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a) Draft something for Will at M. Casey to show how the social forum is in alignment with Casey's goals -- anyone able to start?
b) Send in your thoughts, feedback about Res Dev Comm role, responsibilities and administration vis-a-vis forming finance groups in other working groups, committees. Related: roles, responsibilities held by NPC, fiscal partner/Praxis, staff, etc.
c) In-person RDC meeting: Sun-Mon 12/16-17 in New Orleans with PISAB-GNOOR -- so far Makani, Oya, Sylvia, Jacqui, Victor, Monica, Salimah can go. Anyone else? Notify Makani ASAP.
d) Next Resource Dev Comm conference call: Wed, 12/5 at 5pm eastern, 2pm pacific.
e) Draft soft or hard fundraising appeal to go out with December USSF newsletter -- Monica; plus check in with Jackie.

Resource Development Committee


Call notes 11/21/12

On call: Jacqui, David, Makani, Victor, Monica, Oya, Sylvia, Maureen


1) Check-ins, Agenda Review, Notetaker (David)

Facilitator: Makani
Notetakers: Oya and Sylvia


2) Review current budget (Sylvia) Still don't have final numbers on NPC meeting expenses...awaiting reimbursement paperwork from people who needed travel assistance, plus possibly a couple more receipts from Rose. Seems we're under budget.


3) Report on Noyes proposal (Makani) We got $15k from Noyes, last contribution from them unless we're doing something super exciting in USSF. Should kick in next month. Funding is part of cross-issue, cross-segment work but they have no dedicated $ or programming for it. Long term we could help them figure out how groups and movements get connected, e.g., a funders community could be a good way to position the USSF. Many funders going in specific ways. How can we help them see impact across issues and investments. Funding document is electronic -- won't show up in email as an attachment.


4) Report on in-person meeting with Marguerite Casey Foundation and text exchange with Mark Randazzo (David) David had a convo with Mark -- he's the person in fundraising world who's our biggest champion. Cross-issue, movement-bldg is something funders don't really understand, they're mostly issue based. Funders Network good with that. Will Cordery is a new program officer Margaret Casey Foundation and they met at Seattle Rights meeting. In 2014 they're doing a convergence in ATL -- flag as process where they could've nested with USSF. Meeting went well with Lupe, Will and George -- they're open to hearing what we talked about, not sure how we fit in with their funding priorities. How can we help convince Will's colleagues to fund USSF?


We need to get their 2014 dates. David encouraging their donees to attend 2013 meeting.


One of the things to be careful about is additional groups that we form around funding so that we don't get too splintered. One of the good things is that we are holding this work and keeping track of all the people we are reaching out too. It would be better if we hold that here, especially if there is a need for grant writing. One fundraising group was set up during the March 2013 meeting and it should be centralized in the Resource Development WG.


It may make sense to get a little more information from Casey and how they see movement building and if they have not developed that yet, how can we help them in their process?


Casey is one of the few funders who are committed to movement at large and how they can advance movement. We can help them understand the relationship btw the forum and movement building. Can we give Will something to show how the social forum is in alignment with Casey's goals?


David spoke with them for over an hour and showed how they are headed for a 501C4. Showed how the social forum was related to the Kasey Strategy.


The work around 2013 is David, Oya and someone from New Orleans. There should be a protocol that any grant requests that comes from any committees/WG should come through Resource Dev.


Anytime we are doing budgets for the meetings we have a process for it. It comes out of the work that we hold for this committee. We use the experience around organizing meetings and try to control costs. We want to get feedback from New Orleans, especially around costs. In the past different groups tried to hold pieces of the finances (ex. PMAs, social forums, etc). Then people get frustrated when they have to keep checking in with Resource Dev. or whatever the group has been for holding the budget. It would be better not to have separate finance committees in WGs or committees.


Working groups need budgets to present to Resource Dev. need a vision for how the money can be spent.


The processes that we developed were over time. There are no new working groups, any groups cannot be a working groups -- a whole process for that was created. Right now, if the March Convergence group needs funding there are already structures and processes for building a budget, for example: How much money needs to be drawn to Detroit from Praxis. Victor holds the funding for the social forum and can make payments thru the debit card or a check. When it comes down to the hotels, there is a separate oversight that Praxis looks over it, etc. We generally have an idea of what the main costs are for meetings. We can help to support them well.


Is this a discussion to determine the funding about the March Convergence Meeting.


The point on how we do it the whole time, but the fact that a process was already established. There was a comment to whether we want to centralize Resource Development so this WG can be the primary space for that to happen. Given that we need to have representation on those committees for it to come back here.

How long it takes us to make any decisions about anything. This is the end of Nov. and we are talking about things that are happening in 2013 in preparation for things that need to happen in 2014. There are things in place, Stephanie identified steps from a resource model that broke down how much money was allotted to each thing. My recommendation is to maintain whatever the status quo has been set up until now. We should satisfy some of that discussion now. We are still trying to fund the social forum by going through funders. There is a strong desire not to rely solely on funders. We were talking about Movement people setting up funding methods to do our work.


I think we should stay with the status quo and if we need to tweak any of that. I am not for a whole change.


The plan definitely is about more than just foundations. One of the things we want to talk about is reaching out to the base.


Tension around the definitions of what Resource Dev is and Administration. Hope to narrow it and not broaden it. We put the question of who Resource Development WG definition on the table for a later date.


Resource Dev. was responsible for drafting budgets that goes to the NPC. We don't have the authority to pass a budget, but we have the authority to create a budget; and oversee it.


There seems to be some confusion, maybe conflation, about the different areas discussed above.


Email what you are thinking to the group so that people can process it.


5) Coordinate Res Dev Comm mtg with New Orleans anchors in early Dec (Oya/Makani)

Face to face in December, before the scheduled conference call.


Oya met with Kim at PISAB and Greater New Orleans Organizing Roundtable for March 2013 meeting, discussed some of our goals. Sun-Mon, Dec 16-17 are best dates for them. On Sat, 12/15 GNOOR is having a party meeting, we can join if we'd like. We can meet at PISAB. What do we need for solidarity housing, hotels, etc?


Makani has 5 beds, 2 baths at a home in NOLA -- folks can stay there if they'd like. Idea for a retreat like mtg on guiding principles, clear plan for moving fwd. Praxis can help with some travel support -- if you can manage some of your own support that would be helpful.


David cannot attend, will send thoughts about a fundraising plan. Send Makani a list of names and we'll need to draft a budget. Set a timeline within next week to buy plane tickets.


Who can go? Makani, Oya, Sylvia, Jacqui, Victor, Monica, Salimah Need to ask: Jerome, Sara, Kali, Maureen


Makani's preference to keep meeting costs limited. Let's see who wants to go and what the numbers are.


6) Draft message to email list re:March 2013 Convergence, USSF III Summer 2014 (coordinate with Comm Committee). NOTE: Should it include "hard" or "soft" ask?


Monica can draft a soft appeal by 12/5 call. She will send a note to Jackie that we'll have an ask for each newsletter -- keep info minimal. Goal: have ask out by 12/15. Maybe include a survey?


David suggests highlights: NPC is moving forward, excitement about work in 2013. Not have a survey yet, focus on a hard ask.


Next meeting: Let's have another conference call: Wed, 12/5 at 5pm eastern, 2pm pacific


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