[Imc-girlscore] RE: [Imc-girls] Meeting Reminder (and Minutes!)
Zoe G
zoe at anotherwastedday.com
Tue Feb 10 11:58:08 CST 2004
i will also help facilitate.
love zoe g.
> i will facilitate, but i also think we should have some different speakers.
> now is the time to really begin working on the forefront events and move
> away from vision-planning. i think we can plan the agenda in the beginning
> of the meeting, according to people's needs. we have to talk about the
> tranny question!
>
> --zoe.
>
> >From: Danielle Chynoweth <chyn at ojctech.com>
> >To: "Zoe S." <zoespice66 at hotmail.com>
> >CC: imc-girlscore at ucimc.org, anne at webeasel.net
> >Subject: [Imc-girlscore] RE: [Imc-girls] Meeting Reminder (and Minutes!)
> >Date: Mon, 9 Feb 2004 17:29:14 -0600 (CST)
> >
> >Zoe and Anne -
> >
> >I agree with you Zoe.
> >
> >I also want to say that I don't think Anne was trying to leave anyone out
> >- she just wanted accountability. We don't have any structure really yet
> >in place to take care of people so they don't fall through the cracks.
> >Anne has been a point person for people and she wanted to just pass this
> >on.
> >
> >Taking care of people is not the same of taking over. We will need to
> >develop a structure that is transparent to folks, but we don't have one
> >yet.
> >
> >So, as an example of lack of structure, who is facilitating tomorrow?
> >And what is the agenda? I am happy to help facilitate again, but think
> >our "tag team" approach worked well. Any takers?
> >
> >- danielle
> >
> >
> >On Mon, 9 Feb 2004, Zoe S. wrote:
> >
> > > hi,
> > > i feel that questions and concerns should be sent to the
> > > imc-girlscore at ucimc.org list instead of just to danielle so that all
> >core
> > > organizers can have input and aren't ignored.
> > >
> > > anne and others, in the future please send out minutes as individual
> >emails
> > > and not as word documents!
> > >
> > > --zoe.
> > >
> > > >From: "Anne Odom" <anne at webeasel.net>
> > > >To: <imc-girls at ucimc.org>
> > > >Subject: [Imc-girls] Meeting Reminder (and Minutes!)
> > > >Date: Mon, 9 Feb 2004 16:44:56 -0600
> > > >
> > > >All:
> > > >
> > > >REMINDER: The next RAGG meeting is tomorrow night at the IMC from
6:30p
> >to
> > > >8p.
> > > >
> > > >The minutes from the last meeting are attached in an MSWord Document
> >(THIS
> > > >IS NOT TRUE - THE MAILING LIST WOULDN'T LET ME POST A
MESSAGE WITH THE
> > > >ATTACHMENT, AS IT WAS TOO BIG; IF THE MODERATOR OF THE LIST
APPROVES
> >THE
> > > >MESSAGE, YOU MAY RECEIVE THE ATTACHMENT LATER). If you
can't read
> >Word, or
> > > >you have trouble with attachments, they are also cut and pasted below
> > > >(unformatted, so maybe a little difficult to read...). The main points
> > > >are:
> > > >we selected a mission and chose a name (details of the process are in
> >the
> > > >minutes).
> > > >
> > > >NAME: RAGG - Resource and Action Group for Girlz & Womyn
> > > >MISSION: RAGG is a local grassroots partnership of girls and women for
> > > >girls
> > > >and women whose aim is to provide safe spaces, resources and
activities
> >to
> > > >foster creativity, self-expression and empowerment.
> > > >
> > > >I AM DUE THIS SATURDAY, 2/14!!! Do not respond to this message with
any
> > > >questions or important information, as I may be out of email contact at
> >any
> > > >minute. c THANKS!
> > > >
> > > >Anne
> > > >
> > > >-------------------------------
> > > >NOTES
> > > >-------------------------------
> > > >INTRODUCTIONS
> > > >- We all introduced ourselves, as many of us hadn’t met in person.
> > > >- The purpose of this organization is to fill a void in the community
> >left
> > > >by the closure of GirlZone. However, this is a new organization that
> >can
> > > >strive to be anything the community needs/wants it to be.
