Society Meeting Archive

Notes from previous meetings.  Organized in assending order by date (YYYY MM DD).

2005 10 26 - Meeting Notes

Meeting October 22

2005 11 16 - Meeting Notes

2005 12 07 - group meeting minutes

Attending:

Donna,
Jana (new),
Joe (new),
John,
Matt,
Mitchell (minutes-taker),
Sean


There were a lot of things to talk about. We simply discussed as much as possible from about 6:45pm until about 8pm.

(1) We discussed parecon for about 20 minutes. Mitchell provided a summary of parecon. Matt provided explanatory commentary about the model. Lots of questions; lots of good exchange.

(2) Update of recent outreach: Sean distributed flyers at Fort Benning (for the annual School of the Americas protest) and at Maxwell Street. We also gave an endorsement to the flyer's use, and to Maxwell Street flyerings. Joe offered one idea for further outreach: the Pilsen Neighborhood Council.

(3) College of complexes. We agreed to pursue this to see if we can get a presentation as soon as possible (probably not until March at the earliest); we can work on the presentation and who'll give it in the meantime. Lloyd: Can you notify the College of Complexes when you get the chance?

(4) December 10 event. We have an opportunity to table at a Chicago Indymedia fundraiser on December 10. Sean agreed to attend; Matt might be able to come.

(5) Website uploads: Lloyd says that the file upload capability of the website is broken; he's not sure why but he says that he'll investigate why and fix it. However, Sean said that he was able to upload the flyer he made. We'll have to figure out what's going on.

(6) Voicemail. Sean suggested that CAPES get a voicemail account. Mitchell said that Chicago Media Action has a voicemail account; he can bring info about that at the next meeting to consider.

(7) Next meeting place and time. We agreed to meet again on Wednesday, January 11, 6:30pm at Gourmand. We did agree to investigate other possible meeting venues (examples include: Harold Washing Library, Harold Washington College, DePaul downtown, Chicago Temple, and any other ideas other people may get).

We'll save the remaining topics for a subsequent meeting or meetings.

Thanks.

2006 01 11 Group Meeting Minutes - APPROVED

These January 11 2006 minutes were APPROVED at our February 8 meeting.

Attending:
John
Matt
Mitchell (note taker)
Ruben
Sean
Shea

Proposal from previous meeting to set up a voice mail line and assign tasks of checking and answering it. Mitchell presented voice mail vendors. Group agreed by concensus to rent a voice mail line from "Around the Clock" (also used by Chicago Media Action) for $30 per quarter (plus approx. $30 startup fee). Mitchell will follow-up and provide details.

We reached consensus to approve Sean's two proposed variations on Ruben's already-approved "five arms" CAPES logo - group considers Ruben's original logo (possibly with group acronym in center) preferable for use in small formats and Sean's two variations appropriate to larger formats.

Website: Ruben reported Lloyd had almost gotten FTP capability restored. Discussed website proposal by Sean - general concern for webmaster input met by adopting proposal as a recommendation only. "Recommended that website "user" (editor) privileges be made automatically but _exclusively_ available to those requesting said privileges at an in-person meeting of our group."

Discussed Sean's proposal to change group name to "Chicago Participatory Economics Network." Sean withdrew proposal to meet concerns of John, Matt, Mitchell, and Shea.

Past events: We drew a bunch of emails and did some excellent outreach at the December 10 Indymedia fundraiser.

Upcoming events:

Sean and Ruben to attend a January 12th Open University of the Left on defeating Wal-Mart through "High-Road" economic development. Mitchell to approach OUL regarding possible presentation on parecon.

Group reached consensus to conduct a Parecon forum at a Pilsen restaraunt with Pilsen/Southwest Side Greens. Proposed dates are Feb. 22 or Mar. 1. Draft flyer presented and approved with caveats. Sean authorized to make reasonable logistic/promotional decisions concerning event, under advice of group.

Other possible future events include the 2006 Chicago Social Forum (around May Day), and the 2006 Midwest Social Forum (to be held in the summer, in Milwaukee).

