Difference between revisions of "Working Groups"

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=Working Groups=
Working groups are made up of members from all different collectives as well as individuals who are not affiliated with any collectives but want to join the collective effort of the Omni. These groups function as a way to collectivize the labor required to operate the space. Working groups are a great way to get involved, share skills, ideas, opinions and learn from each other how collective action takes place. If you'd like to be a part of one of the working groups, please visit the respective wiki pages to learn how to get involved!


See the [[Calendar]] for information on upcoming working group meetings, and to find past meeting notes!
'''Meeting times may change occasionally. If you show up to a meeting without checking in (either to the wg mailing list or to info@omnicommons.org) you may end up disappointed and alone! So please ask first!'''


==[[Communications Working Group]]==
{| class="wikitable" style=""
We work on public-facing communications (messaging, outreach, press and public relations) as well as internal communications (inter-group collaboration tools, wiki, mailing list and other tools for communication and collaboration). Currently, we meet at Bay Area Public School (2141 Broadway) every Monday from 7-8:30pm.
! colspan="3"| Working Groups
*See: '''[[Internal Communications]]''' for an intro to our communications resources.
|-
*Bottom-liners: [[User:Tunabananas|Jenny]], [[User:Elaine|Elaine]]
|[[Commons Working Group|Commons]]
===Meeting Notes===
|Focuses on scheduling events and coordinating use of common areas. Maintains our [https://omnicommons.org/calendar/ calendar] and [https://omnicommons.org/occupy/ event request form].
We keep our notes on a Riseup Pad named [https://pad.riseup.net/p/omnicomms OmniComms].
|Meets 2nd & 4th Mondays at 5pm.
* [[Event:2014/05/05 Communications Committee Meeting]]
|-
* [[Event:2014/05/12 Communications Committee Meeting]]
|[[Fundraising_Working_Group|Fundraising]]/[[Finances_Working_Group|Finance]]
* [[Event:2014/05/19 Communications Committee Meeting]]
| aka "Buy the Building" aka "Until the Revolution." Works on strategies for raising money, such as our [https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/open-the-omni-commons-for-all-of-oakland/x/9094356 crowdfunding campaign], writing grants, seeking donors and lenders. Working on the logistics of keeping the building during this Pandemic, securing a loan with a lower interest rate, including working with land trusts and other partners.
* [[Event:2014/05/26 Communications Committee Meeting]]
| Each Tuesday at 2pm via Google Meet. Currently converged Fundraising with Finance. Finance Working Group keeps our books, balances the budget, tracks expenses, debts and deposits, lets us know how much money we have, what we owe and how much we are making or losing.
* [[Event:2014/06/02 Communications Working Group Meeting]]
 
==[[Challenging Dominant Culture Working Group]]==
Exploring bias and issues of diversity and inclusion in the space. Challenging dominant cultural influences and developing projects and relationships more in line with values of social justice, safe space, radical commoning, and anticapitalism.
*Bottom-liner: Kazoo and Margit
===Meeting Notes===
*[[Event:2014/04/28_Inclusion_Task_Force_Meeting]]
*[[Event:2014/05/12_Challenging_Dominant_Culture_Meeting]]
*[[Event:2014/05/15_Challenging_Dominant_Culture_Meeting]]
*[[Event:2014/05/19_Challenging_Dominant_Culture_Meeting]]
*[[Event:2014/05/26_Challenging_Dominant_Culture_Meeting]]
 
==[[Legal and Governance Working Group]]==
Coordinating logistics around legal consultations, permitting, and governance/decision-making, as well as helping to coordinate concrete proposals around governance and guidelines for group members in the space.
*Bottom-liner: Niki
'''Outstanding resource: [http://calnonprofits.org/resources/starting-nonprofit/15-launch-articles/65-first-steps-articl Step-by-Step Guide for Starting a California Nonprofit ]'''
===Meeting Notes===
* [[Event:2014/06/02 Legal Governance Meeting]]
 
==[[Finances Working Group]]==
Coordinates accounting systems, bills and other external costs, helps coordinate collective expenditure proposals and fundraising.
*Bottom-liner: Danny
===Meeting Notes===
 
