Saturday, September 29th, 2:30 pm, HPL corner Attending: Alice (facilitator), Garret (notes), Sara, Diane, Mario, Sean Meegan (UConn student), Laura (? notes aren’t clear), and (eventually) Leslie from Kabbalah House

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Garret gave an update on the Ryan action. This happened the next day, Sunday, Sep. 30. Anniversary — we’ll have another planning meeting for the anniversary celebration, this will take place in conjunction with the Monday gathering at Kabbalah House tonight Oct. 1.

Sean is doing his senior Sociology honors thesis on Occupy generally and OH specifically, asks to be included and of course is. He hopes to observe meetings and activities going forward.

Alice passed around a petition opposing nuclear war she got from Joe Wasserman at Hope Out Loud last weekend. Alice saw Hannah from the encampment and 70-80 other people at HOL.

REPORTBACKS

Occupy Monsanto at the Big E — Debra, Nancy, and two women from from Boston area met up and hung around waiting to go in with “civs,” Debra in now famous chicken hat to elicit responses. They asked tough questions of Monsanto flacks in somewhat low key Monsanto traveling fair exhibit. Sounds like they a good time and stood their ground.

Anniversay

We wound up discussing issues, not really a reportback. There will be signholding at TPP, Farmington and Broad, this Thursday October 4, 4-6 pm.

The celebration will consist of:

• 1 pm gathering and install Timeline in tunnel between Bushnell and TPP (assume cops won’t care, if they intervene we’ll explain only for few hours, chill — we’ll take it down when our event ends);
• 2 pm march kickoff and view Timeline en route to TPP (direct route);
• 2:30 pm Speakers to be decided, but hopefully to include big picture (What Occupy done in last year) and OH role in it. Then an hour or so of mic checks and speak outs (flextime, if it’s just us, etc.),
• Around 4:00 pm we have cake and celebration.

We’re urging folks to bring pics or texts or manifestos to post on the Timeline, or old posters, banners, signs, etc. from any of the things that have happened in the past year! Be creative! Nat Gat handbooks. Newspaper articles. We want to fill a wall.

PROPOSALS

At this point there were two proposals evident from the various Reportbacks and discussions. As we were close to quorum (8) we went out and located Leslie who is connected with Kabbalah House and brought her into the meeting for last ten minutes or so.

With quorum we passed the following:

1. OH endorsed the Ryan action at Chase Mansion in West Hartford.
2. Sara proposed that the Celebration next Sunday be empowered to act as decision-making body, as a GA, with a view toward duplicating the GA experiences from a year ago if possible.
3. The regular Saturday GA will also take place on Sat. 10/6/12, at HPL at 2:30 pm. Consensed.

Everybody is to focus on personally inviting (private messages, inviting to event page, etc.) people to our birthday celebration next Sunday!

Occupy Hartford 9.8.12

Emergencies – None

Announcements:

• Johnny – People’s University 9.15.12 noon at COCC – speaker is immigration lawyer Phil Berns
• Rebecca – Protest/Rally at Monsanto/Dekalb facility in Mystic 9.15.12 at 1:00 pm
• Rebecca / Andrew – thinking of starting study group based on “From Dictator to Democracy”, based in Manchester
• Jay – S17 – one-Year anniversary of OWS – mass protests – also strategy/tactic workshops on Sunday 9.16.12
• Alice – Tonia will do a teach-in on Banking at Kabbalah House – 5:30 – bring veg food offering

Report Back

• Sara – Commune working group – looking at idea of setting up commune on Golden Hill Paugusett reservation in Colchester; met 8.27.12 at Kabbalah House to develop ideas and consider who might be interested in the concept. Has sovereignty from the State of CT but not from the Federal govt.
• Finance Committee – fund equal about $1,000 between credit union and WePay accounts, less about $210 in expenses from Occupy Renew (total fundraising for Occupy Renew was about $500).
• Rebecca – For Stop Monsanto – 9.29.12 protests at Big E, both inside (outreach/education) and outside – rally/protest. Info on working group page – no longer “secret”
• Diane – Lindsay’s court date – on 8.23.12, Lindsay accepted community service (at ASCPA?) because she will be leaving the country. Has to appear in court one more time to report that she has done her time – on 9.17.12!

