[Ssf] SSF 2005 planning...

Fri Jan 14 10:52:44 GMT 2005

  I would suggest that some sort of fund raising social activity is top of 
the list for 2005 because that enables us to do other things like getting 
some sort of prototype of a leftie rag or whatever else people want to do.  
If we could then get out some sort of newsletter, that would focus our 
attention and could lead to an increasing awareness of issues like spital 
hill, G8 mini-summit , general election, gentrification, the green food map 
and all the other things that are happening.  It would also inform people 
that the ssf exsists and a few more people might want to be involved.

for now
cuthbert

>From: Dan <dan at aktivix.org>
>To: Ssf at lists.aktivix.org
>Subject: [Ssf] SSF 2005 planning...
>Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2005 18:08:43 +0000
>
>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
>--
>07968 997861
>0114 2412723
>
>The true meaning of life is to plant trees,
>under whose shade you do not expect to sit.
>_______________________________________________
>Ssf mailing list
>Ssf at lists.aktivix.org
>http://lists.aktivix.org/mailman/listinfo/ssf

_________________________________________________________________
Stay in touch with absent friends - get MSN Messenger 
http://www.msn.co.uk/messenger