- NPC conference call [FULL CALL NOTES BELOW]
- January 20, 2010
Currently on the agenda is:
Call Time 12pm PST - 1pm MST - 2pm CST - 3pm EST
Call Number: 712 432 0075 code 388105#
Follow the notes at: http://etherpad.com/h5kP1mAeiC
Agenda:
- Welcome new NPC members!
- Registration launch update
- Unveiling of definitions of committees, teams (and reminder for working groups) so our self-organizing can be a bit more organized!
- Haiti Solidarity
- Albuquerque Evaluation and Documentation
- Updates and Announcements including:
1) Language Access will have it's first call February 1, which is also Roberto's first day on the job, and will have more to announce after that!
2) NPC sign-up for the USSF main mailing list! http://www.ussf2010.org/get-involved/join-email-list
3) Grassroots Fundraising with Sha! ...is there anything else that you want or need on the agenda? Email adrienne@ussf2010.org
NPC representatives--
- Note: you may comment on any of the following by clicking on the talk page button at the top of this screen.
- PLEASE REVIEW THIS PROPOSAL
- Definitions for Committees and Teams
Committee:
A committee is a self-organized group that organizes on behalf of helps address a gap in the USSF process by mobilizing constituents and contributing towards the political program at the USSF. Committees bring in and represent groups that are not already involved in the USSF and/or that have a stake in the USSF process. They function within the political context, values, and principles of the USSF. Committees may be recognized by the NPC, OC or LOC and may be directly or indirectly accountable to them as representatives organizers of USSF organizing mobilizing activities.
Note: The Committee definition stems from this list of defining characteristics as approved at the NPC meeing in Atlanta, October 2009:
- self organized group
- organize in political context that helps to shape the USSF
- represents and finds groups not already or usually involved
- upholds the values/principles of the USSF
- NPC participation is optional
EXAMPLE: A Bike it Caravan Committee started in Vermont has self-organized to coordinate bike-riders to mobilize and attend the Forum to make an active statement for climate justice.
NPC Teams:
A NPC team is an organized group of NPC representatives who work on NPC-specific organizing or administrative needs. It is authorized by, accountable to, and works on behalf of the NPC. These teams are charged with carrying out NPC-directed tasks and responsibilities related to internal operations, political support and coalition coordination. NPC teams are derived from representatives of active NPC organizations, LOC representatives to the NPC, and staff, except where specifically excluded for confidential or other pre-determined reasons.
EXAMPLE: The Intl Solidarity Team is made up of specific NPC members with ties and relationships to international groups tasked with the responsibility to ensure invitations, critical documentation to enter the country, and integration of international guests into the workings of the Forum.
- PLEASE REVIEW THIS RECOMMENDATION
With the adoption of these definitions, all current NPC Committees will modify their names to include Team. The current list of NPC committees includes:
- Personnel Committee
- Finance Committee
- International Solidarity Committee
- Evaluation & Documentation Committee
Current Teams include:
- Coordination Team
- Facilitation Team (face-to-face meeting agenda drafting and facilitation)
Potential new NPC Teams could include:
- Orientation Team (for new NPC organizations)
- Application Review Team (for new applicant organizations to the NPC)
This Working Group definition, and these criteria and procedures were voted upon and accepted at the OC face-to-face mtg in Albuquerque, 1/7/10:
- Working group definition
A USSF working group is a self- or NPC-organized national body that is charged with a particular facet of USSF building and organizing. Working groups have tasks, responsibilities, and leadership that have been recognized by and are accountable to the NPC. They also have representation and group responsibilities on the Organizing Committee.
- Criteria and procedures for establishing a new USSF working group
A self-organized group or NPC group that wants to establish a new working group must submit in writing to the OC a proposal that includes the following criteria and procedures:
Criteria
- New working groups must meet the definition of a USSF working group.
- New working groups must have at least one representative each from a Detroit organization and a NPC organization.
- New working groups must meet with two other working groups to discuss their assessment of organizing gaps.