Proposals

• OH Anniversary – October 7, 2012 – ideas: to hold a large GA on 10.3.12 (year after the first one); march from Bushnell Park to TPP on 10.7.12; picnic at TPP on 10.7.12. If we want to draw a large crowd we need to program of some sort – teach-in perhaps. May need to raise funds. Stand along the park with signs to let people know we are still here. Need to reach out to “Friends of OH”, using “likes” on FB. Idea of workshops/panels on current issues facing U.S. (resources for action, etc). Include celebration! List all the changes that Occupy has brought about. Mural or timeline of accomplishments. A birthday celebration?
• Quorum – need to adjust quorum standard so that business can be accomplished – idea of using greatest of last three meetings if quorum had not been met; may need a floor (of 5?) below which quorum could not go. Feeling of the group is that we can’t change quorum WITHOUT a quorum (which we did not have – needed 10); option is to bring the proposals that can’t be acted on to the Monday gathering for a vote (outreach to get quorum)
• Endorsements – no quorum, so no endorsement

Take-aways

• Jay – ask Swan to post about Tonia’s teach-in and will post on OH website
• Rebecca will post teach-in on FB
• Alice / Jay – create FB Group for OH Renew for both attendees and others interested
• Sara – will consider ways to spread the word about commune working group and next steps
• Everyone work to get quorum at Monday gathering for anniversary proposal and quorum vote
• Nancy – tomatoes (actually a giveaway)

OH GA Meeting Minutes - 8/18/12

Informal GA structure.  Seven attendees.

Tonia spoke about series of presentations she is preparing having to do with banking and alternative economies.  Handout included 4 slides with various topics.  Tonia solicited comments and ideas.  Her goal is to provide education, background, research, etc for activists to help with creating a foundation out of which strategy and actions can follow.  She has been working with the OWS Alternative Banking Committee.  It was decided that her first presentation (“How the banking system controls your life…and what you can do about it) will be Monday, September 10 at the Monday Gathering at the Kabbalah House, 1023 Albany Ave., Hartford.

Alice reported back regarding the Occupy Renew retreat held in Colchester last weekend.  Said it was attended by about 45 people, 1/3 being from Occupy Hartford, 1/3 from Occupy New Haven, and 1/3 other regional Occupations.  The personal meaning of Occupy was discussed, as well as future direction.  Alice said it was a bonding experience, where both acceptance and possibility was felt.  Alice mentioned that we have found downtown office space, and the use of the space is being discussed.  Also being discussed is a continuing relationship with the Golden Hill Paugussetts and the possible use of their land for meetings, gatherings, workshops, a possible commune, etc. For more information, contact Alice at 860-899-4300 or aliceactivist@gmail.com.

Alice also reported back on the screening of “Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth” movie.  About 15 people were in attendance. Further discussion may be held about Occupy Hartford’s position on the 9/11 Truth issue.

Barbara reported that the Caring Families Coalition met with DSS Commissioner and about six staffers for about two hours to discuss issues having to do with redetermination, phone access, etc.  Said she felt the meeting went well.  Another meeting will be scheduled in the future.

Occupy New England’s Occupy Monsanto working group is planning an action in September.  For more information, contact Rebecca at rosewood924@gmail.com.

Hope Out Loud’s Peace & Arts Festival will be held on Saturday, September 22 from 1-5 at Hartford Friends Meeting House, 144 South Quaker Lane, West Hartford.  Sponsors include Center for Serenity, CT Coalition for Peace and Justice, and Hartford Friends Meeting.  For more information, contact 860-827-1015 or visit www.hopeoutloud.org.

8 present – No Quorum

Emergencies

None.

Announcement

1) Region Gathering #2 - Burlington, VT happening alongside with Northeast Regional Convergence.  FBI has been alerted.

2) GMO Free Movement – August 8 – Jeffery Smith, 10-12pm at Legislative Office Building.  GMO Free CT.  Following that night in Greenwich, fund raiser for the GMO Movement, $75 GMOFREECT.ORG

3) People’s University Upcoming Events – Publicity act getting together, meeting Tuesday at Joanne Bauer’s at 7pm.

Report Backs

1) Regional Gathering #3 – Colchester fell through due to scheduling issues, reset for Aug 10th, focus on visioning, potentially CT based.  Friday to Sunday.  Golden Hill Paugussetts area will be the location.

