DEC 28 Confernce call notes

NOTES: 

Occupy Colorado 
Conference Call 
DEC 28

Occupy Colorado Conference: 

Scheduled: FEB 18 (FEB  19 loose) 
Boulder CU- host

Occupy Colorado Mission Statement and Statement of Autonomy:

Generate further discussion and research via: email thread ( for now) watch for subject line: mission statement; subject line: statement of autonomy.

Noted draft statement:

1.       Mission: Occupy Colorado works to support communication, education and collaboration regarding policy impact through creative and PEACEFUL actions, people’s choice and societal change for collaborative support and sustainability.

2.       Statement of Autonomy: Occupy Colorado works as an autonomous yet collective body of organization for its own mission statement.

3.       Collection of mission statement and statement of autonomy work from others. New email thread: see above.

4.       Survey of some kind possible. Email? Survey monkey? Local GA? (need a team lead)

More people needed for training on Maestro to support I/O (interoccupy.org) in supporting the movement including Occupy Colorado (and beyond).

1. Occupy Colorado Cohort One (is probably) Mil from Greeley and Andy from Boulder. 

2. Cohort Two needs formal organization (i.e. person/team responsible) probably to include (and still taking more volunteers) Brandi from Fort Collins and Jason from Denver

             3. We have SUPPPORT! Let’s do this! COMMZ!

Website Occupy Colorado dot com and dot org. discussion.
Donations are viable and ready. Group feels it is important. Jason will make his paypal available to Keith (or affiliated only with trust in this intention). Mil will assist in domain transfer. Brandi needs to talk to website owner more about details. Cost appx $ 60. Email discussion thread in google group: Website domain costs and ownership. Jason Roth took lead to bottom-line. Jason * contact Brandi first* to discuss the domain transfer with owner collective.

Conference Planning Working Groups:

Step One: Bring proposal to local GA for support and liaison commitment (committee of correspondence “IO term” or organizer correspondent) define communication needs with state and national organizations.

Basic Statement Draft: We Occupy *Local Entity* support Occupy Colorado Conference as a necessary means for furthering the inter-occupy communication, movement organization and policy impacts.  We Occupy *Local Entity* will develop a working team (Committee of Correspondence) to facilitate the inter-occupy communication and conference planning.

Addendum: Greeley and Boulder have already passed this concept through a GA vote; Occupy Fort Collins was having GA with the conference phone call and will vote after. Other local occupy GAs are invited to consider this proposal or a variation. 

**NOTE**Boulder meeting for more logistics planning: 
Wed Jan 4 11 AM. Start at Occupy Boulder, Canyon and Broadway.

CU/Boulder logistics support team: (will need help)
comfort (sleepers, food, drink, hostels, hotels, campers, sleepover hosts, etc), tech/media support, arts/culture support, educational teach-ins, discussion facilitation, etc.

Email list: see Occupy Colorado Google Groups for list. Occupy Colorado has main email Google Group and is starting new small groups fro specific tasks and project teams. Look to Occupy Colorado Google Documents and email threads for more info. 

Topic List brainstorm and guest speaker contacts: (look for subject lines in email threads to discuss topics)

               Corporations and power (JA)

               Taxes and banking (JA)

               Media and tech (Rob, Loveland, bob, Foco, others? )

               Occupy movement vision and strategies

               Student activism (Dr. David palmer UNCO)

               ACLU speakers (JA)

               Union Speakers
               State/Local Reps? Green Party rep, like Jill Stein (heard of her)?


Fore-Closure Resistance 

Much energy around this topic. Colorado Springs has been involved with Foreclosure actions and looking to formalize the processes they have began. Colorado Progressive Coalition also has been meeting to discuss further formalized actions.

Bob in Colorado Springs will have Occupiers move into yard on Monday to prevent eviction on Thursday. Bob is ill with multiple health issues and has a legal MMJ card. His foreclosure problems have increased other legal hunting and resulted in unlawful charges to include MMJ needs. Bob is involved with a high profile court case to stop this eviction. was illegally raided once. He is 62 year old leukemia patient. Bob's legal paperwork for the eviction has already been packed up. Occupiers are working with Bob to help him with the paperwork process while they also set up encampment in his yard. A flowchart for housing process has been worked through and will be available through Joel. Bob is speaking with attn in Denver this week as well.