==[[Space Operations Working Group]]==
Focusing on allocation and governance of space in the building, bringing ideas for space usage to concrete proposals and cultivating a team of "Space Stewards" for maintaining the space.
*Bottom-liner: Seeking new bottom-liner
===Meeting Notes===


|-
| [[Building Construction and Maintenance Working Group|Construction & Maintenance]]
| Focuses on physical construction, maintenance and alteration projects. Focusing on fire health & safety, accessibility, soundproofing and rodent-proofing. Hosts occasional Saturday afternoon work parties.
| [mailto:building@omnicommons.org email the list]
|
|-
|[[Communications Working Group|Communications]]
|Works on public-facing communications (messaging, outreach, press and public relations) as well as internal communications (inter-group collaboration tools, wiki, mailing list and other tools for communication and collaboration). The "sysadmins" working group, who maintain our website and mailing lists, are part of this group.
| Meets weekly on Tuesdays at 6pm via Google Meet - [mailto:comms@omnicommons.org email the list]
|-
| [[Challenging Dominant Culture Working Group|Challenging Dominant Cultures]]
| Exploring bias and issues of difference and inclusion in the space, challenging dominant cultural influences and developing projects and relationships more in line with the values of the Omni, as stated in the founding document and statement of solidarity. Some of this work was once taken up by the [[Building Bloc]].
|Emerging out of hiatus
|-
|[[How-We-Organize|"How We Organize"]]
|Proposes new shapes for the commons to organize its activities and discusses the methods we use to shape ourselves, both as individuals and as collectives within a commons.
|On hiatus.
|-
|[[Welcoming Committee]]
|Organizes around creating a welcoming and inclusive experience for newcomers and visitors to the project. This work was once taken up by our former collective called the [[Building Bloc]].
|Emerging out of hiatus
|-
|-
|}
=Working Group Protocols=
=Working Group Protocols=
''(NOTE: For help creating correct wiki pages and adding events to the calendar, contact Vicky (vknoxsironi at gmail dot com], Jenny [jenny at sudomesh dot org] or Matt [mattsenate at gmail dot com])''
''(NOTE: For help creating correct wiki pages and adding events to the calendar, contact Vicky (vknoxsironi at gmail dot com], Jenny [jenny at sudomesh dot org] or Matt [mattsenate at gmail dot com])''
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==Start a Working Group==
==Start a Working Group==
* Create Working Group wiki page and link to it here: http://wiki.omni-oakland.org/w/Working_Groups
* The Omni encourages the establishment of new working groups as necessary to collectivize the labor of the project.
** Articulate "mission" or purpose, goals, and any tasks you already know.
* A list of current working groups is maintained on the wiki here: http://wiki.omni-oakland.org/w/Working_Groups.
* Schedule regular meetings and add them to the Calendar: http://wiki.omni-oakland.org/w/Calendar
* If you see a need for a new working group, propose its purpose and scope at a delegate’s meeting.  
* Announce upcoming meetings on the omni-announce list at least 24 hours prior to meeting: omni-announce@lists.riseup.net
* Once approved by the delegates, work with fellow group members to compose a vision statement and scope for the working group. Create a working group page on the wiki and post your vision there.


==Hold Working Group Meetings==
==Bottomlining Established Working Groups==
* Before the meeting begins, designate a facilitator and a scribe to take notes
* Work with fellow group members to determine convenient meeting dates and times.
* Conclude the meeting with '''Outcomes''' or '''Action Items''' and schedule next meeting
* Help to administer working group email list.
* Post meeting notes to the wiki on the Event page (making it discoverable through the calendar)
* Announce your meeting times via email to the omni-logistics list and by adding them to the Omni calendar (https://omnicommons.org/wiki/Calendar).
* Prepare report-back for weekly Omni Collective meeting.
* Publish meeting notes on the Omni calendar, and send a direct link to the notes to the omni-discuss list after every meeting.
* Help to facilitate a positive and fun working group culture by:
** Designating a facilitator and scribe to take notes at the beginning of the meeting
** Concluding each meeting with "action items"
* Be present for meetings as much as possible. If not able to attend a meeting, arrange in advance who will distribute notes.
* Forward any major announcements or questions for discussion from your working group to the omni-discuss list and/or to the delegates’ meeting as necessary.
* Ensure proposals that need the approval of the delegates are added to the riseup pad (https://pad.riseup.net/p/omninom). Include the date the proposal was added to the pad.
* The most basic rules for bottomlining a working group are autonomy and good judgement (i.e. common sense)!


