Special GA to Discuss Housing/HQ

[Secretariat]

Occupy Chicago will soon have an indoor home.  It sits on the horizon with new opportunities and challenges for our movement.  Without a doubt, this new beginning is on all of our minds.  The celebration that started the week has given way to conversations shaped by both fresh ideas and fresh concerns. This Saturday, December 17th, is the time to bring these ideas and concerns to the table and discuss them as a movement at the 7:00PM General Assembly.

All committees are encouraged to meet over the course of this week in preparation for this discussion.  Preparatory consideration should include, but not be limited to, the following:

1. What effects, including new opportunities and new challenges, can the movement expect to arise from moving indoors?

2. What can your committee do to address these effects?

3. What other committees may be helpful to your committee in addressing these effects?

4. How will this effect the current HQ at Jackson and LaSalle?

The goal of this meeting is for the committees and individuals of Occupy Chicago to determine and take-on the tasks we need accomplish before we move in to our new home.

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[bodiesuponthegears]

I think this is a great idea. Thank you for bringing it to our attention.

But 2 days seems like awfully short notice to properly prepare for such an important discussion as this.

Especially given the fact that few of the GA minutes have been posted online that relate to the important discussions and vote that took place regarding this issue.

Furthermore, I still can't find the final vote count on what is probably the most important decision we've made as a group so far. I believe I read somewhere in a forum here that 69 voted for Cermack.

How many votes did the other places get?

Thank you.

[marymcmahon@clear.net]

A good starting point to prepare for this discussion would be a formal presentation from the housing of what there vision is for the space and how they saw it functioning. After all they selected this place as the best space to fill what needs???and how???
As well as how they will ensure that we will be able to maintain and promote the Occupied mission of ending the unfair influence the 1% has over our lives.
This mission is not the same as taking on the G8 and the wholly separate NATO agenda. This must be addressed in context of the Occupy Movement because it will be divisive and require an even steeper learning curve than local occupation needs. As it is the a majority of the 99% are not sold on our movement, or even know what we stand for.
My wishes aside, I am interested in the success of the long struggle and would like to hear how the global unrest fits our strategy here so that reasoned decisions can be made.

[sheryl]

A good starting point to prepare for this discussion would be a formal presentation from the housing of what there vision is for the space and how they saw it functioning. After all they selected this place as the best space to fill what needs??? and how???

Agree. Also, I'd like some information posted as to why 620 S. (across and near Grace Place) was deemed unsuitable.

In regard to the final vote on Cermak: I think that less than 90-100 people were at GA for this vote. We have 2048 registered users online and I don't know how many more offline are involved. Weeks ago the Tech group made comment that an online voting option was in the works.

Donated money. Previously there had been a tally of $$ donations available via the donate button. Is this information still available? Who is signing checks. Who is signing the lease? Has it been signed? Is the OC donated money going to be used to house individuals at this new indoor space? If so, who are these individuals? I'd like to skip on my underwater mortgages (two, that's right) and be housed by OC donations if possible and be part of the fulltime Occupation. Just kidding, although I do wish that I could Occupy fulltime. Do you get my point?

If the lease is not yet signed I think that the choice of indoor space, where all of this money is going to, should be revisited.

Two days is not a lot of time. Too much information has not been shared. I have been trying to find it. I want OC to be successful for the long term too. I too question the focus on G8/NATO. Important of course but not the root of OWS. Or is it? If it is, convince me.

[sheryl]

Where will the 12/17 GA be held? Congress and Michigan? Thanks.

[Ella Mae]

Yes.

[bodiesuponthegears]

Thank you for the info sheryl. Appreciate it!

Would be grateful if Secretariat posted tallies for all votes (or at least on major proposals) so that all OC members could see.

I think it would help build a more informed and stronger OC community.

[sheryl]

OK, so for any of us who were not able to attend that GA, where is the info and the minutes from this meeting regarding housing? Thanks!

[Q Mike]

OK, so for any of us who were not able to attend that GA, where is the info and the minutes from this meeting regarding housing? Thanks!

I am very interested in the answer to this question, the answer to ALL the questions about housing, process, and how important decisions are made; and a little reality check about the contrast between the economic and physical infrastructure to date; and starting to spend $3-6,000/month for one line item. Or am I, also, missing some relevant economic structure within Occupy Chicago?

Mike

[marymcmahon@clear.net]

I have similar questions. Also do we really need both spaces, since there is plenty of available space to grow into there why start paying immediately? Why spend in the hopes that 600 people are going to come to the GA's in January or February? 24 people made the last meeting?