[g8-sheffield] [resistg82005] coordin8: network wide co-ordination, debate and decision making]

Tue Mar 8 20:45:27 GMT 2005

*what do persons think about*

this group setting up a working group for Sheffield, check details on
the Dissent website and so...?

(Folloiwng his suggestion on forwarded message below):

Would local and working groups please check there details on the Dissent
website and see if they are listed as they wish to be and if not email
updates to the website group email list via: tech at dissent.org.uk

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [resistg82005] coordin8: network wide co-ordination, debate and
decision making
Date: Mon, 07 Mar 2005 16:33:42 +0000
From: Space Bunny <lists at j12.org>
To: Dissent Network wide networking list <resistg82005 at lists.riseup.net>
References: <BAY14-F13C1DF8FAF2B629F26466486600 at phx.gbl>
<1108900733.3567.2.camel at paz>

I really wanted to email some of what I lay out in this email after the
Dissent gathering in Glasgow.

At the Glasgow gathering the process meeting discussed arrangements for
upcoming gatherings. No group had put themselves forward before the
Glasgow gathering to host next gathering despite requested to before. It
was felt that another gathering would probably not be organised till
April and then with Festival of Dissent (
http://dissent.org.uk/content/view/107/70/ ) that month and likelihood
working groups would meet there anyway, maybe most so than at any other
gathering, it was best for formalise that as a Dissent gathering there,
with plenary.

Working group were asked to meet somewhere in March where was up to them
to sort out within those active within them. It was hoped at end of
March after they had all meet (or not) as case may be their minutes
could be collated into a meta document to be ready for next gathering,
with any working groups not meeting flagged up, and intergroup areas
that may need working on flagged up.

Leeds has offer to host many of these groups at same time over weekend
of 26th/27th March.

The plan for the Dissent International Networking Group meeting to be
hosted by the group Voice Refugee Forum in London was made, I
understand, at Glasgow gathering and work start immediately to organise
this. But with it seeming other working groups would meet in Leeds that
weekend it was felt that a second meeting was needed there to organise
feeding back initiatives coming out of international networking
especially the meeting Tuebingen was needed. Hence two meetings on same
weekend of the Dissent International Networking Group.

It may make sense for groups like 'Cre8' doing positive community
actions to meet in Glasgow in area of proposed M74 extension (neglected
by normal regeneration) where it seems most solid proposal for their
activity seems to be at moment. Or they could take up offer in Leeds.
That will be up to them.

For more on my take on the situation with meetings in March see:
http://lists.aktivix.org/pipermail/dissentprocess/2005-March/000067.html

There is a convergence centre meeting planned for Sunday 20th March in
Edinburgh. There will be day trip out on Saturday. In fact there may be
various outings on offer, some may just want to go to pub at Sheriff
Muir. If out and about in area around Gleneagles do submit photos for
the website. What happened to one's people took on previous trips?

If you intend to come please let us know so as soon as possible by
emailing reshape at riseup.net, and let us know if you need accommodation
as all will be by arrangement and there will be no mass collective
accommodation. We also need an idea of numbers to see what size room to
book.
Other working groups may wish to meet that weekend in Edinburgh or
nearby, if they are attending convergence centre meeting.

Would local and working groups please check there details on the Dissent
website and see if they are listed as they wish to be and if not email
updates to the website group email list via: tech at dissent.org.uk

I would also like to draw people attention to distinction between  task
groups taking on task for the network eg those producing outreach for
whole Dissent network, and those groups that consider themselves engaged
with the Dissent network but have a large degree of autonomy within the
network them like local groups. There is not clear cut with certain
groups. I may return with examples.

Alex beat me to it in expressing that the Statement from the blockading
group does not quite fit in with sentiment expressed at Edinburgh
Dissent gathering that Dissent itself should not co-ordinate actions.

Also I think it is good practise for working group when ever they meet
at gatherings or elsewhere to take a list of email addresses of all
those present with a view to adding them to email list of that working
group. This has often been forgotten including by myself. This requires
the co-operation of the person who set up the email list or someone who
is active managing the email list, who in some cases is unable to attend
meetings. Also I hope at each working group meeting the access to and
dealing with any email mail box  used by that group should be explained.

Details about obtaining emailing list services from Aktivix can be found
on their wiki web page:
http://wiki.aktivix.org

I advise against using yahoogroup email lists.
http://j12.org/news/yahoo.htm

Also given one group using yahoo email box lost all it's back emails
probably due to address not being checked enough, it probably is not a
good idea to use for email boxs. If you emailed a working group and have
not received a reply perhaps a resend is a good idea.

After the Newcastle gathering I suggested the setting up of another
email list where network wide debate could take place, towards end of my
email which is archived at:

http://lists.riseup.net/www/arc/resistg82005/2004-12/msg00063.html

I think there is very much a need for such a list, for amongst other
things working on meta document stemming from working group minutes, and
also a place for people to freely debate over issues that have been put
to a working group but no working group email list exists. I was going
to set one up on Aktivix listserv call 'co-ordin8' but it has been
suggested to me that the underused infog82005 list be used instead.

http://lists.riseup.net/www/info/infog82005

I myself am unsure of the origin and use of this list. So the moderator
of that list would have to agree with this, and no one on it object. I
will email them and if moderator does not respond will set up other list.

I see this list being a place where people who heard an issue at a
meeting or gathering but lost track of where being dealt with can ask
what has happened to it,  where drafts of texts can be put and replys
invited on the lists. A many gathering I have heard an an issue is going
to be dealt with by a working group, but often the working group does
not exist or the working group chosen does not wish to cover it,
hopefully if this has happened then such issues could be thrashed out on
such a list. A list also basically to ask 'silly questions' relating to
the G8 mobilisation and for people to be able freely answer, even if
answers speculative, as many feel this list is not place for such exchanges.

Note the process group clarified at it's last meeting at Glasgow
gathering that they do not see it remit as such network wide
co-ordination, but just 'organising the agenda, facilitation and some
publicity for the gatherings', but recognised that often people assumed
other roles were assumed of it, that do need to be dealt with.

cheers,

Space Bunny

-- 
--
http://j12.org/sb/

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