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!