V &G Minutes 2/16/12

60 Wall Street

Meeting Convened at 5:45

100% Quorum

In Attendence:

Lisa – Minutes

Patrick – Stack, Time

Michael – Facilitator

Jean

Itzak

Marco

Mario

Paul

Mike

Bill

Boo-Lyn

Jochen

Chris

Report Back – Patrick tried to get us on at the GA but couldn’t so he arranged to have us have a Listening Session.

Patrick – will be Facilitator on Sunday

Agenda Items:

• Asking GA for full vetting
• Patrick step back
• Teach In
• Asking GA if they want a V. S

The group decided to begin with the Teach In/ Listening Session.

Stack:

• Itzak – asks if we are ready to do a teach in today
• Patrick – we should not disappear from the GA so long -stay close
• Marie – not a good idea so close – we are there too often
• Jean – should be about what goals are and what a Vision is
• Michael – we should appeal to GA again to get consensus
• Itzak – disagree w/ Michael – should have one person talk to them
• Lisa – other options - Occupy.net is a work stream – everyone from GA can work on it
• Jean – Asks what we are doing – teach in or consensus?
• Michael – another shorter V.S. online
• Patrick – great topic – should we move it to Sat?  No to consensus – less rigid is better -  have copies available
• Itzak -  giving GA a choice for the V.S. – let them decide everything
• Jean – Feels Teach In – build community
• Lisa – go to GA for T.I. w/o agenda
• Michael – wants to go for consensus and move on to the goals
• Marie – let go of anger we are all the same

Temp Check – twinkle down for Teach In tonight – we won’t do it tonight

• Itzak – we should make it simple – with one statement
• Michael -  go to GA – we are trying to find common ground for statement  to show the world
• Marie – let’s just talk at the GA  – it must be different – the GA has to feel that we are on same page
• Marco – anger brought us together  – now anger is inward – re-channel anger – find unity
• Michael – go to GA – we are trying to find common ground for statement  to show the world
• Patrick – make the next session teach in – we should not fade away – do teach in – should be taught out – things we feel in common – how did we get this way? – how do we want to present? one person?
• Itzak -  it’s not a problem of people – some disruptors want to destroy OWS
• Bill – describes his personal experiences – finds there is no humanity – this will take time – it is a long process

Temp Check for Sat. night -  we will do a Teach In/Listening

• Jean -  How are we doing this?
• Lisa – feels it must be a Listening Session, not Teach In
• Itzak – we must organize this
• Lynn – Clarify what we are talking about
• Michael – suggests go over each bullet points – making his case – really talk
• Marco – the group can show that this statement is very similar to the OWS docs
• Jean – doesn’t think this will be any different than other GA’s – what do we want to say – must clarify  – is it V or G?
• Jean – must be listening – build community – not consensus
• Patrick – must talk about respect, trust – talked to some ind. members and built trust
• Itzak – make it a conversation – looking for a breakthrough – suggest that they can divide up for convo.
• Lynn – she came to the meeting to say that she was blown away by the V. S. and to keep going
• Marie – another positive affirmation

We have decided that it will  be a Listening Session – not a Teach In

Michael wants to know if we want to show document

All take 30 secs to voice about this

Stack

• Lisa – it will be both a L.S but use it to teach by inspiration – by listening
• Itzak – be prepared by how many people will start talking about all of the points on the doc
• Jochen – we need something like a board so the GA can see it – not a paper
• Patrick – teach a little – history – it is really a unity exercise – education for first 5 min.
• Michael – go to GA – we are trying to find common ground for statement  to show the world
• Lisa – we need a sense of detatchment
• Marie – we are acting against what we are saying
• Patrick – we are failing because be are shoving it down the GA’s throat – the men do – the women – more trust
• Itzak – it really is about relating
• Jochen – ask them what’s missing
• Michael – agrees with Jochen
• Patrick – change gears – put women in charge
• it is agreed -women are in charge – the group will brief with the women
• Patrick suggests that the team make themselves available
• Jean – same
• Jochen – same
• Michael – same
• Itzak – same
• Jochen – suggests we use a board – then document when it’s over
• Bill asks if Jochen has an idea of how to show history since he was there at the beginning when it was a blue print
• Lisa has POI – work stream on occupy.net will do that – all work is there to see and accessible to all OWS
• Marie has concerns about Sat is too soon  – there are other women in group

The women are going to the GA on Saturday and do the Listening Session.

Informal discussion on Agenda item about Patrick stepping back:

Patrick wanted to know what we felt about his stepping back – let others admin – he is not comfortable with his tendency to lead.  Others felt that he should not step back until we have completed the V.S. – he is really effective – but his choice.  Many felt that he should change the way he approaches the GA – must be stronger, more upbeat.  Michael said the convo was very helpful.

Meeting Adjourned at 9:30 – ish