Event:2015/02/21 Commons WG Meeting

Commons WG 2/21

Attendees

• Niki, Laura, Jenny, Crystal, Noemi, Matt, David K, Kwe

Late: Rachel

Announcements

• Crystal is a member of an experimental music group (Active Music Series) looking to possibly join Omni
  • Two other people run the series
  • contact info:
  • Always give any proceeds to the artists
  • Request that artists provide their own sound
  • Want to keep group in Oakland
  • https://activemusic.wordpress.com/
  • once a month, uptown was hosting free, donation-based
  • $120/event in donations average
  • ~25-40 attendees/event
  • Explain difference between renting the space once a month vs. becoming a member collective
  • a big show once a year (terry riley performances, etc) - roscoe mitchell
  • The second tuesday was their uptown day - looking to stick with tuesday(s)
  • shows are usually ~ 2h - could start at 8pm (end at 10)
  • (which room? could fit easily into disco room but we need to soundproof a bit in there)
  • just emailed a request, not yet filled out form - will do so once they have a date picked (not a rush)

Agenda

• Figuring out the alcohol situation - bump to an email thread
• Fundraising for Renovation Next Steps?
  • Different tasks:
    • Raising money: Fundraising has been taking a break but we can organize meetings on mondays again. It should be ongoing. It's good to take a break but there is a need for continuous work. Example: there is a work to do on the perks. Kwe is interested in spearheading the next phase.
    • Organizing the space
    • Community center aspect
    • Building: Matt and Mary have been meeting on sundays at 1pm. Needs to be documented and announced. David has been working on this too :) combine forces!
• Omni Media Group Room(s) Status
  • Kwe: I'm representing a larger organization MIHU, that is spread out all over the world. I'd like to know how to become a legitimate active collective as Music Is Healing Us.
  • Please send out the information about your group and we'll collect questions from other collectives. Clarify the space that you need and what you can contribute to the omni.
  • Began with a shared vision of a community media space, especially for youth
  • Black Hole came and requested one of the basement rooms (this is but one option for black hole)
    • This option is sub-optimal if Black Hole is able to close off the hallway instead (utilizing currently unusuable space).
    • Black Hole needs to submit a space use proposal to the delegates
  • So both music production and post production difficult in basement
  • Liz started putting together scheduling needs to accommodate both needs
  • Proposal to separate post production space to crow's nest to allow for basement music production
  • OpAl to arrange and maintain equipment in the crows nest and steward its accessible, scheduled use for Music Is Healing, Optik Allusions, Oakland Next, and other groups
  • Other classes and meetings that take place in the 'Library' room would need to be rescheduled
  • The basement rooms need significant work - taking down all drywall to treat the mold, and upgrading ventilation system
  • Suggested to look at Omni Music Project proposal for inspiration
  • Responsibility to the Omni at large? Media support for in-house collectives
  • Optik Allusions to make a proposal to steward the crows nest now for post-production
  • OpAl to participate in working groups
• Figuring out Music is Healing Collective @ the Omni (agreement, grant/crowd funding, scheduling, space, storage etc)
  • What is the agreement, where do I stand as an omni collective?
  • Sarah P expressed concern about personal storage and cleanliness of Disco Room and crow's nest
  • Started out as 'work sound life' - was an online community
  • music is healing is more work on the ground
• wp calendar de-foobarring next steps / how to help
  • https://pad.riseup.net/p/omnical-todos
• Israeli folk dance in the ballroom
  • Being moved to the Disco Room
• TABLED Improving documentation / fee schedule / newbies at Commons WG meetings
• Sustainable Economies Law Center -- what might be things we would be interested to barter for use of the space one night in May (submission coming soon)
  • Help with leases, sub-leases, tenant contracts, collective structure, non-profit structure, etc
  • Help with cooperative formation, legal advice.
  • Ask: for Legal Cafe

Events

Last Week's Events

• Structure, Sign, Play - Public School Class; published
• Sharefest - Jenny will follow up - emailed to confirm, asked to pass the hat
• This is what I want - Sarah P following up - niki pinging sarah; Not happening
• West African Dance Class - Niki will follow up w/Cere - waiting for reply
  • Discussion about cleaning of the floors before/after dance classes
  • Schedule maintenance time, schedule 'prep'
• Black Womyn's Brunch - Jenny will follow up - email sent - will try to meet up next week to discuss options to support
• Women's Variety Show - Jenny will follow up with Marina about moving to another date - emailed, will email again
• Film Screening: Tales of the Grim Sleeper - Niki following up
• Space Apps - Jenny following up, still needs to follow up
• Anti Drug War Benefit - Niki - need to send info re: bar / insurance
• Dance rehearsal request - Sarah; No response
• Kristin & Slim's wedding reception - DK following w/Stan.
  • dk - Emailed stan last week (who put in the event request on their behalf), no reply, unless someone knows them we will have to cancel.
• HAXAN - Niki emailed; They're coming by for a tour & conversation next week
• Isaura's Brazilian Dance & Drumming Workshop - contract was signed and turned in - Jenny will follow up for collecting deposit

This Week

• Kommunity FK - dk to followu p with don
• West African Dance Class - waiting to hear from Cere, follow up w/Kwe if they're interested
• Drum Sunday - no response
• Isaura - Jenny to follow up on getting contract signed
• Being Carried yoga - Rachel will follow up
• Ving Tsun Class - Niki will check in w/Max about moving these classes to the Den; needs to have insurance
• Don also doesn't have insurance - DK will talk with Don
• Renovating Ourselves: An Omni Commons Organizing Series
• an event brought by matt.. six sessions 1 wk apart, monday nights, to talk about omni organizing - an outside speaker coming to each one
  • N asked L.P. too
• Happy Homes Tenants Meeting - Jenny
• Women's Variety Show - Jenny
• Space Tourism - Laura, Niki & Danny LAura will email asking for at least $1000 dollars
• This is your brain on Race with Victor Lewis - laura will f/u and ask for $300 or a %, whichever is greater
• Emerson Elementary School auction - April 25, Sarah following up. They'd like to provide childcare, will need ballroom + a space
• Space Apps - Jenny
• Wedding Reception - Niki will talk with Zoe
• 28toomany - Rachel will mentor Noemie
• SELC event - willing to barter legal services

Action Items

• Insurance for martial arts classes
  • DK will talk with Don
  • Niki wil talk with Max
  • Jenny will remove the martial arts classes until they get insurance
• Finegrain rental fee requests - Matt and Jenny

Last Week's Action Items

• Jenny to add locations to the BAPS calendar - what locations need to be added? seems they're all on there.
• Put up do-ocracy signs in the space (Shorter Ryan)
• Work on form to highlight rental rates granulated by need (Jenny)
  • What are you charging for your event? - done
  • Transparency about our (Omni's) financials - done
  • Forefront expectations - "we are a volunteer-run group" - done
• Charge for A/V needs? Offer that renters hire some people we work with to set up/run equipment/videotape event etc. Jenny will make list of those people
• Commons WG Volunteer orientation - David and Jenny and Noemie
• Make a pamphlet for onboarding new commons/booking volunteers - Niki