[FlyingBrickAnnouncements] Today's meeting minutes
Nathan Stickel
incoherentnickle at gmail.com
Fri Jan 14 18:42:27 UTC 2011
Thanks for the responses y'all.
I had a feeling it was mostly a problem with mis-communication, and like I
said, I am really sorry for that mix-up. If someone is willing to call
volunteers and alert them of the meeting time change, while giving them an
option of giving concerns, I think that the general meetings could stay in
place this month. I would be willing to help do that. There is also the
option of redacting some of the proposals, and saving them to be discussed
over the course of the next few months while the Procedure workgroup hammers
out bylaws. This type of mix-up is exactly why I think it is so important to
have bylaws, and make those bylaws easily available to anyone that wants
them. My suggestion to some of the other bottomliners has been that we have
the Procedure meetings to discuss these ideas, write them up, and when we
are mostly finished present them to the group at the General Meeting, but
NOT voting on them until the following month. This would give ample time for
people to review and think about the bylaws, voice concerns, make
amendments, and block anything that may be too controversial. I would also
suggest that this be done through phone, as well as e-mail. I have been
meaning to go through the list of volunteers and highlight those who prefer
to be contacted by phone.
A note on facilitation:
While I understand the desire to have a casual meeting when there are so few
attendees, our usual meetings are somewhere in the ballpark of 7-10 people,
so I don't think that is an unusually small meeting by our standards. I am
stoked we can bring that many people to a meeting on a regular basis, and I
am also stoked that so many of the people that were there are people that
have been involved for a while. I think when the meeting feels more casual,
then that means the facilitator's job is just made easy, not that there
should be an absence of that role. I suppose a big problem I have with
people taking up the role of facilitator informally, as it seems Megan and
Ramey did, is that when something informal happens like that, it is usually
the people who are:
A. People who take initiative regularly in social situations. This can
develop into an informal hierarchy VERY quickly, and I feel that the Library
has done a pretty good job so far at keeping that from happening. I think a
rotating job of facilitation can help cut down on that tendency.
B. People who are the most experienced or feel the most relaxed in a certain
organization. Being experienced and relaxed in a group is fucking AWESOME.
The only time I feel this can be a problem is that if people take on roles
over and over again, informally, it tends to build an informal hierarchy
within the group, that relegates newcomers to the social circle or less
experienced people to secondary roles of grunt-work, that feel they need to
seek out the opinions and "permission" of the more experienced, more
socially connected people of an organization.
These are both reasons I think it is important to have a few roles, that are
very important, that rotate. It gives more experienced (usually involved in
multiple projects) people time to relax and give support to less experienced
or socially connected people in their growth as organizers, activists, and
members of the community. Sometimes the best thing for the more experienced
and social of us to do is to refuse to do some tasks. Give space to those
that would otherwise never push those people for more responsibility within
an organization.
Don't take that stuff the wrong way, I realize the intent in the decision, I
just thought I would explain why it is so important to me. And I know some
of you won't agree, and thats ok too. I just want to be sure y'all
understand I am not trying to be a stickler for process, I just really enjoy
how the Brick seems to be doing well at keeping a large group of people that
contribute fairly equally to the whole, without 1 or 2 people taking on most
of the work or decision making. I think we're doing really great, and I am
so glad to be a part of this with all of you! :)
On Fri, Jan 14, 2011 at 8:22 AM, Matt <johnnypark33 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hey Flying Brickers! You are currently receiving messages in a Non-Digest
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>
>
> Nathan, reflecting on your comments I get the feeling that many of the
> ideas that were brought up maybe should have been considered but saved for
> further discussion when more volunteers were present. Maybe the problem is
> the conundrum of spending so much time and email to get a meeting date and
> then having a meeting with 5-6 people - I think we were looking at the
> turnout and really wanted to try and come up with something consistent so
> that people who want to come will know when it is, just like open hours.
> Having the meeting(s) correspond to open hours seemed like a natural fit
> since it's already the schedule people know. In retrospect I think you have
> a good point, though.
>
> The impression I got on the Procedural Meeting was much like other smaller,
> focused meetings, in that the date was flexible for others who couldn't
> attend. It seems no one remembered you were one of the bottom-liners, but
> one of the things we DID discuss was going over previous notes and being
> accountable on who's taking on what, and here we have a perfect example as
> to why it's important to do that because that's a conversation you should
> have had a part in. I think also that there were a lot of agenda items,
> fewer people = fewer opportunity for concerns and maybe in general it got a
> little carried away? ^_^
>
>
>
> On Fri, Jan 14, 2011 at 7:09 AM, MO xvx <xveganarchistrvax at gmail.com>wrote:
>
>> Hey Flying Brickers! You are currently receiving messages in a Non-Digest
>> Form. If you'd like to receive messages compacted into one e-mail a day,
>> just visit your listserv homepage and change your settings to the Digest
>> Version. Questions? Just ask!