- New working groups must identify a main and alternate representative who can regularly participate in OC meetings and who have decision-making authority for their working group.
Procedures
- New working groups must submit a proposal that includes these items:
- - A rationale for formation of the new working group that includes an assessment of the organizing gaps that require a national working group.
- - A list of the tasks and responsibilities that this group will undertake.
- - A timeline of the work that will be carried out in the months leading up to the USSF.
- - A list of local and national organizations that are submitting the proposal.
- - A list of local and national working group representatives who will serve as primary co-chairs.
- - A summary of the outreach conversations this working group has had with other working groups to identify and clarify areas of organizing concentration and overlap.
- - An estimation of this working group’s capacity to raise funds to meet its organizing goals and needs.
- - An estimation of the working group’s meeting schedule.
- Proposals should be submitted one week before a scheduled OC meeting in order to be added to the agenda.
- The OC may refer the proposal back to the new working group for further clarification.
- A recommendation from the OC will be forwarded to the NPC for a decision.
- The NPC will respond in a timely manner.
==
Full Call Notes:
Roll Call:
- Adrienne, Ruckus
- Sylvia, MWRO
- Tammy, Labor/Community Strategy Center
- Scott, Sociologists without Borders
- Maryann, AFSCME
- George, UFPJ
- Jackie, sociologists without borders
- Zahra, Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health
- Diana, EMEAC
- Oya, DLOC
- Flo, IJAN
- Alma, SNEEJ
- Kajal, Praxis
- Brooke, Jubilee
- Jacqui, Women of Color United
- George, IPPN
- B, Field Organizer
- Rishi, Leftist Lounge
- Jerome, LRNA
- Cindy, GGJ
- Eddie, AFL-CIO
- Will, DLOC
- Alfredo, Mayfirst/People Link
- Genaro, SWU
- Maureen Taylor, MWRO
- Cindy Domingo, CSJ
- Adele Nieves, USSF Communications
- Walda, LRNA
- Akudo, field organizer
- Jen Cox, PPEHRC
- Sha Grogan-Brown, Grassroots development/resources
- Louis Head, SWOP
- Kali Akuno, USHRN
Emailed that they will not be in attendance: - Byron Gudiel, Freedom Road - Steph Guilloud, Project South
Agenda:
- Welcome new NPC members!
- Registration launch update
just had a sprint for launching the registration website.
We are waiting on the translations from Language Access. We are expecting that this will come by Sunday. If it does we will be able to meet the deadline.
The coding is in place and the layout is done overall, we are just waiting on the translations.
We are trying to make the data base much more accessible and organized so that it is user friendly
registrants will all be registered on the site so that they can collaborate with each other on the site. Anyone who is registered will be members of the site. They can submit proposals, etc...
We have been approved for PayPal pro. We will be able to put that into the form. It means that you do not have to leave the site to use PayPal.
We expect to wrap up the coding soon.
The January 27th Launch date does not alter anyone's plans, but it is necessary to put the forms up correctly with translations.
?: The new pay on line apparatus will replace paypal?
Alfredo: No, it is PayPal. In upgrading to PayPal Pro we can retain control of the registration process on our site.
?: Is there anything else that you need from any section of the NPC?
Alfredo: No. We are testing. After Sunday or Monday, we will let the NPC know that we want to test the forms 2 or 3 days before the launch. Jaimie or myself will send a testing request to the NPC. Criticism is very important. We may not be able to make major changes before the update with content. The focus of the tests will be functionality.
?: Can the zip code info be transferred to a map to have a visual of the participants from all over the country?
Alfredo: We are running a program to find that info via text. It is built into the organize site. Otherwise, the map is possible in code. I cannot guaranteed that it will happen in January or February. I think that you should put in a ticket. It would be a nice attention to the site.
?: Was there something in the 2007 map so that we do not duplicate methods.
Alfredo: I do not remember calling that in. If something was done for 2007 we will use if for 2010 ?: Are we delaying registration?
