Author Archive

02/28/12

February 29th, 2012 · · Minutes Comments Off

2/28/12 General Assembly Meeting

AJ facilitating
Mary E. minutes

Occupy the Food Supply:
Mary M. is going to be working on issues pertaining to food supplies, including buy local, local area farms, and Monsanto.

Compassionate Communication & Skills in Action
Mary M. announced a workshop and flyer with moderator, Syrrus Powell, MSW. Syrrus, from Evansville, Ind., is a graduate of the Committed NVC Practitioner Program and was an Assistant Trainer for the international Leadership Program run by the Bay Area Center for Nonviolent Communication in Oakland, California. The workshop is free, but donations to reimburse travel expenses will be appreciated. It will be held at Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Church, Saturday, March 3 from noon to 4pm.

OSI Website:
Chris W would like to add a secure forum and chatroom to our website. There will be no costs associated. The GA voted approval.

Occupy BloNo at the State Capitol:
Linda G & Shelly B joined BloNo members & Sonny G for the HS 4603 hearing, which did not pass out of the committee.

Media Events:
Mary E passed on a request from Joe F regarding media events. If we are going to send press releases to media, we should show up to our events 15 minutes prior to the actual event, i.e. getting there before the media does, be ready on time.

UIS Rally & Ask Occupy Panel Discussion
Mary E. reminded OSI members to participate in the campus rally from 5 to 6pm, preceding the OSI panel discussion this Thursday.

Book Club:
Chris W will run the book club, independent of OSI. The first two books on the book club list, available online, will remain the same, Rules for Radicals by Saul Alinsky, & Webs of Power by Starhawk.

Citizen’s United:
Jim D will post a link on the OSI discussion page regarding a published annual report of corporations, who owns what.

Organizational Development:
Chris W reminded us that OSI began with a work group structure but this faded away, due to a lack of individual commitments. Also reminding us from Richard Gilman-Opalsky, be careful of becoming too restrictive with working goals & demands. Although, we do need a straight-arrow focus. The OSI “core” is the GA, the GA is where decisions are made. AJ stated that we can have internal structure within groups, as well as support from external groups. AJ recommended that OSI should take the time to create a list of obtainable goals that are reachable in a timely manner. Bob believes we may be putting the cart before the horse, in organizing work groups. We may first need to establish a more definitive mission before we begin organizing work groups. Instead of viewing a philosophical mission, we need to create that philosophy through realizing our philosophical goals. What are those goals? It’s really about the 1% in control. Keep hammering at that objective. Chris W said our goals are education, awareness, & empowerment, & that we do not align ourselves with the 2-party system. Jim D. stated that the 99% is a diverse group that represents the 99%. The goal is how to make change. We need to stay focused on what we are trying to accomplish. Establish that first, & work backwards from there, utilizing individual skill sets. Shelly B. stated that we need to focus on the broader issues. We can’t afford to get lost in minutia; we have to be diligent in keeping in the context of national issues. Work groups are not issue based groups, but rather, where people work; matching individual assets to tasks. Linda G. said she has posted a detailed description of work groups online, for review. We will post a discussion on the topic of organizational development on the forums & further review will be made at the GA, next Tuesday, March 6th.

Midwest Conference:
AJ provided a copy of the schedule of events which is posted on the Midwest Conference website. Housing for the summit will include an encampment (no permit), foreclosed homes, individual homes, & hotels. There is an Occupy Bus available for rides. Linda G. has also posted a ride-share for OSI online. Chris W will post this event on the OSI calendar.

Press Release: Campaign Foodraiser

February 25th, 2012 · · News Comments Off

 For Immediate Release                                                                                                               Contact: Chris Blankenhorn  217.487.4948

Press Release

 

Occupy Springfield Holds Monthly “Campaign Foodraiser” Collection and Rallies for “Tax Fairness” On Behalf of the 99%

 

Illinois’ Current Flat Income Tax Called “Fundamentally Unfair” as Millionaires and Corporate Executives Pay Half the Tax Rate as Average Taxpayers;

State Legislature Weighs Horrific Cuts to Vulnerable Residents

 

(Feb 25, 2011, Springfield, IL) – “We, as Occupy Springfield IL, are collecting and distributing food to those who are left behind in our society, while the state of Illinois is giving massive tax breaks to corporations and taking an axe to health care and vital service budgets.  The burdens of Illinois’ budget crisis should not fall on the shoulders of those who are already suffering.  Those who benefit most from the status quo, corporations and the 1%, need to shoulder their share of the burden, rather than pass the buck to those most economically repressed.”

