involved in committees? Lots

 

If interested, visit info booth for committee PoCs.

 

Process explanation (consensus explanation, handsignals, stacks, etc)

 

(And your seat cushion can be used as a flotation device in instances of an emergency water landing. )

 

Justin taking over for announcements.

 

Kip with web team. Last few days have been missing GA notes. Generally gets them posted. If you know who has been taking them, for 20, 23, 24, please go see kip or ; or talk to patrick about getting it off your computer.

 

Reid Parhem can be talked to if the media communication is inadequately representing you idea, or anything within occupy. He’s trying to be the public/external/internal PoC. Given up privacy. 503 949 2865. He talks to lots of media to represent us well.

 

Noah of NLG; flip camera, cigarette sized camera. No longer with NLG supplies. Take it back to info tent with no questions asked and a big hug. IT is needed for safety of the entire camp.

 

Action team is collaborating with portland rising tide for action on monday. Zombies from future are coming back from the future to warn us about troubles. To protest bank actions in this protest, show up at the basilisk Monday 12-3 for zombification, march is 3-5.

 

facilitation participation is encouraged. Join meetings, or come to training saturday at 2 for more info.

 

Thursday GA; we had city hall pass an ordinance allowing campgrounds of up to 100 on public/private in portland. Meet at 9am tomorrow go before city council; ask to pass resolution to pass the ordinance. This will show how much they care, and will allow us to be more lawful.

 

James. March tomorrow at 5pm; sw yamhill & taylor. Organized labor joining with OP. Adbuster’s is doing a saturday march against robin hood transaction tax.

 

Kerry. Yesterday, GA endorsed the sit in at jaimeson square. Please join the event, he has flyers, take one. Oakland got raided this morning and got shut down. Act on social injustice; we want police/media to be there, we want to be heard. Assemble at Jamieson because they won’t ignore us. Planning meeting at T-S plaza tomorrow. 5713328823 for more info, the rest is at info tent. Bring sleeping bags, tarps, handwarmers, food, buckets. Flyer handouters needed. Signs needed to identify cities we stand in solidarity with.

 

Announcing the spokesman committee proposal.

 

Brent. Request: we need a lot more people to picket all the time/during rush hour. Protesting is political theater/available/polite/out there and needs to happen more. If you aren’t doing anything else consider holding a sign; it’s fun!

 

March tomorrow: March from camp to director? park at 4:15. Going to be big march; all unions have been contacted!

 

Pink Martini Rep: performing at pioneer ch square; friday the 28^th at noon in solidarity with occupy!

 

Jess: oregon lsfo: Director’s park march pep announcement. Starts at DP and ends at Pioneer courthouse square.

 

Topher; Going to get married on Sunday; Suka at 6:00.  No offensive or violent behavior in my camp or I’ll kick you out myself!

 

Proposals!

 

Proposal 1:  Mike proposing./?

 

Reconstruction of the finance committee. Finance be formed of one membetr of each ommittee. New members approved by members of the finance committee.

1. Finance shall adhere to the same  structure as the spending committee.
2. GA can add or remove any member
3. Finance must submit a structure of practices and procedures within 2 weeks
4. Committees must appoint one person to represent in the Finance committee if needed.
5. No legal identity without GA approval
6. Finance shall hold weekly meetings at occupation site, allowing 30 minutes for question/comments
7. finance must address GA once weekly allowing 15 minutes for questions/comments
8. Finance activities must be transparent to members of occupy and public.

 

Clarifying questions

 

1: I’d like to know the difference between finance committee and spending committee that’s going to start forming tomorrow night at 6? What’s the different duties?

 

A: Finance is in charge of bringing money into org. Making sure money is safe in credit union. Finance is in money, spending is money out.

 

1: I don’t know why they have to be separate committees.

A: Concerns about it being too much work, and not enough safeguards to ensure proper money handling. There’s a possibility of a conflict of interest. I don’t feel the finance committee is evil, they just need to focus.

 

2: Similar question.

 

3: Explain how transparency would be implement.

 

A: This proposal would include no closed meetings; no closed finance committee. You’re welcome to any committee meeting.

 

4: Why are we still messing with money/the fed? In other words; Why are we still using money?

 

A: Because food costs money. (people unhappy with answer; direct response to answer: Food grows out of the ground; I can make food; I can grow food. (Not considered a direct response, trying to move on. People angry.

 

Direct response: I believe that ray’s concerns are very legitimate; I believe it is possible for the occupation to stop using money at the very least as a long term goal.

 

A: Lots of things we could do beside take money. Lots of background in finances in non profits. I know we can work without money but we have to go by process and find a structure for money and finance. We can always come back with another amendment and change the way we procure things. Right now there are things that need to be dealt with in terms of ifnance and spending, and this proposal will get us over a huge hump to allow us to concentrate on other things.

