Agenda
1 Mission statement/ Purpose of Occupy Totnes group
After some discussion of the issues a concensus was passed concerning the Global mission statement .
Concensus passed: That Occupy Totnes adopts the Global mission statement of the international Occupy movement as far as concerns the global issues.
As for the local issues to be included in the Occupy Totnes mission statement we will continue the discussion at the next GA .
2 How do we grow the Occupy Totnes group
We are too small in numbers to achieve a successful Occupy camp at this point as attendance at GAs is about 8 to 12 people .
We need to communicate our message to the wider local community and invite people to join us and attend our GAs.
We discussed the need and relevance of communicating and contacting members of other local groups with allied interests and aims such as The Truth Juice movement, Transition Town Totnes etc
Concensus passed: That we attend and support as a group the regular monthly Truth Juice events in the Barrel House on the first Wednesday of every month starting with the Truth Juice event this Wednesday 1st February at the Barrel House.
We also discussed how to inform and educate the wider local community about our group and movement for change.
Concensus passed: That we do a “Pop up” one off information point (tent, gazebo, stall ) near to the market area of Totnes on Friday 10th February in order to affirm a “presence” in our community and inform people about the issues.
3 Facebook and Media
We discussed the issues around our communications media including press and radio perceptions and social media ie Facebook. We ran out of time with this one but the importance of personal respect and the non-tolerance of sexist, racist , religiously intolerant, violent or abusive behaviour including verbal abuse at GAs and in our Facebook comments and posts was reiterated. These criteria are adopted at all Occupy camps and GAs and they were ratified by concensus at our first GA last year in the Civic Hall.
The next GA is on Monday 6th February at 6pm at a NEW VENUE 107, High Street, Totnes in the Rotherfold next to chip shop. All welcome . Please invite interested people.
Agenda
1 Long term plans for an Occupy Totnes camp
Committment to the GA proposal to do an Occupy camp over the 4 days of Easter weekend and then continue on all through the summer.
Need to have a team of committed activists who will maintain the camp and the tranquility shifts, probably about 20 core residents and 100 supporting members of the community.
Different locations for the camp were discussed and one main site identified with a need for secrecy for obvious reasons.
The importance of growing support for the Occupy Totnes movement and getting young people involved with music and creative arts events at weekends as well as GAs, kitchen tent, library, cinema etc
Council, police and community reactions were discussed, it was agreed that our action should not annoy our local community or interfere with their business livelihood as we are all 99% but we are a non-violent civil disobedience movement and we will not concede to property eviction notices served by our council for occupying public space.
2 Mission statement
The need for a simple Mission statement was discussed. Some people felt we should refer to the National Occupy mission statement. It was agreed that we check out the internet for the Mission statement plus add our own expression as well and bring our ideas and research to the next GA.
3 Facebook page
A Facebook page for Occupy Totnes will be set up as the outreach broadcast elemnt of our FB presence. The Occupy Totnes group will be used more for group communication while the Occupy Totnes community Page will be used for general educational and informational postings and videos and links etc
4 Lectures Ongoing
The small attendance at the workshop on Friday 20th was discussed and how to move forward with our educational events. There is an Event team meeting every Thursday at 6pm at the Bay Horse pub for all people who are interested in participating in creating and holding events , video showings, workshops etc
5 Occupy London personal experience
Ian recounted a personal experience of his visit to Occupy London
6 How to grow support for Occupy Totnes
Different ideas were discussed including an event in March with music plus other direct actions such as street procession. It was agreed that the main support building event will be the Occupy camp itself when that happens but we must attract more committed members in order for it to be practical
7 Party in March
There will be a party in March for Occupy Totnes members
The next GA will be next Monday 30th January at 6pm at the bay Horse pub, all are welcome, please tell people and invite them.
The GA discussed the following agenda
1 Venue for meetings
We agreed to check out the possibility of using the room above Barclays bank, the room above Dartmouth Inn, Church halls, Red Wizard cafe. Venues to be researched by different people and report back next week.
2 Support for Occupy Exeter
peter to coordinate a possible weekly visit to Occupy Exeter with 2 to 4 people to cover night time tranquility shift for them from 12 midnight to 6am once a week or fortnight depending on volunteers coming forward. Team volunteers for this visit to be pre-arranged vis Facebook group.
3 Vision and ideas for permanent occupy Totnes camp (carried over to nextb week due to time restrictions)
4 Interrogate festival
Christopher to talk to Celia and report back next week as to possibility of Occupy Totnes participating in this event
5 Wednesday market square pop up information and video events
It was agreed the wednesday events should continue but more support needed and this week it will not happen
6 One day education and publicity event in February
This event will be discussed at the weekly event meeting at 6pm on Thursday at the Bay Horse
7 Facebook presence and communications media
Peter will set up a Facebook Page to separate Group communications and arrangements from educational and informat videos and posts of a general nature which will go on the Page in future
Next GA at 6pm to 7-30pm on Monday 16th Jan at the Bay Horse pub
We discussed putting on an all day event in Totnes during February.