 

Occupy Springfield IL organized its monthly “Campaign Foodraiser” and held a rally today at the Old State Capitol Plaza to call attention to the state’s unfair and broken tax system that is devastating working families.  On Wednesday, Gov. Quinn gave his budget address that calls for destructive and harmful cuts to health care and other vital assistance for low-income families and seniors.  This is yet one more example of how the state of Illinois is wrongfully balancing the budget on the backs of our most vulnerable citizens instead of calling for fundamental fairness by requiring the richest 1% to pay their fair share of the tax burden.

 

In 2010, 14.5% of American households were food insecure.  That’s not a small minority population, that’s 17.2 million people.  And following Wednesday’s budget speech social services are bracing for more cuts at a time when the struggling economy is pushing more and more people into economic hardship.  Yet those in power still pass the burden onto the working class, rather than require everyone to pay their fair share.  The flat tax in Illinois isn’t even flat nor is it fair.  Millionaires pay a dramatically lower tax rate than average taxpayers by using schemes, loopholes, and deductions to avoid paying their fair share.  In fact, the state of Illinois loses billions of dollars in revenue every year because millionaires take advantage of these loopholes which denies vital funding for human services such as homeless shelters, food pantries, and mental health services.  And because of the extreme levels of income inequality in Illinois, requiring the wealthy to pay their fair share would raise significant revenue, help repair the state’s budget, and stop cuts to human services and health care.

Until those in power fulfill their responsibilities and care for all in society, rather than simply their benefactors, Occupy Springfield IL will continue to collect food to alleviate the stresses on social services for those in need and press for more equitable distribution of the budget burdens.  Moving Illinois to a progressive tax system is just one step towards moving towards a more just and equitable society.  Occupy Springfield IL seeks to press for bottom up social and political change that reflects the government’s responsibility to care for all of its citizens.

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02/23/12

February 24th, 2012 · · Minutes Comments Off

General Assembly Minutes

Chris B. facilitator
Mary E. & Shelly B. minutes

Book Club postponed until next fall. We can have more participants & it will be a good fall/winter activity.

Organizational Development:
To further streamline OSI functions & communication channels, Drew & Linda presented a descriptive template for OSI workgroups. Work group descriptions include fundraising, direct action, media, & education. A copy of the work group descriptions will be posted online for review. A vote on accepting this work group proposal will be presented at next Thursday’s, March 1st, GA.

Angel announced this event, “Occupy Monsanto,” & will be attending with MoveOn.org at the Monsanto Headquarters in St. Louis, this Wednesday, February 29th .

Ride Share to Midwest Conference in St. Louis
Linda created a ride-share sign-up sheet for OSI. This will be posted online.

Food Drive & Progressive Income Tax Picket this Saturday
A reminder of the food drive & picket from 1-2:00.

Introducing a Progressive Income Tax Bill or Resolution
Chris B. may be in a position to speak to a Senator or Senator’s aid concerning the introduction of this bill. The SEIU members present believed that this could be very feasible.

BloNo
This Wednesday, February 28th, Occupy BloNo will be in the Capitol regarding Capping Auto Loans & Title Loans at 36%. They will begin at 2:30 in the Rotunda & have requested our support and attendance at 4:30 in the Committee Meeting. Sunny Garcia of BloNo will be there. He has supported two of our Springfield actions & we should reciprocate & support BloNo at this Committee Meeting.

Ask Occupy & Occupy Education at UIS
Prior to the Thursday, March 1st, 7pm Ask Occupy panel, a Occupy Education Rally will be held on campus from 5pm -6:30pm. Chris B is asking for professors & their classes to support the rally. Our attendance would be useful.

Bill Ayers Occupies the Golden Frog Café
North side of Old State Capitol, Tuesday, March 6th
Limited seating of 70. Tickets are $15 each, & are being offered to OSI members first, but get them before their gone!!!