Alfredo: We have a one week delay. Next Wed.
?: Is Walda on the call? (referencing the impact on workshop proposals)
Walda: yes, we are aware and okay with the new date.
Jamie and Maureen had a meeting and they discussed the ramifications on the date change. It was determined that it would not have a direct impact on the schedule.
AMB received an urgent email from the Disability WG about the language on the registrations.
- Committee & Team definitions (Sylvia Reporting)
What we are asking from the NPC was an agreement on definitions. We want to make sure that people who want to be involved in the work can, but in addition to that we also want to make sure that it is manageable. We want to make sure that the OC does not grow out of control and not every group that comes together needs to be a designated as a working group. There are other ways that people can participate through committees and teams.
Teams Tasks specific to the NPC dealing with operation and policital work
A NPC team is an organized group of NPC representatives who work on NPC-specific organizing or administrative needs. It is authorized by, accountable to, and works on behalf of the NPC. These teams are charged with carrying out NPC-directed tasks and responsibilities related to internal operations, political support and coalition coordination. NPC teams are derived from representatives of active NPC organizations, LOC representatives to the NPC, and staff, except where specifically excluded for confidential or other pre-determined reasons.
EXAMPLE: The Intl Solidarity Team is made up of specific NPC members with ties and relationships to international groups tasked with the responsibility to ensure invitations, critical documentation to enter the country, and integration of international guests into the workings of the Forum.
Committees
Anyone who is not a team or a working group who is building towards June. They can be in several different forms and they have responsibilities to ...
A committee is a self-organized group that organizes on behalf of helps address a gap in the USSF process by mobilizing constituents and contributing towards the political program at the USSF. Committees bring in and represent groups that are not already involved in the USSF and/or that have a stake in the USSF process. They function within the political context, values, and principles of the USSF. Committees may be recognized by the NPC, OC or LOC and may be directly or indirectly accountable to them as representatives organizers of USSF organizing mobilizing activities.
Note: The Committee definition stems from this list of defining characteristics as approved at the NPC meeting in Atlanta, October 2009:
- self organized group
- organize in political context that helps to shape the USSF
- represents and finds groups not already or usually involved
- upholds the values/principles of the USSF
- NPC participation is optional
EXAMPLE: A Bike it Caravan Committee started in Vermont has self-organized to coordinate bike-riders to mobilize and attend the Forum to make an active statement for climate justice.
The OC did agree to the Working Group definition. If these categories sound okay, then we will put these forward. We also change the current committees in the NPC to team so that we have that distinction.
There were no concerns or objections.
- Haiti Solidarity (Report by Adrienne Maree Brown and Adele Nieves) Adele had the idea that all the things on going on in Haiti, she is requesting that the USSF post something official around Haiti
The NPC does not take political positions. We try to take work that does not hold a political position. It is a conversation that several of us had about making an humanitarian effort to get support or does this need to have a seperate conversation or not do it at all.
Jen Cox: I think that it is important and other organizations should be included....I can send out what I have and the name of those organizations that are doing the work in Haiti.
Maureen: Today's news indicate 180,000 dead and their was a Detroit has a large Haitian population. We want to make sure that they are included from Detroit. I understand not taking a political stand, but a humanitarian statement should come out of the NPC for the lost and the devastation to millions of people.
Cindy: I am going to forward the statements from people in the hemisphere. In the future we need to be clear about There are some issues around some of the groups. It is a problem with some of the NGOs, and it is important to be conscious of who we are putting forward. Some of the statements that came out from the Hemispheric? Talks about the political critique of the US occupation of Haiti. This is a moment of humanitarian effort. She will send this piece to Adele and whomever is working on this. it is important for us to highlight this.
Kali: Will there be time for people to review before anything goes out?
George: I understand that we need to be sensitive to those on the ground. I appreciate you stepping up Adele, and I hope that we empower a group of us to write and amend it as needed to send it out. We don't want to wait to long.