Contact Joel (719-271-6057) or  Kristie (719-213-0366) Occupy Colorado Springs for Bob's address and info to help this Direct Action!

Mil wants to get involved with this action to help. Mil will contact Joel for further info. Boulder is also excited to help


Three priorities Discussion

Requested that the Local GAs discuss and bring to State Conference three priorities of change that we can focus on as Occupy Colorado Collective and nationally as we work to change policy. 

Spring and Summer plans
What is happening Nationally to be ready for? Regionally supported Actions?
What dates are typically historic to blend into action? How do we organize teams for further commz regarding the organization of each movement step?
Spring Festivals were discussed. Stay on point was discussed.


Outreach 

(local business, education, teachers, scholars, unions, students, entertainers, medical) 

Discussion about Unions outreach: Mike from WY stresses the importance of connecting with union workers. The admin is not supporting the movement as of now without a lot of hoops and schmoozing. Was able to get them to announce the call to action after much deliberations. Hos from COS seconds the idea that union workers are where to start building the union bridges. Focus on People! Jason pointed out the some of the antics of the first generation (milkers/hangers on etc) of Occupy Protesters do not make for good bed fellows in considering liability. NO FIRES will help the cause.


UPDATE (1/2)**OCCUPY FORT COLLINS** having a fundraiser concert. Jan 29. Avos on Mason st.

As well as a month long drive for Coats and Cans. Proceeds of coats will go to help Pine Ridge families while cans will go to Food Bank and cash from concert will go to families in the evicted Bender Mobile Home park in Fort Collins. This is a  month long fund raiser.


Occupy Colorado Springs will also be hosting a Hip Hop Show at Black Sheep in the Springs. 

Conference Call DEC 28

The following link should take you to the registration for the Occupy Colorado call. If you can get more than one person from each Occupy/area on the phone that would be encouraged. The more brains the better the ideas form. This call is for planning the State Conference in Boulder (or secondary location). Primarily. The call is scheduled for 12/28 Wednesday.

Interoccupy.org

http://myaccount.maestroconference.com/conference/register/WUM8BXVNU8XC4L3V

Occupy Colorado: Get Connected

Occupy Colorado

State Meeting 1.0 

Dec. 18: Denver, CO

Organize Locally! Organize Regionally! 
Organize Nationally! Organize Globally!

Upcoming Meetings/Connecting Opportunities:

Occupy Colorado State Meeting 2.0:

Location: Pueblo         Date Options: January (7, 8, 14 or 15)
Agenda Document in Google Groups will be started by Occupy Colorado

Occupy Colorado People’s Convention 1.0 (or name TBD):

Location: Boulder       Date Options:  January (21, 22, 27 or 28) or February (4,5)
Planning Documents and Google Groups will be forming watch for them, get involved! 

Occupy Colorado conference calls:

Facilitated by I/O ( Inter-Occupy), www.interoccupy.org.

Frequency: 1-2x/week. Need more people to learn facilitation software .Location: call in from wherever you have a quiet phone access. Once registered email with directions will come. 

Dec 19-24

Dec 25-30

Jan 1-6

Jan 8-13

Jan 15-20

Jan 22-27

Jan 29 – Feb 3

                     

Occupy communities/organizations with someone "connected" present:

(Occupies, please fill-in missing or correct any information in this document to have clear lines of communication and contacts)

~OccupyDenver (hosts)

~OccupyPueblo

~OccupyCoSprings

~OccupyGreeley
~OccupyAruoria 
~OccupyDU

~OccupyFortCollins

~OccupyResearch

~InterOccupy 

Occupy Colorado has yet to make solid contacts with:
~OccupyAspen
~OccupyGlenwood
~OccupyLittleton
~OccupyGrandJunction
~OccupyDurango
~OccupyChaffee
~(many more....please fill us in)

Announcements and Individuals to Contact:

