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NOTES OF EDUCATION WORKING GROUP – JUNE 1, 2012 AT Marcia’s house

The group used “Circle of Voices” approach to speaking and occasionally reverted to “discussion” which usually involves overlapping conversations but was kept to a minimum. The conversation was lively and informative.
Agenda:
1. Introductions: Jay S., Sandy R., Dianne F., Ronna L., Alyce W. Marcia L. Each of us spoke about how we are involved in making the change we want to see.

2. Bring in readings/information that will help #OB organize, become more meaningful and begin to attract members back into the movement.
• Sandy – a member of C2C states she read the news every day and reads about other Occupy movements which keep her inspired. She is asked to bring any news that could be helpful to #OB in our current undertaking of keeping the movement alive.
• Dianne – Active in Move On, Whatcom Dems, and A New Way Forward she passed out “How to Frame Yourself: A Framing Memo for Occupy Wall Street” at http://georgelakoff.com/2011/12/11/how-to-frame-yourself-a-framing-memo-for-occupy-wall-street/ also “Words That Don’t Work” at http://georgelakoff.com/2011/12/11/words-that-dont-work/ Then she mentions an important historical read “The quiet Coup” by Simon Johnson at http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/print/2009/05/the-quiet-coup/7364/. She recommends the Baseline Scenario at http://baselinescenario.com/ as a worthwhile regarding financial stuff. Also a Harper’s article by Thomas Geoghegan “Infinite Debt” found in Harpers’ Magazine April 2009. It was not available online but an interview with him and Amy Goodman is at http://www.democracynow.org/2009/3/24/thomas_geoghegan_on_infinite_debt_how
• Ronna – active in #OB, wewillnotbedivided (WWNBD) recommends reading anything by George Lakoff at http://www.georgelakoff.com, Rules for Radicals by Saul Alinsky and keeping up with other Occupy sites throughout America.
• Alyce is active in Whatcom Dems and Health Care for All. She indicates it is getting harder to find Democrats who will get out and work at parades, etc. She recommends watching Inside Job and The Big Lie. She informs the group about a practice called kettling being used in Canada at protests. See following article http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/1183346--around-400-people-arrested-as-police-use-kettling-in-latest-montreal-student-protest. She also mentions that pot banging as protest is becoming more prevalent. Drums not necessary - a good sturdy pot will suffice. She also mentions a op-ed piece in the Bellingham Herald related to Citizens United found at http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2012/05/26/2535758/initiative-seeks-to-restore-rights.html Finally she mentions John Perkins and his work about the economy and global Imperialism At http://www.johnperkins.org/
• Marcia passed out an article “The Tyranny of Structurelessness” by JO Freeman found at http://www.jofreeman.com/joreen/tyranny.htm . While this is an older article it contains useful information to help get #OB back on a track with structure.
3. #OB Web Site: Erin has announced she is leaving to teach in Spain. IF no one is available to take over the #OB Web site she plans to take it down at the end of June. Ronna agreed to meet with Erin to see what’s involved and Jay agreed to meet for this initial meeting. He indicates he could help with IT issues.
4. Restructuring: How would we like #OB to look. The group agreed it is the only group thus far addressing the issues of money in politics, corporate greed and overturning Citizens United. This topic was tabled till the next meeting when it will be a focus. Mentioned was the movie Recount with Kevin Spacey as a must see. (remember we are thinking of using movies to educate the public). Jay mentions that #OB tactics have not been effective and cites the tea Party and the “Right” as having an excellent propaganda effort and the left could look to them for how to get a message out (this is reinforced by George Lakoff). He suggests using Social Media more effectively and that Voter registration would be a good tactic to take up.
5. Values
• Right to a government the represents the American People
• Right to have a fair tax system
• Dignity of all persons
• Health of the planet
• Health of the group suing creative individuality
• Return to reason
• Listen to/Learn from science
• The public makes the private possible
• Right to work, education, health care, shelter
• Right to a public commons
• Effective government
• Investment in America
• Mutual responsibility
• Living wages for a days work
6. Messaging (Slogans)
• Our Government is our friend
• Take Back our Government (from the corporation)
• No privatization of taxes
• The public makes the private possible
• Nobody made it on their own without public Infrastructure
• America is not a business (not liked by group)
• We love America and want to fix it
• Real American Patriots – Rights for all Citizens
• Every Day People Looking Out For Each Other.
• We Are the 99%
• This is What Democracy Looks Like
• Give us back out bill of rights

Meeting adjourned at 3:00 pm

I don't feel comfortable handing the website entirely over to you, Summer. Granted once I hand the website over to whoever they will have the full power to then hand it over to you if they want. I don't intend to make this a big hullabaloo. The website needs very little updating with so few actions happening. If I wasn't moving no changes would happen, so I don't believe I'm obligated to do anything specific. If anything I might have some obligation to the 7 people who contributed funds for the site.

I'm not sure how this particular conversation is on the minutes of an education working group but I will respond here. I know most of the pepole in #OB and have been in it since end October 2011. I do not know this Summer person and I would certainly think she (or he) should attend some GAs and meet folks and get to know us and vice versa. As I get invovled in the Internet Web site (not facebook) one imporatant goal wil be to make usre the site is not damaged or harmed by outside forces wanting to undermine the local movement.

IF there is an interest in putting another group together called Decolonize or reoccupy you should definitely follow your heart to whereever it takes you. The Occupy brand, while perhaps not the best term started out as Ocucpying a small park in Manhatten next to Wall Street - it meant somehing very specific then and that is the meaning of it now. Reform Wall Street, Break up the big banks, get money out of politics and make corporations (Wall Street) responsible for paying their fair share of taxes and being responsible to the AMerican People. IF this movement can do that (A BIG IF) all people will benefit.

There are a few folks who are meeting regularly as Occupy Bellingham. We are "holding the space", talking about future actions, doing some drumming and over all having some fun.

We are reading an article taht I put here for all to check out having to do with "harmful behaviors". http://www.jessicabell.org/?p=1015 The group (as tonight about 20 folks) agrees by consensus that some of the past behaviors that have been harmful to the Bellingha must be managed and if possible eliminated.

Decolonize Whatcom is not the same as the other decolonize group that is made up of your 'disillusioned' OBers (Decolonize Washington)...Decolonize Whatcom is and always has been an independent group with overlapping "membership" with #OB...and Decolonize Whatcom is not affiliated with Decolonize Washington (local Bellingham group....D and A and others) that used their name for a while...just to clear that up. Decolonize Whatcom stands in solidarity with OB and is not Decolonize Washington.

Thank you both for your clarification. I remain a bit confused. It seems hard enough with just one group but I leave you all to what your hearts dictate.

In the words of a committed Occupier "I like to think that Occupy lives in the hearts and minds of all who wish for a better world and are willing to work to that end. And I would add that is also how I would define a Core Member of Occupy. SomeOne who wishes for a better world and is willing to work for it is a Core Member of Occupy in my mind even if they have never heard of a G.A. before". I could not say it any better.