 

5: How will standards/procedures be developed?

 

A: Both spending and finance will be making up their own procedures/standards. The proposal is a structure, the details will be hammered out by the committees and then approved by the GA.

 

6: So for transparency; in my experience; there would be citizens; not on any committee who get to see the books, quarterly, what have you. Besides being able to go to meetings and all that stuff.

 

A: There is absolute transparency; online you should be able to see 24/7 what the last finance committee did, what they approved/working on/doing in the future. Every dollar can be seen online; donations, spent, and what it was spent on. Same thing on the spending committee.

 

Concerns

 

My concern is that weekly meetings might leave out people who have to work that day and might want to know what’s going on at that meeting.

 

Direct response: They’re saying if you’re not here for the meetings, their activities will be hosted online where you can access them at any time.

 

My concern about how much authority power the spending committee will have to make decisions about spending without proposing to the ga. Dollar amount, or how is that going to work.

DR: Maybe you are confusing spending proposal with the finance committee. You can read the Spending committee plans after they meet at  6 tomorrow. Finance has no authority to spend money. There are plenty of regulations in the spending committee proposal to address those problems.

 

My concern that we need to eventually wean ourselves off of using monetary value as a prospect. We are using money but at a point in time we could get ourselves off of using money.

 

Will there be restrictions on where we’re getting our money from. And if it will be very transparent and accounted for where the money is coming from.

 

DR: Finance has been working on but not notifying us; they’ve been talking about non profit status with lawyers. An issue we had was that we did not want a finance committee who could do this without beinging it to us. Only thing we can do is form a way with like minded people under an umbrella without being a non profit. (I don’t know how the concern turned into non profit stuff. ~Note taker) Finance committee will have to bring donations to GA for acceptance before they take it.

 

Temp check. Mike wants concerns voiced, GA was split half/half. More concerns:

 

I think your idea is great, have concerns with national lawyer’s guild working with us but we’ve paid 1500 dollars for lawyers, this is why we need to move away from money.

DR: National lawyer’s guild is defense attorneys but we do have lawyers on site.

DR: Money paid to lawyer to look into the 501(3)c was a specific individual donating money for that purpose, did not come out of occupy funds. ‘

 

We might want to look into using the bitcoin currency. We can have federal funds translated into bitcoins through paypal.

Part of what we believe is to be all inclusive. We are engaged in a long transitional period from the status quo to what we’re trying to achieve. Why would we the people be beholden or how could influence with us be bought if ted turner or nike wants to start repenting.

 

DR: We tell them tot ake a hike.

 

It doesn’t matter here the money comes from, it just matters what we do with it when we get it.

Proposal repeat for assembly.

 

Temp check: mostly supportive.

 

Evolution process:

 

1:  my concern is that a member of the spending comittee; can join the finance committee  double jeopary monopoly that is monopolizing it all.  Amendment proposal: If you’re a member of one committee you cannot join the other.

 

Q: How do they keep communications open?

(no answer)

 

temp check: positive. Amendment is added to proposal.

 

2: I propose all minutes from finance committee be available at info and online within 48 hours of any meeting.

 

Temp check: positive. Amendment added to proposal.

 

1. I suggest that the finance committee come up with a list of companies that work together that we do not want to accept money from, and why.

 

DR: The finance committee will be comprised of one person from all committees; once they are there, they will have to find a way to make this work for everyone that will pass GA. You should probanbly come and join the finance company, or if you don’t want to join just come and give opinions/suggestions to the committee to solve that problem.

 

Temp check: negative. Amendment not added.

 

4: my proposal is that the newly forming finance committee cap the monetary donations at the 10k we already have and that their fundraising activities would be defined as gathering physical supplies such as food for the occupation.

 

A: Some of us really don’t want to accept cash donations but we really do still have to pay bills, buy gas, and other things. This is just the structure of the proposal; you could go to finance or the GA to propose an amendment to the proposal.

 

(amendment repeat)

 

Question: Only, or in addition to funds already procured.

A: Not arguing about 10k, but all further cash donations be cut off.

 

Point of process: Amendments are not intended to fundamentally restructure the original proposal but only slightly add to it in a different way.

A: That would be another proposal? Yes. Would you like to rescind your proposal? No.

 

Temp check:  No positives, no amendment.

 

(comment on 1^st amendment. My point is in regards to the member of the finance committee not being able to also be on the spending committee. It needs to be noted that you can join either committee, but not both, in the same line. It should be noted or added to teh amendment at the same time.

 

1. Two meetings in one week instead of one. Also to let any member of the movement to be part of the financial committee.

