Event:2017/06/15 Delegates Meeting

Omni Delegates' Meeting - 15 June 2017 7pm-9pm

Agenda

 * Introductions, Meeting Roles, and Delegates Count [10 minutes]
 * Announcements [5 minutes]
 * Bans [5 minutes]
 * Working Group Report-Backs [15 minutes]
 * Member Collective Updates (10 minutes)
 * Proposal: To Ban Running Wolf from the Omni Commons
 * Proposal: Hold Delegates Meetings on the 1st Thursday of the Month only

Introductions
Introduce yourself: Name; Preferred Pronoun; Affiliation
 * Ken - CCL / Building
 * Joe - FNB / Building
 * Marcus - ABDC / Fundraising / Welcoming
 * Laura - Finance / Fundraising
 * Julian - BAPS / Communications
 * Gerald - LibLens / FNB
 * Q.Z.
 * Daniel - Sudo
 * Almaz - GCEA / Fundraising / Commons
 * Abe

Meeting Roles

 * Facilitator/s: Laura
 * Explanation of hand signals: "deaf applause", "raised hand", "point of process", "direct response"(wildcard), etc.
 * Stacktaker:
 * Timekeeper:
 * Notetaker/s:
 * URL of this pad: https://pad.riseup.net/p/omninom
 * Vibe Reader:
 * Next meeting's facilitator(s):

Delegates

 * ABDC: Marcus
 * BAPS: Julian
 * CCL: Ken
 * CSC: Inactive
 * FNB: Joe
 * GWS: none
 * LL: none
 * Sudo: none
 * TIL: inactive
 * GCEA: Almaz

Quorum: No, 6/8 needed, only 5 present

Announcements

 * Gerald - working with a group of trade union people to go to Cuba. collaborating with the Cuban gov't to elimate Gitmo & the trade embargo. Cuban govt sending a trade unionist (hotel & restarant workers) from Cuban parliament to US. do we want him here? IN Oakland the 28th of June.
 * Almaz - Oakland Juneteenth 24th of June, W. Oak Youth Center 10-6
 * Ken - F0llow up from Temescal STreet Fair - various collectives & Omni qua Omni had presence; went well, folks were happy with talking to the public. do we want to participate again next year? [it was at little cost to us thanks to BID+ dispensatins)
 * Joe - FNB probably wouldn't again next year
 * Gerald - SF Mime Troupe's first "Stop and Think About This" - its called The Wall (a play) - could do here? tho nice in the park... perhaps here in a year or two if we talk.

Bans

 * Add to list of people asked to leave

Building & Permits

 * Daniel - new wireless access points all around the building - "Omni Commons"
 * trying to think about electricity use

Commons
Meetings: Second and Fourth Thursdays at 6pm

Communications
Meetings: First and Third Sundays at 5pm

Finance
Meetings: Monday at 6pm
 * Laura - our electricity bill's gone up.
 * Steve - have they been raising the rates?
 * what's been pushing it up? anyone want to work on that?
 * a motion switch?
 * Add to maintencan and upgrade plan

Fundraising
Meetings: Monday at 1pm

Welcoming
Meetings: Monday at 5pm
 * Marcus - currently planning for painting the entrance hall (& basement?), to be done in the next 3 weeks.

Member Collective Updates
What is going on with your collective? What are you working on? What have you accomplished? Any events coming up? Any difficulties you are encountering that you need help with?

ABDC

 * Members of ABDC have all voted to move down into the basement; the formal proposal will be sent out for next meeting.
 * there will be no physical wall, though spatially defined through objects/barriers
 * when ABDC originally moved in Omninoms were more enthusiastic about ABDC using the basement; but it turns

BAPS

 * PTSD group - they've been meeting regularly
 * Practical Research class - been on pause because Julian out of town, & Steve up to other stuff
 * given that some have been hesitant to participate because of some of the risks, we're considering how to get folks to participate more regularly / whether its necessary to reshape the class

CCL

 * some kind of event coming up tho its in conjunction with
 * a number of classes going - plant tissue class new

FNB

 * doing a fundraiser with First They Came for the Homeless on the 9th of July

GCEA

 * Doing "take back our streets" at Youth Uprising June 3rd, June 14th,
 * Immigrant Know Your Rights Workshop June 25th
 * a grant of 10-12 computers was given to GCEA & they will be installed in the basement library hall room.

LL

 * LL just screened an excellent film, next up The Fascists - 2 Sundays from now. about fascists/antifas in Sweden & Greece. [be aware of possible repressive response]
 * the GCEA/LL collab film has been going extremely well
 * forensic video investigation - learn how to decypher if a video is fake news or not; could be a future skill share, could generate some income in the building

Proposal to Hold Delegates Meetings on the 1st Thursday of the Month only

 * From Ken: Proposes to hold 1 delegates meeting per month on a trial basis through September. We will reevaluate if this schedule should continue on the first meeting in September.
 * Julian - this would slow down our decision making to 2 months for any decision
 * Ken - there are ways to remedy that: by introducing proposals in writing in advance and, when necessary, scheduling additional meetings
 * In favor: CCL, FNB, GCEA, BAPS,
 * Abstain: ABDC, probably would agree but haven't discussed
 * No quorum though people are generally in favor
 * Will ask delegates to decide remotely by unanimous consent

