From US Social Forum Wiki
- Coordination Team Notes
- 7/6/09
Present: Cindy, Josue, Maureen, Rocio, Elena Absent: Will, Tom
- AGENDA
- Check in
- Action items follow-up
- Review NPC application draft and process--role of political parties on the NPC. What is the role of observers at the next meeting?
- Folks who have expressed interest in joining the NPC:
- Committees of Correspondence
- Black Radical Congress
- United for a Fair Economy
- Christyna House Ministries Corporation
- There are also 2 organizations that are very involved but not NPC members?
- LRNA and May 1rst joining.
- Cindy made some edits and updates.
- C-Team members recommend changes to documents include—all NPC members will have to join a Working Group, clarify representatives and roles and if rep is a national or regional rep.
- Submit edits to Cindy by Tues 7/7 so Cindy can send out applications to above groups.
- Application process--
- organization submits application.
- goes to NPC for review.
- at a NPC face-to-face mtg or conf call everyone discusses applications.
- someone on the NPC usually vouches for each organization, i.e., knows of their work.
- NPC votes by consensus.
- USSF follows WSF charter of principles which allows no political parties on NPC.
- There is no memory of anyone being denied.
- A follow up letter is sent to organizations to welcome them and invite to next f2f and conf call mtg.
- NPC meeting--review the draft agenda? when the press conf. is being proposed? any major glaring omissions in the agenda?
- Anyone can come to NPC mtgs as observers, no vote.
- Other participants—LRNA and May First are taking part on the NPC as former participants in other groups. They will have to apply and go through regular process.
- Maureen knows Green Party and others were denied membership on the NPC in 2007.
- Cindy—IC doesn’t allow by way of WSF principles, also non-struggle groups—is contentious.
- Michael, Tammy, and Jerome were involved from the start—they can explain more. In 2004-5 there was an open call, criteria was later developed, we don’t know where it’s at.
- But criteria for NPC was to reflect the class, color, and character of the people—then folks did aggressive outreach.
- From what we know, there’s no spoken cap on the size of NPC.
- Future—we need a broader sector of people, maybe create advisory role? Maybe allow political parties on an advisory council?
- We need to have a bigger political discussion about NPC members tasks with organizing their people and sectors.
- Josue—in 2006, application process not functioning, Praxis joined because it took a leadership role in a Working Group, a difficult process.
- Sylvia—this is important to hear, especially as it relates to LRNA and May First activity now in Working Groups.
- Maureen—also good to hear, especially with concerns about Green Party.
- Josue—NPC using WSF charter, maybe we’ll want to revisit it.
- Cindy—we also have to look at pre-party formations, cadres—it’s highly political, we need to have this conversation, including how many NPC members—smaller or larger?
- We need to ask those with history to give us context.
- Elena—Alice and Josue explained political party discussion history at Centro Obrero when USSF II sites were first being searched out. It was a clear discussion, Alice explained it well.
- Sylvia—some folks in Detroit, maybe elsewhere, are wondering if WSF charter principles are guidelines vs. law…?
- Cindy—where do we see the USSF process and how do we align internationally, eveything’s a dynamic event, need political conversation—we can develop change thru an organic process. There was a document out of Atlanta that criticized the NPC. What are the conditions that we have here—but we understand it breaks with the charter? Needs? New model? Complex process.
- How is NPC a mobilizing body? And how do we map to recruit? Many important forces are not on the NPC.
- Rocio—is there a time requirement?
- Josue—minimum 10 hrs/wk…we need people on the NPC who can work.
- we will post the application on the USSF website so it’s an open process
- Applications in this round will be due by the July NPC meeting, we can get back with applicants afterwards.
- Detroit logistics for NPC mtg--who has rsvp'd? adding Jacqui to the AMC reg. fee pass, dorm room recommendation, update on transportation, food. Will's party?
- Dorms at Wayne St Univ $82 for 2 nights, includes linen and access card, 4 rooms per suite. 18 people have confirmed, we have 20 rooms.
- NPC meeting will be at USSF/MWRO office.
- Still working on catering.
- Solidarity housing option is still a possibility, Dianne and Elena are coordinating.
- Agenda is very packed. Elena requests we add a discussion about archiving with her archivist sister—we recommend she come during Working Group discussion sessions.
- Cindy—add NPC structure conversation, including NPC applications, plus 30 min wiki training.
- George is also trying to lead up evaluation and discussion committee work.
- Recommendation--NPC-LOC press briefing at AMC
- Is being organized for Fri or Sat.
- Maureen can get anchors there.
- NPC caucus—we’ll do press briefing before caucus to get people at AMC to commit to work, get press excited to do more.
- Coordination Team Evaluation
- we need an evaluation for a new Coordination Team, lessons for process.
- Sylvia can email questions to ask C-Team about how we function, what have we learned, what are the challenges, what is the political work we do, how do we think thru this process?
- Or perhaps we don’t give a PC report at this time.
- Staff reports
- Majority of time is spent on logistical needs chronologically for NPC meeting, airport shuttles.
- Anchor and LOC mtgs are getting bigger, committees are working.
- USSF computer room and offices are almost set up.
- LOC is always running out of save the date cards.
- LOC and NPC reports
- LOC is invited to NPC meeting—they’re open to whoever is in the process.
- Votes done by NPC only.
- Who are LOC at-large reps to NPC?
- If NPC mtg is running short on time, NPC reps are first on queue and by facilitator discretion for any disruptors.
- Maureen--At LOC mtg, we have time and space to discuss background with new participants, an orientation. Perhaps at NPC, we pull people aside to answer questions.
- NPC—Outreach WG finally had first conf call.
- anything else?