Media Island Meeting Minutes April 27th 2010

Present:  Chris, Bruce, Rick, Tom, Matt, Amory, Keteo, David, Michael

Agenda:  U. S. Social Forum: Caravan in June to Detroit, Future bills and funding, May 21st event:  Open House and Film,  Food Not Bombs issues,  Announcements,  Peoples Movement Assembly

U. S. Social Forum:  Caravan in June

Amory said that she wanted to help coordinate the caravan to the U. S. social forum in June.  Rick said that there was a conference call yesterday, but neither Bruce or Rick was on the conference call.  Food and housing are issues that are still pending.  The population of Detroit has dropped precipitiously and many of the homes are vacant and being sold.  There is limited camping and they are trying to prioritize it for youth.  The mayor of Detroit is looking towards demolishing some buildings and creating more parks in Detroit.  Bruce published some flyers to recruit people to go to Detroit.  The lowest budget possible to go to the social forum is three hundred dollars. This would cover food and housing for the trip.  Individuals could solicit underwriting to go to Detroit.  Fundraisers could be organized to help provide support for this trip.  Amory talked about having a secret cafe to raise money.  Someone needs to figure out the criterion for distribution of the funds raised.  Two grant possibilities also exist to cover travel costs to the U. S. social forum.  One grant is due on April 30, 2010, in three we could get the grant for $ 1,000.00.  The Sustaining Fund is making grants for $ 500.00. The number of buses that will be taken will depend on regional organization.  Three buses are available from Olympia.  The trip needs drivers, passengers and money.  We discussed Amory's interest in getting a commercial license and what that would involve.  Wednesday, May 5th at Media Island at 8:00 P.M. will be a meeting to organize the trip.  The goal is to raise $ 18,000.00 for the trip.  

Future bills and funding

SPEECH is on their way to making a payment for their room.  No bills are currently in arrears.  We will have a checkbook balance next week.

May 21st event:  Media Island Open House and Film

The projector bulbs are in and the screen is available.  We talked about having the event at Media Island with desserts and freshly roasted freedom coffee. We will pass the hat.  We discussed the title being "People to People Open House and Film".  Coffee and desserts provided.  Donations will be welcome.  Proceeds will go to Media Island.  We will give a pitch and ask for donations. We discussed earmarking the money for a Latin America Solidarity Organization office at Media Island and making that part of the pitch.  We can bill it as an event for people interested in Cuba caravans, the medical school programs in Cuba and the Cuba five solidarity efforts.  We discussed venues for publicity, like Works in Progress, the Olympian, and Olympia Power and Light.  We discussed KAOS, TCTV and FRO.   Bruce will attempt to get Charlotte to produce a flyer.

Food Not Bombs issues

David announced that Food Not Bombs is leaving food behind and they need to seal their food if they leave it in the refrigerator.  If the leftovers are labeled that they need to be eaten, then food can be offered to people who are around Media Island.    The way to speak with them is when they are doing food preparation on Saturdays for their food service at 4:30 P. M.  Tom will talk with the Food Not Bombs people on Saturday, May 1st.

Announcements

May 20th at noon on the SPSCC campus 26-103 will be a documentary about a group that lived on camera and their experience.

Local justice week is May 3 - 7 from 2 - 4 P. M. in Bld. 22, Rm. 126 at SPSCC.  BRICK will be highlighting five organizations that make the world a better place.

May 2nd is a farmworkers solidarity march.  

Next week is the middle east solidarity film festival, sponsored by SESAME.  The first film is next Wednesday at 6:00 P.M. at Evergreen.

On May 13th at 6:30 P. M. Greg Mortenson, author of "Three Cups of Tea",  will be presenting at St. Martins University in Marcus Pavillion.

The Cuba Caravan border crossing will be on the 4th of July, the 5th of July will be the Olympia send off, and the 6th of July will be the send off in Bremerton.

Angela Davis and Antwi Akom will present at the CRC Evergreen on Saturday, May 22 at 3:30 P. M.

May 3rd through 7th is "The Most Dangerous Man Alive" featuring Daniel Elsburg at the Capitol Theatre.

Peoples Movement Assembly

We discussed having someone represent Media Island at the Community Center on May 8th from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM.  Rick and Chuks are possibilities to be there.