Other projects for 2006 (incl. game, theater): Tabled to next meeting. Proposed change to mission statement tabled to next meeting.

Agreed by consensus to meet on the second Wednesday of each month going forward - next meeting is February 8 at Gourmand.

We've been trying to end promptly at 8PM and it helped that during winter hours Gourmand now closes at that time!

2006 02 08 Meeting Minutes - APPROVED

Approved March 8, 2006

Feb 8 2006 group meeting minutes, approved at March 8 2006 approval by Sean.
    (for previous meetings' minutes, click here).

Attending:
John
Lloyd (Notetaker)
Matt
Mitchell
Sean

We started at 6:30PM.

Sean proposed meeting agenda, approved by consensus.  Lloyd picked as minutes taker.  Introductions.  Minutes of previous (Jan 11, 2006) meeting by Mitchell and Sean approved by consensus.

Past/Future Public Events:

CONSENSUS on proposal: �that monthly CAPES meetings will be at Gourmand.�

PILSEN FORUM
Recap of progress on Pilsen forum. CONSENSUS for Sean to attempt to move date to March 22nd (to follow the March 18th March/Rally to commemorate the 3rd anniversary of the war in Iraq).  CONSENSUS that CAPES endorse March 18th antiwar marches, hat passed for $25 which will be our endorsement fee.

Discussion of size of Pilsen forum panel with focus on including as many presenters as possible, possibly pairing up to discuss Parecon institutions.  Group reached CONSENSUS to create Presentations Working Group to plan this and future presentations with initial assigned membership consisting of members present to volunteer (John, Lloyd, Matt, Mitchell, Sean) (first meeting of this working group scheduled 6:30 Wed Feb 22 at Gourmand).  Possible Pilsen event format: half presentation, half questions. Announcement to be made in Reader.  Dates for flyering in Pilsen not yet established.  If the date of the event changes, flyering at the March 18 rally/march will be necessary as well. 

Open University of the Left - Has offered us a date in May.  Mitchell is looking into the details.

Midwest Social Forum (July 2006 Milwaukee, WI) � CONSENSUS to present and/or table at the event.  Mitchell is dealing with the proposal.

Flyering: Discussion but no decision on scheduling Maxwell Street flyerings, or on flyering other venues such as Chicago Hotel picket.  Sean will table for CAPES at Chicago Indymedia Film Presentation (7 pm Feb 11, 2006).

OLD BUSINESS:

Voicemail - Mitchell is waiting to hear back from the messaging service.  Old proposal �that CAPES get a voice mail line and assign a few members to check and answer it as part of their balanced job complexes.� CONSENSUS to create two-person Voicemail Team rotated monthly, Matt and Mitchell assigned for first month.

Webteam � proposals considered: �On February 8th we should create AND STAFF an official webteam, and also an official voicemail team.  That's a PROPOSAL, by the way . . .� �I propose that on February 8th we confirm that maintaining this listserv has  been officially assigned as a group task, and that we nail down to whom it's been assigned.�  CONSENSUS to create Webteam, initial membership Dylan, Lloyd, Ruben, and Sean.  Webteam tasks to be established.  Questions of how best to use the site (still needs to established) and the need for a site tutorial (possibly at the next meeting) were brought up.

Mission Statement:  CONSENSUS on previously tabled proposal amended as follows answering concerns of John and Lloyd: �that we change the last paragraph of our mission statement to include this bracketed text at its very end (SEEDS values are in bold text, �participatory� no longer in bold):  �. . . We assert that economic realities, perhaps more than any others, must be susceptible to popular influence and democratic debate in order for democratic ideals to be anything but chimera: and accordingly we energetically propose an economic model based upon the democratic ideals of equity, solidarity, diversity, and participatory self-management[, in addition to the practical value of real efficiency so neglected by the current system].��  (original proposal ended: �to the practical value of efficiency so disastrously neglected by the current system.�)

Parecon Gaming / Parecon Fiction:  Proposal by Mitchell �to start two working groups in CAPES which can work on projects related to: (1) Parecon-related and participatory gaming (that is, creating games and test-playing games that help that help convey parecon-related values and institutions). (2) Writing works of creative fiction (a play, a short story, et cetera), either singly or collectively, which would do the same thing -- and maybe try to get it published.  (This may be related to a hoped-for collective CAPES group blog project I hope to start.) - Is anyone interested in being a part of either of these proposed working groups�  CONSENSUS to create Gaming and Fiction working groups with Mitchell as point person.   Discussion of potential Parecon gaming debated idea of "Everyone wins or loses" gaming and adapting current games vs. adapting Parecon institutions.  Update from John on his work creating a Sim Parecon module. 

