2006 04 12 group meeting minutes - APPROVED

Minutes for April 12th CAPES meeting (approved at May meeting) Present: Lloyd, Matt, Mitchell, Nina, Sean STARTED 6:45 CONSENSUS to approve reworked agenda proposal as follows:     6:45-6:55  Approve Agenda; Pick notetaker; Intros; Edit & Approve previous meeting minutes    6:55-7:10  FIVE MINUTE PARECON PRESENTATION followed by critique    7:10-7:25  Recap of March 18th, Pilsen Event, Imokalee protest, Reclaim the Commons    7:25-7:50  Upcoming Events (May 6 CSF, OUL, July 6-9 MSF, Other)     7:50-8:15  Reportbacks  (Web team (web design); Presentation (schedule mtgs); Voicemail (rotate); Gaming; Fiction)    8:15-8:25  OLD BUSINESS:  decisions in between meetings; mission statement; CAPES membership; social hour    8:25-8:30  New BusinessAgenda discussion included discussion of proposal to start every meeting where possible with strict 5 minute Parecon presentation and critique of presentation/model as appropriate – disposition of this discussion unclear.Sean to take minutes, everybody said hi to each other. And hi to you reading this.CONSENSUS to approve proposed 3/8/06 meeting minutes without changes. Nina gave Parecon presentation. Discussion by group. Pilsen event recap: discussion included possible briefer initial presentations (perhaps delivered by single speakers) followed by longer panel discussions, translators placed in audience to allow translation in real time, possible reintroduction of (non-electronic) visuals.  We inadvertently skipped recap of flyering at March 18th antiwar protests. Quick recaps of 4/1 Imokalee workers’ protest, 4/8 “Reclaim the Commons” event.  Sean PROPOSED we create an outreach working group (or point person within the Presentations WG) to coordinate speaking and tabling at outside events.  Proposal TABLED.  Brief DISCUSSION of slogans for use in outreach. - May 6th Chicago Social Forum:  As he’ll be out of town, Matt stepped down as May 6th point, Lloyd approved by CONSENSUS as new May 6th point person.  Nina K. appointed by CONSENSUS to Presentation Working Group.  Next Presentation WG meeting set (by CONSENSUS) for 5PM Friday April 21st at Lloyd’s.- OUL presentation: June 10th date cancelled; will seek rescheduled date. - July 6-9 Midwest Social Forum: Matt reported back on planning meeting he attended; positive response.  CONSENSUS to host two MSF forums if permitted. Reportbacks: - Web Team: discussion of proposal “that we consider, element by element, potential changes . . . [Lloyd’s designs] will be very useful in visualizing what needs changing but PROPOSAL is that we consider everything from the bottom up, element by element, to gradually arrive at an optimal working version.”  WITHDRAWN after concerns from Lloyd, Matt, Mitchell, Nina.  Proposal by Sean to ask Lloyd to institute his web design in consultation with webteam approved by CONSENSUS. - Presentation WG – nothing not handled earlier in meeting. - Voicemail Team – Sean ROTATED onto team to replace Matt. - Parecon Gaming – Mitchell has developed Parecon card game dubbed Chicago Parecon Poker.  CONSENSUS to play and discuss at end of meeting. - Parecon Fiction – No new business. Old Business: - Tabled from February meeting: proposal “to develop procedures that would enable group to make time-sensitive decisions without having to wait for group meetings.  Discussion considered creating new working groups/empowering existing working groups to speak for CAPES within set parameters on specific issues likely to be time-sensitive, creating procedure for calling emergency meetings, including conference-call style meetings perhaps facilitated through the website.”  CONSENSUS TO TABLE proposal to May meeting.- Two proposed changes to mission statement:  “that the last words of the CAPES mission statement should change to: ‘. . . based upon democratic ideals of EQUITY, SOLIDARITY, DIVERSITY, real EFFICIENCY, and participatory SELF-MANAGEMENT.'" concern from Mitchell, more discussion needed, CONSENSUS TO TABLE to May meeting.  Group also TABLED reworked proposal to add antisectarianism language to end of statement:  “Viable, ambitious and democratic future visions are needed to help build the massive, diverse, and democratic movement, passionately debating but immune to sectarian manipulation, which is not only necessary to immediate human survival but also the sole path to Parecon or any vision like it.  We offer Parecon as one vision among many to be adapted, adopted, or discarded by all people working for democracy.”  Nina and Sean to submit suggested revisions to listserv for discussion. - CAPES social hour – skipped. With no new business, we concluded by playing a few rounds of Chicago Parecon Poker, with praise and suggestions for Mitchell. We adjourned on time or near it.