Colorado Electoral Politics gets Outreach from Rochester NY

The below is a part of a letter written: Colorado feel free to get involved! 

_________________________________ 

We are the Electoral Reform Working Group in Occupy Rochester (NY).  We are in contact with the OWS "Politics and Electoral Reform" working group.  The group at OWS is about 500 people and growing.  Our group in Rochester is about 30 people and growing. 

 

We formed our group after reading the "People Before Parties: Recommendations for Electoral Reform" document from the OWS group.  The latest version is here:

http://www.nycga.net/groups/political-and-electoral-reform/docs/people-before-parties-document-edited-version-for-presentation-at-ga-december-2011  

 

In addition to many of the topics within the document, we are discussing in depth amendments that would end corporate personhood and end the money = speech equation.  Our current Amendment Review List is below.  

We are also planning to work with the local 'Move to Amend' group to 'Occupy the Courts' on January 20th, 2012 as a National Day of Action:

http://movetoamend.org/occupythecourts

You may want to look up and contact your closest 'Move to Amend' group to coordinate with them for the events they are planning on 1/20/2012 if you haven't already.

Also if anyone there is interested in forming an "Electoral Reform" group, please respond to this email.  We can start a dialogue with you regarding electoral reform and start to coordinate other future action, along with the "Politics and Electoral Reform" group at OWS.

 

In solidarity,

- The Electoral Reform Working Group at Occupy Rochester

Occupy Colorado Springs

Flash Mob: ALERT: 


city council meeting on Tuesday, January 10th at 12:45 p.m. 
:::
the the permit revocation/renewal appeal for Occupy Colorado Springs will be on the agenda. 


If you are going to attend, please arrive about 20 minutes early to find out from someone who knows what is going on the action that protesters will be taking and how to make action most effective. 

Occupy Fort Collins (Northern Colorado)

Movement Vision and Priorities Retreat

NOCO: FOCO


Jan 15 (Sunday)

2pm-7pm 

ZIP CODE: 80525 

GA ratified

agenda to be developed: 


https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PKKooIbpC9cR3lZ35R9slJb0Hsrb7Lb4LF7AE9IsxPk/edit?hl=en_US&pli=1


input requested (and being compiled now--get in touch with someone, anyway you know how).
Send any GA notes out to notice. THX.

JAN 15 2-7 pm

3017 Parkview ct 80525

Planning and Discussion Document

Planning:

1. snacks and drinks, other needs


2. agenda development (see discussion points below schedule)

3. charts, articles, notebooks, calendars, laptops!
anyway we can get cams to tape the day and post for later use and for others? (bw)

4. material for sign making party: poster board, card board, markers, talking points for MLK day action, and any others we know coming up.











Schedule:

2 pm	quick set up and settle in, agenda discussion and day set-up, computer working station set up.	state conference report.  Colorado People’s Assembly current state of the org/movement and future hopes. (individual perspectives) any healing in group that needs to be done can be addressed now, if group feels up for it. (special facilitator request) BW
3 pm	communication plan, start issues/visions brainstorm discussions	brainstorm, then prioritize, then...break-outs?
4: 30 pm	start solutions plans/steps discussion	steps, tasks, time schedule, ppl accountable,
5:30 pm	re-cap, re-focus,	what can we take to state conference (and beyond) as collective and individuals?
6:00 pm	sign-making party, maybe be shorten for more discussion	conversations can cont during this time, we can keep a note taker while signs are done and ppl chat.
7 pm	hugz

Discussion points:

Feel free to fill-in interesting detail, bullet points of web links under each topic point. The more it is boiled out here, the more the day gets done with fewer clarification discussions. Also feel free to take a lead in pulling strong points and info to share with the rest.  

1. Communication
a. website
b. other means of social media
c.
d. email groups
e. newsletter updates
f. IO CoC, commz flow.  
3. Outreach/Education
a. target message and audience for social media blasts

b. replicable curriculum (WG-COS for support) to take through school classrooms, especially high school, college

c. relationship building with local biz, scholars, NGOs, etc

d. three steps: 1. common identification, 2. how we can help you, 3. how you can help us.

4. Tech/media
a. formalize team and steps (maybe part of commz WG)


5. Admin/Process/Organizational
a. minutes are not found publicly?
b. newsletter? what is accomplished, what is coming?
c. contact lists, calendars,



6. Planning and Goals: VISION (State, Nantl Conf, Spring and Summer emergence)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/09/occupy-2012-wall-street_n_1193210.html

7.  Action Calendar (fore-planning)
ex: may 19. #OccupyChicago Caravan from Colorado for G8/NATO


8. Electoral Politics:

a. Occupy Rochester letter

b. http://occupyventura805.wordpress.com/tag/occupy-electoral-reform-working-group/

c. http://inthesetimes.com/article/12486/occupy_the_electoral_process

9. Successful Movement Points
http://www.truth-out.org/populism-isnt-dead-its-marching-what-bunch-farmers-can-teach-bunch-occupiers-about-how-keep-going/13

10. 1. Planning for Martin Luther King Day.

