[Imcamericorps] [IMC] Steering meeting 4/7/11 minutes

Fri Apr 29 12:18:45 CDT 2011

Chris:

Thanks for your concern. I don't know where the idea originated (i.e. moving
the library downstairs), but I remember that you and I sort of threw it
around for a minute -- A: "What do you think about that?" C: "I don't know!
That could be good! Let me ask the librarians." A: "Sure, whatever!" -- and
maybe my suggesting that *as a possibility at Steering *turned into people
thinking that it was happening for sure, which is either their fault or
mine. Either way, *obviously the library shouldn't be moved unless the
librarians want it to be moved* (although I think it's an incredible
resource and would like to see it highlighted *in some way* -- not that the
room is necessary the way to do that).

And I don't want to be nitpicky but let me address this little thing (and
I'm talking to everyone here, not you, Chris):

> "the general tone of steering has been to limit discussion in favor of
> getting through agenda items quickly"
>
A few IMC members were grumbly to me after I facilitated one of the past few
months' *densely-agenda-packed *Steering meetings, and I want to make clear
to people that *it isn't that I, or anyone else, am trying to "limit
discussion" because we don't value discussion *(I'm a firm believer in
consensus and dialectical reasoning), but because we wouldn't be able to get
to everything that was on the agenda. I had to push AmeriCorps *off *the
agenda that night, but folks complained to me that I didn't give enough
discussion time to other stuff. *Ugh*.

The problem is Steering, which functions well as a thoughtful discussion
space only when the agenda basket is close to empty. Because the past few
meetings have been so jam-packed with agenda items, our facilitators had to
decide whether they wanted to address *just one thing *and let IMC members
do their trademark free-style rambling on the issue for 2 hours, or whether
we wanted to prioritize discussion and creation of proposals. If people felt
burned by my decision at that meeting to *try and address everything in less
time *rather than only addressing one thing, I apologize. But our Steering
system has to change, because *we do need to have more room for discussion*.
Maybe the listserv is the place!

Let me know (anyone) if you have any questions.

Best,
Austin

On Fri, Apr 29, 2011 at 11:19 AM, Chris Ritzo <chris.ritzo at gmail.com> wrote:

> Mike,
> Here is a link to my list post:
> http://lists.chambana.net/pipermail/imc/2011-April/009959.html
>
> I meant to say that I'd sent this after the April steering meeting, not
> March. I think it's important to state that I'm not blocking anything at
> this point. I'm totally open to using the room downstairs as a meeting
> room.  I also think that the first floor provides more access than what we'd
> be able to provide downstairs. There are some materials that would be better
> suited to be in a less public space also.
>
> So just to be clear, the issue here isn't that we don't want to move stuff,
> it's more about how people are going about it. No discussion on this (until
> now) has happened in public on lists, or been reflected in meeting minute
> notes, and the general tone of steering has been to limit discussion in
> favor of getting through agenda items quickly. This is needed, but the
> discussion has to happen somewhere and the listservs are the place that is
> supposed to happen. Conversations off-list still need to happen- that's how
> this topic of moving the library got started.
>
> We can talk about it more next week at steering, or on this thread if
> anyone else wants to do so.
>
> CR
>
>
> On Fri, Apr 29, 2011 at 10:57 AM, Mike Lehman <rebelmike at earthlink.net>wrote:
>
>>  Chris,
>> Could you resend the email referencing the questions raised after the
>> March Steering meeting you needed answers about, please? I can't find it in
>> my saved email and I don't recall the message. That would be helpful to have
>> so everyone is on the same page here, especially for those of us who weren't
>> at the March meeting. And that would facilitate having a discussion on the
>> list.
>>
>> I do know that implementation of the move was left somewhat up in the air
>> after April's Steering meeting when the decision was made to set-up and use
>> the meeting room. Several people have asked me about it and I've encouraged
>> them to start reaching out to people to organize things, get the room
>> cleaned up, and get some furniture in there so it can be used.
>> Mike Lehman
>>
>>
>> On 4/28/2011 10:25 PM, Chris Ritzo wrote:
>>
>> Since it's been nearly a month since I sent this email to ask for
>> clarification about the space discussion at March's steering meeting
>> regarding the moving of the library materials and access to the new shared
>> meeting space.
>>
>> While I've had a couple off-list conversations about this with some
>> americorps members, the library group has not consensed to move our
>> materials because these questions remain unanswered and people seem to
>> refuse to have discussions on list.
>>
>> The library group remains open to this possibility, but I want to
>> reiterate publicly that we have not agreed to moving any materials yet. I've
>> hear rumors that moving the library is a potential "project" for Americorps
>> week. This is unacceptable unless the group responsible for maintaining
>> those materials is first consulted. Anything else will result in our issuing
>> a block officially. I will be at steering next week if this is something
>> that other groups wish to discuss.
>>
>> Chris
>>
>> On Sat, Apr 9, 2011 at 5:13 PM, Chris Ritzo <chris.ritzo at gmail.com>wrote:
>>
>>> RE: consensus on Rm 15 becoming common meeting space.
>>>
>>> I missed this portion of the meeting and wanted to ask if there were
>>> more specific discussions on organizing the space, what would be moved
>>> there, etc. Was a timeline discussed? Is there a sub-group of
>>> interested folks who are helping with this endeavor? How can one get
>>> involved to help? If anyone would add clarifying details that would be
>>> great.
>>>
>>> Two items of interest to working groups I am involved in:
>>> - I'll inform the Makerspace about moving any items still in Room 15.
>>> - Library relocation. I don't know if this was discussed at Steering
>>> specifically, but Austin did approach me about this.
>>>
>>> >From conversations I've had with others, it seems there is interest in
>>> relocating library materials there, and I believe the Librarians group
>>> would be open to that, we'll just need to consense on that the next
>>> time we all meet.
>>> More ideas/discussion to add to moving/relocation planning are below:
>>>
>>> The librarians group is hosting a zine fest April 30th, and May 1st,
>>> so any relocation would not be able to happen until after that time. I
>>> can meet with whomever is planning the new space layout to talk about
>>> what space needs, shelving locations, etc. I don't know what people's
>>> ideas are currently about a timeline for this, but moving the library
>>> materials, building/moving shelves, etc. is a big job. We'll need some
>>> help, which I'm sure won't be a problem. I'd say that given everyone's
>>> schedules and other commitments this could easily happen by the end of
>>> summer.
>>>
>>> Thanks for listening.... :)
>>>
>>>
>>> On Thu, Apr 7, 2011 at 10:15 PM, Jacob Barton <udderbot at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>> > Steering meeting April 7, 2011
>>> >
>>> > Action items:
>>> >
>>> > Marya will draft a statement of support for Indymedia Egypt by next
>>> Friday
>>> >
>>> > Mike will invite interested parties to a caucus meeting on Security
>>> issues,
>>> > including Key changing policy.
>>> >
>>> > Leon & Barry will post no-nonsense, reasonably-merciful stuff-in-halls
>>> > policy.
>>> >
>>> > Consensuses:
>>> >
>>> > Room 15 (the old Makerspace room) will become a dedicated, primary
>>> meeting
>>> > space for working groups who currently meet in the main space.
>>> >
>>> > IMC fridge will become Shows fridge, mini-fridge will become IMC
>>> fridge.
>>> >
>>> > Introductions
>>> >
>>> > Present: ((Isak shows, Leon buiding, Austin finance, Jacob
>>> oddmusic/RFU,
>>> > Marya print, Bob print, Todd shows, Ed shows, Mike finance, Chris tech,
>>> Durl
>>> > treasurer, Barry bikeproject, Larry shows, …Sally finance))
>>> >
>>> > Tech clarification (Chris)
>>> >
