bostonoccupier.com/2012/08/15/who-or-what-is-the-1/

Occupy Nashua General Assembly August 7^th 2012

Present

Mark King

Diane Raymond

Sylvia Gale

Dave Tiffany

Marty Jack – facilitator

Marianne O’Connor

Meeting held at Thousand Crane

MA made a proposal/ question: Does Occupy Nashua want to have rule about banning guns from Nashua GA’s? Discussion followed. Meetings are usually held at the restaurant, or at a church. No real reason to have a gun at these places. If someone had one they can leave it in the car. A vote was taken and  Consensus was in favor of banning guns from meetings.

MA made a second proposal/question: what is the focus or priority of Nashua-Occupy? Discussion followed about what actions members of the group are committed on. Discussion centered around OWS and the 99% with economic injustices carried out against working people, families are affected.

After discussion this statement was made and later Sylvia added an amendment.

Statement: “Occupy Nashua maintains a focus on the 99%, families and individuals, working men and women experiencing the economic injustices carried out by the 1%. We stand in solidarity with the labor movement , and the rights of working men and women to organize. We also stand in solidarity against the war efforts, and continue to focus on peace as a priority.”

This seems to sum up much of the actions that have been the priority of the group.

This statement was read and met with unanimous agreement.

Amendment by Sylvia: “We will actively pursue activities to empower those impacted by financial impoverishment “This statement was read and also agreed upon.

Agenda item 1: Pridefest

There has been controversy in Pridefest. Discussion followed with an outline of what has happened with Nashua Chick Fil A and other problems experienced as a result of Chick Fil A . Other factors include groups not represented, and that the NH LGBT community as a whole is not represented. Discussion continued. Last GA we held a vote to stay supportive of Pridefest; Operation Pride originated in Nashua. With the controversy, does the group still support Pridefest? Regarding the controversy, we are neutral as a group. Members from Nashua will still be going.

Discussion about Anthony, the Chick Fil A manager was also brought up. Was this a courageous effort on his part. Certainly it was admirable, maybe he could do more. For instance, Dave mentioned there is power in uniting with other franchise owners and working in unity to tell the CEO of Chick Fil A that they won’t tolerate profits going to hate groups. Or, he could threaten to sell his franchise. More discussion on this continued. What would be the most effective strategy to gain the most attention? Anthony should probably do more than just donate the chicken. It would be more of a stronger stance.

2. Film Series:

August 16^th is set for Walmart film. Discussion on showing the Koch brothers film again. The library is hard to book because the times fill up very quickly. The nights to show other films are not the best time slots, but the only ones that were available.

September 4^th is Rethink Afghanistan. If anyone wants to help flyer. There is a promotional flyer with the dates. Sylvia raised the idea that we could screen the film at Thousand Crane. This sounds like a good idea. We can approach Dave the owner about it.

3. Discussion on Jill Stein getting on the ballot. Does she have enough signatures? She is in NH trying to get petition signed. Jill Stein was arrested recently at a foreclosure protest. Will get more information out there on her bid to be on the ballot. NH is still in petition process www.jillstein.org/blog

4. NH Prison Privatization: discussion on this topic and how to get information.

There’s a demonstration in front of the Exec  Council on August 9^th.

www.nhprisonwatch.org

AFSCME also monitors privatization and this groupwww.inthepublicinterest.org/sector/prisons%2C-detention-and-public-safety

Arnie Alpert has been involved with this group and putting info on his blog. Mark King will follow up on looking into bringing more awareness on this issue.

5. Upcoming events:

Pridefest August 11^th Manchester

Public Anti-foreclosure meeting at Nashua Library August 18^{th at} 12:30.

Aug 9^th Health benefits exchange 6:00-7:30 Library

(New) Credo Pack “Take down Guinta “August 11^th 1800 Elm St. Manchester Guinta-Pawlenty in Manchester for a fundraiser. Demonstration will be outside for visibility.

Next meeting: August 21^st.

Minutes by MA

Occupy Nashua General Assembly Tuesday July 17

minutes

This event took place at Thousand Crane restaurant back room. All members signed in. This was a public event.

In attendance:

Chris Hussy

David Tiffany

Diane Raymond

Heather U.

Ben Dizoglio

Eric Zulowski (facilitator)

Jerry Ross

Ron Brophy

Marianne O’Connor

Joining late: Able Freeman

Chas Eric

Introductions were made by all members and new members.

Agenda items were discussed and arranged by order of importance according to popular vote.

1. Proposal: MA introduced a proposal: given the state of the situation within Occupy New Hampshire, the splitting off and inner conflict, it is proposed that Occupy Nashua remain neutral and not take sides within the organizational split. A consensus was reached, and Nashua will remain neutral.

2. Facebook admin page: update was made that Mark P. was removed by Heather as an admin on the Occupy Nashua page. Current admins are MA, Ben, Danny, Heather, Tim, Alva. Heather had discussed mark’s removal with other FB admins, Ben and Alva. Heather said she did not know how to reach Tim. She discussed her feelings about Mark P “over sharing” with MA. And MA said she would have a conversation about it with Mark P. which later took place by  MA. MA misunderstood the conversation when the conversation happened and thought that Heather wanted to give Mark a message to step off the page and let others post to it; the language “remove as admin” was not used with MA, therefore, the misunderstanding. A question was asked to the group if Mark P should be restored as an admin. Consensus showed that at this time members participating feel that for the time being, Mark P should not have admin role on Nashua page. At some point the admins who are assigned the role will have a discussion on it.

