Money for S17-related trial expenses

$150 to Linda, for S17-related trial expenses

Brought by Linda. Passed in the consent bucket.

Proposal Consideration Proposal

Background

Several of Occupy Boston’s funding proposals have resulted in hard feelings. Generally, these hard feelings come about when a (large) funding proposal is brought to GA and passed, and people feel blind-sighted because they didn’t know the proposal was coming, and were not at GA to object.

This problem is made worse by two factors:

• We often don’t know in advance what proposals are being brought to GA, and
• The tactic of “packing” GAs, where the proposer brings enough friends to overcome a block; after the GA, the proposer and their friends disappear.

I’d like to propose a change to the way we handle funding proposals, to create more opportunity for participation, and to make the process fairer and more democratic. Ultimately, I’d like to see Occupy Boston become better at managing resources.

Proposal

I ask that any proposal involving more than $500 be subject to a one-GA “settling period”. This settling period would work as follows:

• Funds or materials are not disbursed until the next GA after the proposal passes.
• During the following GA, anyone can ask for the proposal to be “reconsidered”.
• During reconsideration, the proposal is discussed again. The outcome of reconsideration is that (a) the original proposal stands, (b) the proposal is amended (if the original proposer is there to discuss the amendments), or (c) is rescinded.
• If there are no calls for reconsideration, the proposal stands, and disbursements can be made.

In short, reconsideration provides a one-GA cycle where we can gather additional input, and even change our minds.

I realize that this settling period will slow down some decision making. But I hope that the extra time allows us to make decisions that are acceptable to a greater number of people.

We will maintain the previously allocated direct action funds, to be used for direct action, without the one-GA settling period.

Proposed by Steve. Passed by consensus.

Activist Collaboration and Coalition Building

We’ll spend the next GA brainstorming and discussing ideas for building coalitions with other activist groups in Boston.

GA Minutes: http://wiki.occupyboston.org/wiki/GA_Minutes_Tue_Apr_02_2013.

Funding Operating Expenses

OB will set aside $3000 to be used for operating expenses and support for events and actions as allocated by GA. We will also set aside any income from passing the hat at meetings.

Brought by Carolyn, passed by consensus

Discussion of Contributions Since Camp

The GA on March 5 will be set aside for the first of several discussions designed to evaluate the contributions of OB since the camp and to several ideas about future directions.

The first discussion will attempt to answer the following question: What are the most significant accomplishments of OB since the end of camp?

Everyone is encouraged to make his/her own list of what was accomplished and its significance (and bring copies if possible). Members of working groups are strongly encouraged to report on their specific accomplishments, and everyone is encouraged to look at the OB website and wiki to review what we have been doing.

Proposed by Carolyn, passed by consensus

OB Equipment

Proposal to discontinue hot-spot subscriptions, and return OB equipment that’s not being used for Occupy activities.

Proposed by Kendra, passed in the consent bucket

GA Minutes: http://wiki.occupyboston.org/wiki/GA_Minutes_Sun_Feb_17_2013

Radio Proposal

(as amended)

Proposal: Occupy Boston Radio (OBR), a working group, proposes that Occupy Boston provide $2549.70 in funding to OBR. This will cover our most essential operating costs (rent and our radio stream), and allow us “breathing room” to seek further funding for other operating costs, and to continue working on a plan for long-term financial stability. Background Occupy Boston Radio (OBR) is striving to produce quality programming related to Occupy Boston, the Occupy Movement, and related topics of interest and importance to the 99%. We seek to include all voices by adhering to the following principles:

• having open access to our schedule for new shows;
• hosting shows that invite interviewees and guests; and
• operating the station with direct democratic principles.

OBR has been broadcasting online since late 2011. We have broadcast approximately 14 regular weekly shows for all or part of that time, plus a number of specials. We also syndicate the progressive news show Democracy Now! and the environmental issues show Radio Ecoshock.

We have been an outlet for Occupy Boston news to the public and other Occupies for over a year. This has included broadcasting a calendar of events, as well as specific requests from other Working Groups and event organizers to spread the word.

We maintain a station blog, and several individual show blogs, and many of our shows are archived online and available as podcasts or for download. A major goal of OBR for the coming year is to increase the number of shows available in these modes, or syndicated on other Occupy movement or allied stations and sites (such as occupymediapodcast.com and occupynewsradio.org).

The following table constitutes our funding request for February 2013:

It should be noted that these are OBR’s basic costs, money needed to keep our station on the air. We have additional costs, such as paying for enhanced blog features that allow us to provide archived programming on line. We also have incidental costs from time to time. Our operations could be enhanced if we upgraded to a better streaming server (costing about twice as much), added a phone line, and purchased some equipment upgrades. OBR has raised money for such things by means of fundraising events and community and online outreach. The money we received through our previous GA proposal (March 2012) represented less than 1/3 of our total budget, last year. We intend to continue and expand such independent fundraising efforts. When Occupy Boston’s fiscal sponsor arrangement goes through, we intend to seek foundation and large donor support, as well.

Thanks to the corporate consolidation of the mainstream media. Internet-based outlets for unencumbered news and information are emerging across communities near and far. Small independent stations and networks give the voiceless and the disenfranchised a mic to the world. In supporting the efforts of Occupy Boston Radio you strengthen the fight for free media. Thank you for your consideration. Occupy Boston Radio OBR.FM networks give the voiceless and the disenfranchised a mic to the world. In supporting the efforts of Occupy Boston Radio you strengthen the fight for free media. Thank you for your consideration.

