Occupy Medford: General Assembly

Facilitator(s) – There should be a minimum of two facilitators at each meeting. The facilitators keep the GA focused on the agenda. They also keep stack and coordinate proposals. Facilitators may be in stack but they must announce they are putting themselves in stack after the current speaker is finished and must be at the bottom of the present stack.
Facilitators may be replaced in the GA upon request. It is suggested that facilitators step aside if more than one person suggests it, but if they feel it unnecessary to be replaced they can leave the decision and process up to the note-keeper. 
 

Note-Taker(s) – The note-taker’s job is to record the announcements, proposals, discussion, etc. into a summary/minutes of the GA. The note-taker at any time may ask clarifying questions in order to create concise and accurate notes. It is also the responsibility of the note-taker to make the notes for each GA available online. Most GA’s will likely require only one note-taker but if someone is taking notes they should announce it and coordinate with the other note-taker(s) to help create a concise summary.

Committee POC(s) – The Point of Contacts for each committee should work together to help create the agenda for each GA. It is also the responsibility of the POC to be present for GA assembly to give Committee reports or to assign someone else if they are unable to attend GA.

General Assembly Agenda

 - The Agenda is a living breathing document
 - It is open to all participants to add and edit 
 - It's purpose is to keep the conversation focused 
 - It is created before the GA but can be edited at any time 
 

1. Open Forum

-          Anything and everything, with or without stack. Suggest time limit: 10-20 minutes

2. Pressing Issues / Upcoming Events

      – This designation of time is used to discuss timely issues or event
      - Example: Upcoming protest or march
       - This time slot can and should also be used to further discussion outside of open        forum
       – This time can also be used to break up the larger GA into groups, in order to consolidate ideas

3. Committee Reports

    - Committee Reports are to be approximately five minutes and are made by the POC for the committee or a substitute member of the committee
     – The purpose of committee reports is to let General Assembly know what the committee has been doing and what they need from GA
     – The committee reports are not a time for proposals

4. Proposals

     - A proposal must be relevant to the purpose and or actions around Occupy Medford and or The Occupy Movement
     – Proposals that are introduced by a facilitator must, for the time being, be facilitated by someone else until that proposal is voted on
    – If the proposal does not have at least 90% consensus, it is revoked and can be brought up again at the following General Assembly
    – If the same proposal is voted down twice without any changes, it is not allowed to be brought up to GA until significant concerns have been addressed. 

    Process of Proposals

    A. The proposal is clearly stated in concise language.
    B. The group is first open only for clarifying questions
    C. The group is open for thoughts for and against the proposal
    D. The proposal sponsor and supporters are to answer concerns regarding the proposal
    E. A temperature check (non-binding) gages the current support for the proposal
    F. Any concerns shown through the temperature check are addressed
    G. The proposal is clearly re-stated
    H. The proposal is voted on with 90.00% consensus needed to pass
    I. The proposal, in the language stated, is recorded as a passed proposal

5. Announcements

-       Announcements have a suggest time limit of 3 minutes

-       Time is allowed for clarifying questions

-       It is suggested that all announcements pertain to Occupy Medford or the Occupy Movement

6. Conclusion

    – The conclusion of General Assembly includes a brief recap of discussion, upcoming tasks, events and proposals that were passed.
    – Depending upon the GA, the time afterwards or the time left over can be used to meet in committees, canvass, etc…