[Ssf] SSF 2005 planning...

[Dan]

Hallo folks!

Right - this is a long e-mail, with my thoughts about SSF in 2005.  I've 
also stuck this up on the WIKI, so please take a look there if you want 
a friendlier format, with a table of contents...

http://wiki.sheffieldsocialforum.org.uk/SSF05_Forward_Planner

The first thing to say is: planning.  I think we should take it slowly, 
work out a solid forward planner, work out what we're doing and what's 
happening in 2005.

I propose that we use the next two meetings to get our planning done: 
the first for the usual suspects and whoever else happens to come along, 
and the following one - February 3rd - as a consciously open meeting, 
where we try and get as many people to come along and join in the fun!  
For this meeting, we could provide some food.  I'd suggest putting off 
the no2id meeting for the one after this.

You'll see why I think this after the rest of the rambling coming up... 
Please remember - these are just some thoughts: please give feedback.

*Money-raising*

For the stuff we want to do this year, we'll need cash.  There are a few 
things we can do. 

*1. Bank Account and constitution*

Open a bank account, and then get people to set up a monthly standing 
order, as Indymedia do.  The constitution would be to guarantee that 
funds are controlled democratically - money can only be spent after a 
collective decision at a meeting.

*2. Affiliation*

Leicester SF allow groups to affiliate to them.  They pay some money - 
community groups £5, unions £500!  However, this gives them no control 
whatsover - anyone can still turn up and take full part in the process.  
It's just a little way of raising some money.  Enough to cover, say, 
hiring of venues, and a bit of publicity.

*Communication*

We've never been the best communicators in all the world, but I'm 
proposing we bloody well sort ourselves out.  Here's some ideas on how -

1. Forward planning

We make a plan for meetings and events as far into the future as 
possible.  This will enable us to plan for them, to get people along, 
and to know who's speaking at meetings.

2. Sheffield Rag

This doesn't have to be anything fancy: what I'm proposing is a simple 
newsletter, not a full-on magazine.  Who knows what it might grow into, 
but let's start quick and dirty... the point of this is:

a. We then have something that can have writing from Indymedia, from VAS 
and other sources -
b. And somewhere to collect goings-on in Sheffield in an events listing, 
which can cover not only Sheffield Social Forum but everything else too...
c. Related: we could have another go at getting the writing workshop 
going for this.

It can't be difficult:  having visited Leeds, Bradford and Manchester 
recently, everyone else seems capable of producing something - I'm sure 
we can!  We could also get advertising from businesses that we like, but 
then it starts to get a little more like hard work...

3. Website and WIKI

The Web-site should be a lot more practical and 'sticky'.  It should, on 
the front page, clearly say what's happening when & how to get involved, 
as well as including links to other events like Green Drinks.  I've got 
a vague plan for a 'speak truth to power' thing, and this can /should 
lead to something about how to act locally - this can go right on the 
front too.  The web-site should be about action - of all shades.  It can 
also have an RSS feed from Sheffield Indymedia, with a link...?

The WIKI - which is kind of a working document for those that want to 
use it - needs a thorough weeding.

4.  Announcement list

As I said in the last e-mail, the announcement list will be a useful 
tool - with forward planning, we'll be able to fill it with exciting 
goings on all over Sheffield.

*What are we going to do?*

Regular events -

1. Meetings.  First and Third Thursdays of the month.

There's a general consensus that John Street is a bit poo.  We should 
try and find somewhere else.  presently, we can't afford it, which is 
why we need some money!

I also think we should stagger the meetings: 1 being purely SSF 
planning, and 1 a month hosting an event / speaker(s) / issues.  What do 
people think about that?  Again, with forward planning, this could 
really work.

2. Democracy Cafe - still going!  I'll book some more of these for the 
first Tuesday of every month.  I want to buy a mini-blackboard, so 
people can come down and chalk on the issue that's on their minds.

Other stuff for this year - a lot of them partnerships.  Again, just 
suggestions!

Spital Hill, Regeneration & Participation
G8 and mini-summit
Peace in the Park
CIRCA visit
Make Poverty History
Socials, creative, making money, T-shirts...
Supporting international links: funding trips
City Centre SSF stall...

See next e-mail for Burngreave stuff, and the one after that for the 
city centre stall idea...

On the G8: there's a lot going on!  As someone at the LSF gathering 
said, it represents everything we're fighting against... I've started 
putting some links up on the WIKI -

http://wiki.sheffieldsocialforum.org.uk/G8_Links

There's so much to think about here: preparing for action, both in 
Sheffield and in Gleneagles, as well as pushing the positive 
alternatives - something I think we're yet to see.  This could be a 
session all by itself, although Dave's right about not losing the local 
focus. 

*Peace in the Park - for anyone that wants to go, there's a meeting -

*8pm on Monday 17th January 2005 at *
*Disc Studio, 1st Floor, *
*Portland Works, *
*Randall Street (off Bramal Lane)

***Elsewhere, I've proposed SSF gets involved in developing the 
political content - perhaps to the extent of not doing our own separate 
event.  This is something we'd have to talk about.

*CIRCA visit - the Clandestine Rebel Insurgent Clown Army will be coming 
to Sheffield, probably the week before the Sheffield mini-summit, to do 
some training up.  SSF has been asked to help.  Not sure what form this 
help will take yet, but it's worth bearing in mind!

*Make Poverty History - this ties to the G8: one of the two key themes 
is meant to be pulling Africa out of poverty (the other is climate 
change - it'll be fun watching Bush wriggle out of this one...)  It's an 
opportunity to work with other local campaign groups - WDM, Christian 
Aid, CAFOD, Oxfam.  We could / should use one meeting to get everyone 
together, hold some kind of educational meeting with speakers.

*Socials, creative, T-shirts -

Throwing rather a lot in together here!  The point: we should do 
something fun.  Fun?  Wossat?  Y'know - that thing that the SWP don't 
know anything about.  Preferably something that involves swizzling a 
firestick.  It may likely be that this means helping PiP with a fund-raiser.

Creative-wise - I think there's quite a lot of interest in, um, street 
art.  I know at least two people who are really really good at making 
stencils... all we need is a team of three... but don't tell anyone, OK?

T-shirts?  Yup!  I have this thing about doing designs that say things 
like 'it's politics, Jim, but not as we know it', and 'why don't you 
switch off yer TV set and do something less boring instead?' which we 
could sell on the stall - more of which later...

* Supporting international links, and trips -

Helping to get money for getting people to go to places - Palestine 
already happens, but there are others - e.g. there's a WSF-like youth 
and student event in Venezuela in August...

So there's some things for the agenda.  Hmm...

Dan
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07968 997861
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The true meaning of life is to plant trees,
under whose shade you do not expect to sit.