OCCUPYPHOENIX

• We struggle for social, economic, political, racial, cultural, and environmental justice.
• As an inclusive movement fighting for justice and equality, we, as members of Occupy Phoenix, hereby reaffirm our commitment to the rights of those who have suffered systematic discrimination and oppression in our society. Diversity is the strength of community so as such we stand in solidarity with communities of color, indigenous peoples, women, gay, lesbian, transgender, intersex, and queer communities, the poor, and all other groups who have been denied full access to the freedoms and opportunities that are every person’s birthright. In accordance with our deeply held values, Occupy Phoenix does not discriminate based on race, religion, all genders, sexual orientation, ethnic or national  background, immigration status, physical or mental ability, economic status, or age. However, we also recognize that, as individuals or in groups, we may sometimes unconsciously recapitulate the structural inequalities that oppress certain members of our community, despite our best intentions. With this statement, we recommit ourselves to consciously and concretely resisting the recreation of the paradigms of our oppressors, and we dedicate ourselves to continued education, awareness, and solidarity.

WORKING GROUPS

• It is strongly recommended that each working group has a meeting here at occupyphoenix weekly, to increase accountability and transparency.
• Agree to have each working group have a public contact, the form ofworkinggroupname@occupyphoenix.net, as well as a few direct contact numbers for each working group on the occupyphoenix.net website, as well as at the info canopy.
• Proposal to not discuss a committee’s issue if no representative of that committee is in attendance at the GA.  Ask that each committee make an attempt to send a working group member to each GA.
• We will create teams to handle food, water, clean-up.
• Only “yellow shirts” should handle water and open water tanks.
• Financial Committee.
• Outreach committee
• Buy Local Committee
• Facilitation Working Group
• Art Committee
• Media team and to the members of the media team.
• Agree to have no smoking to by medical and food areas as well as no smoking during the GA. We will disseminate the information regarding smoking both physically and online.
• Everyone agrees to have a smoking area down-wind from the group.

GENERAL ASSEMBLIES

• Everyone is welcome, but each person should speak for themselves and not as a representative of a union or other group.
• We’ll have facilitators and a notetaker at every GA.
• All notes will be posted on occupyphoenix.net and notes page on facebook page
• The Cyber99 may have a voice at the GA, may submit opinions, concerns, but may not block or approve proposals.
• Every GA should have the notes written in the notebook at the Info tent and be posted online within 60 minutes of the meeting.
• Formal proposals being with “I propose…”
• Only formal proposals an be blocked. (i.e. you can’t use a block to jump forward in stack when you disagree with someone else’s opinion)
• We’ll have a big poster with consensus proposals on display.
• We’ll have a schedule to ensure that there are enough people at occupyphoenix at all times, especially during the early am hours.
• We’ll have amotivational speaker or speech before and after every General Assembly.
• We’ll have an open mic after GA so people can express opinions and discuss items further.

• Cyber99 will contact OWS to ask about them sending a couple of their members to Phx to share best practices
• Our version of OWS’ “Good Neighbor” statement adopted, will be posted at info tent, on website, on facebook.
• We will attempt to get the camping issue on the City Council agenda for a vote next Wed. A temporary working group has been formed to do this.
• The noon GA on this Sat. (11/5) will be moved to 11am.
• For the next week (starting 11/3/2011), we will temporarily replace our normal 7pm GAs with facilitated GA orientations/trainings that clarify how GAs work. This will take place each night at 7. Announcements and open mic will still happen after the orientation sessions. Working groups should continue their work, other meetings, etc. In case of an emergency situation requiring our attention, we can reconvene the standard GA process.

Both individuals and Working Groups should email proposals to facilitation@occupyphx.org. (If a person or WG does not have access to email, s/he should present it either in writing or verbally to a member of the Facilitation WG in person after a General Assembly or at a Facilitation Working Group meeting.)Once a proposal is submitted, the Facilitation WG will review it within 24 hours and respond to the proposer.The review process: when a proposal comes in, the Facilitation WG will check…

if the proposal needs consensus;

if the issue has already been consensed upon;

if another Working Group is already working on the issue or it falls under the purview of a current WG (if it does, then the Facilitation WG will re-direct the proposal to that WG).

If none of the three conditions above apply, the proposal will move forward for consideration at an upcoming GA.

Facilitation WG will post the proposal on facebook and the occupyphx.org website for public comment at least 24 hours in advance of the GA at which it will be discussed.

The Facilitation WG does not have veto power over any proposal.

The individual or at least one person from the working group submitting the proposal must be at the GA to present their proposal.

The Facilitation WG will post guidelines for proposal format on occupyphx.org.

The Facilitation WG will take responsibility for posting on the occupyphx.org and on facebook all consensuses reached within one hour of the end of each GA and full notes from the GA within 24 hours. This is in accordance with the previous consensus of the Phoenix GA.

Recognizing that financial proposals are straightforward and unambiguous;
and

Recognizing that the current proposal process hinders our ability to
allocate funds expediently; and

Recognizing that it places an undue burden on Occupiers to spend their own
money on items for the Occupation, hoping to be reimbursed later;

I PROPOSE that proposals allocating, reimbursing, or otherwise affecting
finances  be added to the GA’s agenda the day they are submitted. All other
proposals will follow the previously consensed-upon procedure.

Friendly amendments:  The amount being asked for must be under $200.01 and a member of the finance team must be present.  If the amount is over $200, the normal proposal process must be used. “

EVENTS

• Agree to endorse the 10/29 Robin Hood march, coinciding with the G20.
• Consensus to have a Halloween Night Party and a Trick-o-Treat (trunk) for children/ families beforehand.
• A “feast of fools”-style event on 10/29. This means MOCKING the 1%. The idea being, to have COSTUMES and PROPSand DECORATIONS and whatever, that represent this theme and allows usto have some fun.
• UnityFest – Danielle and Vpro from artistic reason AZ propose a UnityFest will be Nov 5 following the noon GA.
• Occupy Phoenix is a nonviolent movement.  We do not endorse any violent actions or hate speech.