For those who maintain the occupation at night and all day: “They also serve who only stand and wait.” ~ John Milton (1608 – 1674) from Sonnet XIX.
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#OccupyHouston will be appearing at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. Details below the jump.
The #OccupyHouston FAQ can be found here: F.A.Q. You can also find forums (technically ‘fora’) here: Forum.
It is my intention for all links from OccupyHouston.org to be live. If they don’t work, it’s my head-scratcher, and I apologize. Let me know.
GA Minutes below the jump. Today, the GA Minutes for the 24th were posted same-day. No question about it, the folks at Occupy Houston are working hard and really getting up to speed.
Members of Occupy Houston are attending tomorrow’s City Council meeting at 2:00pm to address our issues in sustaining our occupation. We want the right to keep tents and covering for us and our belongings and reliable utilities to keep our site up and running. A few of us are on the docket to speak, and we welcome the public at large to attend this meeting to support us and our cause!
If you are going to rally with us at City Hall there are a few rules you must follow. We’re going to be on camera with government officials. We’ll not just be representing ourselves, but occupy movements worldwide. Regarding the city ordinances [and] concerning city council meetings, please:
- bring signs and banners, but don’t use them to block aisles, others’ view of the meeting, or otherwise disturb the meeting
- only let one person speak at a time
- bring any paper bags, plastic bags, handbags, briefcases, purses, satchel boxes, envelopes, tape recorders, or containers of any sort to the speaker’s podium. They’ll provide a drawer for those.
- don’t clap, boo, yell, applaud, or otherwise audibly express your approval or disapproval of what happens at the meeting. Let’s use our general assembly hand signals!
- don’t engage in disorderly conduct while addressing the council
Violating these ordinances isn’t a municipal offense, but they do have police officers on hand who will escort you out of the meeting for breaking the rules.
Remember that we’re addressing politicians. They want to get re-elected. They may not necessarily take a stand on our issues. A cool, collected, and constant initiative will help us out.
There’s a planning meeting at 12:00 noon in Tranquility Park to organize before we head to city hall. Come to the park and come with us to city hall. We can’t stress how important it is that you come with us and that we make a good showing in front of the city council. This our big chance to make our voices heard!
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General Assembly Minutes – October 24, 2011 7:00pm
Approximately 55 in attendance.
Facilitators: Prescott & Matthew
Stack Coordinator: Artem
Stackers: John & Mary
Timer: Carlos
Scribe: Vanessa
Benjamin – Introductions
Volunteer Group Announcements:
Jamin w/ Logistics: concerning interacting with City Hall tomorrow:
1) No person shall display signs, posters, banners. No interference in aisles, obstructing views, etc.
2) 1 person speaking at a time
3) No paper or plastic bags, purses, boxes, tape recorders or containers
4) No applause , boo or speaking out in a loud raucous manner
5) No disorderly conduct
Artem w/ Logistics: There is a planning meeting before city council at noon at Tranquility Park.
Maria w/ Outreach: Need materials for the haunted house, check the website. There is a poetry reading / walk Sunday 10/30 5:00pm – 7:00pm.
Seamus w/ Sustainability: We need to take out the trash, keep compost in the compost bins, and pay more attention to littering.
Mary w/ Medical: We need volunteers. Please notify us about allergies and health issues. Step away from the medical table before using bug spray.
JJ w/ Security: We’re short handed. See him or John.
Swim w/ Finance: We’ve got a small system to make finances accountable. Purchases under $100 need 3 volunteer groups to approve. Purchases over $100 need 5 groups approval. If larger than it needs GA approval.
Personal Announcements:
Summer: Re: Queer Voices. KPFT needs GBLT participants.
Carlos: We’re going to Austin on 11/2 to protest Valero.
CK: 11/11/11 student walkout at 11:00am at UofH.
Twyst: From Los Angeles, CA. See him for a flyer about the Iran Green Movement. Occupy LA has 200-300 tent campers, a print shop, and detente the city.
Matthew: He will speak with city council regarding access to clean water.
Swim: No littering or smoking. Pick up after yourself after you wake up and return your bedding to warehouse. We have a workgroup meetings board and a to-do list.
Chris: Houston I.S.O./John Carlos is speaking at the Shape Center 11/11 at 6:00pm
Mike: We’re having recycling pickup at 8am tomorrow.
Jolanda: Procedures regarding speaking in front of city council.
Proposals:
Get companies to subsidize our building green energy and selling back to the grid – Blocked, 2 blocks
Making money is antithetical to occupy’s goals – Tabled
Will make an inventory of food & warehouse, and post the list publicly – Passed
Opinions:
Carlos: Occupy Austin does marches after each GA& wants Houston to do likewise.
Evan: Feels when there is a speaker is on deck that no others should stand behind them. Others arriving that stand behind them is distracting.
Hugh: Recognition is what we need. He’s contacted NAACP, Cornell West, Tavis Smiley. We need endorsements to grow our numbers.
m on October 25th, 2011 at 12:02 am 
Thinkwing Radio with Mike Honig 