Hartford Autonomy Notes: Consensus seeking w. 3/4 majority in event of crucial decision Go around with names and quick recap of yesterdays activities. Regional Network discussion What is a network and what can it do? Brainstorming 15 min THIS HAS LEAD TO THE FORMATION OF THREE CATEGORIES Infrastructure: WHAT IS IT -Periodical meetings -Information both regionally and nationally -Effective system of resource sharing -sustainable infrastructure Method to expand it -Security culture -internal struggles -building existing networks -Adaptable structures -List serve and website -regional working groups -Sincere commitment to local autonomy -Points of unity -committees Specific Functions: WHAT DOES IT DO -PGA (peoples' global action www.agp.org -Pirate radio and media -Legal support for underground aktions -We need to open up a clear channel of communication -international solidarity -Publication (whoever compiles makes it expressive of groups involved) -mass aktions -Self defense -Barn raising -Resource sharing and mutual aid -Study of old aktions General Functions: WHAT IS IT FOR -Mobilization power -connect with people outside network -Physical network -making connections -Skill sharing -Community involvement -Linking existing networks -alliance support communication -Work as a building block for larger continental network -Tools for people to link with other radicals in their area -Building alternatives to the system -Mediation and internal governance Loose network v. federation -General consensus seems to be that structurally Autonomy needs to be essential -No monolithic mission statement -Loose networks of collectives and individuals that meet to share information and resources; anti capitalist, anti authoritarian -Need for decision making process to handle centralized functions of the network e.g. joint actions, publication? -concerns on stacking of a participants members -concerns on ability of participants to get to regional meetings -How much centralization do we want? (If any) -Two camps; those that want centralized functions -WE NEED TO WALK OUT OF HERE WITH: List serve Website Structure Next meeting For 15 minutes well talk about structure vs. non-structure And then break off to talk about subcategories above. (tabled in favor of discussion about decision-making process) Network: Loose network of autonomous collectives and individuals that are anti-authoritarian and anti capitalism. There are no members. The only powers endowed to the network by this group is to set the sight of the next meeting and to give power to those at the meeting to be responsible for the provisional agenda. There is a proposal to use the Peoples Global Action Mechanism for meetings and reaching consensus under the understanding that any Proposal: The network is not represented by anyone, and no one represents the network. Decision passes. Heres what we have to discuss TODAY: Website organized as a wiki containing resource list, bulletin board, status of groups break down by region, points of unity, press information, designate responsibility Name/listserv/phone list star for private Next meeting site/date 3-4 times a year Interests: NY City in April, Albany and NJ July, Points of unity being tabled until the next meeting think about for next meeting bring the 11 points Resource list how can a list work with the wiki, description of local groups, list on web Call to action/campaigns (listed by individual groups/people) incorporated into website, not going to be discussed today since people will work on it themselves BREAKOUT report backs WEBSITE: -Concern that with WICCI one could post material that contradicts our ideals. -Hartford collective will set up site. -without capacity for everyone to edit it the control of the website is consolidated into a few hands -certain pages will be hard coded certain will be able to be changed -Dont rely on website as only source of information; rely on physical contacts -CAN we empower web folks if there are problems to fix the site? -WICCI system is inline with our political beliefs Phone List: -it will be the next conveners responsibility to call those not contactable by the internet. -will list go out to everyone or will it only go to the conveners? -If you put your phone number it will be given out to the network? -Proposal: You can request a specific phone number from the convener if the person hasnt specified (with a star on the sheet) that it shouldnt be listed. (Proposal passes) List Serve: NEanticapitalist@lists.riseup.net -announcement list only, discussions to be held on website -list protocols -set up so that every comment should go through a moderator? -People are against having a single formal moderator; propose that several people serve including conveners. -Be aware that it is an open subscribe list and to maintain security Name for Network: Some of the better Options: -'North East Autonomy' -'Autonomous Network Advocating Radical Change Of Society -Anti-Authoritarian, Anti-Capitalist North East Network -North East Network of Autonomous -NE Anti Authoritarians -With Raised Fists -Acronyms are unwieldy. -A slew of names have been given. -Debate on whether or not to use the word anarchist. -We dont want to exclude those that dont view themselves as exclusively anarchist, or maybe we do after much deliberation: NORTH EAST MUTUAL AID Next Meeting Convergence: 1. New York City has been proposed. -New York would give a tour for the RNC -New York would be more diverse an more easily reachable -Cant do a meeting too close to the RNC because it will be taking up most of the NY crews resources. -Mid May in New York 2. New Jersey has been proposed: -less organized, but this could be used as a consolidating force We shouldn't have it overlapping with other convergences. Weekend of April 17th and 18th in NYC. Resource List Proposal: Database list which is searchable Bulletin board list which is on the website Survey - basic things people wants What people already have/need Groups to call/solidarity for local actions Descriptions of local groups Links to other resource lists Paper info not just website Info for travelers (maybe a link to crimethincs) PDF file or other downloadable info Lots of links