~Pat, Occupy Denver, is working on creative projects with (New) Film and Video Working Group. One project they want to promote now is the coffee house discussions (out-reach model project also). This is a relationship building (perhaps think “cash mob” from your friendly Occupy supporters) and educational and community activity...Occupy Colorado Cafe Squads are in the works. Are you comfortable doing this in your community? Please get in touch for support and resource base in development. Occupy Colorado Cafe Squads can hold round-tables, open discussion, poetry readings, book clubs, open-mic, short documentary discussions, etc.....(BYOB-Bliss)


(Note to Film/Video Working Group: Bob from Occupy Fort Collins can facilitate getting film projects running on public channels in Fort Collins.)  FreeSpeechTV is working on a six series pilot of round table discussions about Occupy...talk to Brandi about that one. 

The first event will take place at the Gypsy House on Dec 19, 13^th and Marion. These events are on-going and they welcome new help to come abroad. Anthony offered his phone number as a contact for more information:720-544-9872 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            720-544-9872      end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Inter-Occupy:  (I/O contact: Brandi) 


has weekly calls for many working groups. If you want a call they have a simple request form available and will help promote it. 


Weekly media/PR calls are set up and on going. Sometimes these calls work with Independent Media outlets globally.  Regarding "Occupy movement "big players" they are involved in this call and frequently have discussions around national dialogue and writing the narrative and talking points for MSM and upcoming commercials. 


Weekly calls for Occupy Latinos forming. 


Occasional calls for Artist supporting or involved int he Occupy Movement is forming a national conference call. 


Many common working groups already have calls in the works and all are looking to get more connected and get more helpers on board! (Direct Action, Out Reach, Fore-Closures, Legislation, Education, Community Building, Spiritual/Heart-Keepers, Meeting Makers, etc)


GET INVOLVED! BE PERSISTENT! LOOK FOR OTHERS! INTRODUCE YOURSELF!


AND: (Demand is heard for many break-out groups and/or think tanks)

~ Craig, Occupy Denver, affiliated with Peace and Non-Violence Committee, has special project interest in making sure the legislature returns to Colorado with an Occupy presence at their welcoming (locally and state). He wants to help develop a working group to follow through on visits to offices (and build resource support base) with the demands of getting money out of politics. He and a few others (welcoming more) are drafting a signed letter asking for Colorado reps to not just “say they support it” but to be LEADERS in co-sponsoring Bernie Sanders bill and others decided upon as collective importance.  Did not get Craig’s information at the time, but is often found and familiar with Occupy Denver participants and Colorado Progressive Coalition. Will update contact info, as it comes in. 


~ Joel, Occupy Colorado Springs, has been working on several projects that he believes with a team across the state could easily be replicated, “sort of like a curriculum”.  Some of the projects being developed in Colorado Springs include: Fore-Closure Resistance Assistance for families, Occupy Knowledge (have held successful teach-ins and held talks at high schools and college classrooms), Alternative Currency think tank. Collaborated with OD project members to broaden projects' scope. Expect more information to start coming from this new collaboration. If interested contact: Joel, Co springs, Mikel, Denver. A few others were signing up but new to the Occupy visit. (YAY TEAM)

~ Jason, Occupy Auroria/DU/Denver, interested in helping to develop discussions around legislation priorities. He is also interested in helping to organize Occupy Colorado People’s Convention. Has been working on relationship building and legislative discussions. Would like to see each community start prioritizing discussions around TOP THREE priorities that could be focused on in Colorado from a legislative perspective. His vision is if we could bring these top three priorities to some consensus in January, we are ready to take it the next many levels.  (Example: most people in the US agree on: Repeal of corporate person-hood and repeal of patriot act...that is a start)

~ Tim, Occupy Denver, has felt proud and the show of “militancy” in protecting the camp and its symbolism. He would like to help support further (non-felony) civil disobedience as movement progresses. He feels he can act as a liaison between more radial personalities and other bodies in the group to some degree. He also wanted to remind people that many people who are being evicted are renters as they cannot afford to own homes. What can (group) do to support renters who are being evicted? He mentioned “eviction parties” of sixties. 

~Visitor, from OccupyAshland traveling to OccupyKC, shares his documents that can be printed from Infocurrency. Com. He believes items like these are useful, resource and could offer alternatives. . He also offered the idea of getting “hours of rent for neighborhood service time. Not just house service, but neighborhood service to spread goodwill and relationship building. OWS is working on getting locations at 9 different farms right now.