2. CSU issues:

a. Stadium.
b. Other construction already in progress.
c. Tuition increases and wage freezes*. Comparison with Davis.

3. Planning for asserting the 1st amendment right to assembly

Additionally, I hope that part of the "sign making party" could involve
making a OFC banner and finding a selection of signs to carry for the MLK
Parade.

Sandy

*FY 2011: 9% undergrad, 15% grad, see
http://www.today.colostate.edu/story.aspx?id=4037
FY 2011-2012 (I don't know why the FYs are different):  3% undergrad,
7.5% grad, see http://www.today.colostate.edu/story.aspx?id=5859
The articles describe other increases in other categories and wage
freezes.

11. interaction with other local groups

Interested in helping with the planning group: 

email:  movementbuildingco@gmail.com

3017 parkview ct. fort collins. 
785-218-5179

STATE CONFERENCE

Quick Update:

(More To come)


NAME: Colorado People's Assembly
Watch for new website for Assembly only info and grouping.

(Occupy Colorado Blogspot will then become news and info updates for Occupy specific around the state and nationwide- maybe).

FEB 18th, 2012

Occupy Boulder CU student group will host

9am -9pm


networking and connecting. visions and priorities. tools, learning, organize.

Schedule:
9:00-10:00 Meet and Greet

10:15-10:30 Facilitator: structure of day

10:30-11:15 A speaker from each GA talks on successes, challenges, and direction.

11:15-12:15 Anti-Oppression workshop (Andy)

12:15-12:30 Sign up on Afternoon Boards

for focus groups you would like to participate in.   

12:30-1:00 Meditation (Kate) (Optional)

12:30-1:15 Lunch

1:15-1:30 find first focus group room

1:30-2:15 First room focus session

2:15-2:30 find 2nd focus group room

2:30-3:15 Second room focus session

3:15-3:30 reassemble in big room.  

3:30-4:15 Big Group--report backs with plans, actions, goals, etc.

4:15-4:30 Break

4:30-6:00 Skills/methods/Resources Exchange:

6:00-7:00 Dinner Break

7:00-7:30 Meet with your GA's

7:30-7:45 Regroup in big room

7:45-8:00 Thanks and closing words

8:00-9:00 Soap Box, open mic

Occupy Boulder Eviction Information

UPDATE (1/5)
The eviction will not happen tonight again. The local paper is reporting Friday night. A call in from Occupy Boulder rep to commander has to yet been returned regarding confirmation.

11pm is now the time for DANCE party and star gazing for your rights.


UPDATE (1/4):
The paper work required to start eviction procedures by the police was NOT signed today. The eviction now will likely happen on Thursday or Friday. Keep posted, and spread info flow. Twitter, Facebook, Blog, TumblR...Be the Media!

I yield.

*******

Occupy Boulder has been told that the new l aw to prevent protest after 11pm will go into effect tonight.

The city council did not specify exemption for first amendment rights, but did make an exemption for running, hiking, biking and star-gazing.

The plan passed through GA consensus process is to have a party at 11pm every night for the next few days until next meeting. The party will include dancing, running, biking, hiking and star-gazing, along with signs for first amendment rights.

The goal is not to prevent the tents from being removed with arrests at this time. The goal is to play with the new city code language and have use a lot of creativity to "make fun" of it with media and witnesses.

People are encouraged to bring good-will and high spirits to the Occupy Boulder camp on Broadway and Canyon every night this week at 11PM for a party of allowed activities.

It is noted that if the police were to start making aggressive moves it would happen between 2-4am. This is not expected by the people in attendance of this meeting. How the police will respond is up for debate as the plan is to have many people doing legal activities. If the park is cleared marching with tents and other belongings will be had spontaneously. Further evacuation plans of belongings is to be discussed.

For 1/4, Denver has sent six people from the Tactics committee, while three other Denver supporters left today after the sleepover.

A text message service for alerts to police action and urgent call for livestreaming, and othersquick announcmentssend a etext message to number:  23559 with text message reading  @occupyboulder


Also look for the Twitter thread #occupyboulder and handle for Occupy Boulder and Andyrose12

Thank you. More to come, and will be updated as I get information.