The Pharmacy
Art Show Open House
South Grand & Pasfield, March 10th will be having a contest with the grand prize of a free one month membership for use of studio space. While attending the event, you write down the name of the person who sent you there. In our case, it would be Drew & if enough people show up, our OSI member gets a Pharmacy membership. Lets take advantage of this opportunity!

Contemporary Art Presentation
Free: 3pm, this Sunday, February 26th (It will be videotaped).

OSI Info Pamphlets & Event Flyers
We need to make sure to bring our pamphlet materials to all public events.
Future event flyers need to be present during current events.

Event promotion
We agreed that we need more people to help with event promotions.

OSI Public Facebook Page
Mary M. was voted as an administrator for this page.

OSI Armbands
Ryan M. is creating arm bands for OSI members. The hat was passed for reimbursement of arm band materials.

AFSME building
A request was made for a sign posted that let’s folks know that we’ve moved.

Our comrade, Mike M.
Mike is back in St. John’s for further surgery. We wish for a speedy recovery & hope they got it right, this time around.

Media Advisory: Campaign Foodraiser

February 24th, 2012 · · News Comments Off

Media Advisory

Occupy Springfield IL to Hold “Campaign Foodraiser” Collection and Community Rally to Call for “Fundamental Fairness” On Behalf of the 99%

As the State Legislature Weighs Horrific Cuts to Vulnerable Residents and Working Families, Occupy Springfield IL Calls On the Community to Help Those In Need and Demand That Millionaires Pay Their Fair Share of the Tax Burden

 

When:             Sat, Feb 25th, 1:00pm – 2:00pm

Where:            Old State Capitol Plaza, 6th St, Springfield, IL

What:             Occupy Springfield IL will hold its monthly “Campaign Foodraiser” to raise food for the Grace Lutheran Church’s food pantry and a rally for a “Fair Tax” policy.  At a time when the state of Illinois suffers from a structural deficit and is threatening to slash health care and vital assistance for low-income families and seniors, Occupy Springfield IL’s “Campaign Foodraiser” is an effort to provide relief to overstressed social services.  Pending cuts to such services could be avoided if Illinois adopted a fair tax policy in which everyone pays their share.  Most millionaires in the state pay half the tax rate as average citizens using schemes, loopholes, and deductions to avoid paying their fair share.  While workers across Illinois pay 5% of their incomes, millionaires pay an effective tax rate of 2.2%.  It’s time for the 1% to pay their fair share.

Statement:      “We, as Occupy Springfield IL, are collecting and distributing food to those who are left behind in our society, while the state of Illinois is giving massive tax breaks to corporations and taking an axe to health care and vital service budgets.  The burdens of Illinois’s budget crisis should not fall on the shoulders of those who are already suffering the most.  Those who benefit most from the status quo, corporations and the 1%, need to shoulder their share of the burden, rather than pass the buck to those most economically repressed.”

For Immed. release.

Contact: 217.487.4948

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Occupy Springfield, IL presents: How to make Sidewalk Chalk

February 20th, 2012 · · Media, Video Comments Off

Occupy Springfield, IL. shows you how to make Sidewalk Chalk, sometimes called “Freedom Chalk,” or as we like to call it “Schock Chalk.” Why do we call it that? Well, we had a certain Congressman picked as a target at the time we were shooting this video, and it just seemed fitting.

In an amazingly ironic twist of fate, the next evening our host in this video, Drew, was ticketed with another man for using this chalk. This perfectly LEGAL chalk! Charges were later dropped by the city.

http://www.occupyspringfieldil.net/wp-content/uploads/video/HowToMakeSidewalkChalk.flv

Teach-in: Conviction of the Innocent

February 20th, 2012 · · Teach-Ins, University Comments Off

John Hanlon, J.D. lends his education and experience to facilitate Occupy Springfield, IL.’s Teach-In on the conviction of innocent Americans due to the inherent flaws of our justice system’s approach, as well as the conditioned fear of the American public towards people/ideologies/circumstances with which they are unfamiliar/uneducated.

http://www.occupyspringfieldil.net/wp-content/uploads/video/TeachIn-ConvictionOfThe%20Innocent.flv

Teach-in: Growing Community Through Local Economy

February 19th, 2012 · · Teach-Ins, University Comments Off
http://www.occupyspringfieldil.org/wp-content/uploads/video/GrowingCommunity.flv

02/16/12

February 17th, 2012 · · Minutes Comments Off

General Assembly Minutes

Chris B. facilitating.
Shelley B. minutes

New person introduced (Luke) and hand signals were gone over.