>>
>>
>> Hello!
>> This was my first Flying Brick Meeting, and because I was also doing Open
>> Hours yesterday I wasn't even actually present for the agenda setting part
>> of the meeting. I didn't know about any of the things that you brought up.
>> And while I reckon there wasn't a formal facilitator it definitely seemed
>> like Megan and Ramey took that on. Megan going down the agenda because she
>> had it typed in the notes. In terms of procedure, at least everything was
>> concensed on- we had lots of thumbs ups.
>>
>> The part that we decided on which might help in the future was the idea of
>> typing uup and printing off all meeting notes to be read at the beginning of
>> the next meeting and kept in a binder that I can get to yall ASAP. Maybe the
>> beginning of all meeting notes could include a section on how yalls meetings
>> function? That was new people would find out, old people would be reminded
>> etc.
>>
>> Just a though
>> ALL OF THE LOVE!!!!
>> Mo
>>
>> On Thu, Jan 13, 2011 at 11:03 PM, Megan Osborn <mrosborn1 at gmail.com>wrote:
>>
>>> Hey Flying Brickers! You are currently receiving messages in a Non-Digest
>>> Form. If you'd like to receive messages compacted into one e-mail a day,
>>> just visit your listserv homepage and change your settings to the Digest
>>> Version. Questions? Just ask!
>>>
>>>
>>> Nathan,
>>>
>>> To be honest I did not know of any of this or things probably would have
>>> gone differently. So, how do you suggest we go about addressing your
>>> concerns?
>>>
>>> I would suggest that we could contact the remaining volunteers that were
>>> not present at the meeting about the 2 meeting a month decision and hear
>>> their concerns. I do think it would be helpful and perhaps necessary to have
>>> a regular meeting time for the volunteer meetings for several reasons.
>>>
>>> I do know that we all decided on not having a formal facilitator because
>>> the meeting was small. Informally through my personal observation it seemed
>>> like Ramey and I were the main people that "facilitated" (ie kept the
>>> meeting on track).
>>>
>>> I don't feel as if I'm able to comment on the other concerns since I'm
>>> lacking in background knowledge of the situation and how the Brick has
>>> operated in the past. Perhaps someone else could chime in?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Thu, Jan 13, 2011 at 10:11 PM, Nathan Stickel <
>>> incoherentnickle at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hey Flying Brickers! You are currently receiving messages in a
>>>> Non-Digest Form. If you'd like to receive messages compacted into one e-mail
>>>> a day, just visit your listserv homepage and change your settings to the
>>>> Digest Version. Questions? Just ask!
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> So I don't really know what happened, but I think some stuff hasn't gone
>>>> like it was supposed to....
>>>>
>>>> ON MEETING SCHEDULING:
>>>> - We have had the policy of 1 general meeting a month, scheduled by the
>>>> availability of people contacted since very early in our re-opening. I think
>>>> this should change, but I don't think a meeting of 7 out of 65 total listed
>>>> volunteers can make the decision without first getting the opinions of those
>>>> it would effect. While the idea to have 2 meetings a month was partially my
>>>> idea, I had no intention for this meeting to be the meeting it was decided
>>>> on.
>>>> - The Procedure Meeting was supposed to be scheduled AFTER getting
>>>> people's availability, not with the few people at the general meeting. I
>>>> can't make the meeting on the 17th, I have to work. I think this is pretty
>>>> problematic since I am 1 of the 3 bottomliners. I had no say in the
>>>> scheduling of the meeting, and I am very passionate about this subject, as I
>>>> know there are a couple others who are, that aren't back in town from the
>>>> holidays.
>>>>
>>>> ON PROCEDURE
>>>> - When the library was re-opened, it was agreed that the meetings would
>>>> function under formal consensus with a facilitator. Was there a reason this
>>>> didn't happen? I think it is important to have a facilitator at our
>>>> meetings, but if there was a reason I'd definitely like to hear it.
>>>> - There were a few other procedure items discussed and passed, that I
>>>> only remember brainstorming and discussing with the other bottomliners, I
>>>> had no intention or idea that they would be proposed at this time. The
>>>> bottomliners haven't even been able to meet all together to chat, so I
>>>> didn't imagine any of these things would be ready to be put to a vote. That
>>>> is what the procedure meetings would be for. I thought I mentioned to folks
>>>> that I would really like to see our bylaws written up through the meetings
>>>> and made available to ALL volunteers a month BEFORE voting to pass them.
>>>> This way people would have plenty of time for voicing concerns, even if they
>>>> couldn't make meetings. If I wasn't clear about that, I apologize, but I
>>>> really don't think things should change so drastically at the drop of a hat.