2) Lindsey’s case – She asking to hold off on fundraiser until after next court date.

3) 9/11 Truth – Rescheduling the event, will take place at Kaballah House

4) NDAA – August 9th, mayor’s assistant in New Britain will meeting with Jose and Amy to present petitions.  Impromptu discussion regarding opening up the conversation beyond the codification issue and also discuss these practices all ready in motion (and have been) if you are homeless, African American, Muslim.

5) Information labels – Deborah and Nancy have some info.

6) People’s University’s last meeting – Panel discussion on NDAA.  Small group, but new faces as well.  Bill of Rights Defense Council was there.  Need to gather more people.

Discussion Points

1) Media Blackout of Occupy – We discussed the situation and acknowledge it exists, general agreement that we will need a diversity and unpredictability of actions to keep the people trying to suppress up off balances.

2) Quorum – Next week, make quorum 9, and it’s a one time deal, open to further discussion.

3) Meeting time and frequency – Table to end of summer and see how trends go. We have only a few weeks left.

4) Burnout/TPP Issue for Colchester – Keep it open to all, express that we know the timing is weird.

5) NatGat – Some positive stories were shared from Alice and Sara, including some ideas for de-escalation (Ohm circle), individual dramas, and possibilities for the future.  Some conversations were unfortunately unsaid.

Take Aways

1) Alice to research for Lindsey.

2) Need to check the Colchester reservations’ laws with respect to alcohol use, etc. – Alice

3) Make sure we will need to execute an emergency quorum in order to pass issues. – Jay

4) Announce that Saturday Aug 11 QA will take place in Colchester. – Jay

5) Nancy and Deb will get Jay some info for labels.

6) Jay to do some promotion for the New England gathering #3

Emergencies – none

Announcements:

• The CT Coalition for Economic (or Environmental?) Justice is having a rally at the office of the CT Dept of Environmental Protection, August 2, 6:15 pm
• There will be an annual Hiroshima Remembrance on August 6at the Quaker Meetinghouse
• Occupy Danbury has an ongoing action at City Hall to protest the treatment of homeless individuals and would appreciate support
• Lindsey provided some updates on protests abroad: in France, people are occupying and working vacant farms that were to be developed but ended up being abandoned; in Spain, there is a strike ongoing to protest the gov’ts withdrawal of support for the mines, leaving many miners unemployed and without benefits.

Report Back:

• National Gathering – Rebecca, Sara and Alice reported on some of their experiences at NatGat in Philadelphia, June 30 – July 4. There were many different activities or ways to participate, including teach-ins, rallies, protest marches, community building, speakers and music. Watch for the results of the visioning process on NatGat’s fb page.
• ONE Regional Gathering – a change: the second gathering will not be in CT but will be in Burlington VT July 27-29 in conjunction with the New England Governors’ conference – see details on ONE fb page. CT will host the third gathering some time in August, details TBD.
• Lindsey reported on her court experiences, fighting her arrest after the Clean the Banks action. The charge stemming from her videotaping the police was dropped, but they are pursuing trespassing and now disorderly conduct during the action itself; her case has been transferred to criminal court. Next appearance: Friday, July 13 at 9:30; we will protest on Lafayette Street in Hartford beginning at 8:00 am that day.
• Stop Monsanto / GMO Free – Debra reported that the planning group met prior to GA and developed a list of possible actions/tactics; she requested time for this campaign at the August ONE gathering.
• Rebecca gave a partial list of action ideas that were shared by Occupies around the country at NatGat, including fighting the Trans-Pacific Partnership (a topic for a future People’s University?), various campaigns against Citizens United decision; movement toward food independence; “post-it” campaigns as a tactic for various causes; focus on student debt; J20 – a week of actions against big banks; LIBOR education (People’s Univ?); lobbying cities and state to divest from big banks, etc.

Proposals:

• Proposal to support the Holocaust Remembrance on August 6, with members attending the planning meeting on July 11 at Caron’s house; there may also be a related Buddhist peace walk on August 4 – passed; various people will attend planning session.
• Proposal to hold a protest on Friday morning, 7/13, outside CT Superior Court to support Lindsey and free speech – passed, and Rebecca will create a FB Event page.
• Proposal to support Laresse Harvey, founder of Clean Slate, in her own legal struggles – tabled, pending more information on her needs.