==Join a Working Group==
==Join a Working Group==
* Check the [[Calendar]] and attend the next meeting of the working group.
* Check the schedule above and attend the next meeting of the working group.
* Directly contact the individual(s) bottom-lining the group.
* Directly contact the individual(s) bottom-lining the group.
* Show up to a meeting, or use the communication channel specified for that group to stay in touch.
* Show up to a meeting, or use the communication channel specified for that group to stay in touch.
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* If necessary, outline tasks in order to reach each goal.
* If necessary, outline tasks in order to reach each goal.
* Make progress on and seek to accomplish any tasks that contribute to the working group's goals.
* Make progress on and seek to accomplish any tasks that contribute to the working group's goals.
* When a working group's goals require '''feedback''', '''formal approval''', or simply '''consent''' from the Omni Collective, create a proposal:
* When a working group's goals require '''feedback''', '''formal approval''', or simply '''consent''' from the Omni delegates, create a proposal:
** Present this proposal to the Omni Collective delegates meeting to ensure each member-group can build consent in their respective community as necessary.
** Present this proposal to the Omni delegates meeting to ensure each member-group can build consent in their respective community as necessary.
* When a working group has several divergent options or ideas and cannot come to resolution on them alone, then create proposals that represent these options and present these in some way to the whole collective:
* When a working group has several divergent options or ideas and cannot come to resolution on them alone, then create proposals that represent these options and present these in some way to the whole collective:
** Present proposals at an Omni Collective meeting for feedback
** Present proposals at an Omni delegates meeting for feedback
** Ask for feedback on the omnilogistics@lists.riseup.net email list
** Ask for feedback on the omnilogistics@lists.riseup.net email list
** Ask for feedback from other working groups, member-groups, or individuals that are not involved with your working group.
** Ask for feedback from other working groups, member-groups, or individuals that are not involved with your working group.
** Rinse, repeat until you have garnered improvements to your proposal from the invaluable experiences and contributions of everyone involved with the omni collective, ultimately building consensus among the entire collective.
** Rinse, repeat until you have garnered improvements to your proposal from the invaluable experiences and contributions of everyone involved with the Omni Commons, ultimately building consensus among the entire community.
 
==Volunteer!==
* Fill a front door shift: https://ethercalc.com/omni-front-desk
* Help with a project! (See [[Building Construction and Maintenance Working Group]] or checkout the [[Collectives]])
* Answer our wishes! Check out the things we're in need of: [[WishList]]
* Clean the commons! We all use it, we all need it clean :D
* Help book occupations of time in the commons: [[Commons Working Group]]
* Fold flyers and prepare literature! Ask any member for directions to the printer, cutting board and documents we always need more copies of (like our welcoming comic, or the safe space policy)

Latest revision as of 03:47, 28 April 2021

Working groups are made up of members from all different collectives as well as individuals who are not affiliated with any collectives but want to join the collective effort of the Omni. These groups function as a way to collectivize the labor required to operate the space. Working groups are a great way to get involved, share skills, ideas, opinions and learn from each other how collective action takes place. If you'd like to be a part of one of the working groups, please visit the respective wiki pages to learn how to get involved!

Meeting times may change occasionally. If you show up to a meeting without checking in (either to the wg mailing list or to info@omnicommons.org) you may end up disappointed and alone! So please ask first!