A:  That would work unless you were already part of the spending committee.

 

Q: Wouldn’t that contradict the proposal’s requirement that the finance committee be appointed of one person from each committee?

A: There will be a process you have to go through to join the finance committee: gain approval of finance committee. You go in and talk to them at the meeting, introduce yourself. Committee is not exclusive, anyone can join.

 

Temp check on 2 a week instead of one: Negative not amending

 

Response: It says inside the proposal that anyone can come to the meetings. So having anybody on the committee is useless.   (Nont a point of process.)

 

1. My proposal is that there is also a substitute member approved by the finance committee to prevent a committee not being represented in the absence of the approved member.

 

Temp check: Positive. Amendment added to the proposal.

 

My statement is that if you are concerned with this proposal is based purely on the fact that you don’t want to use money within this camp you might find yourself feeling differently if you need to pay bail as a result of a direct action.

 

7. Amendment: I would like to see the current members of the finance committee included in the new committee because they know what’s going on.

 

Temp check: Positive. Amendment added.

 

1. Amendment to amendment 1 to include a member from the spending committee on the finance committee who has no voting rights but is able to relay information between the two committees. (A liaison.)

DR: You want a liaison between the two committees that cannot vote?

A: Yes

 

Temp check Positive. Amendment to amendment 1 added.

 

1. My amendment is to cap the number of people in the finance committee. But we need to decide what the cap would be.

A: There are things the committee can work out on their own, and it’s going to be a process to figure out the best ways, and it’s going to take time. I don’t think we’ll be able to figure out a number that’s going to take a little bit of work within a few hours/at the GA. There are 37 committees right now, how many will be grouped together, how many even want to be represented, etc. They’ll be able to figure out this number at the GA.

 

Temp Check Negative, not passing.

 

What are the committee we plan on putting in the finance committee? ‘

A: There are 37 committees as of tomorrow. Spending meeting tomorrow will organize meeting with the committees to discuss whether threy want to be involved at all, and who will represent them. They will then take that information to the GA and the GA will approve who is on the finance/spending committees.

 

10: Because the finance committee has so much to deal with that seems urgent. I amend that there initially be three daily consecutive meeting, and then from then on they meet once a week.

 

Temp check Negative.

 

I have a lingering concern the banking system as a whole isn’t solvent. I believe that systemic banking crisis is inevitable. Spread between several credit unions to minimize risk. (Not an amendment proposal.)

 

Point of process: Temp check, or consensus? (it’s consensus)

 

Proposal consensus:

Stand aside: 5

Serious Concerns: 0

Approve:  Majority.

 

Proposal PASSED.

 

 

Proposal Announcements!!!!

 

1. Spokes councel proposal. Restructure the way in which we make decisions here at the GA. And to start implementing what NYC is doing in terms of the spokescounsel. A spokes counsel is a structure that has been used widely since the spanish revolution. It allows people’s direct involvement in democratic discussion of issues. It is called a spokes counsel because it is structured like a wheel. There will be a meeting tomorrow at noon to hash at details. (Here- T-S plaza? 503 516 8932 (David) for more information.
2. Jeana with peace & safety. Can meet with us at 4oclock at the safety desk to discuss the proposal. Safety’s goal is to provide a safe environment for our occupation. We are having problems with safety issues that are causing us to need to find a better way to deal with this. There is a good neighbor agreement but it is not being honored (or witnessed by safety) to a degree that makes safety feel they can keep things safe. Our proposal is to consider more sustainable options, including moving into a building for the winter. This would address many of the safety issues thaty need to be addressed but really aren’t at a deeper level. Right now there are lots of divisiveness and this would be an opportunity for us to come together and work to find a good solution for these problems. The idea would be to protect the vulnerable populations and to create more autonomy and safety in our community as well.

 

 

 

Proposal 2

 

Proposal: We are a newly formed events and music committee. Purpose is to reach out to musicians and performers and facilitate conferences with public figures to gain publicity for OP. We propose using T-S plaza for performances tuesdays and thursdays between 6:30 and 9:30 pm. This would create two off nights for the GA. This would work to engage the 99% and attract broader personalities. We can use this energy to bring the occupy community together.

 

Questions

 

Q: Would there be cultural speakers etc performing during this time or music?

A: All of the above. We would have an open forum in a way, music dancing, electronic, music tha trepresents us all, public speakers and political figures that we may want to facilitate discussin with us, as well as comedians that may bring more people out here and cross promote, talk to outreach.

 

Q: Instead of the GA?

A: Yes. There may be other things we’re owrking on but they would not intefere.

 

Q: Did we pass the new GA?

A: No.

Q: So no GA that day?

A: There would not be. It would replace it with cultural and political events of that nature.

