Marcus discussed possibly forming a chapter of Socialist Alternative in Springfield.

Stephen Edwards will be here the 19th to discuss it with anyone interested.

Walmart work group came up with idea for banner and signs at the Walmart on Freedom Drive. GA Approved.

GA came up with time and day of Walmart Action December 15th 2012 at 2pm.

Woo will be making announcements flyers for action and will pass them out at Drinking Liberally and put the file online for others to print and use.

Discussed using Action Now space to paint banner and signs.

Drew facilitating

Left wing carpool was discussed- Lots of people anticipating on going but no one knows for sure so rides can’t be offered.

Woo summarized the marxist conference

Woo summarized visit to Occupy Chicago office and GA

Durbin Action on the 10th from 4-6 was discussed. Will be taking part in action with other entities. Drew may have a skit to do.

Occupy .org and .com have expired. GA approved using Occupy finances to renew domains

Walmart actions were discussed in solidarity with workers and strikers nationwide. Work group formed to come up with a plan and present it to the GA.

A.J. Segneri Facilitating

New format proposed and accepted.

GA’s will follow as:

Call for help- people asking for help for existing projects.

Announcements

Proposals- Suggestions for actions or discussions

Call for help:

Deanna and Deven will be doing an action where they do there own labeling for GMO foods on grocery store shelves. Anyone willing to participate is invited. Get ahold of Deanna for details

Announcements:

FUF is having several events-

Sat, Sept 22nd from 1-3 at the Lincoln Public Library in North Carnigie room will        present Freddy Pinky

Oct 9th 607:30 David Cobb from Move to Amend will be in town

October 13th Congression Candidate Debate- So far only John Hartman is confirmed.

Nov 10 from 12-2 Adam Stone will be in town for a Meet the Author event.

Action Now is having it’s first city wide meeting August 15 on the Old State Capitol Plaza at 5 pm.

Proposal:

Debrief about the Occupy Illinois State Summit- extending the next summit through to Sunday was discussed.

Summary of Summit was also discussed

Occupy Illinois Action for Friday August 17th was discussed for the Special Session. Will meet across street from Capitol (2nd and Capitol) to rally for a day of awareness and education.

Joining up with any unions that are there that day that rally against the pension cuts.

Possibly have delegates go in and talk to legislatures

Make an informational flyer to handout. Drew and Lara are working on fact checking for this.

Several people are getting ahold of media contacts for Aug 17th action.

Discussed actions to take to save Griffen Woods. Going to start focusing on this issue.

Woo facillitating

1. Food prep for the State Summit was discussed- Lara is talking to the Unitarian Universalits church, Cindy is talking to her church,food donations from Decatur supporters and occupiers were announced and use of coffee makers by lara and woo were offered
2. Accomodations for out of towners during Summit were discussed with Deanna and Woo offering house space to 3 peopleand camping space for 8, Drew offered space for 2 and Lara will have space for 5 for one night , other options will be persued , to be discussed further.
3. Itinerary was given ( itinerary is posted on the Occupy Illinois Summit page )
4. Times for food service in the itinerary were set
5. Friday: 8-8:45; 12:15-1; and5:30 . Saturday 9-9:45 ;12-1245 .
6. the question of when the Governors Luncheon would occur was asked more info to come
7. The idea of attending the Equal Wage Rights Rally was offered
8. The question of an action during the special session the 17th was posed and germinating ideas was suggested
9. Joining in an action concerning the graduated tax was brought up …more info to come
10. Upcoming actions by FUF were presented attendence on a personal basis but not as a group was decided
11. Funds were dispersed for purchase of food supplies for the summit . $70