Take-aways:

• Rebecca will post information about protest as well as various resources from NatGat
• Nancy will type up the minute for posting, and will contact Johnny with our new suggestions for People’s University
• Debra will post a summary of the Stop Monsanto working group meeting
• Sara will find out more about the Danbury homelessness action
• Alice will work on rescheduling the ONE gathering in CT, and will meet with Lindsey, JoAnne and John K to discuss his role in Lindsey’s case going forward
• David will contact Laresse Harvey to see how OH can be helpful

Occupy Hartford General Assembly – June 23, 2012

Facilitator – Jose.  Quorum – Yes.  Location – Grass between Library and Museum.

Emergencies - 

1) Diane and Mario: Diane’s son Mike had a stroke and heart attack.  Please think of them in thoughts and any well wishes.   Deborah is going to ask for material needs, Alice got a card for all to sign.

Announcements - 

1) Day of Flyering by the United Anti-War Colilition in New Haven on July 30th

2) Occupy New England’s 2nd Regional Gathering – Will be held July 13-15, 2012 in Colchester.   RELATED: Nancy, Caren and Eric will be helping to pull tents out of storage to see what can be used for the Occupy New England’s meeting sometime tomorrow. EVENT PAGE - FACEBOOK PAGE.

3) Peoples’ University – July’s meeting on the 21st and will be NDAA at the Unitarian Meeting House.   Will be held at Charter Oak after that.

4) Occupy Boston Looking for representatives - They are planning a Sept 17 action (one year anniversary of OWS) in NYC working group is looking for members from Occupy Hartford.

5) Monsanto/GMO Working Group – Meeting will be held in Wethersfield on July 7th.  Please contact Deborah if you want to participate.  Rebecca will help Deborah post the event in Facebook.

6) Invited by 9/11 Truth to view their documentary on July 6 at the Kaballah House.

Report Backs - 

1) NDAA – Jose has and English/Spanish petition to get signed and bring to the New Britain in order to ask for repeal of NDAA.  Nancy will be sending info regarding making similar petitions for other towns.

2) Occupy Caravan – starting in Portland, ME.  Going to Worcester and actions, and then onto Hartford on Thursday the 28th at about 1pm.  Heading down to New Haven, Newark (big event) and then to Philly.

3) Lindsey’s Court Date – OH picketed on June 22 regarding the right to film police actions.  Lindsey was arrested at the Clean Up the Banks action.  9:30 on Friday the 13th she will face her next court date.   ACLU expressed some interest, but may need to be pressured into stepping up.   Jay and Alice will help follow up, but check first with Lindsey.

4) Providence Sidewalk Actions – 4 members from OH went.  Really cool, really energizing and perhaps sidewalk occupations may be a way forward for other actions .  Some members have been banished from the Providence Mall, and happily so.

5) National Gathering in Philly – Sat-Wednesday.  Rebecca will be at the Welcome table.  Mark Provost will be speaking.  Carpooling is being handled by ride frog, Occupy the Roads.

6) Forclosure Fight Back – Deborah and Dan are making working group progress.  Contact them if interested in participating.

7) GA Interoccupy Conference Call – Alice and Sara were on the call to discuss how GA’s are progressing.  Many issues were brought up, including more visibility and more promotion.

8 ) DSS meeting.  Francis attended on June 19th.  They collected signatures, and the Courant released a front page article.  Caring Families will be having a meeting on June 28th.    Nancy suggested it may be a good time for an action to highlight the glitch that kicked so many off the rolls for services.   Mary is working towards revising the programs using the legislation process.

9) Hartford 20/20 – Johnny has been talking to Susan Campbell regarding bringing Hartford people together and moderating over contentious issues.

Proposals - 

1) Retail Marketing Campaign – Donating.  Proposal for $150.00 which would be matched 1:1 by Jay K.  TABLED.