 

Q: Didn’t we already decide that tuesday’s GA would be for decisions about the saturday marches? Would we have to amend that?

A: Yes, we would have to amend that and move it to another day.

 

Q: Have you considered another place for the GA to meet?

A: No. If this were to go through, I think we could discuss moving it to somewhere else, but for now lets stick to simple for now.

 

Q: If this music conflicts with your previously scheduled GA events, why not move when this is instead?

A: We’ll get there during the evolution process.

 

Concerns

 

1. My concern is that most other occupy cities have two GA per day. I don’t want portland having fewer Gas to entertain us.
2. My concerns are I think that we will lose continuity of our democratic process by interrupting it twice a week I also am afraid that we will attract people who only want to come to a party and not a political event.
3. My concern is much the same, though I think a party is a good way to draw people in, music maybe one night a week to start with. Plan to make evolutionary suggestion to try one night a week.
4. I believe that the two things could go on together maybe in different places or different times so the GA owuldn’t have to be interrupted and we could still have the music and the culture and all that.
5. My concern is that the view fromt he public will be diminished by our preference over a party than the GA.
6. My concern is that by moving the GA out of the way for music and other entertainment past seven oclock at night when it is going to be getting progressively darker will be promoting a party atmosphere when this area is open the rest of the day.
7.  My concern is for the preferation of deskwork over musical protesting (Paraphrasing, poor mike check.)
8. My concern with this is that more people will come to this than on the other days.  (Might have misheard)

 

 

Evolution

Clarifcation: not discontinuing the GA. We can discuss having them at the same time, it may help defuse situations and allow people to express themselves in other ways. This type of thing has been banned in protests in many countries for the last hundred years. This may be empowering to people who do not have the voice or power to express themselves as others are able to. I don’t want things not to happen, I just seek balance and a way for everyone to express themselves.

 

Amendments

 

1. My amendment would be that we have the event before the GA to get people here for the GA. A second variation of this could be to test out the substitution of the event for the GA. We could try it once. A third variation is we could do one day per week of event rather than both tuesday and thursday.

 

Answer to First variation: We could try but there is problems with timing and space earlier in the day when working with workshops and people outside of occupy.

Answer: Or it could be after, just as long as it is in conjunction with the GA.

 

Temp check: Positive. First variation on this amendment is added to the proposal.

DR: From 3 to 5 are like meetings, and from 5 to 7 right now its committee meetings. So if we wanted to be before, who do you want to interrupt?

A: There are many other locations in this world.

 

1. My amendment is actually the same as hers, the reason I’m repeating it, because I have some friends/contacts who can actually come to Gas on tuesday and thursday and so they have told me that they would think it’s a great idea to have this event before because continuity with having 7pm GA s is really important. (Not an amendment)

 

1. Amendment: have music at noon. Also reminder that this is not a party we need to concentrate on why we are h there.

A: Maybe we should let the arts & entertainment committee make the timing decision since we’ve already decided not to interrupt the GA.

 

1. We do it one day a week at pioneer square at noon to engage people and then maybe take them on a march with us. Why not follow up saturday marches with this stuff?

 

1. amendment: that we bring ythe music nights on tuesday and thursday after GA to the camp by the food place. We can increase the vibe in the camp, at night it gets disparate and people forget why they are there and they need somrething to do. We could play music or have cultural stuff to bring them together.

DR: People are trying to sleep, music is bad for that.

 

Why are we continuing this discussion here?

Response: When I gave my amendment I did not intend to kill this proposal. I really think we should consider it. Maybe we should consider it one day a week.

Facilitator: As facilitator I think we should empower the arts & culture committee to make their own times. (No votes to continue talking about timing, this goes to the arts & cultures committee to figure out.)

 

ANNOUNCEMENTs

The finance committee registered Occupy Portland as a nonprofit corporation with the state of oregon on the 24^th. The domain name for the website was taken by one of the members of the finance committee and is now registered by the finance commitees non profit and is no longer in our control. NEW WEBSITE IS OCCUPYPDX.ORG is now down because it got hijacked by persons unknown. We just became a corporation?!

 

We have been registered as a corporation by rogue elements by people who do not live in this camp. We have their names, we have their phone numbers, please approach us!

 

Q: Any verification?

A: Anyone can verify this information via the state of oregon’s business registrations, you will see Occupy Portland, Inc.

 

PoP: I dont think that was an emergency announcement. I appreciate the information but an em. Announcement should be about injuries, raids, etc.However, I agree that it was important. However it could have waited until we gave our current discussion the space it deserves.

 

BACK TO SECOND PROPOSAL.

 

Facilitator (David): Seeing dispersal of interest due to announcement. Anyone interested can continue discussing. Note taking can end now.

 

 

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