Activist Movement: Dates to know in January

PREFACE:
I am writing this calendar list, not because I know all of the dates to be aware of.
I am writing to get things started.
Please send me your info and dates and I will start getting them included, this is only the first of the month of Occupy 2012 movement progress.
(There is going to be a much better way of doing this soon. However, until someone comes along and says, I want to help you make the calendar better....today it is a list.  I have not found a solid location for information such as important dates, so I start one here. I am starting with just the list to get the dates out there. Please send me details and I will fill it in as we go.) Thank you.


CALENDAR LIST:

Jan 4: (Wednesday)
11 AM Occupy Boulder
meet up then walk to meeting location for Occupy Colorado State Conference   planning.

Jan 4 (Wednesday)
Boulder is threatened with eviction. Supporters are mobilizing to prevent illegal park closures.
11 PM Occupy Boulder

Jan 3-5 Occupy Bob's House begins
This is a direct action in Colorado Springs. This is plan is to continue until goal accomplished.
Bob : 2526 N. Weber, Colorado Springs, Co,
Rally for to prevent eviction Thursday! Jan 5. 8am through the day.


Jan 8 (Sunday)
Town hall style, meeting THIS Sunday to discuss the future of Occupy Denver.  

The meeting is open to anyone who would like to come. This includes occupy friends old and new, who are, or would like to be, invested in the future of Occupy Denver. Those that have a voice and opinion to lend and would like to participate in a respectful open dialogue with their peers are welcome. 

Details:

Future of Occupy Denver Open Forum

Sunday January 8th

2:30 pm

1201 Sante Fe Drive

Denver, CO 80204

(this meeting will likely take a long time, plan for 6 hours)

For those interested but not able to make it in person, I am working on ways that the meeting can be livestreamed and am also considering skyping participants in.

Due to space constraints, this is likely a good option and is encouraged. 

(Please contact me if you are interested in the skype option, lshellma@gmail.com) 

If you would like to distribute this e-mail to other occupiers that I may have missed, please do so. 

Those willing and able to help, the following is a list of things that are still needed:

Experienced Facilitators

Experienced Stackers

Thorough Note-Takers

Livestream capable equipment and operators

Big Whiteboard and Markers (or other large and visible note taking methods)

Flip Charts, Markers and Stands

Food - lunch or dinner for 50+ people

Water - 50+ people

Please contact me if you are able to help provide any of the above items,lshellma@gmail.com 

Jan 10: (Tuesday)
I Occupy Coffee House discussions, Denver.

Jan 11 (Wednesday)
Colorado State Legislature returns, Rally on Capital steps, Denver, mid-day

Jan 15 (Saturday)
Northern Colorado Visions and Priorities Retreat



Jan 16 (Monday)
Martin Luther King March

Jan 17 (Tuesday)
Occupy your Congress, meet-ups at local offices of congress in your hometowns, local GA
Some discussion to invite congress people to town hall meetings for accountability to the people.
National Call to Action, McPherson Square and National Lawn, Capital Building, DC

Jan 20 (Friday)
Occupy the Courts, National Call to Action
Join Move to Amend at Federal Court Houses, 2nd anniversary of Citizens United vs. FEC
Message: Corporations are not people, Money is not speech. Legalize Democracy.

Jan 29 (Sunday)
Coats, Cans, Cash: Occupy Fort Collins
Month long drive to collect coats, cans, and cash for people who really needed a bail out. The day of Jan 29 will culminate in a concert at Avogardo's in Fort Collins. Three bands are scheduled at this time.

And because it was published the same day I did this calendar: a little blog about Solidarity.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brandi-williams-palmer-and-nick-snoux/from-occupy-wall-street-t_1_b_1182161.html

Occupy Bob's House: Colorado Springs

UPDATE:

Bob was discouraged by the news from the attorney today and asked everyone to leave so that he could have the last days in his house in peace.

Occupy Colorado Springs had already taken the action to move most of Bob's belongings ( to a family member's home) so that they were not damaged or unrecoverable. Bob will stay in his house with a bed and a chair until the police come to remove him.

_______________________________________________



 Today is the first day of Occupy Bob's House. This is a direction action to prevent Bob, a 62 year old Leukemia patient from being evicted from his house on Thursday.

To get in touch with Occupy Colorado Springs organizers who are assisting with this action contact, Joel (719-271-6057) , or Kristie ( 719-213-0366).

Bob has worked with Occupy Activists to create a timeline and organize paperwork. He has also recently visited an attorney in Denver. Occupy Activists plan to create an encampment in Bob's yard and ask for community support to join them. The goal is to get Bob enough time to fight this foreclosure and have the support of an Occupy Squad.