3. Should Occupy Nashua accept the declaration of Occupy Wall Street? The document was shared. Members participating wanted to review the material before taking any vote. This matter will be tabled for later discussion.

4. Inter-Occupy Code of Behavior. Ben brought this to the table for review and printed copies of the document were handed out. At this time occupy Nashua members present would like to review the document. Some commented that the standards listed in the document were of valid importance in terms of how people conduct themselves and take responsibility for their actions. It was mentioned that the FB admins should review this document and take their responsibility as an admin seriously so as not to offend others.

5. Film Series

Occupy Nashua is in agreement to continue with a proposed film series. “Koch Brothers Exposed”. About 30 people attended in June, it appears the community is eager to have the opportunity to learn about current events related to world conflict, exposing the 1%, etc. We can promote the events. M A will connect with the library community relations and book the theatre for the “Walmart-High Cost of Low Price” and “Rethink Afghanistan”.

6. Upcoming actions:

Take down Frank Guinta Sunday July 22 at Fisher cat’s stadium, Manchester 1:00. Visibility protest by the Credo Pac. For more info: www.takedownguinta.com/

The “Occupy New Hampshire” cause is holding a General Assembly Sunday July 22^nd www.facebook.com/events/445499295483589/

Converge on the Conference: A number of actions are taking place, including a human oil spill during the Governor’s Conference in Burlington, VT on Sunday, July 29^th. www.facebook.com/events/295930743836595/

7. Meeting dates and changes to schedule:

Occupy Nashua will continue to meet 2x monthly on the first and 3^rd Tuesday of the month. Discussion on moving the meeting outside was raised. There was some visibility at City Hall when the group first began meeting. Some people expressed meeting outside is good for visibility, but not in the hot weather.

8. Demonstrations/ outreach and visibility

Soup kitchen: Heather mentioned the Nashua Soup Kitchen needs volunteers, serving food. Heather will find out more information on when this could be arranged and how many people would be needed. There is some interest among the group to volunteer. This is an individual volunteer opportunity.

Where does Occupy Nashua stand with other events?

Pride fest? Occupy Nashua organized Operation Pride during the Primary. It was hugely successful and has spawned a new group/working committee that is organizing “Pridefest” in Manchester August 11^th. Committee meetings are open to anyone who wants to be involved. Contact Ryan Glen Hirsch. Meetings happen Monday nights at “The Orange”, Orange St. Manchester. Consensus was reached that Occupy Nashua supports Pridefest. Heather offered to transport anyone from Nashua who needed a ride. Discussion on the doggy-drag show was held. Maybe we could build a fenced in area using portable fencing for the dogs. Heather has fencing.

Hands Across NH: A planned event for September regarding No Northern Pass. (September 1^st). There was discussion about Northern Pass presented by MA. People need to become more aware of the project before making a commitment to the event. MA will make a link to information on No Northern Pass.

Northern Pass

www.livefreeorfry.org

www.nonorthernpass.org

Posting future events-Nashua Patch. For future events, we can post on Nashua Patch. Other media outlets were suggested and discussed.

Next local Occupy Nashua GA will be Tuesday August 7^th. We will meet at 6:30 at Thousand Crane.

Update on film series: MA booked the library for “Occupy Nashua film series”

August 16^th: Walmart-High Cost of Low Cost

September 4th: Rethink Afghanistan

November 19^th: Food Inc.

These minutes submitted by MA O’Connor

Weekly G A at Thousand Crane, Tuesday at 6:30. NO purchase necessary.

americaswatchtower.com/2011/01/15/ia-america-more-sharply-divided-than-ever-before-if-so-is-that-a-bad-thing/

” The future direction of the country should be too impassioned of a debate to sit idly by and watch from afar. To sit idly by and passively submit to the will of our leaders will, over time, result in a soft tyranny over the people. In a free society we have the chance to form the future of the country and while we may be divided and while we may get angry with one another once in awhile, that is a product of that free society. And it sure as hell beats the alternative.”

Mitt Romney sure would like to make everyone sit down and shut up, and dissenters have these discussions in quiet rooms. (Does that mean prison cells?) He has been trying to divide people with rhetoric about Obama, about Occupy Wall Street. He continues to try and paint Occupy NH as unAmerican, just because we got in his face and asked him tough questions. Tyrannical leaders don’t like to answer tough questions. (Go ahead and ask a member of Congress why they exempted themselves from Obamacare, or the same laws that put Martha Stewart behind bars for insider trading.) They like pre-approved questions and censorship. They don’t like to be harassed with real questions because that makes them have to give complicated answers and usually that exposes them for the frauds they are. “Buildings don’t pay taxes….” We already knew that Mr. Romney, but maybe if you weren’t so out of touch with the rest of America, (and reality), you would know that the 99% includes a huge portion of America. Mainly, 99% of it. Hmmm. I wonder how many of those people didn’t vote for you in South Carolina?

While this hypocrite continues to try and divide the middle class and the poor, we will continue to unite the middle class and the poor so that everyone has a chance to become part of the middle class or better. This country already is divided. The candidates themselves are divided and say many divisive things. I don’t understand how he could possibly think one person asking tougher questions than normal is trying to divide this country. Especially when the questions aren’t even criticizing America. They are criticizing you Mr. Romney.

So once you pull your head out of the clouds and begin to see the world for what it is, then we welcome your comments and feedback. But until that day, you are attributing to the division of America much more than Occupy Wall Street ever could. And even that probably isn’t making much of a dent in the divisions this country has already become accustomed to.