AMB: Adele is working on it. Does anyone else want to work on it
Jen, Maureen, Louis, George will help Adele with the statement.
Sylvia: Can we get an agreement that we can make humanitarian statements.
Maureen: We should review humanitarian correspondences at each meeting.
AMB: We will look at the guidelines for the future.
Jen: I think we should also do it on a need basis. It would be wrong for us not to say something about Haiti.
Maureen: Has there been a humanitarian sent from the WSF
Cindy: Next week is the beginning of the WSF. What I am fwd is from the Hemispheric Council put out. We need to be mindful about future statements.
- Albuquerque Evaluation and Documentation
We imagine to get responses from everyone who was there, that includes observers and staff or anyone who attended.
Asking for participation from the NPC to complete the survey. SWOP will provide emails from ABQ registration.
Approval to move fwd? yes
- Endorsers - DECISION
Creating an add'l category for groups to participate in the SF process without joining the NPC. See proposal below:
In Detroit, local college is advertising that it will organize its own workshops but not officially part of the process. Independently org'd but not part of USSF.
Put them in touch with Oya and Detroit Expanded to respect USSF process.
From 2007: many university forum activities took place as part of the build up. They opt for participating in campus-based activities. As SF activity we encourage this but that they should also attend USSF in June.
Culture is also dealing with this as people organize independently but away from what the USSF is doing. We need to return to this convo.
Agreement with more convo on self-org'd activities.
Endorsers give in different ways--maybe change language to they don't have to give. Current def emphasizes what they don't have to give. Change text to a more positive way that they can get involved.
Endorser should be about bldg the SF. Encourage people to mobilize volunteers, build into the process so that they are active in the process. They should help with funding it.
Endorsers get options to participate beyond just their name listed.
Maybe ask for volunteer coordination. Will can help Adrienne revise draft.
Proposal: An Endorser Organization makes no financial or official work contribution to the Forum, but wants to show solidarity with the values and process of the Forum, and will help to mobilize members and allies to the forum. However, they do not have the fiscal or work-time capacity, or meet the core criteria that the USSF is committed to maintaining in the NPC (including leadership from directly impacted communities {poor, people of color, displaced, working, homeless peoples}; base-building focus, etc).
- This is a great place for allies, or groups who have no additional capacity to work on the forum outside of mobilizing their folks to get there. - Endorsers will be listed on the website. - To become an Endorser organization, groups will contact adrienne@ussf2010.org, indicating that they would like to be publicly listed as supporting the Forum, and giving a website address so they can be an active link on an Endorser page on the website.
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- Updates and Announcements including:
1) Language Access will have its first call February 1, which is also Roberto's first day on the job, and will have more to announce after that!
2) NPC sign-up for the USSF main mailing list! http://www.ussf2010.org/get-involved/join-email-list
Everyone please go on and add yourself to make sure you're getting info.
3) Grassroots Fundraising with Sha!
Has heard from maybe 1/5 or NPC orgs, please contact if need support in figuring out your contribution. Next push around Feb 1. Contact him at sha@ussf2010.org
4) An email will be going out to get volunteers for the Program Design and Print/Online Program Teams
In ABQ we made commitment to get teams together. Calls for both will be scheduled by end of Jan, including P&C and Logistics. Contact Adrienne to volunteer.
5) NPC Application Election Results will be emailed to NPC members
Some NPC reps have asked for full election results. Cindy will send out. Adrienne is following up with other applicants.
Final comments?
- Maureen needs feedback on how to approach non-USSF groups who are organizing on campuses in name of USSF during same time as June convergence.
Maureen and Adrienne will work on drafting something to address this.
Adrienne is following up with applicant organizations who were voted down at last NPC. There are groups who want to be a part of this process so we will find ways that they can be involved.
DLOC Logistics Committee met last night and reconfigured its work based off of ABQ convos--all is full speed ahead.
Next NPC call: Wednesday February 17 at 12 pm PST/1pm MTN/ 2pm CTL/3pm EST