>>> > Tech group has a specific role that has started having some scope
>>> creep.
>>> > The role of the Tech group is to provide infrastructure, service
>>> support.
>>> > Regarding equipment, we maintain our servers, the public computer lab,
>>> > support on specific workstations if there are needs.
>>> >
>>> > Requests for monitors, additional computers, wireless access points,
>>> laptops
>>> > are beyond our current capacity.  Tech will help you set things up, but
>>> not
>>> > for ongoing support, upgrades, equipment -- that's the responsibility
>>> of
>>> > working groups.
>>> >
>>> > Q's for Chris/Tech
>>> >
>>> > How are requests made?  Use the email list (imc-tech at ucimc.org)
>>> >
>>> > How about adding printers, wireless nodes to the network?  We will
>>> > collaborate on a case by case basis.
>>> >
>>> > Round of applause!
>>> >
>>> > Can you formulate what exactly you don't do?  We've talked about that.
>>> The
>>> > Help Desk has become the place for handling more general issues.
>>> >
>>> > Resolution of support for Indy Media in Egypt (re Mike's email)
>>> >
>>> > It's a good idea!  Maybe an email to send to global IMC communications
>>> list.
>>> >
>>> > Marya is willing to draft a statement of support.  Will write email by
>>> next
>>> > Friday (April 15)
>>> >
>>> > Mike and the government
>>> >
>>> > Be prepared for a government shutdown.  If shutdown, Americorps will be
>>> > legally prohibited from working.
>>> >
>>> > Fire re-inspection Monday. We're on the right track. The big deal:
>>> extension
>>> > cords!  See Mike's email.
>>> >
>>> > We spend a lot of time coordinating with city officials. This was the
>>> first
>>> > fire inspection in 6 years because they just realized we own the
>>> building,
>>> > not the feds!
>>> >
>>> > Touched base with police regarding recent kidshow incident.  We have an
>>> open
>>> > line of communication with them.
>>> >
>>> > Security (Mike)
>>> >
>>> > Security issue has been raised; as an employer organization, we must
>>> > address!
>>> >
>>> > Mike will email-invite interested folks to a meeting two weeks from
>>> today
>>> > (April 21st, 8PM)
>>> >
>>> > Key Changes
>>> >
>>> > Larry proposes that key issues, unless an absolute safety issue, should
>>> come
>>> > before Steering.
>>> >
>>> > The specific issue?  Maintenance room - The day after last steering,
>>> the
>>> > door on the maintenance closet was changed, to the surprise of many.
>>> > (crosstalk, mayhem, apologies)  This was an issue of miscommunication.
>>> Key
>>> > issues coming before Steering has been the general rule, though keys
>>> are
>>> > just the beginning.
>>> >
>>> > Move the question of key changes into the security caucus discussion.
>>> >
>>> > Joke (Austin)
>>> >
>>> > Just a quick thing, I ran into ex-mayor Schweighart the other day, and
>>> he
>>> > said "Hey Austin, your hair is getting pretty thin!" And I said "It's
>>> okay,
>>> > who wants fat hair?"
>>> >
>>> > Meta comment (Chris)
>>> >
>>> > Moving the meeting along is good, so long as it doesn't close off
>>> dialogue.
>>> > Steering is the place to have that dialogue & consensus.
>>> >
>>> > Building cleanup (Leon)
>>> >
>>> > Hallways are not a good place to store stuff that doesn't fit in your
>>> > space.  We don't have a choice in some cases because of fire safety
>>> issues.
>>> > We're working on a system.
>>> >
>>> > Barry: Bikeproj has similar issues.  It's great to come up with a
>>> *rule*,
>>> > tell people once, then be able to point to them when you enforce them.
>>> The
>>> > step of putting something in the hallway should be the tremendous deal,
>>> not
>>> > the act of removing something.
>>> >
>>> > There are non-IMC-directly-afiliated groups who feel at home here, who
>>> don't
>>> > have space.  Maybe we need a designated storage space or archive.
>>> >
>>> > Leon and Barry will work together to create a policy and post it.
>>> >
>>> > Proposal to De-Conflict Main Space Usage, Create Dedicated Meeting Room
>>> >
>>> > See email from Mike for context.
>>> >
>>> > Working groups would not have to pay to have meeting.  Dedicated space
>>> would
>>> > become the first choice for meetings.
>>> >
>>> > We'd need to schedule that space, post it on the door.
>>> >
>>> > Isak: The conflicts are happening several times a week, every week.
>>> > Eliminate that, and recurring users of main space will increase.
>>> >
>>> > Computer lab?  Grant fell through.
>>> >
>>> > Opportunity cost of $3600 room rental.  Finance is confident we'll make
>>> up
>>> > more than that if Thursday nights become rentable.
>>> >
>>> > CONSENSUS achieved.
>>> >
>>> > Long-term stuff
>>> >
>>> > Set date for Fall GMM - Let's do this by the next Steering meeting..
>>> >
>>> > There has been a suggestion for retreat at Kalyx Center.
>>> >
>>> > Alice Tang of Cupertino, CA, who passed a year ago today, left a
>>> > considerable sum to UC-IMC.  We should invest/spend it wisely.  Let's
>>> start
>>> > thinking & proposing.  Ideas raised:
>>> >
>>> > - Close off, adding separate entrance to Sun Room
>>> >
>>> > - Real accessibility
>>> >
>>> > - Accessibility for downstairs
>>> >
>>> > - Key card system
>>> >
>>> > - Paying off mortgage
>>> >
>>> > - Upgrade heating-cooling system (our energy bill is twice our mortgage
>>> > payments)
>>> >
>>> > Odds & Ends (Todd)
>>> >
>>> > Shows bought a small refrigerator.  The big fridge is practically
>>> empty.
>>> > Can shows use the big fridge & IMC use the new small one?  No concerns
>>> > raised = CONSENSUS.
>>> >
>>> > It gets really hot on 1st floor!  Opening window makes the people near
>>> the
>>> > window cold.
>>> >
>>> > Mike: When it's between 30°-50° outside, system mayhem results..
>>> There's no
>>> > simple turn-it-down solution, but there are expensive solutions.
>>> >
>>>   > _______________________________________________
>>> > IMC mailing list
>>> > IMC at lists.chambana.net
>>> > http://lists.chambana.net/mailman/listinfo/imc
>>> >
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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