> > > >- Why are we part of the Independent Media Center (IMC)? The IMC was
a
> >big
> > > >part of girl space for GirlZone and GrrrlFest, and it offers a valuable
> > > >collection of resources for a new and growing organization. As part of
> >the
> > > >IMC, we already have our 501c3 status and can start raising funds as a
> > > >non-profit immediately. Because the IMC supports our efforts, we have
> >a
> > > >volunteer base that we might not otherwise have.
> > > >
> > > >Our CORE Group
> > > >- Groups have been in town focusing on girls and women for a while, and
> > > >GirlZone was the most recent effort to provide for opportunities for
> >Girls
> > > >in the community. GirlZone focused on giving girls (not women but
> >younger
> > > >girls) access to activities they don't normally get the opportunity to
> > > >learn. When GirlZone ended, it held a community forum to see what what
> >the
> > > >community might want to do to continue efforts for girls and women in
> >the
> > > >CU.
> > > >- There were many women and girls interested in seeing something new
> >grow
> > > >in
> > > >our community. We created a rather large mailing list of these women,
> >then
> > > >we asked for core organizers to help us get things off the ground. The
> > > >core
> > > >organizing group consists of 10 women who are trying to birth this new
> > > >organization; core organizers meet at least once a month outside of
> >general
> > > >meetings, decide on format and discussion topics for general meetings,
> >and
> > > >likely will head committees to accomplish various organizational goals.
> > > >- The core group called this general meeting to:
> > > >o Agree on a mission for the organization – the core group has worked
> > > >together to come up with a proposition for this mission.
> > > >o Agree on a name – the core group has worked together to come up
with
> >some
> > > >initial options
> > > >o Brainstorm activities/events/resources that this group should seek to
> > > >provide.
> > > >
> > > >What it Means to be Part of the IMC
> > > >- THE GROUP AS A WHOLE has been approved by the IMC as a adhoc
> >committee,
> > > >which allows us to do non-profit fund-raising and elect spokspeople to
> > > >participate in the IMC decision making. We are one of the working
> >groups
> > > >of
> > > >the IMC – a part of the organization, not a child of the IMC.
> > > >- One of the requirements of being a working group of the IMC is that
> >we
> > > >make certain core decisions by “consensus”. Consensus is a decision
> >making
> > > >process in which everyone present at time of decision making agrees on
> >the
> > > >outcome of a decision. The process works like this:
> > > >o A decision is proposed.
> > > >o The group is asked if there are any concerns.
> > > >o All the concerns are listed, and each one is addressed by the group.
> > > >o If the concerns are successfully addressed, the group eventually gets
> >to
> > > >the point at which there are no more concerns about the decision. When
> > > >everyone is agreed that there are no concerns, the decision is
> >accepted,
> > > >and
> > > >we have reached consensus.
> > > >o If there are concerns which cannot be addressed to the satisfaction
> >of
> > > >the
> > > >concerned parties, the decision needs to be altered, and the process
> >begins
> > > >again.
> > > >o Process is repeated until a decision is proposed upon which the group
> >can
> > > >address all concerns and reach consensus.
> > > >- We made all decisions about the mission statement and the name of the
> > > >organization using the consensus process.
> > > >
> > > >MISSION statement
> > > >- The core group proposed the following mission statement:
> > > >o <<Girlz Org>> is a local grassroots partnership of girls and women
> >for
> > > >girls and women whose aim is to provide safe spaces, resources and
> > > >activities to foster creativity, self-expression and empowerment.
> > > >- The following concerns were raised and addressed:
> > > >o Concern about exclusivity of “girls”. Does this mean that there is no
> > > >place here for activities where boys and girls can interact in a
> >supervised
> > > >away to encourage the learning of non-sexist behavior?
> > > >§ The organization itself is not providing resources for boys.
> >However,
> > > >that does not mean that a co-ed activity or workshop on non-sexist
> >behavior
> > > >would not be something the organization could host. In addition, there
> >is
> > > >a
> > > >group of men at the IMC who are interested in starting a group for boys
> >and
> > > >men; if they do so successfully, then partnering with that group to
> >offer
> > > >these kinds of events would be something we should encourage.
> > > >§ There is nothing in the mission statement that excludes this kind of
> > > >co-ed
> > > >activity, so the concern was addressed.
> > > >- The mission was approved as-is – no changes were required to reach
> > > >consensus.
