Proposal for a Signage Committee

[leothelion]

Hey Everyone, 

 

I wanted to propose the formation of a Signage committee. It seems to me that there isn't a group making sure that we are creating and disseminating signs/posters/stickers/headbands/flags/car signs/sidewalk chalkings/banners/sky writings/ etc. This committee wouldn't be in charge of creating formalized logos or anything like that but would be there to coordinate efforts to actually make all of this stuff and figure out strategic ways of disseminating them. A couple ideas for the committee are: 

1. setting up a perpetual station at the GAs where people can create this         stuff and coordinate a map/list of places the signage will be spread. the     committee would be responsible for running the station aka making sure     there are materials and keeping track of what locations are taken care of

 

2. work with the GA/outreach committee/diversity committee to ensure the     signage is appropriate/effective for each neighborhood etc. 

 

3. coordinate massive signage creations for bigger events (rallies, marches     etc)

4. be in communication with the city about the possibility/legality of               potential large scale signage efforts. 

 

Well I just wrote this up at work but I really feel this kind of coordinated effort is crucial for spreading the Occupy Chicago message. Though this committee will not formalize set logos/text or anything of the like, it will also strive to make sure that signs being widely spread are maximally effective. 

 

What do ya'll think? I'll be proposing it after I get some comments in a couple days and hopefully get this pony rolling next week. 

 

So much love, 

-Mel 

[jmixi]

This feels like it could be a subcommittee within the Outreach Committee or a working group across committees, because otherwise it's a little redundant, but otherwise I like the idea.

I've been working on gathering information for a next round of signs or literature based on campaign contribution information available at maplight.org. I was thinking of creating little postcards or single-page folded zine handouts so that people can take the information with them. Personally I hate using paper, but I think being able to distribute the facts to a larger audience is important here.

Here's a sample of the some of the information I started pulling together:

• Between 07/01/09 - 06/30/11 the Commercial Banking Industry contributed $14,393,986 to the 112th U.S. Congress and supported 25 bill positions.


• Between 07/01/09 - 06/30/11 the Insurance Industry contributed $31,383,081 to the 112th U.S. Congress and supported 46 bill positions. 


• Between 07/01/09 - 06/30/11 the Securities and Investment Industry contributed $44,088,582 to the 112th U.S. Congress and supported 24 bill positions.

I'm thinking of adding something like "How much do you think your vote was worth?" to the end of each of these.

Imagine what a signage working group coordinating with the Outreach, Education, and Research committees would be able to do! I for one would like to be a part of that group. And even if it doesn't happen, I'll keep going with this particular project on my own.

[leothelion]

Man that sounds awesome. Those numbers are shocking and I think could function really powerfully.

I agree that this should be a kind of working sub group within outreach. I'm going to get a temp check at the GA on next wednesday with a solid set of immediate ideas to get stuff rolling.

This working group should facilitate, organize and catalog the production and spreading of signage so that it can work like coordinated and strategic effort around the city.

There is a lot of man/woman power at every GA and I think this can be harnessed to be making signs! This should be happening at every GA. Everyone that drives a car should have a little car sign made. We should have posters/banners/stickers/etc. constantly being made and on supply for anyone to be able to grab and pass around.

Everyone should be encouraged to be making as much and as different stuff as they want to. It would be great if it could cataloged so that we can be more strategic in where everything will be spread.

I don't know why I'm repeating myself, but I'm just thinking outloud!!!!

<3
-Mel

[jdrtimm]

I like the idea of this being a subcommittee of outreach, so that the obviously related work doesn't get fragmented. Otherwise, move forward on this. We need it!

[nonlinear]

Really cool stuff.

You guys should coordinate with Research Committee, combine your forces. It sounds like signage would essentially be a liaison between art and research committees. These are the kind of dots we need to start connecting, IMO.