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<font face="Tahoma" size=5>IMC Notes<br>
</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=5>01/06/01<br>
at 218 W. Main (The IMC)<br>
<br>
Attending: James Jacobs, Molly Stentz, Mike Lehman, Danielle
Chynoweth, Peter Miller, Sascha Meinrath, Sarah Kanouse, Eric Hiltner,
Paul Riismandel, Brent McDonald, Sarah Carsey, Russel Dietrich-Riebecki,
Nancy Dietrich-Riebecki, Bob Cook, Ed Mandel, Brian Hagy, Zach Miller,
Sehvilla Mann.<br>
<br>
Molly facilitated.<br>
<br>
<b>Updates<br>
</b><i>Fundraising</i>--Founding Funders top $1200/month; Sascha will
scale back his efforts to bring in new ones. MEETING Monday at 7:30
at IMC to discuss fundraising strategies, including selling stuff.
Business registration with IL is in the works--at least 3 people needed
to fill roles. <br>
<br>
Danielle suggested that we figure out how we deal with sharing space with
other groups. Maria Silva asked for space, already. DC
suggests that we share space and charge rent.<br>
<br>
<i>Equipment</i>--Sarah said that an equipment/furniture drop-off day
will take place during the clean-up day, Thursday, Jan. 11, all
day. A sign-up sheet was passed around.<br>
<br>
<i>Tech--</i>Paul Riismandel/Bob Cook. Phones cost $93/month for
two lines with Ameritech (at ~500 calls). McLeod is a little
cheaper, but they're non-union and people said their customer service
sucks. Installation is expensive, so we thought we'd wire them
ourselves. Two lines necessary for data/interviews and voice.
Net access--ISDN less attractive than DSL. We pay per minute with
ISDN (as a business user). $85 - $130/month for DSL. Also
looking at wireless and cable modem.<br>
<br>
Decide to get two phone lines from Ameritech. Networking group will
do it. Molly recommends against multi-year contracts.<br>
<br>
Decide on net access next meeting, when we have more info.<br>
<br>
<i>Radio Free Urbana</i>--Mike Lehman received an update from
Prometheus. Mike verified that with the legislated changes, we
can't have a station in town. Some are abiding by the ruling, and
others are breaking the law, setting up stations in spite of the
legislation. Legally, can have a 10 mW transmitter; maybe can be
the first to set up a network of transmitters around town.<br>
<br>
<i>Outreach</i>--Paul Riismandel reported on the Springfield trip, Wed.
Jan 24. 7-7:30, so we'd need to leave at about 4:30. Attendees
include Alan, Paul, Sascha, and Brian. Tell Paul if you want to
go.<br>
<br>
Open House. Fri., 19Jan, 8 p.m. Press release, ad, plan for
evening, food, invitations to everyone, including Bob McChesney, find a
VCR & TV, get a PA system, displays of our work. Nancy and
Russell, Zach, Brent. Meet to discuss opening on Saturday at
4.<br>
<br>
Anti-inaugural ball, too? Peter presented the idea of combining the
opening with an anti-inaugual ball. People said they didn't want to
combine the IMC opening with an 'overly political' act. Combining
events de-emphasizes the IMC. We need to discuss how political the IMC
will be. DC wants it to be an activist resource center.
<br>
<br>
Decide to have open house on evening of 19th; if anti-inauguration
happens, they can use IMC space, but IMC will not lend its name to
it.<br>
<br>
Florida report: Danielle, Molly, and Peter went to Florida.
Danielle visited media centers in Gainesville (where U. Florida is) and
elsewhere, and reported on the Gainesville Community Media Center
(CMC). 10 years old; they're an activist info shop, less a media
production center; but CMC activists have gone on to found newspapers,
etc. Danielle discussed logistics with CMC folks. Security
and conflict resolution statement, key policy, financial records,
publication list, volunteer staff guide, meeting notes from "boot
camp". Have had $6K salaried position since beginning.
Coordinator had to forfeit salary originally, since low $. Big
punk/anarchist scene; many space users are young. Recommended to
never have couches because they encourage sleeping and hanging-out,
rather than activism. Memberships of $10-$20/year give you rights
to take out materials. Make money from events. Rent space at
$40-$50/month for ~$200/month total. They get a small desk space in
return. They recommended that we begin a supporter database with
details about what type of giving the supporters are willing to do
(capital improvements, salaries, etc.). Board is passive, which is
good. Use a non-consensus decision system. Staffing:
Coordinator, day-coordinators, and shift captains. DC's ensure days
are staffed and fill in when necessary. Received a grant from
Resist. Don't rely on grants for operating expenses, only for
special projects. Shelving materials are on wheels, so they can
convert the spaces. CMC has clear public and private spaces.
