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Occupy Buffalo CITIZEN ACTION Meeting Minutes: January 26, 2013

Please Note: these notes are incomplete and not definitive. They are taken from various conversations throughout the early evening and parts of the day by different people.

NOTES BY JEFF OCONNELL Strike Debt: May Day Rally (May 1st, 2013, Niagara Square) Robin Hood Tax Chase Divestment Responsible Banking Act Medical Marijuana 420 Rally Drones Western New York Peace Center: 4th Thursday / International Action Center National Drone Action Developed for Statewide Anti-Fracking Feed In Tariff NatGat via22 (Canadian organization, does actions on 22nd of Every Month) Mobile Kitchen Relief Urban Gardens as a community ECIDA Occupy The Water rent pontoons / canoes / etc. and go on water to do a campaign action (water-related issues)Native Americans did a large action (Running The Water) a decade ago. Occupy Strawberry Island! Idle No More Solidarity - Contact John Kane (Lets Talk Native) via Nate Buckley or Kane directlyAgnes Williamspossible INM contacts in Fort Erie, ONI.W.W. people in Canada Repeal Citizens United (Move To Amend) Polling Community for their thoughts on issues (canvassing, video booth, etc.) Upstate Occupy Conference in Buffalo (there was one in Syracuse, NY) Next General Assembly? The strength of the organization comes when we cal out for solidarity/assistance (not fixed to schedules or EVERYONE showing up at EVERYTHING) Pursue maximum of 3 to 4 issues to push as Occupy Buffalo

Should not be dependent on changing government all the time Contact other individuals and organizations to get support.be active on what the people say they want/need What do you do privately that others can do (for example: taking money out of corporations to distribute to people/community)? We NEED receipts for reimbursements to OB fund People doing shit (Occupy Sandy, etc.) are organized, have structure Start a local economic justice center via the WNY Peace Center Collaborative Leading (Co-Leaders): how do we teach leadership to each other? If you cant impress them with your brilliance, dazzle them with your bullshit. Frank Merriweather Library: shall we do regular Occupy Our Libraries presentations? Make a list of who is out there that we can collaborate with on issues. Need regular note takers How do we get grants? What is the status of Occupy Buffalos 501c3 non-profit status application? Infrastructure different from leadership (?) Karen Daigler: Finance Meeting: Nominate New Members Media Group: Meet to determine new direction for website (upgrades/redesign) Jackie will contact Phil ______________ about getting free domain for new OB website Bob MacGill: must be careful about putting too many on Bank Account Dana Gerace: We should have names of people who are interested to be on OB bank account/Finance Committee (to make the transition between former-to-current members) Albert Brown: Well vote on it next G.A. Confirmed on OB Bank Account List: Curt Rotterdam Samantha Colon Jamie Stewart Sergio Uzurin Ricky Mazurek

Originally considered: Matt Richardson Bonnie Mahoney Valerie Niederhoffer Heron Simmonds-Price Jeff OConnell Original idea was to have rotating names, although 3 signatures are needed to withdraw funds at the credit union Pre-requisite for being on list: committed to being available, will obey the will of the group according to decisions made by the G.A. Jamie Stewart: Require bank to alert co-signees if a certain amount is overdrawn Jackie Wilson: Determine time frame for rotation of new co-signees Albert Brown: We had post office box set up by one individual, who stole funds; that was settled, new P.O. Box created. It does matter that we go through honest, straightforward process in determining financial structures Chris Real: Happy with way things are going, even with arguments about things that dont really matter; why go through whole process when figuring out cheaper commonsense ways to do it (D.I.Y.) without going through process/committees (two encounters with money/OB: Radical Philosophy Conference paying / Anti-Bankster Caroling) If we allow things to happen outside of group, can make good things happen Every group that organizes out of what they want to do, out of consensus, will eventually spontaneously come together . Do things to make self happy now in order to do things they should Do things without necessarily relying on people to do them (getting their support/blessing) . Mentions David Graeber and Direct Action/OWS, the Punk Revolution (having shows without backing/money/resources). Organize efficiently in anarchist manner Albert Brown: Different schools of anarchism; not all forms disavow structure (re: Spain. Months-long G.A., very organized, functioned very well). Anarchism: people ruling themselves without a state Chris Barbera: The G.A. works through Point of Process, got into crosstalk, off topic, should remember the Facilitation Process (which gets into structural/organizational principles). What is the identity of Occupy Buffalo? Were on eastern end of Great Lakes (caretaker of fresh water), large native population, strong Underground Railroad current.what is our regional connection to areas political/social/environmental make upor put aside into the past and create an entire new identity for us/Buffalo. What separate OB gardens from others? Ours is more revolutionary in approach Propose that we have an official G.A. on February 16 or 23 at Citizen Action John Washington II: Ashley did file 501c3 status Albert Brown: Ashley changed job, can be more involved Jamie Stewart: Ashley and Daire were talking about establishing community center