>>>> **
>>>> Please don't take this as an aggressive message, I know how long e-mails
>>>> can come off as serious or dramatic, I just really don't agree with some of
>>>> the proposals, and since I have been at work all day and couldn't go to the
>>>> meeting, I am a little confused how all of this happened. I just want to
>>>> understand the reasoning on these items, and if I was to vague about some of
>>>> my ideas or gave anyone the wrong impression, I sincerely apologize.
>>>>
>>>> All the events look great, and I am stoked for them. Thanks for
>>>> endorsing the Burial Ground actions and the VPA March!
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Thu, Jan 13, 2011 at 8:06 PM, Megan Osborn <mrosborn1 at gmail.com>wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Hey Flying Brickers! You are currently receiving messages in a
>>>>> Non-Digest Form. If you'd like to receive messages compacted into one e-mail
>>>>> a day, just visit your listserv homepage and change your settings to the
>>>>> Digest Version. Questions? Just ask!
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> 1/13 General Volunteers Meeting Minutes
>>>>>
>>>>> In Attendance: Mallory, Megan, Ramey, Jen, Ellen, Matt, Mo
>>>>>
>>>>> Facilitator: none
>>>>>
>>>>> Notetaker: Megan
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Agenda items:
>>>>>
>>>>> Regular meeting day(s)
>>>>>
>>>>> How to set agenda items
>>>>>
>>>>> Procedure meeting
>>>>>
>>>>> Shelving
>>>>>
>>>>> Budgeting/Reimbursement
>>>>>
>>>>> Lips event date change
>>>>>
>>>>> Incomplete items from last meeting
>>>>>
>>>>> MLP Speak Out event
>>>>>
>>>>> Lips release
>>>>>
>>>>> Tshirts
>>>>>
>>>>> Friends of AK Press, PM Press, etc
>>>>>
>>>>> Endorsing VPA and Burial Ground actions
>>>>>
>>>>> International Sex Worker Rights Awareness Day
>>>>>
>>>>> Volunteer log
>>>>>
>>>>> Meeting minutes
>>>>>
>>>>> Eating Disorder Awareness Week
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> 1.
>>>>>
>>>>> Regular meeting day(s):We thought that we could have two volunteer
>>>>> meetings a month, especially for some people that are not able to come to
>>>>> one meeting. Fixed meeting dates may be easier to plan around, will save
>>>>> emails flooding inboxes, and will save a lot of planning and phone calls
>>>>> each month trying to find a good meeting time.
>>>>>
>>>>> Meetings on the first Monday of each month at 12:30pm and the third
>>>>> Thursday at 6:30pm. Passed.
>>>>>
>>>>> *Our next volunteer meetings will be on Monday, Feb. 7th at 12:30pm
>>>>> and Thursday, Feb. 17th at 6:30pm.*
>>>>>
>>>>> Meeting notes and decisions made at the meetings will be sent out
>>>>> to the listserv. If there are any objections to decisions made at a meeting,
>>>>> we thought it would be good to have a certain amount of time for voicing
>>>>> concerns, and if there are no objections, move forward. *Two days
>>>>> timespan for voicing concerns was passed.*
>>>>> 2.
>>>>>
>>>>> How to set agenda items: Who is bottomlining open hours will be
>>>>> decided during the first meeting of the month who is bottomlining for the
>>>>> following month. Passed.
>>>>>
>>>>> Planning for events for the following month should be open to both
>>>>> meetings (for example, both Feb. meetings are open for planning March
>>>>> events). Passed.
>>>>> 3.
>>>>>
>>>>> Procedure meeting:* *brainstorm ideas for a mission statement and
>>>>> foundational things about the library that weren't completely finished when
>>>>> the library reopened. *Procedure meeting will be Monday, January
>>>>> 17th at 6:30pm.*
>>>>> 4.
>>>>>
>>>>> Shelving: the open area has been measured for building our new
>>>>> shelves. $100 budget for new shelves. Passed.
>>>>> 5.
>>>>>
>>>>> Budgeting: Ellen will bottomline keeping track of Flying Brick
>>>>> expenditures on a spreadsheet and talking to Robert about opening up a house
>>>>> fund bank account for the library.
>>>>>
>>>>> Reimbursement: Ellen bought “Defying the Tomb” for the library.
>>>>> Consent on full reimbursement.
>>>>> 6.
>>>>>
>>>>> Lips movie screening event change: *Change the date from the 22nd
>>>>> to the 29th from 7-10pm. *Passed.
>>>>> 7.
>>>>>
>>>>> Incomplete tasks from last meeting: Jen is still on the lookout for
>>>>> a coffee urn. She will also talk to Jeff Wayside Center facilitation and
>>>>> consensus items.