> > > >
> > > >EMPOWERED SPOKESPEOPLE
> > > >- Empowered Spokespeople represent us at the IMC steering committee
> > > >meetings
> > > >every month. They participate in making decisions that affect the IMC,
> >and
> > > >they make proposals for our group to the other working groups of the
> >IMC.
> > > >Currently, Zoe Swords and Shawn Williams are our empowered
> >spokespeople.
> > > >They volunteered for the responsibility, and are willing to continue
> >their
> > > >roles unless a concern is voiced.
> > > >o No concerns were voiced about Zoe or Shawn.
> > > >o Concern was voiced about rotating out empowered spokes, and all
> >agreed
> > > >that we should rotate spokes. No plan was made for rotating spokes; it
> > > >should be discussed at a future meeting.
> > > >o What is the specific commitment of an empowered spoke?
> > > >§ IMC Steering Committee Meetings are the first thrusday of every month
> >at
> > > >8pm; the spoke must attend.
> > > >§ PLUS the spoke must participate in the core organizing group for this
> > > >organization – a committment of up to 2 core group meetings and one
> >general
> > > >meeting a month-
> > > >
> > > >NAME OF THE ORGANIZATION
> > > >- Many name suggestions were put up on the wall; the paper copies of
> >all
> > > >the
> > > >suggestions have been kept for records, but are not listed in these
> >notes.
> > > >- We divided into small groups and discussed the existing names. We
> >also
> > > >allowed ourselves to brainstorm new options. Then we came back to the
> >large
> > > >group and voted on the new and existing names. This reduced our
number
> >of
> > > >name choices to two: WRAG (Women’s Radical Action Group) and Grrrlz.
> > > >- WRAG – Women’s Radical Action Group – we worked to see if we could
> > > >consense on this name; it had a lot of support, but also many concerns.
> > > >o CONCERNS
> > > >§ CONCERN 1 - Doesn't match with the mission statement; it seems like
> > > >we're
> > > >more activist and political than our mission statement. It doesn’t
> >seem to
> > > >embrace the “safe space” and “resource providing” that are the center
> >of
> > > >our
> > > >mission statement.
> > > >§ CONCERN 2 - Possibly unoriginal; it was suggested because one of
the
> > > >people at the general meeting had belonged to a group with this name.
> >On
> > > >further investigation, she had started that group, it had consisted of
> >a
> > > >handful of her friends, and had disbanded when she moved here. We
> >decided
> > > >this concern was not a reason to discard this name.
> > > >§ “Radical” may turn people off; may exclude people. While creating
> >safe
> > > >spaces for girls and women is radical work, the social connotation of
> >the
> > > >word “radical” can be negative. It could be intimidating to girls, and
> > > >very
> > > >importantly, it could be intimidating to their parents (who will be
> >giving
> > > >permission for them to attend our events). “Radical Action Group”
> >ought to
> > > >be a subset of what we’re trying to create, but not it’s whole
> >identity.
> > > >§ There’s no "girl" in the acronym
> > > >o ADDRESSING THE CONCERNS
> > > >§ There was consensus on liking the “WRAG” acronym; so why not
change
> >what
> > > >it stands for to address the concerns above? Ultimately, we hit on
> > > >removing
> > > >“Women” from the front of the acronym and respelling it to include
> >Girls:
> > > >RAGG – Resource and Action Group for Girls (Girlz? Grrrls? Gyrls?) &
> >Womyn.
> > > >§ While we had not yet consensed on how to spell Girls, all felt that
> >the
> > > >new name addressed the concerns above – it keeps the “active” feeling
> >of
> > > >the
> > > >original acronym meaning, but it’s general enough to match our mission
> > > >statement. And we get to keep the cool acronym
> > > >- FINAL DECISION: RAGG is the name.
> > > >
> > > >SPELLING of GIRLS:
> > > >- Top choices were Grrls and Womyn
> > > >o Immediate consens on womyn with "y"
> > > >o Concerns with Grrls: too much like GirlZone, looks funny without
> >three
> > > >“r”
> > > >s; concern that with three r’s we look like posers on the riotGrrrl
> > > >movement; concern that girls today no longer identify with the
> >riotGrrrl
> > > >movement. We didn’t feel like these concerns could be easily
> >addressed, so
> > > >we moved on to other spelling options.
