WG/InterOccupy Communications/Minutes/11252011

InterOccupy Communications Meeting Notes - Fri Nov 25 2011
AGENDA TOPICS: What the WG has done so far, a contact list for outside parties, coordinating direct action within the Occupy movement, security culture, list of questions, announcements, the next step for the movement, sharing resources with other Occupies, ice breaker.

ATTENDEES: Farhad, Katherine, Todd, Eden, Daniel, Elizabeth H, Acacia, Ryan, Matthew S., Sophie (Occupy WS), Martin, George, Jason Occupy WS, Vincent (OWS), Ashley (OWS), Matt, Ian, Jesse (Occupy Seattle), Nate, Rachel (Occupy Philly), Lenny, Sophie,

Farhad starts off telling the 19 attendees an overview of the working group's aims and goals. We then took a chance to introduce ourselves with a brief description. Several members from Occupy Wall Street are in attendance. Vincent starts facilitating by collecting agenda topics. Agenda points include an ice breaker, list of questions, sharing resources within Occupies, security culture, announcements, the next step for the movement, coordinating direct action between the different Occupies, and a contact person for the group.

WHAT THE WG HAS DONE SO FAR: We start off with sharing what the working group has done so far. Farhad explains the privacy concerns for a phone number database and discussing other databases other Occupies have, how to field questions by potential donors, i.e donor education, InterOccupy conference calls, and ideas for a New England wide General Assembly.

CONTACT LIST: The next agenda topic is concerning a contact list for the group so that outside parties can contact Occupy Boston when they want to drop off items or have general questions. Farhad tells the group that they are currently working on a contact list. I tell the group that questions like that can be sent to occupybostonmedia@gmail.com

SECURITY CULTURE: The next agenda point is discussing security culture. Daniel explains what security culture is and asks the group what the best way is to facilitate coordinated direct actions when security is a concern. Martin brings up the fact that there are a lot of smaller internet platforms that may be safer. Eden states that you can get an E-Mail through Occupy Boston's e-mail server which may also be safer than G-Mail. Ryan brings up the points that IRC and Piratepad could also be safer and brings up the idea that Occupies as a whole should aim to be as transparent as possible without jeopardizing the direct action. Matt suggests PGP as a platform. The next agenda point is coordinating direct action throughout the different Occupations. Its brought up that Occupy Wall Street has found that the best way to do this is to take part in the national conference calls.

LIST OF QUESTIONS We move on to the list of questions agenda topic and agree to have a small group of members come up with this list.

SHARING RESOURCES: Elizabeth shares her opinion that the BPD won't use pepper spray or rubber bullets because of issues they have had in the past so we need to donate our medical supplies to other Occupies who are facing pepper spray attacks. Someone states that there is a dinner on Tuesday petitioning millionaires to invest in the Occupy movement and if that gets passed in GAs across the country that that is an option. There is also a suggestion to use the InterOccupy conferences calls to check in with other Occupies and see what they are in need of. Matt shares that The Occupier is starting a Classifieds section in their paper and that can potentially be an avenue to get our needs published. Farhad states that Occupy Boston has said that the donations given to us are to be used for Occupy Boston only and not other occupations so that may be an issue if we start sharing our funds.

ANNOUNCEMENTS -Inter-Occupy conference call on Sunday at 11AM EST. Talk to Farhad for call-in info. -Occupy Together conference call on Monday at 10pm EST -Occupy Somerville is doing a protest against Bank of America on Saturday, December 10th; meet at the park in Davis Square @ 11AM. November 30th- 24th Street meet at Madison Square Park morning time, this Wednesday Shut Down Military Conference -December 6th - Reclaim Foreclosed Action -talk to Vincent -Occupy Seattle took over a foreclosed building and is currently painting and installing electricity. They will be occupying their capital on Monday to fight state budget cuts and are facing eviction from their camp site land owners. Check occupyseattle.org for updates. Also, they are having a march on Friday, December 2. "Can't Evict An Idea" -20 religious leaders from all different faiths want to talk to Occupy members -December 3 is Days of Unity. Occupy Newton is participating and meeting at Copley Square, 1pm. -December 1st is Occupy Boston's court hearing to see if we get awarded a restraining order.

NEXT STEP FOR THE MOVEMENT Farhad wants to take the contact info for all of the out-of-towners here tonight and it will be entered into our database. Daniel says that first we have to become the 99% and that occupying vacant spaces and paying back taxes if agreed upon is a good start. Someone says that he would like to have one person from every occupation as the contact person for easy communication. Lenny shares his concern for the threat of co-optation and suggests a Political Working Group. Sophie says she would like to see a stronger emphasis on education, food justice, and environmental concerns. Vincent shares his want for this movement to educate Americans so that they understand what Occupy is all about. Matt S. wants to see the movement a bit stronger is shutting down events that we are against. Martin states that the Ideas working group is helping to create a message for Occupy Boston and also brings up the group We Can Occupy who have starting bringing the Occupy Movement into people's living rooms for a close-up experience and for education. Sophie would love to see a stronger emphasis on bringing in youth and the elderly to the movement; also that the movement as a whole needs more Arts & Culture. Matt shares the positive impact that The Occupier has already had on Bostonians. Daniel wants to see a conversation on the idea of a national Occupy delegation begin. says that he would like to see the movement come out with a clear message and also strategic action planning fir years to come. -Meeting closes-

Note taker: Acacia