High community visibility is important, so slow events are still
necessary. Newsletter helps funders know that you're still
working. Get into UI pipeline for discarded equipment.
Usage: 50% of checked-out materials are videos. CMC only pays
for 4 or 5 of their dozens of subscriptions. Layout: front is
public, with a stage; back is private. Size is smaller than our
IMC. Policies--important to not over-bureaucratize the space, but
some policies were necessary. Very helpful to be able to close and
lock the space witout a key. "Boot camp" is a retreat
where large-scale policy decisions take place. <br>
<br>
Molly talked about the Stone Soup Collective in Orlando. Open for
about 4 months, in a storefront near downtown. Run by about 12
volunteers; not enough money for paid coordinator, yet. Have
extensive video library. Received free subscription from about 40
of 150 organizations they solicited. Memberships are
$10-$50/year. Some high-rollers have offered more. Hold
shows, concerts, etc.<br>
<br>
<i>Librarians<br>
</i>James reported that Bob is working on the web version of the
database. Discussions about classifying donations are
underway. Meeting Thurs, Jan. 11, 5:15 at IMC. Looking for
grants from Fred Schlipf (Urbana Librarian) and Leigh Estabrook (Dean of
Grad School of Library and Info Science). People can drop off
periodicals, etc. on Thursday, Jan. 11.<br>
<br>
<i>NEWS:<br>
</i>IMC program on Monday, subject is Permaculture: News to
Sehvilla by tonight. anlyzstrlz@advancenet.net<br>
<br>
</font><font face="Symbol" size=5>·<x-tab> </x-tab></font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=5>Nursing
Home--Mike's working on it.<br>
</font><font face="Symbol" size=5>·<x-tab> </x-tab></font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=5>Living
Wage--Mike's working on it.<br>
</font><font face="Symbol" size=5>·<x-tab> </x-tab></font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=5>IMC
Open House--Nancy will write a press release. Octopus may cover
it.<br>
</font><font face="Symbol" size=5>·<x-tab> </x-tab></font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=5>GEO
retreat on Monday--semester planning. Possible that union vote will
happen this semester.<br>
</font><font face="Symbol" size=5>·<x-tab> </x-tab></font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=5>Non-profits
meeting--Tuesday, Jan. 9 at 10 a.m. or 6 p.m. at Urbana Civic Center,
hosted by city of Urbana. Unclear what it's about, but we should go
to make contacts.<br>
</font><font face="Symbol" size=5>·<x-tab> </x-tab></font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=5>Judge
ruling on Champaign Schools--Tuesday, Jan. 16. Will Champaign
schools go into receivership? Much unreported stuff happening
behind the scenes.<br>
</font><font face="Symbol" size=5>·<x-tab> </x-tab></font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=5>Interfaith
Committee meeting--next Wednesday.<br>
</font><font face="Symbol" size=5>·<x-tab> </x-tab></font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=5>Green
party passes resolution in support of David Johnson, persecuted union
member. Zach will write it up for Monday.<br>
</font><font face="Symbol" size=5>·<x-tab> </x-tab></font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=5>Greg
Brown murder--He was developmentally disabled; case being referred to
Champaign Human Relations Commission. Danielle will talk to Tony
Fabri.<br>
</font><font face="Symbol" size=5>·<x-tab> </x-tab></font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=5>Illinois
Greens Meet in Urbana--Jan. 27(?)<br>
</font><font face="Symbol" size=5>·<x-tab> </x-tab></font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=5>Bonus
Pay to Clerk's Office Workers--See News-Gazette, 1/6/01. <br>
<br>
2 weeks, discussion about taking news discussions out of main IMC
meeting. Paul R. will facilitate.<br>
<br>
<i>Space<br>
</i>HUGE progress! Space has been built and cleaned. Need to
paint window wall (and pick color), and apply second coat in other
places. Bought windows from the Preservation and Conservation
Assoc. (PACA) for $35, and a real newsroom door for ~$80. Ceiling
panels need to be replaced. Molding abound some interior windows
needs to be installed.<br>
<br>
People needed to commit to things: Thursday drop-off (done), and
set-up meeting next Saturday at noon.<br>
<br>
Sarah will send a wish-list to the IMC list.<br>
<br>
Keys--Sascha has them, see last week's notes for the policy.
Possibly put combination lock on the newsroom door. <br>
<br>
Next meeting date is 1/14 at the IMC (218 W. Main) at noon, Brent will
facilitate.<br>
<br>
Meeting concluded at 2:00 p.m.<br>
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