[Occupymendocino] Fwd: Minutes of August 2nd OM meeting

[she-la]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Minutes of August 2nd  OM meeting
From: she-la <sheila.dawn50 at yahoo.com>
To: occupymendocinolists at mcn.org
CC: 

 Present: Irene, Agnes, Daniel, Linda, Mark Bob & Sheila
   A review of the Public Banking Meeting in July was provided by Agnes. It was attended by Robin Sunbeam, Ellen & David Rosser as well as Agnes, Jessie & Sheila of OM. Agnes described a long meeting in which the current draft of the charter was revised to address the comments of Supervisor John McCowen in hopes of getting the needed third vote to put the Charter on the November ballot. After making the changes, McCowen replied in an email that there were other numerous concerns that he had not specified-- making it impossible to make the deadline for the Nov. election. 
   Agnes then informed the group that John Khury, the head of the EDFC ( Economic Development  & Financial Corp. for Mendocino County), who initially supported the idea of a Pubic Bank, was of the opinion that a County Public Bank was prohibited by 'Dillon's rule'.   This was a 1868 court case (upheld in 1923 by the Supreme Court) that allows the State to control local financial structure. Khury  also felt there was not enough capital flow within the County to make it feasible to warrant a Public Bank. 
    Eight states, including California, have exceptions to the rule in regard to municipalities. It was decided that more research was needed in this area. Agnes offered to contact Ellen Brown, Pres. of the Public Banking Institute, for her opinion.  It was also suggested to have a legal opinion from lawyer, Barry Vogel.
    The home rule clause is also a fundamental statement in the Community Rights proposal on banning fracking from the County, which will be on the Nov. ballot. If this proposal is challenged in court, the Community Environmental Legal  Defense Fund (CELDF) has promised legal support in defense of the right to home rule. It would be wise to watch the development of this legal struggle as it has direct ramifications regarding the authority to create a PublicBank.
  A question was raised about who has the most influence over the BOS. Does the charter give more control to this person, specifically the CEO, Carmel Angelo? 
   Agnes made a suggestion that complaints be made to the Grand Jury on the fact that Carmel Angelo did not follow through on the direction given to her by the BOS to explore ways an audit of County property records and financial transactions involving those records could be done. Did she go to the County dept. heads and discuss with them the possibilities of an audit as directed or was she delinquent in carrying out  that direction?  A follow up to the BOS on this question may be effective in getting an answer. 
   Plans for a fundraiser for the campaign for a Public Bank have been temporarily stalled with the invitation to Jim Hightower  declined.
   Robert Reich, a professor at UC Berkeley and the subject of a film, Inequality for All, which was featured in the Mendocino Film Festival this year, was suggested. Robin Sunbeam (through an email to Agnes) also suggested a panel discussion of bankers which would include Ellen Brown and Reich as a way to gain clarity of the myriad issues and obstacles surrounding a Public Bank.

     Notice of the Community Rights Open Meeting was given. It will be on this Sunday, Aug 17th, at the Camp 20 rest stop on Hwy 20 from 11 to 2 p.m. A pot luck of side dishes is requested to compliment a main course of various meat dishes to be provided by members of the group. People are also requested to make connections regarding carpooling.

   The upcoming Paul Bunyan Parade was discussed as the next scheduled OM activity.
  Research on the theme, deadline date for entry and cost of entry still need to be done before a final decision is made. 
  The question of whether the group thought the July 4th Parade was effective and worth the effort was met with an affirmative declaration.
  Sheila thought more outreach to potential marchers was needed for the  Labor Day Parade which will be on Monday, Sept. 1st.
   Linda offered to do an email invite to those on the Occupy mailing list to recruit a one time appearance of marchers ( as in flash mob) in support of the Occupy theme of Economic, Environmental Social & Political Justice.
    Mark advised that the email invite  response be directed to a specific person as those not on the Occupy Mendocino listserve will not be able to respond through that means.

    Sheila gave a short report of her request to the KZYX Bd . of Directors to have a discussion of the volunteer policy on the  Board's July meeting agenda.   It was not on the agenda as agreed to at the May Annual Membership meeting.  After fending off a denial of the Bd. Pres. that she had publicly agreed to a public discussion of the volunteer policy, specifically as it regarded the authority of management to ban prospective volunteers, and an attempt by Bd. member, Meg Courtney to derail a discussion by stating she understood that it was not a Bd. decision, a compromise was proposed by Bd. member, Holly Madrigal to come up with guidelines for accepting or rejecting prospective volunteers.
    A few weeks later, Sheila was informed by Bd. Vice Pres., Stuart Campbell, that she was welcome to participate in the planned Oct. Birthday celebration event. She had been banned from volunteering at the public radio station for over 1 1/2 years for recording a statement by the Program Director that she could not answer phones during the pledge drive due to an unflattering question asked in an AVA article regarding the extension of the Program Director's duties into the realm of security. The compromise means that other ways to fulfill a volunteer membership were found as was originally promised by GM, John Coate.  Moreover, other potential volunteers will have written guidelines established to prevent similar overreaches of management & staff in regard to exclusionary decisions.

 A report on the BOS meeting attended  by Ann R., Bob & Sheila on July 8th was given.
  In that mtg,  a report of the temporary closure of the Buddy Ehler homeless shelter in Ukiah  and the impacts of that decision on coastal resources was given by Supervisor Dan Gjerde.
   Ann commented that $1 million was budgeted for copy machines in the County but no money could be found to help those struggling to find shelter.
     She also commented on the Grand Jury finding that several million $ from the County Libraries  sales tax initiative had been misdirected into the General Fund. A 40 page response was formulated by County CEO, Carmel Angelo, which the public was told was available to read on the County's website.
      The approval on a ban of disposable polystyrene containers was also approved by the BOS. This will effect take out orders at restaurants , grocery stores and special events. The ban goes into effect March 15 2015. Violations after that date will be given one warning after which a $500 fine will be imposed foe each violation.
 
  The Piccadilly Flea Market at the Community Center of Mendocino was discussed. It will occur on the 2nd Saturday of the month. OM acquired more complete sets of Occupy Cards (25) which are being sold for $5. Donations of clothes and contributions could not be organized on short notice.
    Richard, who is one of the organizers & on the CCM Board, required a $25 participation fee. It was decided at this meeting that such a high stipend would negate any potential benefit as it was not assured we could generate enough income to make it worth OM's time and effort.
    Lastly, the requirements of the Peace & Justice grant regarding having a storefront presence and incorporating a strategy for acquiring  more new and a younger base of members were discussed.
    Sheila thought the one possibility that was open to OM was to work out an agreement with the Regenerative Design Center in Mendocino which has  been favorable to having greater community involvement of the space. Located on Ukiah St, next to what used to be Lu's Burrito open air restaurant and currently under the proprietorship of Justin Calvino, it offers the potential of reaching many of the youth of Mendocino. 
     Do we have the energy & commitment to move this idea forward? It could serve as a meeting place and the money we now give to the Senior Center could go to the RDC --Regenerative Design Center. OM needs new energy to survive.
    A conversation about setting up a hostel for travelers in Mendocino, as was recently approved for Ft Bragg, was a part of the brainstorming of what direction OM should focus on in gaining new future momentum.
  The next OM meeting is scheduled for Saturday,Aug 16th  at the Senior Center from 2 to 4 p.m.
                    Respectfully submitted.
                   Sheila Dawn Tracy