Someone mentioned litter clean-up. Simply show up and begin cleaning up streets without any official reason Earth Day: Find out what organizations are doing stuff Activity for 1st Anniversary of eviction (February 2, roughly 1 2 a.m.) Move To Amend activity? Jim Anderson: Everything is collective leadership, we have to understand that, are going to have to have some roles to assign for effective future activity John Washington II: They were, but needed to have OB demonstrate they had resources to maintain it Jamie Stewart: Zaney needs help for Anti-Warped Tour and 420 Rally Heron Simmonds-Price: 3 main points to make: Fear Not, Identity, Faith FEAR NOT: We live in crazy time, all this info out there, thought of proposal when heard about TIP (Total Information Awareness program).how can you get it, does it exist? NO! We dont even know what were going to do, how would THEY know? [ Psy-Ops ] If we act in solidarity and flexibility, they cant destroy usif their version of reality were in operation, everything would fail to function IDENTITY: Problem of the ego and the illusion (maya) that dominates our society: We are this, we have this, so we are this. What is the difference between what OCCUPY does and what PEOPLE do. The difference is identitya stumbling block that we have to sidestep rather than tripping over it. Opinion is that we want to be FREE and CONNECTED, then the identity issues can sort-of disappear. Best identity: we are connected with everyone, as long as the people are flourishing and getting better The Connected Self rather than the Own Self FAITH: Big problem that philosophers address: What Is The Definition Of Religion? Other people talk religion in terms of belief or higher powers. Others are anti-religious. Need to use word FAITH not RELIGION, must develop a higher caliber of faith in each other, commonality in Earth, etc. It is a concept that we connect to other religions. Should use these concepts to do more outreach to religious communities, churches, etc. Pluralism and coalition building requires true respect. If we can find a way to see where our thoughts are the same, we can build connections (between anarchists/atheists/theists/etc.): the faith in PEOPLE. John Washington II: Occupy is something that happens when we come together, but as an identity, we can sense on what we agree or disagree, but to create one, as we empower people, its our job help to identify and help us with action Occupy As Brand is wrong. It is something people do in order to achieve aims (people pay attention when the verb Occupy is used). Some people show at G.A.s, actions, or protests and not understand how the dynamic works. If we cant get people to commit, should we continue to do things? Finding a way on what we can identify to do and how best to do it Jump In/Burn out/Jump back pattern should be broken If we cant empower others, were just venting our frustrations out, rather than initiating a larger transformation in society (others)

