________________________

Minutes/Notes of February 19, 2012 General Assembly

Agenda accepted.

1:15-1:30  Welcome and Values

Possible redundancy.  This what we’re going to be held accountable.  Guiding principles.  Clear goals for public victories.  Clarity of mission. Power in focus.

Where are we going to go w/these values?  Governance.

Making a smaller list that encompases.

Define broad categories.

Consistent Progressive  actions & values = progress.

BROAD CATAGORIES

(Human Needs: Promote the general welfare)

I.                   Social & economic justice, human rights/needs

• Inclusion
• Nonviolence
• Fairness
• Love
• Promote general welfare
• Equality
• Openness
• Human needs
• II.                 Nonviolence
• Cooperation
• III Effective Communication
• (Transparency Openness)

IV Love

• Respect

V.  Patience

VI.  Accountability

Accepted Value Statement

We create and maintain global, social, economic and environmental justice by promoting fairness, human rights including diversity, humanity, the general welfare, love, equality, openness to ideas, human needs, human longevity, inclusiveness, education, the ending of war, peace, and protection of the living ecosystem, always striving for nonviolence in our thoughts and words and practicing nonviolence in our actions.

We do this with patience, balance and love, cooperation, communication, respect, equality and inclusiveness, transparency, accountability, peace and emphasis on diversity.

We do this through an accountable and transparent participatory democracy, consistent, progressive and effective actions and our values.

Post First Break:

Proposal: A Coordinating Committee/Council.

What is the process?

What will be the duties of members?

How will members be selected?

Is this an enforcement council?

What is the rotation/term?

Dealing with exceptions?  Emergencies?

Accountability?

Does each member have to be tied to a work group?

How reversible are the decisions? Authority?

How do we define work groups?

(Concern about the two block process.)

What are the duties?

Implementation of different work groups.

To facilitate communication between the different work groups.

How is it selected?

Accountability?

Accountable to GA.

All Work Groups

Basic Guidelines for Active Occupy Houston Work Groups

1.       To be considered active, all current Work Groups should:

A.     Provide a public (mission statement) of goals, which does not conflict wth the #OH principles of solidarity.

B.     Publish contact info on the #OH website *working email required

C.     Be based in Houston and have, at least one open group meeting at or near Tranquility Park, every other week.  This meeting is to be listed on the#OH website.  Changes to meeting times must be given at least 48 hours public notice, when possible.

D.    Publish minutes of, at least 1 meeting every other week on the #OH website.  This meeting must demonstrate at least 2 in attendance.  Work group will not be considered defunt until attendance has been less than 2 members for 4 weeks.

2.       All new work groups must be announced of formation in the GA.

Note: If, at any point, the GA consensus to alter or change guidelines, all work groups will be given 30 days before implementation.

Implementation: These guidelines will take effect in 30 days after passing consensus in the GA.

Accepted 1/2/12

Implement the current guidelines and communicate between the work groups.

Structure & strategy work group to coordinate

Information disseminated properly.

Implement the proposal process.

INTIAL PROPOSAL:

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

GA meets twice a month and votes on Coordinating Council proposals.  Individuals can address GA at each meeting about their concerns, ideas or suggest a general proposal for consideration,  But GA only votes on proposals that have been made directly by the representatives of the Coordinating council.

COORDINATING COUNCIL

Representatives will meet frequently and discuss their workgroup concerns and ideas.  The Coordinating Council drafts proposals and will post them on the website at least one week before presenting them to GA

WORK GROUPS

Each workgroup selects representatives for the Coordinating Committee

• THE 99%
• Outreach Workgroup
• Media Workgroup
• Finance Workgroup
• Other Workgroups.

WORKGROUP COORDINATORS

• Accountability v. flexibility.
• Revisit participation with Coordinating Council
• Anyone in the GA can propose
• Council will operate by conssensus horizontal/rotation of leadership.
• Room for spontaneity and exceptions.
• Mentorship not enforcement.
• Accountability within the structure at all levels.
• GA needs to be ultimate authority.
• Concern- spread our people too thin.
• Find agreeable titles
• Emphasis on workgroup function not structure.
• Balance & accountability.
• Action over process

Specific Duties

• WG facilitates communication between Work Groups
• Information is disseminated properly.
• One of the tasks of the WGC is to bring proposals from WG’s & individuals to the GA, and from GA to workgroups (flow goes both ways). This does not suspend the right of individuals to make proposals at GA.
• Recruit volunteers for tasks.

Will have Strategy Meeting March 4^th 1:00 – 6:00 P.M.

Wednesday GA will be heavily action oriented.  Library Plaza 7:00 P.M.

Facilitation Concerns

• Clarity on how/when to speak during discussion
• Clarity of process for equal participation
• Separate Stack Coordinator
• Power of the model
• Addres of redundancy.

________________________

Basic Work Group Guidelines for Occupy Houston

________________________

Basic Work Group Guidelines for Occupy Houston