Occupy Ashland: General Assembly Notes from 11-16-11
O C C U P Y ♡ A S H L A N D (oregon), 17.11.2011 06:37
Good evening to 'ya:
Occupy Ashland continues to grow... we had nearly 50 people at General Assembly tonight. The SPRG potluck on the plaza was a success and more food was brought for General Assembly time. We may have been cold, but we were well fed!
Keep reading to see General Assembly Notes
Open Forum
Christmas Parade
Suggested that Occupy Ashland participate in the Ashland Festival of Lights parade, with representation through signs & open mic.
About half of attendees liked this idea. See Karen if you would like to take the lead.
Corporate Personhood forum at SOU
Senator Bates and Rep Buckley will be joining professors at SOU to discuss the abolishment of corporate personhood.
Tuesday, Nov 22, 5-7 pm, Rogue River Room in Stevenson Union (SOU)
Occupy Medford report
Protests in front of banks, antiwar protests, Saturday General Assemblies at Alba Park.
Warning of taking care to not alienate people when taking a position on an issue.
Essay on occupying
Starhawk wrote an essay on sustained nonviolent direct action. Search for it online and look for a posting on the Occupy Ashland page.
Definition of a "block"
Discussed what it means to use the "block" signal during GA.
War protests
Deb will be fasting at Freedom Plaza in DC, January 2-11, in support of Bradley Manning and prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. See her if you are interested in participating.
Rogue River action
A group of "very conservative" citizens in Rogue River are meeting to plan a civil disobedience action: growing illegal hemp. Word is that county commissioners and the police chief put forward their support!
Announcements
National Day of Solidarity
Tomorrow (Thursday) is the 2-month anniversary of Occupy Wall Street. Meet on the plaza, 5-6 pm, in solidarity with other occupiers to voice your support for the occupy movement. Refreshments will be provided.
Ashland Food Co-op union organizing
Friday, Nov 18th, 2-8 pm, is "solidarity shopping" time in support of Co-op workers attempting to unionize.
Public forum with the Board of Directors on this issue: Saturday, 2-5 pm, at Havurah Shir Hadash (185 N Mountain St).
Solidarity with Occupy Medford
Adopted foreclosure protests at Medford County Courthouse in conjunction with Occupy Ashland and Good Grief America. An event is being planned, Nov 27 or 28, time TBA.
Call for more collaboration between Ashland and Medford.
Bank protests
Protests in front of big branch banks continue in Ashland every day, 12-3 pm.
Occupying foreclosed homes
Working group being formed to help people who are facing foreclosure on their homes. If you'd like to brainstorm about how to reach out to these people, talk to John Stern.
The World We Want to See
Join Occupy Ashland and the Center for Creative Change for our Saturday event on the plaza. Media will be there!
11 am - 1 pm: Catie Faryl and Eric Sirotin, Co-founders of Ashland's new Center for Creative Change, will speak about alternative futures and choices for positive change. Create your own art work and statements about "The World We Want to See." Art and written work will displayed during the Dec 2nd First Friday Art Walk at the Center.
1-2 pm: Open mic
2 pm: General Assembly
Ladakh slideshow
Slideshow about Ladakh, India, will be held at the Gresham room of the library on Friday, 7-9 pm. Deb is feeding us & opening it up for discussion after her talk!
Potluck
Deb and Sarah are having a potluck at their house, 78 4th St, on Saturday. Potluck begins at 6 pm; hour of art at 8 pm!
Canvassing for watershed protection
Help to gather petitions to protect the Ashland watershed from the Mt. Ashland ski expansion. Meet at 78 4th St at 5:30 pm to discuss how to canvass; dinner will be served to canvassers at 7:30 pm.
Book Club
Agenda for a New Economy: From Phantom Wealth to Real Wealth, by David Korten. Meet to discuss the book on Dec 12 and 19.
Forest defense study group
Cascade-Siskiyou Free Skool topic for Sunday is forest defense. Meet on the plaza at 12 pm.
Cascade Forest Defenders will be holding trainings for direct action to protect the forests, Dec 9 and 10. Talk to Liza or Liisa if you would like to participate.
THRIVE screening
Streamed showing of the documentary THRIVE at 7 pm. Potluck begins at 5:30-6ish, 1012 Belleview.
Southern Oregon Jobs with Justice
Group will be hosting Vermont workers campaigning for single payer health care.
Wednesday, Dec 14, 7-9 pm, Unitarian Church on 4th St
Hispanic Academic Outreach program in Medford
Call for mentors who are computer-savvy willing to mentor students with the outreach program.
Independent media
Reminder to plug in to our local media outlets KSKQ and Ashland Free Press
Committee Reports
Village Committee
Working to create a central hub for operating 24/7; attempt to work with City to approve space for Occupy village not looking good.
Exploring alternatives: private property, Jackson Wellsprings, land outside of city limits, public park.
Facilitation Committee
Trainings for facilitators will be scheduled. Sophia is willing to do one-on-one trainings; contact her if interested.
Meetings for committee will no longer be held.
Legal Defense Committee
Know Your Rights training was wonderful; if interested in holding additional trainings, let committee members know.
Legal Observer training on Monday, 6:00 pm, at Center for Creative Change (320 E Main).
Upcoming Meetings
Treasury Committee: Thursday, 4 pm, Caldera Tap House
Legal Defense Committee: Thursday, 5 pm, Ashland plaza
Action Committee: Saturday, 4 pm, Grilla Bites
Proposals
Palestine
Vote called for or against Palestinian membership in the United Nation. Nearly unanimous support.
Festival of Lights action
Proposal of convening / occupying around Ashland plaza during Ashland Festival of Lights celebration on November 25.
Most people in support; one opposed.
Discussion included: concern of occupiers getting lost in crowd; desire for upbeat, positive action; large puppets (talk to Joanna)
Talk to Vanessa if you would like this action to happen.
Occupation Medical League
Proposal of creating a medical committee unanimously approved. Talk to Kai if interested.
World Peace Teepee
Mediocre support by those at GA for set up of 200 person teepee at Jackson Wellsprings on Friday. Teepee space offered for GA meetings as long as it is set up. Little discussion took place.
In Solidarity,
Occupy Ashland
http://www.occupyashlandoregon.org