2) Fundraising – Jay will put an online push for donations to tell that we have a lot going on and we need XXXX.  . – PASSED

3) 9/11 Truth -  Wording is important.  “Occupy has been invited…”  - AGREED

4) Caravan - To hold the Occupy Caravan stop at Colt Park from 1-3pm.  Including pot luck food, potties, speaker, etc.   Add a OH responsible budget of $50.00 (if necessary). – PASSED

5) Provide Sara with a scholarship to bus to Philly.  – PASSED

Take aways

• Jay – Promote FOOD DRIVE for Caravan, promote 9/11 Truth, Promote Fundraising
• Jose & Nancy – online NDAA petition for other cities, etc.
• Sara – Look for best bus fares

Attendees – Sara and Alice.  All else deployed to events or unable to attend.  

Attendees – Jay, Rebecca, Barbara, Connor, Johnny.  No Quorum.  Informal discussion of tactics and brainstorming session.  Productive but not a formal consensus driven assembly.  All others deployed.

Emergencies

• Sara reported about her arrest at the ONH eviction and that the pre-trial is on Monday 6.4.12. Mario and Diane may be called upon as witnesses, and others in OH may be asked to serve as character witnesses.

Announcements

• July gathering – for a weekend – July 13-15 at the Indian Reservation in Colchester
• Providence – mini-re-occupation Thurs – Sun, June 7-10; no tents, just under the stars on sidewalks. Coincides with meeting of NetRoots, liberal politicians, so a chance to have dialogue.
• DSS Action – June 15 9:00 – noon and June 19 1:00-4:00 Caring Families Coalition will be gathering input from DSS clients at 3580 Main Street; info will be used to formulate action(s) against DSS; see Barbara to learn more and to join
• June 17 NAACP March/Rally – protesting racial profiling and indefinite detention; intended to be a silent march? Debra will find out
• Sustinet – June 12 public hearing / lobby day 8:30 – 10:00 to start
• Rolling Stone –June 7 issue has important articles regarding the Occupy Movement – recommended reading
• Bill Moyers – his website has a link to www.reckoningwithtorture.org, related to indefinite detention

Report Back

• Monsanto – Debra contacted Right to Know CT, who will be interested in working with us on the issue of GMO food labeling
• NDAA Petitions Committee – petition was read; plan to petition in New Britain on May 30 was canceled; need to find out next steps
• Monday Movie Night – Jay will do the tech support and publicize on web. Will show “Everything you Have to Know about Dangerous Genetically Modified Foods”.
• Caravan / National Gathering – will include an overnight in New Haven on 6/28 and another in New Jersey on 6/29; work is underway to determine what, if any, actions will take place in New Haven.

Proposals

• GA Meeting Time and place – original idea was to move meeting to 10:00 am; others had suggested noon; no agreement was reached and topic was tabled for now.
• Platform Language – For item #5 – “victim” changed to “people affected by”, “drug addiction” changed to “addiction of all kinds”, and “poverty” added to list social ills. Revisions approved.
• GA Minutes onto Website – Alice proposed that more than one person be an administrator on the website. Duties would include “tech team” related to functioning of website; promotion of events; updating graphics; facebook posting; updating using wordpress; reconstitute googlegroup / listserve; volunteers encouraged to contact Jay to help with any/all tasks; training will be provided. No proposal action needed.
• Clipboarding at DSS on 6/15 and 6/19; June 28 will be the planning meeting;  no proposal action taken pending clarification from Barbara whether OH should/can endorse activities of Caring Families Coalition
• Reckoning with Torture – proposal to conduct the session was tabled; instead, we will view the Bill Moyers segment that explains the process on Monday night, June 11.
• Endorse Monsanto Action and working with Right to Know CT – tabled till working group presents a specific proposal.

Take-Aways

• Debra will follow up on the June 17 march and whether it is silent, etc.
• Nancy will clarify the proposed use of the NDAA petition and also the current status of the issue given that a circuit judge has ruled that indefinite detention of US citizens is unconstitutional.
• Jay will publicize Monday’s movie
• Alice will send final platform to Jay to update website
• All are asked to consider ways to help strengthen our communication esp. on the internet.
• Barbara will find out if Occupy Hartford can “sign on” with Caring Families Coalition
• Nancy will follow up with JoAnne and Johnny regarding the People’s University for June 16
• Everyone will read the article on indybay regarding post-Occupy “world”
• Debra will invite Toka / Coalition to attend Monday night (6/11) viewing of “Reckoning with Torture.”

Introductions