1.  A PO box has been obtained:PO box 1382Springfield , Il62705
2. Action Now is having a rally @ the Capitol rotunda @12 noon concernong the “Grow Your Own Teachers ” program which gives people grants to persue a teaching degree so they will teach in their home state… Also adressed : minimum wage,taxes,medicare and pension cuts.
3. The time has come to repay the loan for the printer. It was agreed that after some donations from members who get personal use from the printer the remainder of the money would come from OSI funds.
4. We are not going to give the Ghost Guy any unfriendly attention.
5. The next OSI Human Be In will be Saturday , June 23 as will our next Foodraiser
6. The OSI BANNER .Whoever has the OSI banner , please bring it to the next GA or get ahold of someone to pick it up , thanks.
7. Occupy the State Fair Parade: Ideas for a float. Application deadline is July 6 , we’d like to get it in far prior to that date so give this some thought and bring your ideas Tuesday night.
8. The Town Hall meeting for Single Payer Healthcare has been postponed until an undetermined later date.
9. There is a post on the forum concerning A national gathering and the Occupy Caravan, Please read it and give some feed back ASAP so A response to that group can be given.
10. There is a forum discussion on the Pharmacy website that has been suggested for reading/participation. www. thepharmacygallery.com
11. Thursday May 31  7:30 Meet at the Old Capitol Plaze for CASEROLE marchin solidarity with the students in montreal. Bring a pot and a spoon and a red piece of felt.

Foodraiser Saturday @ noon, Old Capital Plaza. Food will be donated to Uturn. Diane Lopez Hughes will be doing a teach in on Homelessness at Uturn @1:30.

Discussed possibly getting radio exposure for the foodraisers. Possibly with Ray Lytle (WMAY)?

Mary Ellen and Woo will put out a media advisory for foodraiser.

Reaching out to churches and getting email addys to make contact and see if they can announce or print in church bulletins about foodraiser.

Contact Captial Group to get word out about food raiser.

Proposed to next time donate to Choice Community Homes (the homes that took in homeless Joe).- Approved

Morning of the 28th there will be a clean up on the east side with St. Patrick Cathedral @8:30.

Drew is oranizing an Occupy State Summit. Proposed to have it at Southwind Park.

Also discussed having an Occupy Music and Speaker festival at Southwind Park.

Mary Ellen taking sack
AJ facillitating

The number of GA’s was asked to be reduced from 3 to 2 per week. It was proposed that Tuesday @ 7 and Saturday @ 130 be the times and dates for GA’s. – proposal was passed

Scott Walker @ the Chamber of Commerce Assembly was discussed. Civil disobedience has NOT been approved by the GA and any action intentionally resulting in arrest is outside the support of OSI.

Action Now and SEIU have an action for Tax Day @ 330 pm 4/17.

Teach In- Friday 4/13 @ The Pharmacy@ 7 pm Pat Langley on the Correlation between Occupy and Act Up.

Foundation for a United Front will have a week of events April 24 through the 30th for LGBT week. April 28= panel event and other events will be posted as announced.

AJ Segneri will be running for county board in District 287 Chicago pre NATO trip. Check forums Haymarket Festival was brought up as a future event.

Outreach tactics were discussed

MaryEllen facillitating

 
Mary Mac asked to be made an admin of the fan page to help keep it updated and
open it more for new users Dee or Woo will add her ASAP.

Announcement of bookstore co op (not Occupy related) meeting 7 pm @ Holyland diner. Questions should be directed to AJ.

April 17th Chamber of Commerce has asked Scott Walker to speak in springfield. An
action in coordination with other Il Occupiers has been suggested.

Calling businesses that are part of the Chamber to tell them how we feel about the
Chamber supporting this speaker was suggested.

Cautioned against us being seen as only protesting republicans.

Call was made for hosting other occupiers attending Scott Walker event. (yes)

Illinois Unite Against the War on Women on march the 29th reminder was given. Contacts in Chicago were asked for by Woo.

Announcement- Wolfpack group being started. Call made for members. Contact Drew.

Drew was asked about Jefferson park plots.It is in the works

Woo was asked about the PO box. Getting it this week

Teachin was discussed. Low attendance noted. Warehouse space was applauded.

Flier of suggested anti war actions was presented for the info to be added to
the page.

