Wednesday 26 October 2011

Occupy Guelph 6 pm General Assembly minutes October 25, pg. 1

So this program really isn't very user-friendly in terms of posting stuff.  Had to convert to jpeg and the quality is lousy.  Anybody have any suggestions?   Anybody know how to post a pdf?

Minutes from General Assembly: October 25, 2011


Still new to this program and trying to figure out how to post the minutes.  It looks like they have to be converted to jpg first.  Not sure if this will show up properly. 




Friday 21 October 2011

Credit Union Workshop tomorrow (Saturday 22nd) at 10:30 am!!

Just in time for our family day, we are lucky to have Mary Tyldesley, the branch manager from Meridian credit union, coming tomorrow (Saturday 22) to hold an informal discussion. This will be held at 10:30 am

She will be talking about what makes a credit union different from a bank, the work credit unions do for the community and the significance of credit unions in the history of Canada. 

Come on out!!!

Wednesday 19 October 2011

General Assembly Wednesday Oct. 18th 6pm

Agenda
Updates/General Announcements
Our Presence
Bottled Water Free
Events
Public Announcements
Marches
Posters
Money/Transportation

Minutes
General Announcements

Be careful not to drop or leave food on the ground so the doggies don`t eat it
CAW wants to support/do workshops
-> have also offered their hall if indoor space is needed
Council of Canadians - would like updates for the national occupy website
Check out the Community Calendar and add events!

Bottled Water Free
Try to be bottled water free - Wellington Water Watchers is supplying tap water
-> need reusable cups/bowls/cutlery

Events
Special Diets March Thursday 1pm to Liz Sandal's Office

Anarchist Reading Group "Towards the Queerest Insurrection"  Thursday 7:30pm https://www.facebook.com/events/129189600517406/

Occupy Guelph: Video Party in the Square!  Friday 7pm
https://www.facebook.com/events/209595075776370/

Occupy Guelph: Family Day!  Saturday 10am - 5:30pm
https://www.facebook.com/events/205897646150062/?ref=ts

Posters
Using the language class struggle/resistance instead of war in the future

Drinking
Reaffirmed consensus that there is to be no drugs or alcohol on site

Media
Meeting Thursday at 4pm
talk to carly if you would like to be interviewed for the audio documentary

Tuesday 18 October 2011

Occupy Guelph Minutes - Tuesday October 18th


Occupy Guelph Minutes – October 18th 2011 6pm
Agenda
1)      Child Poverty in Guelph
2)      Media
3)      Special Diets and Liz Sandals
4)      Info Sessions
5)      Occupy Guelph Website
6)      Workshop Updates
7)      Finances
8)      Medical and Hygiene Kit

1)      Child Poverty in Guelph – The fact that there is child poverty in Guelph was addressed at the meeting. It was suggested that a breakfast program could be set up for kids either at their schools or at St. George`s square. Julian has information on who we could talk to, to set that up if anyone is interested.
2)      Media – Individuals brought up the fact that we are receiving scrutiny because of the general perception that Canadians do not have the same issues as Americans. Also, the Mercury is doing a bad job at legitimizing the occupation so we need to be careful with how we word things and the things that we say
-the fact book on Canadian and Guelph issues needs to be updated and distributed. Information is currently not being put out strong enough
-We need to explain why we are taking donations in order to gain credibility
-Matt offered to help out with flyers outlining issues in Guelph and Canada that have caused need for an occupation
-There was a meeting for people interested in helping out with media after the meeting at city hall and there will also be a meeting tomorrow on Wednesday October 19th at 4pm for individuals who want to help out with media
3)      Special Diets and Liz Sandals – Liz Sandals is opposed to the Special Diets Allowance program and is against the push to increase Welfare ODSP (Ontario Disability Support Program). Because of this it has been proposed and agreed upon that individuals walk to Liz`s office on Thursday at 1pm in opposition to her decisions
4)      Information Sessions – Deferred to media
5)      Website – a website has been made in addition to the facebook group and can be found at www.occupyguelph.blogspot.com
-this website is free for anyone to post things related to the occupation ie. pictures, ideas, thoughts..etc
-the minutes will be posted on this website as well as the facebook group
-The address of the website should be included in flyers drafted
-It was agreed upon that oppressive language will not be tolerated on the website
6)      Workshop Updates – A workshop is in the making in respects to the Meridian Credit Union and the history of credit unions. Other unions have also been approached ie. the auto union
·         There was some discussion about approaching Ralph from the steel workers union
-Discussion on organizing a workshop or panel discussion in respects to water rights. This would include individuals from 6 nations and perhaps a professor from the university
-There will be a workshop on Thursday October 20th on Prisons and Prisoners (the exact time is TBA), a workshop Thursday evening on safe drug use (exact time is TBA),
-There will also be a workshop on Friday October 21st giving information on Ontario Works (OW) the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) (time TBA).
-Saturday October 21st will be family day so we are calling on people to bring face paint, have mascots… ideas for other kids stuff
-There has been a suggestion that we get a whiteboard or some kind of device to put up proposed workshops so we can keep track in a more tangible format. Something that individuals can see as they`re walking by
7)      Finances – We are approaching OPIRG for funds and are filling out a CDR application for the maximum amount of funds that we can get
-It has been suggested that we use some of the money to help homeless individuals into homes however this has yet to be decided
8)      Medical and Hygiene Kits – Annette is going to provide a medical kit
-Sarah is going to cover the hygiene kit

Monday 17 October 2011

Sparking The Occupation of Guelph

The occupation of Guelph was officially initiated on Saturday, October 15 at 4:30pm. Present were some 35 people (Guelph Mercury), varying in age, sex, race, concern, contribution, and ideology. The Occupy Guelph movement is similar to almost all other Occupy movements, which are in and of themselves unprecedented acts of courage, in that it is a decentralized development facilitating struggles common to all, most notably corporate domination. Contrary to the mainstream media, Occupy Guelph and most other Occupy movement present quite definite demands including prevention of environmental catastrophe, reversal of oppressive economic policies, deprivatization and much else. It has declared "Life Before Profit" (Facebook Event) as its slogan, though it is open to all sorts of other slogans, posters, and signs. Open general assembly meetings are held every day at 12:00am and 6:00pm. See you all there!

-Hewr Dlear