[mgj-announce] Notes from MGJ meeting 10/15; next mtg 10/30

[Robert Weissman]

Next MGJ Meeting: Weds, October 30 @ St. Stephen's Church.


 From Seth Landau, 202-421-1057
sethlandau78 at yahoo.com


Mobilization for Global Justice Mtg. Notes from 10/15/02.

1.      Loose ends from the Mobilization:
a.      AFSC offered MGJ a phone line to be maintained for $50/ mo in 
perpetuity that we can share if someone else uses the office space.
There 
is a question as to the actual price for it. There is also the larger 
question of whether we have people to staff it/ answer messages/ and our 
broader role in the community. This is predicated on a discussion about 
MGJ's role after and between big protests.
b.      We Need a place to store info from this major protest and get 
people's input into the contact database which is housed on the web. The 
web working group will contact the leaders of each working group to get 
their contacts.
c.      Money: In decent shape. The permitted rally has been paid for.
We 
raised 3100 on line, 1100 passing the bucket, and have some money in the bank.
d.      Materials: Have 3 bull-horns and a bunch of radios (some of
which 
will be returned). We will have these available to other groups with a 
guarantee of responsibility by those groups.
e.      Puppet materials need to be cleaned up.
f.      Should we sell press lists to folks? Will discuss at a 
decision-making meeting.

2.      Quick run-down on the MGJ: An action oriented group which
mobilizes 
for major events and tends to become less active after major protests.
The 
group has working groups, an office space, etc. in the months before 
events. The working groups have autonomous decision-making power, though 
bigger decisions should be brought to the larger group. MGJ also does 
smaller actions such as solidarity actions.

3.      Ideas for MGJ Vision: Where do we go from here? (brainstorm)

a.      Do we maintain an office/ telephone/ email address?
b.      Solidarity demo on FTAA Oct. 31st?
c.      How do we grow: recruitment strategy because human resources are key?
d.      How do we keep institutional memory.
e.      Should we keep a continuous local community presence?
f.      Use down-time to broaden and deepen relationships w/ other groups?
g.      Help out the peace movement behind the scenes and share resources?
h.      Stay plugged into national networks on trade, IMF, Bank issues?
i.      How often do we want to meet and when?
j.      Need to figure out our relationship to the peace movement:
perhaps 
acting as an intermediary between economic and war debate.
k.      When would we do the next big mobilization? Laid out a calendar
of 
events within this year. These decisions should be made with more time
to 
organize.
l.      Take on a local issue and work on it?
m.      Another big party?

4.      Discussion of Main themes:

a.      Infrastructure and nuts and bolts: Solstice, Mikush and Alix
will 
work on the phone line/ mtg. Logistics etc. for now.
b.      The memory hole will be filled by the web group. All leaders of 
working groups must get these contacts to these people.
c.      Solidarity and ongoing actions: need point people for a working group.
d.      Local issue organizing efforts: Nadine, Mikush and Niel will be 
point people.
e.      Big things like mobilizations will be discussed later.

5.      Issues discussions:
a.      Need a longer discussion on  how we grow MGJ: will discuss next mtg.
b.      Solidarity action on FTAA: Will have a candle-light/ Halloween 
thing at the U.S. Trade Representative's office from 5-6 pm Oct. 31st.
Seth 
will write the press release. Mikush and Solstice will work on the
action 
alert. Contact
c.      Iraq discussion: What resources could we add to the work? Is it
a 
distraction? It was decided that we can offer meeting space , listserves 
for sending invitations for groups that seek our help, but we will not 
actively seek to get involved and engaged in the issues. Individuals are 
not discouraged from doing so, though.

6.      Next meeting: October 30th. There will be an education piece on
the 
FTAA and a brainstorm session on how to grow the MGJ. Alix will find a 
speaker and Martin will facilitate. Each working group should also
announce 
their activities.