Event:2015/02/07 Commons Working Group Mtg

Commons WG 2/7

Attendees

• Jenny, Niki, Ryan deilann, Kwe, Nick, Shake, Kwic, Dragon, David

Agenda

• Add directly to calendar or submit booking request?
  • Develop guidelines for when we add things directly to the calendar, how many hours any given collective can book free events in the commons spaces
  • One idea from Leah: Keep them as pending until a week before the event
  • Make a request when you add things directly, to commons working group
• Visibility of conflicting events
  • Low-tech solution with post-its?
  • Folks could take a photo each day to record its state
  • Problem with the current tech solution not showing conflicting events
  • Paper forms that people could put in a box, which we could go through each Saturday
  • Set up a public terminal in La Commune displaying the day's events
• Managing the common areas
  • Shake: would like to see each collective managing a common space
  • Cleanliness always an issue
  • Ryan: This consolidates power in the hands of the few, already-overworked
  • Nick: Clear rules and regulations needed re: maintenance
  • Niki: Agree that the lack of structure is problematic, clear points of contact needed
    • Ryan: Not people
      • Niki: Right, working groups
  • Tension between do-ocracy and consensus
  • Kwe: We're doing scheduling alright, but lagging on the management
• Leyya from Temescal Art Center re: space rental ideas
  • Formalizing a space usage procedure that doesn't always involve rent, but involves an agreement
  • How to talk to renters who have varying degrees of familiarity with the space
  • Difficulties with charging people - what's fair?
    • Leyya: People never expect to get the space for free. The idea that people would expect space for free is a little bit... psychedelic actually. The exchange of *something* changes the way people use and respect the space.
  • How do you prioritize who uses the space?
    • Stay true to your agreements.
    • Keeping space protected - eg Saturday nights - that are always for-charge.
    • Yes, there's a friends and family rate - and I'm totally transparent about that
    • Return & ongoing renters prioritized over one-offs
    • We have tenants in solidarity, what about renters in solidarity? Renters-in-solidarity rate
  • Kwe: Dismantling the idea of "no space for free" - how do we model this as community exchange; need for clearer guidelines if we're going to host, say, youth media in the future
  • David: Granulated way of assessing how much you should pay.
  • Ryan: Make it a little bit higher up on the form, no clickaway,
  • Jenny: We do have a process in place for assigning point people to events, who make sure the space is prepped beforehand and help with setup and breakdown.
  • Leyya: Set scale for different kinds of events - put it on the event organizers to come up with the variation rather than asking "what can you afford?" - and doesn't always have to be monetary - eg; carpenters; work-trade agreement - set hours for set task, ~$20/hr
    • Generally, renters let themselves in, set up the rooms themselves - set these expectations, of do-ocracy, in exchange for the low rates, you have to participate in its use while you use it - put this in the contract
  • Be more clear what the group is charging others
  • Dragon: Space-exchange with TAC as well; also timebanking
    • Leyya: Make those agreements with people you know can be responsible for them.
  • Kwic: Focus on the business aspect of renting the ballroom - eg Impact Hub, etc; - orientation to train folks on protocol, global membership
  • Leyya: Have folks with A/V needs pay extra for sound
• David: better financial transparency
• Leyya: Put out specific requests to volunteers - temescalartscenter@gmail.com

Events

• Isaura’s Brazilian Workshop of Dance, Rhythm, Chant with Live Percussion - Kwe following up
• Parent’s Liberation Workshopping - Kwic will follow up - Niki followed up
• San Francisco Sex Worker Film and Art Festival - Judy following up
• International Capoeira Encounter and Graduation - Cere following up - niki pinging cere
• American Library Association Unconference - Robert following up (Jenny to ping Robert)

Niki

• El Grillo Bus - Niki
• rehearsal for sound performance - niki following up with kevin
• Magnolias All At Once : A Talk with Norman Fischer - niki following up
• 2 π r – dance and music production - Niki following up
• HAXAN Film Festival - Niki / Nick / Dragon
  • Need to cleanse the space after this

Jenny

• Practice debate - jenny will follow up

Sarah

• Ziji Collective Small Council Meeting and Potluck - Sarah following up - niki pinging cere
• Second Annual Pi/e Festival - Sarah following up - Jenny put it on the calendar

Taller Ryan

• East Bay ShareFest Organizing Meeting - Taller Ryan?
• RootsKeeper Meeting - Taller Ryan following up
• East Bay Gift Circle - Taller Ryan?

Rachel

• we are the future - Rachel is following up

David

• Work Party & Sound Testing - DK following up with Stan
• Kommunity FK anniversary show (pushed back to April) - DK
• Kristin & Slim’s Wedding Reception & Party - David K following up

Drum Sunday

• • Would need to move Kristen's yoga class, she's flexible
  • Problematic of ongoing in-perpetuity events
  • DK: Need to dial down loud events in the Disco Room. So far the neighbors have been neutral
  • Need to improve soundproofing in that room. Loud events take up way more space than just the room
  • Shake: More cultural events and women-centric events good for the community
  • DK: Has been working constantly on the soundproofing plan - materials, architecht consult, etc
  • Dragon: Maybe the class could take place at TAC
  • Shake: Trial on a month to month basis
  • Kwe: Policy of allowance; Asset-based Community Development workshop / discussion - viewing possibilities over obstacles; lots of assets available to us
  • Jenny: Perhaps we could do a trial starting April, see if Leyya can host them in TAC for March?
  • Niki: Put the language studies folks in contact with them as well to coordinate with each other
  • Niki and Dragon to follow up with them

Process

• Fine-tune process for onboarding new folks to the booking/commons group
• Need more channels of involvement
• Committees as sub-groups of the working group - task forces - identify tasks that need doing and assign them to subcommittees
• Path of development to 'certify' folks who've completed the sound system training

Action Items

• 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?
  • Transparency about our (Omni's) financials
  • Forefront expectations - "we are a volunteer-run group"
• Charge for A/V needs?
• Volunteer orientation - David and Jenny
• Make a pamphlet for onboarding new commons/booking volunteers