5/5/12 @ 5pm SEIU media seminar invitation was reiterated. (Details in 02/14 minutes)

The event for 2/25 concerning promoting a progressive tax as opposed to the flat tax in conjunction with our food drive , before the ask occupy event was discussed. A picket line @ the Old State Capitol during the food collection 1-2 pm was agreed upon. research the progressive tax for sign material.

SEIU asked if we could prepare 50 Occupy T-shirts for them to wear before then. UIS can silkscreen T-shirts ($10 /screen 1color /screen, $1/shirt ,$1/color?). Armbands were suggested as an alternative.

5/1/12 Occupy Education action w/RSU  prior to Ask Occupy event, was discussed. More info on map grants , List of issues for fliers , suggestions and examples for fliers were requested.

New meeting spaces were brought up. It was agreed that Gallinas would be used for the next 2 meetings at least while another location is searched out.

Buttons were discussed. Supplies for buttons were not available yet but would be soon (not for 25th action)

An invitation to a meeting with MoveOn  (Joann Conrad and Dee Dawson) @ 2pm @ 13 Red Oak lane was extended to us through Angel.

02/14/12

February 17th, 2012 · · Minutes Comments Off

General Assembly Minutes

Results of the Foodraiser were given , the effectiveness of the Foodraiser was questioned in light of the lack of media as was the ongoing food drive. It was determined that the food raised, as well as the outreach the action offered was a worthy  effort.

SEIU invited us to their media training seminar on 5/5/2012 @5pm @ 600 s 4th St.

AFSCME will be engaged in bargaining meetings and as a result we will be required to find another meeting place after Thursday’s meeting (2/16). Various buildings were suggested and the persons who suggeated them offered to inquire as to their availability and return their findings @ the 2/16 meeting.

More information on the action with SEIU on the 25th was requested.

(Homeless) Joe’s progress was noted and Drew’s cell number was passed out for contact.

A discrepancy in  the meeting time written in the IL times was noted. It lists 7pm. We later learned that the IT’s calendar only does 30 minute increments.

Jim said they were going to have a meeting with Schocks office about unemployment benefits.

AJ said he noticed a meeting @ LLCC, “compost symposium,” at a cost of $30 to attend 12-4 & 2/15

AJ noted that  Kathy Kelly will be doing a Teach-in tentatively 3/22 @ The Pharmacy

Time limit for requesting Teach-ins or entertainers for Occupy The Midwest conference will be next week.

02/09/12

February 15th, 2012 · · Minutes Comments Off

General Assembly Minutes

Bill shared information on OSI getting a PO Box, gave paperwork to Chris T. Also reminded folks to bring out signs tomorrow.

Chris T. brought flyers and spoke about them. It was noted that we should try to design flyers that will use more white space and less toner.

Athony spoke again on the topic of foreclosures along with Jerry. We need to get foreclosure statistics on Springfield. The idea was mentioned that we might start a “Support group” for those foreclosed on and those undergoing foreclosure. We may possibly have an action on this the 25th, planned around our “Ask Occupy” event. Workgroup formed and we will do a rally from 1 – 2pm on the 25th.

Discussed possible actions based around drawing attention to austerity measures and regarding a graduated income tax. There will be a budget speech in Illinois from the governor on the 22nd.

Jim mentioned that UI extension benefits will run out on the 17th, talked about meeting at 5pm at Aaron Schock’s office for this.

Chris B. brought up “Occupy Education” on the 1st of March. RSU already has a permit on the UIS campus for the “Ask Occupy” event this day, we could just arrive early for a rally on this topic. Also advised that Holly Kent will be doing a Teach-in for us on Women & Gender Studies. More information forthcoming.

Showed everyone the Ward Churchill flyer for the RSU event.

Chris T. mentioned that domain names can be purchased for $10 and we already have unlimited hosting. So anytime we want we could quickly and easily create an entire website devoted to topics of our choice. For instance if we wanted to push for a graduated tax structure we could purchase exampleexamplegraduatedtax.com and make it an issue-specific informational website.

$23.00 was collected from the passing of the hat.

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