>>>>> 8.
>>>>>
>>>>> MLP speak out event: *speak out/potluck/benefit on February 19th,
>>>>> potluck at 6pm, event starts at 7pm.* Passed.
>>>>> 9.
>>>>>
>>>>> Lips release: was originally scheduled for Valentine's Day. Agenda
>>>>> item is shelved until more information is gathered about the event.
>>>>> 10.
>>>>>
>>>>> Tshirts: Setting a budget for getting bulk blank t-shirts so that
>>>>> we can have Flying Brick t-shirts to sell. Shelved to the next meeting.
>>>>> 11.
>>>>>
>>>>> Friends of AK Press/PM Press, etc: these shelved to next meeting
>>>>> until we have the expenditure spreadsheet together. Ramey will bottomline
>>>>> getting ahold of AK Press to see about getting Friends of AK Press discount
>>>>> for the library.
>>>>> 12.
>>>>>
>>>>> Flying Brick endorsements: Flying Brick endorsement of VPA: Passed
>>>>> (Nathan said in the past that he will contact them). Flying Brick
>>>>> endorsement of Burial Ground actions: Passed. If people are interested in
>>>>> getting involved in burial ground actions, contact Nathan.
>>>>> 13.
>>>>>
>>>>> International Sex Worker Rights Awareness day: (March 3rd?)-Ramey
>>>>> and Mo will bottomline researching past events.
>>>>> 14.
>>>>>
>>>>> Volunteer log: reminder to use the volunteer log and write in it,
>>>>> go through the log if there is nothing else to do, if there are any
>>>>> suggestions written in the log remember to bring it up at the next meeting.
>>>>> 15.
>>>>>
>>>>> Meeting minutes:* *Notetaker at each meeting will bottomline printing
>>>>> out the notes and leaving copies at the library. Passed.
>>>>> 16.
>>>>>
>>>>> Permanent agenda item for every meeting: Reading the previous
>>>>> meeting notes at the beginning of each meeting. Passed.
>>>>> 17.
>>>>>
>>>>> Eating disorder awareness week: (last week of February) Need
>>>>> additional speakers, especially those that have experienced eating disorders
>>>>> firsthand, find good documentary to show, decide a date. Of those present,
>>>>> Matt, Ramey, Mallory, and Megan are interested in helping to plan the event.
>>>>> *Event tentatively scheduled at the Library for Thursday Feb. 24
>>>>> during open hours.* Passed.
>>>>>
>>>>> *Planning meeting for the event on 1/22 at 11am.* Preference for
>>>>> where we meet? Coffee shop? Flying Brick? Black Hand? Somewhere with heat!
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Megan Osborn
>>>>> **
>>>>> *"When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life
>>>>> stands explained." -Mark Twain
>>>>> *
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> Flyingbrickvolunteers mailing list
>>>>> Flyingbrickvolunteers at lists.aktivix.org
>>>>> https://lists.aktivix.org/mailman/listinfo/flyingbrickvolunteers
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Always with Solidarity
>>>>
>>>> Nathan
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Flyingbrickvolunteers mailing list
>>>> Flyingbrickvolunteers at lists.aktivix.org
>>>> https://lists.aktivix.org/mailman/listinfo/flyingbrickvolunteers
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Megan Osborn
>>> **
>>> *"When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life
>>> stands explained." -Mark Twain
>>> *
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Flyingbrickvolunteers mailing list
>>> Flyingbrickvolunteers at lists.aktivix.org
>>> https://lists.aktivix.org/mailman/listinfo/flyingbrickvolunteers
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Anarchy, Not Charity
>> Mo Karn
>>
>> Richmond Food Not Bombs, Richmond Really Really Free Market, Richmond Zine
>> Fest, Richmond Anarchist Black Cross
>>
>> 804 300 0023
>>
>> The Wingnut Anarchist Collective
>> 804 303 5449
>>
>>
>> PO Box 6025
>> Richmond, VA 23222
>>
>> www.rvaradicalendar.blogspot.com
>> www.thewingnutrva.wordpress.com
>> www.monroecampaign.wordpress.com
>> www.monroepark.org
>> www.anarchymo.wordpress.com
>> www.takingbackrva.wordpress.com
>>
>>
>> "Capitalism has always been a failure for the lower classes. It is now
>> beginning to fail for the middle classes. " - Howard Zinn
>>
>>
>> No Meat No Milk No Masters - Veganarchist!
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Flyingbrickvolunteers mailing list
>> Flyingbrickvolunteers at lists.aktivix.org
>> https://lists.aktivix.org/mailman/listinfo/flyingbrickvolunteers
>>
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
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>
>
--
Always with Solidarity
Nathan
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