Chris B announced he was resigning from both the media spokesperson position and
the head of the group working on progressive tax. Woo, Maryellen and Rachel Smith
were suggested to take over @ media and Drew is taking proressive tax.
Meeting times were moved to 7pm instead of 7:15 pm @ the Old Capitol Plaza. Rain
meetings to be held @ Gallina’s

General Assembly Minutes – 20 March 2012

 Jim introduced his guest, Tari P. from Illinois United Against the War on Women. This group is a national movement in all states. Jim announced that Ms. Parr’s group is organizing a rally at the Capitol on March 29th, 12:30PM. The rally is in opposition to HB4117 and HB4085, which attack women’s’ rights. Ms. Parr indicated they are asking for help and participation in the rally. Her contact information:  ***stricken**. GA gave approval to support this rally; participants may identify with Occupy Springfield.

Kevin told the group he had been approached by various unions about having an event on “May Day” and wanted to know if Occupy Springfield was planning anything for that day. Drew stated that he and several others are planning out a Haymarket Festival on May 1 and will be in charge of a march from the Capitol in conjunction and would get that information to Kevin.

Mary Ellen stated that she is interested in helping with assisting Chris Blankenhorn with media contacts. This was approved by the GA.

Marcus told the group that he has two garden plots located at Jefferson Park and indicated he would like to donate one to the group. He also suggested that OSI purchase additional plots which cost $10 each. The plots must be used “organically”. Members offered to donate money to buy additional plots. Drew will purchase them.

A. J. announced that Ward Churchill will speak at UIS, Brookens Auditorium on Wednesday, March 21st, at 7:00PM. He also announced that Kathy Kelly will be at the Pharmacy on Thursday, March 22nd. Those wishing to have dinner with Ms. Kelly at 5:00PM should let him know.

Drew suggested that we move the GA’s back to the Old State Capitol Plaza. Mary Ellen stated that we should make Gallina’s our permanent “rain location”. After additional discussion, the proposal was revised to include starting the change of location on Saturday, March 24th, with the Foodraiser at 12:00 Noon, the GA on the Old State Capitol Plaza at 1:30PM accompanied by a pot luck, and that food collected at the Foodraiser would be donated to Grace Lutheran Church. This was approved by the GA.

Chris Woo announced that there will be a fundraiser for the Haymarket Festival at the Black Sheep Cafe, on April 1st, at 7 PM. Entertainment will be provided by two bands, End Time Trio and Floodlight.

Cilla brought up the possible “fracturing” of the group. Discussion followed with some agreeing and/or disagreeing in varied degrees. Final consensus seemed to be that Occupy Springfield should embrace cooperation with all groups with a common cause.

The final topic was to recap experiences at the Occupy the Midwest Conference.

Tues, 3/13/12 General Assembly

Drew D. facilitator, Mary N. minutes

OIS Direct Action: Thur, 3/15/12:

Drew D. is leading a Progressive Tax/Fair Share Taxation action at the Spfld Chamber of Commerce, 215 E. Adams at 10:15am. Kevin & SEIU are supporting this action. The King will be sitting on his golden throne (an embellished toilet seat), & the golden throne will them be presented to the Chamber. Further details will be posted on discussion group. OSI member support appreciated, arrive time:  9:30 – 10:00am.

Springfield Spring Re-Occupation: Thur, 3/15/12:

Drew D. motioned to have our spring re-occupation commence on the South side of the Old State Capitol Plaza after the prior direct action event, around noon. With the spring weather bringing folks back outside, & with this site: our public commons; those that would like to have a public presence, this would be a good time to return: picket, gather, bring us back out.

Josh’s NATO/G8 video:

Drew D. motioned to approve Josh’s video to place it on OSI web. Approved.

Post Office Box:

Drew D. motioned to approve funds for an OSI post office box. Vinegar Hill post office was approved. Funding approved.

Occupy Midwest Chalk Teach-In:

OSI will be giving a chalk teach-in at St Louis this Friday, 9 – 11am. Any OSI members present should help volunteer to assist in the teach-in.

T-Shirts:

We may have a spontaneous OSI (stencil/spray paint) Wed evening… further details on discussion page