~Rachael (+ a HUGE team of people, wish I had written all the names down), Occupy Pueblo, they have made a "Buy Local" commerical. Love it! Give it some webz luv. 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwqHQCXEBZw

~OccupyGreeley has an awesome website with great resources already started and has had several successful actions including the popular Cash Mobs!

Out-Reach Discussion:

~ so many good ideas and discussion, what is needed is more people willing to make commitments to be a part of the relationship building activities that are generated from these ideas. So many great ideas, I don’t think everyone even spoke to them. We hear a call for Break-Out Groups and Think Tanks to get more voices on the table. Empower each other!

~So we shall begin!

Outreach Models/Elements:

1.       Education:  teach-ins, classes, conferences, activities, talks,

2.       Educational Points: corporations and corporate personhood; money in politics, health and well-being of corporate model infiltration into our lives, commercialization of our humanity, health;

3.       Relationship Building, Community Bonding:  Local Business-cash mobs, commercials, resource fairs…Native Americans want to be recognized, movements from before and across nations want to be recognized, reduction of police presence request,

4.       Locations: schools; book clubs, writers’ groups… talks/discussions;

5.        

6.       TARGET (for each activity) Audiences: teachers, students, homeless (teach “having voice”, empowerment, special request for arts and crafts by several different people on the street), POC, baby-boomers, women, students, youth 18-21, 

Ludlow/ Rockefeller Masacre story told:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludlow_Massacre

5. 
   

5. 
   

5. MEDIA! Melissa Johnson <melissa@freespeech.org> My name is Melissa Johnson and I  am the Booking Producer for Free Speech TV's pilot show called Occupy the Media. We have 6 pilots slated for the upcoming months. This show will be a roundtable discussion on topics ranging from Occupy Wall Street and all hot topics that surround this movement. We have a show coming up on Wednesday, December 21st where we will need a Skype guest who can speak on the Occupy the Ports event that happened recently or if you know how to get me in contact with someone who was there. We want people to come on the show who are willing, passionate and feel like that have something to share with us. If you are interested in participating in this show or any future ones please contact me for more information.

Get Connected:

1.      Be persistent. This is all run by volunteers that were strangers just a few weeks ago.

2.      GA

3.      Working Groups:

a.        Websites: OccupyColorado.blogspot.com, Occupydenver.org, InterOccupy.Org, Occupytogether.org, OccupyCafe.org… 
b.  Twitter: @movementco is a twitter account working to connect all the Colorado twitter accounts together. Many “official” and supporting accounts can be found @OccupyDenver, @OccupyPueblo

6.                                             C. Google Groups: Occupy Colorado, InterOccupy.

7.                                              D.  FaceBook:

8.                                             E.   Alternative Media:

9.                                              F. Local Activists Groups
                          G.   Blogs: OccupyColorado.blogspot.com

Occupy!
Guide to the International Occupation Movement 2011
Booklet passed around. Thank you for that!

Occupy Research is looking for teams of people to collect data and interviews. Mailing list: occupyresearch@autistici.org

http://occupyresearch.wikispaces.com/

Occupycafe.org hosts national calls regarding thought and discussion. InterOccupy hosts calls regarding business and connecting working groups. 

NEEDS:

* newsletter team, calendar,
* media, tech
* planning logistics, location schedule, contacts, organizatioanl needs, office supplies, tech requests, etc
* planning: education, speakers, schedule, topics, curriculum, relationship building, break-out organization
* planning: arts/culture/entertainment
* working groups: a, b, c...
* commitments: registration.
* comfort: food, drinks, overnights, carpools, emergencies, safe spaces.

Send email to this group: occupycolorado@googlegroups.com

Sunday Evening.

Today was a great day for Occupy!

More to come after some rest.

We are learning to find balance.

First Occupy Colorado State-Wide Meeting

Occupy Colorado will host first state-wide meeting. It will be an open-house format with rotating focus group discussions available. Dec 18, Noon-6pm. Civic Center Park and Leela's Cafe.