NEW BUSINESS:

Job Complex Directory � CONSENSUS on adoption and public web accessibility of draft Job Complex directory and CONSENSUS on proposal �that everyone assigned an official group task (like webteam, voicemail team, etc.) will be listed in a publicly-accessible 'CAPES Job Complex Directory' on the website.� Discussion of developing a database driven version rather then a static page.

Literature Creation Issue:  Earlier proposal by Mitchell: �Perhaps we can devise a working group which would work specifically on writing for official CAPES statements.�  Presentation group decided to be sufficient for this purpose, proposal withdrawn.  Discussion of Sean�s and Mitchell�s proposed Pilsen forum flyer language.  Concerns of several members specifically with first
paragraph of Sean�s text, met by Sean with agreement to significantly alter first paragraph with listserv/presentation group discussion.  

Decision Making Between meetings � Proposal by Sean 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.   Tabled for further discussion.

We started on time and were careful to meet time limits set in our agenda, so we finished comfortably before Gourmand's 8PM close without having to stint on discussion or table any but, as expected, the last item.

2006 03 08 meeting minutes - APPROVED

Minutes of March 8th 2006 group meeting - APPROVED. 
    (for previous meetings' minutes, click here).

Present:
Lloyd
Matt
Mitchell
Sean (notetaker)


CONSENSUS to approve proposed agenda. Sean to take notes. Intros. After discussion, proposed minutes of February meeting APPROVED without changes.


March 18th and March 22nd events:

Presentation content referred to Presentation Working Group whose next meeting was rescheduled for Friday 5PM at Lloyd?s house, all welcome.

PROPOSAL ?That CAPES flyer March 18th events including the Pilsen feeder march, the Union Park rally, and the rally before the Michigan Avenue march. That CAPES establish financial means for so doing.? CONSENSUS to flyer the Pilsen feeder march, the Union Park rally, and the Michigan Avenue parade on March 18th. At least two members available for each 3/18 event, more volunteers more
than welcome. $35 already spent on 400 flyers distributed in Pilsen, Sean will eat cost. All members present agreed to match this with $35 donations establishing a $140 kitty. CONSENSUS to establish kitty and solicit further donations from members not present.

PROPOSAL ?That we carry a 3?x8? tape-reinforced-paper banner at the March 18th events and that we establish financial means ($20-$50) for so doing? WITHDRAWN in favor of having more people to flyer. PROPOSAL for banner design WITHDRAWN since there?s no banner! Discussion of handing out free NO WAR buttons with
each flyer at peace events ? too expensive, too little time.

Discussed request from March 18th Committee (www.chicagoactions.org) for parade marshalls/event facilitators.CONSENSUS not to send event facilitators. Proposal to make up for it with flyering for 3/18 and Pilsen 3/18 feeder march - CONSENSUS to flyer for both March 18th and March 22nd events outside St.
Pius Church (2 blocks from 3/22 event site) 10AM the Sunday after this meeting (3/11/05).

Logistics: discussion of second translator being approached for event. Update on Pilsen Greens local promotion work being done. Mitchell will invite CAN-TV to shoot the event for broadcast. Near end of presentation, we?ll ask people interested in Parecon to hook up with Pilsen-area groups fighting related, shorter-term struggles ? we?ll present list of possible groups.


Non-Pilsen Past/Future Events

Discussed flyering at past events: Naomi Klein ?The Take? film, Indymedia fundraiser at ACME, Cindy Sheehan/Juan Torres event at St. Pius, School of the Americas Watch event. Discussed implications of worker-managed factory movement for Parecon and the 3/22 event ? referred discussion to Presentation working group (meeting Friday!).