Occupy Boston Radio OBR.FM

Brought by OBR. Passed by consensus.

Legal Assistance for NYC Trial

Request for bus fare and subway rides for OB member’s travel to her NYC trial for S17 arrest charges, and also for two witnesses (OB Members).

• Bus: $30 * 3 people = $90 (round trip)
• subway: 4 rides for 3 people at $2/ride = $24
• Expense for recheduling = $20

Total: $134.

Brought by Linda. Passed in the consent bucket

Strikedebt Student Debt Event

Funding for a strikedebt organizing event.

• $400 for rent (hopefully refunded)
• $200 for T-shirts
• $200 for leaflets and art supplies
• $100 for guest speaker transit

$900 total.

Brought by the Strikedebt WG. Passed in the consent bucket.

Food Not Bombs

Proposal to give remaining unused food funds to food not bombs.

In lack of use of the food fund in which there has not been a request for months, it is proposed that the remaining $500 be given to Food Not Bombs to continue the original mission of the food tent, which was to feed those that either want or need food. Although the food money is autonomous from the general fund, we could not come to a unanimous decision on how to go forward. The vote came out 5 to 2. In consideration for the process, we agreed to bring before GA.

Brought by the food working group. Passed in the consent bucket.

NLG Donation

Propose to donate the remaining legal funds (approximately $5611) to the NLG.

Brought by John Ford. Passed by consensus.

GA minutes: http://wiki.occupyboston.org/wiki/GA_Minutes_Tue_Feb_05_2013

Returning Tactical Funds

Take any remaining funds allocated for the tactical proposal for re-occupation (as determined by FAWG – originally $14,000), and return it to the general funds of Occupy Boston to fund other projects.

Proposed by Dana. Passed by consensus

FAWG Note: It appears that there was $12,000 remaining in the tactical proposal. See tactical-summary.csv

Funding for the Boston Occupier

PROPOSAL

The Boston Occupier, an affinity group, proposes that the Occupy Boston General Assembly donate $2,842 to support the printing and distribution of two issues of the Boston Occupier newspaper.

Funds from the Occupy Boston General Assembly will be used only to cover costs associated with printing and distributing the newspaper. The Boston Occupier will observe complete financial transparency in its disbursement of the funds (as the group has done since it began; see
http://bostonoccupier.com/budget-report). Meanwhile, it will continue to investigate and develop other fundraising models in an effort to achieve longterm financial viability.

The Boston Occupier will remain open to new writers, editors, cartoonists, distributors, and other staff members. It will continue to operate its organization on a model of mutual respect and consensus-based decision making. The Occupy Boston General Assembly will not have any editorial control over the paper or the website (http://bostonoccupier.com) as a result of its donation. We believe that the previous twelve issues of the print edition, as well as the archived content on our website, indicate the consistency of our subject matter, our editorial standards, and our commitment to progressive, radical, left, and grassroots causes and values. We believe our values and practices to be broadly consistent with the values and practices of Occupy Boston.

BACKGROUND

The mission of the Boston Occupier is to produce free, grassroots journalism for New England’s 99% and beyond, while adhering to the principles of accuracy, fairness, transparency, thoroughness and independence. Through the publication of our print and online editions, we aim to be a credible, engaging source of information about progressive, radical, left, and grassroots issues as well as organizing on behalf of social and economic justice and anti-oppression. We are especially concerned to cover stories that the mainstream media neglects to report, or reports in a biased or inadequate manner.

On November 18, 2011, we printed our first issue of paper, and our most recent issue hit the streets in mid-December, 2012. As of this issue, our twelfth, we have distributed more than 120,000 copies of the Boston Occupier. The vast majority of our distribution is in the greater Boston area and Massachusetts. In addition to regular staff writers, past contributors (of reports, stories, and / or photos) include Noah McKenna, Sage Radachowsky, Betsy Boggia, Amanda Achin, Ian Spinich, Theresa Earle, Brian Kwoba, Bil Lewis, Chase Carter, Anna Clayton, and Deborah Sirotkin Butler. Recent subject matter includes anti-drone activism in Boston, Idle No More, rallies in solidarity with Bangladeshi workers, Occupy Sandy, fossil fuel divestment, Monsanto, Boston workers’ protests against Diva Restaurant wage theft, Bradley Manning, student debt, the Debt Jubilee, the Maiden Tentants’ Union, Occupy Homes MA, the Lawrence Bread & Roses Festival, Howard Zinn, the South African miners’ strike, the MBTA, the corporate attack on public education, ALEC, 350.org, and Pilgrim Nuclear power plant.

Content produced by our staff has been reprinted in the Boston Dig, Dollars & Sense, and truthout.org, among other outlets. OBR (Occupy Boston Radio), Boston’s Spare Change News, Open Media Boston have recognized our efforts and reached out to collaborate with us.

Past funding for the Boston Occupier has come from a Kickstarter fund, subscriptions and donations, and a grant from the Movement Resource Group (a working group of Occupy Wall Street). This grant was for six months of funding, and its term ended in January 2013. The newspaper has started the process of coming a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization.

Current, regularly participating members of the Boston Occupier include Angie Brandt, Emily Hopkins, Doug Enaa Greene, Joe Ramsey, Kendra Moyer, Julie Orlemanski, Josh Sager, Sarah Herman, Dan Schneider, and Sandra Korn.

Proposed by the Boston Occupier. Passed by consensus

GA Minutes: http://wiki.occupyboston.org/wiki/GA_Minutes_Sun_Jan_20_2013.