> > > >o Gyrls - concerns with gyrls - looks kind of like “guy”.
> > > >o Took a straw poll vote on Grrls and Girlz - straw poll turned up
> >girlz;
> > > >there was no blocking of consensus or concerns raised about girlz, so
> > > >that’
> > > >s how we’re spelling it.
> > > >
> > > >OFICIAL NAME: Resource & Action Group for Girlz & Womyn - RAGG
> > > >
> > > >BRAINSOTORMING:
> > > >The list that follows is a massive brainstorming on things we could do
> >with
> > > >the organization. We didn’t go into detail on these; this list is a
> >record
> > > >for discussion at future meetings:
> > > >-fun fundraising activites - we need money and funds
> > > >-guy/girl co-existing group or subset
> > > >-all-girl art time (women-owned studios?)
> > > >-pink flamingo fund raiser. like rolling with toliet paper, but people
> >pay
> > > >to have other people "flamingoed"
> > > >-leadership workshop
> > > >-storytelling workshop for women who earn a living telling stories and
> > > >traveling
> > > >-workshops on specific careers and life journeys
> > > >-theater workshops
> > > >-college workshops
> > > >-tutoring & mentoring
> > > >-managing money
> > > >-dj-ing workshnopos
> > > >-breakdancing workshop
> > > >-self-defense
> > > >-classes, as opposed to workshops
> > > >-fishbowls - people with something in common stand in the center and
> >talk
> > > >about what they have in common, and others stand on outside and listen,
> > > >then
> > > >they switch (race/white, gender, generational, sexuality, etc.)
> > > >-things that address segregational community issues
> > > >-transgender and gender variance type of class.
> > > >-handy class (changing tires, oil, apoxy, plumbing)
> > > >-spirituality and religious focuses addresses
> > > >-sound engineering and performance stuff
> > > >-body image workshop
> > > >-sexism in the media
> > > >-cooking workshop
> > > >-link body image with something like belly dancing
> > > >-penny wars for fundraising
> > > >-video and/or video editing
> > > >-computer technology and troubleshooting computer problems
> > > >-clothing - making /sewing
> > > >-sports workshops
> > > >-health and exercise workshop
> > > >-skateboarding
> > > >-boxing
> > > >- bike repair
> > > >- clothing trade
> > > >- weight lifting
> > > >- silk screening
> > > >- stained glass and radio
> > > >- include wicca and other alternative spiritual choices in
> > > >religious-focused
> > > >workshops
> > > >- support groups for traumatized girls
> > > >- middle school girls talk about their experiences now
> > > >- language (sexist)
> > > >- web stuff and design program training
> > > >- sexual education
> > > >- producing radio shows
> > > >- media literacy
> > > >- performance of self
> > > >- RAGG Mag (our own zine)
> > > >- Mother and father/parent education
> > > >- etiquette workshops and dinner parties to practice etiquette training
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >DISCUSSION TOPICS FOR Next Meeting:
> > > >-child care at meetings and events
> > > >-transgender issues – should we address them in our mission?
> > > >-Next Steps – identifying committees and real tasks for items on our
> > > >brainstorming list
> > > >-outreach
> > > >-rotating dates, times, locations of meetings
> > > >
> > > >Date of next meeting:
> > > >-February 10th, 6:30 - 8p.
> > > >RAGG Meeting
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> > > >Anne Odom * Product Manager * WebEasel, Inc.
> > > >WebEasel - It's that easy!
> > > >anne at ojctech.com * www.webeasel.net * 217.344.0444
> > > >
> > > >_______________________________________________
> > > >Imc-girls mailing list
> > > >Imc-girls at lists.cu.groogroo.com
> > > >http://lists.cu.groogroo.com/cgi-bin/listinfo/imc-girls
> > > >
> > >
> > >
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> > > http://lists.cu.groogroo.com/cgi-bin/listinfo/imc-girls
> > >
> >
> >--
> >| Danielle Chynoweth
> >|
> >| Art Director * OJC Technologies * ojctech.com
> >| City Council Member * Urbana City Council * city.urbana.il.us
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >Imc-girlscore mailing list
> >Imc-girlscore at lists.cu.groogroo.com
> >http://lists.cu.groogroo.com/cgi-bin/listinfo/imc-girlscore
> >
>
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