Proposal: To Ban Running Wolf from the Omni Commons
Submitted by Laura, 6/14/17 PROPOSAL: Running Wolf has continually disregarded posted Omni Commons rules despite being warned both verbally and in writing. These violations include using the Omni for personal storage and sleeping. His behavior is volatile and at times constitutes harassment. He should be permanently banned from entering the Omni. If we pass this proposal, we will need to make a plan to prevent Running Wolf from vandalizing the Omni in retribution. REASONS: In our most recent basement clean out, I found a large duffle bag with items that appeared to belong to Running Wolf hidden in a pile of other stuff. I placed it in the pile of items to be hauled, but it disappeared before the hauler came. There is currently a dresser in the den that contains clothes and other personal affects that I believe are his. There have been multiple occasions in the past when I have placed warning notes on piles of personal belongings in the den/computer area that appeared to belong to him. These notes have included the reminder that personal storage is not allowed at the Omni. Daniel has seen Running Wolf sleeping in the den area twice in the past 2 weeks. He wrote up what happened in an email, referring to Running Wolf as "a person": "Today I arrived to OC about 7AM and when checking the areas where I may wanted to work, I came across a person sleeping by the computers. This is the same person I have found about 12 days earlier late night wrapped up in what I said it was a blanket (can be a sleeping bag). Anyhow, because I felt unsafe to wake the person up by myself, and since I have seen (anonymous) downstairs in CCL, I went to check with (anonymous) about what should we do. We ended up going upstairs and wake this person up, and remind him that Omni its not a place to sleep. (Anonymous) had to clap his hands hard about 4-5 fives to get him to wake up. This person quickly claimed he was not sleeping, even though he was rolled up with blanket (or sleeping bag). -This person increased his tone of voice and tried to change the subject. He continue talking loud, even after we have left him alone." (Daniel agreed to have his email included in this proposal) Running Wolf has also violated our Statement of Solidarity. He recently was observed shouting "Fuck immigrants! This is my land" within earshot of several people, at least 2 of whom were immigrants. This constitutes harassment, and is one example of how he creates a hostile environment. In addition, when he is asked to reconsider his behavior or is reminded of the rules, he often yells at the person in a threatening and derogatory manner, expressing a sense of entitlement to exemption from the agreements of the community. His presence in the den/shared computer area discourages other people from using the area because he leaves the area he uses dirty. He speaks loudly and aggressively, disturbing people working in the area around him, and sometimes arguing with them. He continues to need reminding to speak in a normal tone even after being asked multiple times. Unlike most members of the Omni community, Running Wolf contributes almost nothing, often not picking up after himself or helping others who are working on Omni related tasks around him. Running Wolf's attitude toward the Omni is that the rules don't apply to him and that he doesn't need to contribute anything to our community. Requests to change his behavior are met with hostility. I propose that he be permanently banned.
 * Gerald: I don't have a problem with the guy personally but he has caused our group lots of trouble and has used the word "Nigger" in front of our group. When we banned him he did vandalize our equipment. We have to come with a plan to enforce keeping him out.
 * Almaz - Running Wolf loudly expressed some anti-immigrant sentiments in the entrance hall
 * Joe - he tends to allienated everyone; has been thrown out of every FNB kitchen. he has done harm to various community energies and relations
 * Almaz - how do we protect the Omni?
 * Ken - he was found sleeping here & unresponsive to rational suggestions. He leaves the doors ajar so he can get back in if he has to go somewhere. Agrees we need to make aplan to keept the OMni safe. Everyone needs to know if this passes. Maybe put his picture around.
 * Steve - he's known Running Wolf a long time. we can't ban him. as he's gotten kicked out of everything - he does what he's chastized for as rebellion againt the rule used against him. an entire left are in him confronted with something we can't handle. to him, all we can offer are rules and restrictions.
 * Joe - he's a bad dude.
 * Laura - he uses the Omni without giving in return & doesn't feel he has to follow the rules here
 * we don't have the capacity or the skill
 * Daniel - Sudo room, a safer space, etc. being around and conversing with him makes this space unsafe. I personally don't feel safe.
 * Almaz - we don't want to kick folks out, this is a community center. perhaps the ban can be a temporary basis.
 * Joe - we need to protect our equipment here
 * Gerald - I've been on mediation committees here. there is a minimal accountability that we have to stick by. the potential here is great; if anyone decides they can't be corrected in our struggle then we cannot accept those people
 * Q.Z. - even serial killers have friends.
 * Daniel - When I sent the emails reproting on RW sleepig. I didn't include his name becasue I didn't want to put him in any addtional jeopoardy by his name appearing on a public list. I camebecasue I feel this is important.
 * Laura - Between now and the next meeting in July, let's talk with our collectives including about what to
 * Joe - FNB folks will look out.
 * we can't have the doors propped as they have been lately.
 * someone needs to be at the door with a picture
 * our policy is - if you don't have a key or a place you're going specifically you need to be a guest of a member present with you
 * QZ
 * straw poll -
 * for - 8
 * against - 0
 * abstain - 2
 * Julian: There's a signal Omni Emergency contact list.

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