We agreed to form working groups to report back to GA and take responsibility for delivering on their committments.
Working groups formed so far are :
Technical
Entertainment and performance
Education
Media and communications
Space (Venue)
Concensus was reached to have one GA per week at 6pm on Monday evening.
The next one is at 6pm on Monday 9th January in The Bay Horse Pub.
Concensus was reached to have a meeting about the Event in February every Thursday at 6pm in The Bay Horse pub.
We will discuss the option of holding other meetings (not GA) on other days and/or venues at the next GA on Monday.
The next General Assembly is at 6pm on Monday 9th January at the Bay Horse Pub.
We passed concensus at the GA tonight that we will hold only one GA per week at 6pm every Monday.
agenda-
report form space group
workshops
… meeting with TTC
Occupy everywhere
Space Group-
the space team reported upon a meeting with the manager of of a local arts and community cafe Birdwood House about using space in that building. The meeting had been successful in making a local contact but some consideration is neededregarding adjusting our schematic should we use that space- the manager felt political use was unsuitable;…. political differences should not block our endeavors to utilize resources. We need to Occupy with integrity.
Workshops-
a report upon offers of many public workshops- varied topic matter, covering diverse subjects including- art, theatre, human rights, legal advise, practical skills, community participation, health…
Occupy Totnes is working towards the provision of a forum for the public to learn and participate together.
Meeting with TTC-
Pete to make introductory presentation, and to thank TTC for their considered and mature response to Occupy, and their willing to work towards our common goals. Introduce TTC to consensus, so that we can use our hand signals for promotion democratic involvement of all participating.
Proposal: To request of the TTC that they provide us with a community space to carry out our activities CONSENSUS
OCCUPY everywhere day-
meet at 12.45 at Heath’s Garden / under the civic hall is weather is bad.
devised theatre, instruments etc spread the word
a leaflet needs to be produced to be handed out, donations to fund printing- education group/media group collaborate on this
OCCUPY Totnes General Assembly 11/12/11
facilitator Tim
notes Jenny
Agenda
tent
Proposal- to repitch at Heaths Garden immediately- to continue Occupation of that site, to allow for the symbol of the Tent – a powerful representation of the commitment of the group to Occupy Totnes, the OCCUPY movement and direct action- to remain constant in the view of the Councils’ and town’s people. CONSENSUS
Notes for meeting of Occupy Totnes, Saturday
introduction to Consensus and hand signals
agenda-
How Occupy Totnes continues?
Totnes Town Council meeting on Tuesday
Media Release
Returning of camp kit to owners
Feedback from Exeter and message of support…
How Occupy totnes continues?
Proposal – to continue Occupy Totnes CONSENSUS
feedback heard from last night’s meeting at the Barrelhouse, ideas on the shape of Occupy Totnes, focused tasks relating to Occupy, get groups strong and fuctioning well
Proposal- to continue a daily General Assembly at Heath’s Garden at 1pm (under the civic hall if weather is rough), and to hold a informal meeting at 6pm at a indoor venue (Barrelhouse). CONSENSUS
Totnes Town Council meeting on Tuesday
Robert Vint introduced himself (deputy major, Green Party) and restated the Totnes town council’s invitation to meet for dialogue at the Guildhall on Tuesday at 7pm.
Totnes town council consider the meeting a ‘ first fact and detail finding dialogue’- it is not a meeting at which decisions can be made- a report is made from this meet to ‘policy development’, who advise the full council on possible actions before they vote.
Proposal- to meet with the town council on Tuesday- CONSENSUS
There is a room large enough for us all (old town Court with bench rows), and a room that can hold a limited number of 20 around a table (council chamber). The Town Council elected Robert to facilitate this meeting, he asked us to consider agenda items.
Discussion : care should be taken to avoid language of parley- Occupy is flexible but uncompromising in its vision and independent, and proactive towards democratic communications. Other Occupy’s (Edinburgh) work with their Councils. Should we all attend meeting, introduce the council to consensus, which we can all use to good effect without disrespecting the ‘accepted Totnes town council meeting format’? Do we need a specific group to focus on the agenda? Agreement to move to next agenda item, refocus on this at next GA
Media Release
Meeting heard two drafted press releases, as posted for comment on facebook and wordpress.
Proposal – to use Alison’s with several amendments- Peter, Tim , Jenny to amend and distribute, Jackie to be radio interview contact CONSENSUS
Feedback and Greetings from Occupy Exeter
Gabriel from OE brought a message of solidarity, and spoke about the challenges of Occupying- particularly camp management and the care of street people- undoubtedly the worst treated and most marginalized community within British culture. This difficult issue is one which is being met at all Occupy’s, and anywhere that democracy is being practiced- these are the growing pains of Occupy. Leaning to work, cooperate together, relying and trusting each other, and learning to value to efforts of others, and are commonly shared difficult aspects of this movement.
Gabriel regarded the striking of OT camp as a positive strategic movement, and wished us the very best for further OT developments and projects. Occupy networking and offers of relevant training were most welcome- skilling ourselves to meet issues and problems offers positive action and refreshes focus.