Mitchell proposed forum date offered by Open University of the Left for Saturday June 10th (time TBA) ? June 10th event approved by CONSENSUS.

May 6th 2006 Chicago Social Forum: PROPOSAL to get in forum proposal before March 20 proposal deadline. We?ll adapt March 22nd presentation. CONSENSUS to make Matt McBride point person for 2006 CSF event. Re-use forum proposal from 2005 CSF.

Midwest Social Forum in July ? early bird deadline for proposals April 1st ? CONSENSUS to send them proposal again based on 2005 CSF proposal.

Discussed potential future neighborhood forums in activist/working
neighborhoods.


Reportbacks

Presentation WG Reportback ? nothing not discussed above.

Voicemail Team Reportback ? no voicemail messages yet. Sean WITHDREW PROPOSAL for minute-long bilingual voicemail message in face of concerns from Lloyd, Matt, Mitchell.
Mitchell ROTATED OFF Voicemail Team, Lloyd ROTATED ON for two-month term.

Web Team Reportback and issues ? PROPOSAL to discuss website element by element before evaluating design proposals presented along with website design PROPOSAL by Lloyd. Discussion focused on design proposals, TABLED until April group meeting. PROPOSAL that ?we confirm that maintaining this listserv has been officially assigned as a group task, and that we nail down to whom it's been assigned.? CONSENSUS to assign Lloyd as listserv point person, Mitchell as newsletter point person.

Parecon Gaming and Fiction WG Reportback: Mitchell will have more time to initiate WG process soon.

 


Old Business:

PROPOSAL from February meeting (?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.?) TABLED until April meeting.


New Business:

Also TABLED until April meeting: PROPOSAL ?that the last words of the CAPES mission statement should change from: '. . . based upon the democratic ideals of EQUITY, SOLIDARITY, DIVERSITY, and participatory SELF-MANAGEMENT, in addition to the practical value of real EFFICIENCY so neglected by the current system.' to
'. . . based upon ____ democratic ideals of EQUITY, SOLIDARITY, DIVERSITY, real EFFICIENCY, and participatory SELF-MANAGEMENT.'"

Also TABLED until April meeting (after discussion about need for radical shortening and also grounding in sectarianism issue) PROPOSED statement: ?Our long-term vision of Parecon cannot be achieved without the evolution of the same immensely powerful and dazzlingly diverse democratic movement which is now
becoming understood as a precondition not only of radical economic democratization but of mere human survival. Consequently CAPES has nothing to offer progressive activists which does not contribute to their effectiveness and that of their organizations in achieving short-term change consistent with democracy whether central to Parecon or tangential to it. We do not increase our membershp at the expense of other democratically organized and focused campaigns and we do not ask any organization to divide its energies between its efforts and ours. We are an instrument for furthering debate on the crucial issue of economics because democratic debate on the core issues tends to inspire, educate and unify activist movements - we hope to the point where the implementation of Parecon or some even better vision will be inevitable. We ask organizations, networks, and movements wishing to debate radical democratic vision to consider ours. Parecon is for debating, dissecting, developing, and discarding in free egalitarian debate between people ready to work for a more human world. Our goal is to facilitate actual democracy and so we eschew undemocratic tactics in achieving this goal. In short, we cannot be sectarian, and be for Parecon, at the same time, and democratic groups should not fear that we will employ sectarian tactics in our work for radical long-term change. In rejecting sectarianism we do not reject criticism of or competition and noncooperation with groups commited to radical antidemocratic change; because we find ourselves not in a different sect from groups with antidemocratic commitments and tactics; but rather in different and adversarial movement.?

Also TABLED was discussion about defining or choosing not to define CAPES membership.

Discussion of pros and cons of busy, structured, formal group meetings. CONSENSUS to initiate monthly CAPES social hour in addition to group meetings, Matt approved as point person, assigned to find time and venue(s).

Adjourned at 8:20.

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.