Working Groups
Commons Focuses on scheduling events and coordinating use of common areas. Maintains our calendar and event request form. Meets 2nd & 4th Mondays at 5pm.
Fundraising/Finance aka "Buy the Building" aka "Until the Revolution." Works on strategies for raising money, such as our crowdfunding campaign, writing grants, seeking donors and lenders. Working on the logistics of keeping the building during this Pandemic, securing a loan with a lower interest rate, including working with land trusts and other partners. Each Tuesday at 2pm via Google Meet. Currently converged Fundraising with Finance. Finance Working Group keeps our books, balances the budget, tracks expenses, debts and deposits, lets us know how much money we have, what we owe and how much we are making or losing.
Construction & Maintenance Focuses on physical construction, maintenance and alteration projects. Focusing on fire health & safety, accessibility, soundproofing and rodent-proofing. Hosts occasional Saturday afternoon work parties. email the list
Communications Works on public-facing communications (messaging, outreach, press and public relations) as well as internal communications (inter-group collaboration tools, wiki, mailing list and other tools for communication and collaboration). The "sysadmins" working group, who maintain our website and mailing lists, are part of this group. Meets weekly on Tuesdays at 6pm via Google Meet - email the list
Challenging Dominant Cultures Exploring bias and issues of difference and inclusion in the space, challenging dominant cultural influences and developing projects and relationships more in line with the values of the Omni, as stated in the founding document and statement of solidarity. Some of this work was once taken up by the Building Bloc. Emerging out of hiatus
"How We Organize" Proposes new shapes for the commons to organize its activities and discusses the methods we use to shape ourselves, both as individuals and as collectives within a commons. On hiatus.
Welcoming Committee Organizes around creating a welcoming and inclusive experience for newcomers and visitors to the project. This work was once taken up by our former collective called the Building Bloc. Emerging out of hiatus

Working Group Protocols

(NOTE: For help creating correct wiki pages and adding events to the calendar, contact Vicky (vknoxsironi at gmail dot com], Jenny [jenny at sudomesh dot org] or Matt [mattsenate at gmail dot com])

In order to make progress on many different aspects of this project, please use the following protocols. The intention is to support horizontal, consent-based, transparent, good-faith collaboration.

Start a Working Group

  • The Omni encourages the establishment of new working groups as necessary to collectivize the labor of the project.
  • A list of current working groups is maintained on the wiki here: http://wiki.omni-oakland.org/w/Working_Groups.
  • If you see a need for a new working group, propose its purpose and scope at a delegate’s meeting.
  • Once approved by the delegates, work with fellow group members to compose a vision statement and scope for the working group. Create a working group page on the wiki and post your vision there.

Bottomlining Established Working Groups

  • Work with fellow group members to determine convenient meeting dates and times.
  • Help to administer working group email list.
  • Announce your meeting times via email to the omni-logistics list and by adding them to the Omni calendar (https://omnicommons.org/wiki/Calendar).
  • Publish meeting notes on the Omni calendar, and send a direct link to the notes to the omni-discuss list after every meeting.
  • Help to facilitate a positive and fun working group culture by:
    • Designating a facilitator and scribe to take notes at the beginning of the meeting
    • Concluding each meeting with "action items"
  • Be present for meetings as much as possible. If not able to attend a meeting, arrange in advance who will distribute notes.
  • Forward any major announcements or questions for discussion from your working group to the omni-discuss list and/or to the delegates’ meeting as necessary.
  • Ensure proposals that need the approval of the delegates are added to the riseup pad (https://pad.riseup.net/p/omninom). Include the date the proposal was added to the pad.
  • The most basic rules for bottomlining a working group are autonomy and good judgement (i.e. common sense)!

Join a Working Group

  • Check the schedule above and attend the next meeting of the working group.
  • Directly contact the individual(s) bottom-lining the group.
  • Show up to a meeting, or use the communication channel specified for that group to stay in touch.

Make Progress in a Working Group

  • Set goals that aspire to deliver on the working group's "mission" or purpose.
  • If necessary, outline tasks in order to reach each goal.
  • Make progress on and seek to accomplish any tasks that contribute to the working group's goals.
  • When a working group's goals require feedback, formal approval, or simply consent from the Omni delegates, create a proposal:
    • Present this proposal to the Omni delegates meeting to ensure each member-group can build consent in their respective community as necessary.
  • When a working group has several divergent options or ideas and cannot come to resolution on them alone, then create proposals that represent these options and present these in some way to the whole collective:
    • Present proposals at an Omni delegates meeting for feedback
    • Ask for feedback on the omnilogistics@lists.riseup.net email list
    • Ask for feedback from other working groups, member-groups, or individuals that are not involved with your working group.
    • Rinse, repeat until you have garnered improvements to your proposal from the invaluable experiences and contributions of everyone involved with the Omni Commons, ultimately building consensus among the entire community.

Volunteer!