Next meeting: have everyone write out your vision of this group, and what youre willing to do / time to spend [note: did not get full proposal of this] Mark Haller: mentatmark@gmail.com or mentatmark@occupyerie.net Does website work for Occupy Erie? Dana Gerace: Were OK with our financial situation, not great, but need to replentish it: fundraising ideas that effectively work John Washington II: We have 150-200 T-shirts sitting at my housewhat have we really done? Albert Brown: What is important is that we continue to gather.may never have perfect financial situation, but hasnt stopped us from having actions; weve accomplished a lot in short period of time, have many allies, its a long struggle, we need to feel good about what weve done and move forward together Bob McGill: I will canvass, make phone calls, sales, etc. Occupy Woodstock (bar in Bethel): have had party on their land, split 3 ways: horse farm, ampitheatre, _______. This year, they might have Occupy event there.1st year the town of Bethel willing to work with them (will be Jim Anderson: Commitment for one is not the same for other unless you put some qualifying factor out there. There are times for reason that even we feel arent clear that we have to check out/make excuses/engaging in behavior. This is The Reality Of Struggle. Weve all got healthy egos, we all to need to be somebody, but we also need to be sober with ourselves Must come from outside as well as within Before youre on point, someone else was on point before Struggle is not a glory trip, it is a real rumble. Harness the energy where we come to agreement on. The part where we know we synchronize on our sights, we have to focus our energy around 10 plan with a solid plan and commitment can do a lot, vs. 100 with Sergio Tupac Uzurin: Update on his activity Occupy Home/Occupy The Hood is under PUSH banner, still going through PUSH is getting less progressive (more staff, for a memberbased organization), but still doing good. Campaign is called Home Liberation. People not in Occupy but at G.A.s didnt like hand signal and other stuff, but good idea to teach people the means of participation Jeff OConnell: Preservation issues regarding footage shot for Occupy Buffalo. Will need much more memory space soon to back up files (many of which are only single copies).

Present During Day (various times): Albert Brown Avrom Siegel Bob MacGill Brandon Brooks Chris Barbera Chris Real Chris Weinert Chuck Culhane Curt Rotterdam Dana Gerace Eric Gallion Heron Simmonds-Price Jackie Wilson Jamie Stewart Jeff OConnell Jim Anderson John Rozman John Washington II Karen Daigler Linda Abrams Lisa Richardson Mark Haller Matt Richardson Rob Zillig Ronnie Sergio Uzurin Sparky W. Brian Wood Zaney RockSteady OTHERS THAT WERE, BUT DIDNT GET THEIR NAMES?

NOTES BY JACKIE WILSON Chris Strike Debt Heron Brood View create the world we want Environment terrible Not visionary back end help Self-Sustaining: Co-Ops Affinity Groups International Activity Many global assemblies connecting more on global platforms NatGat Local.save your locale Global convo 1. Hope: DD horizontal transparency Started with tweets infrastructure in place Occupy Sandy connections with mutual aid, not charity (climate change/ environment) Seen Sparky (?) Idle No More (indigenous) took off like Occupy Outcome.more connectedness Eric Robin Hood Tax April 22, Earth Day Plant A Seed and Global Convo

WRITTEN POSTERS URBAN GARDENING As A Community Project -growing our own food for health purposes February 23 Saturday Initial OutReach Meeting Tentative Citizens Action 1 p.m. May 1st Direct Action Resistance against debt National call to action WHAT IS Our Ability To Affect The Current Political System? How does this affect our efforts? Lesser of Two Evils Alternative Party Be aware of IDLE NO MORE and solidarity Infringement: July 25 August 4 Registration is February 15 to April 15 January 29: Tuesday, 6 p.m. IAC Center Niagara Falls Drones Issues Task Force: Russell Brown (570-5200) Bonny Mahoney Possibilities STRIKE DEBT 501c3 Agenda 1. Why are we here? 2. What is a good outcome? 3. What have we been involved in?

Actions EDUCATION Monday: February 11 Tuesday: March 5

How does our world view for Social Change operate in this current behavior WORLD VIEW Systems Ours Those without a focus

PLAN -

Systems Ours

ACTIONS 1. Thursday, January 31: Lisa Richardson Jury Trial: 9:30 a.m., City Court (Part 9) (show solidarity) 2. Canvassing and making friends in Communities Rob: 716-474-7049 Flickr.com User MentatMark

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