Anarchist Free University -- Meeting Minutes 5 March 2006

Present: Milton, Randy, Victoria, Chris (facilitator), Rob (minutes), Alan, Rachel, Nick, Yassen, Zia, Tim, Sonja, Sean, Paola, Akua, John.

Potluck Meal at 5pm.

The meeting started with folks helping themselves to an array of yummy vegan fare. Alan made a huge pot of quinoa vegetable stew. Chris brought sticky rice and peanut sauce with the preference that it be eaten without utensils. Rachel brought a garden salad and some yummy dressing. Rob brought hummus and pita bread. There was organic fair trade coffee and a slab of fresh dark rye bread to smooth over the variety of flavours.

Meeting started around 6:15pm

AGENDA

• Introductions
• course updates
• Summer term—dates, proposals
• Course proposals
• Monthly meeting
• End of term party
• Email

Introductions

Meeting started with a go-around where people could introduce themselves to the group.

Course updates

Alan updated us on the Anti-capitalist business workshop, held on February 25. About half of the people who had previously reserved a space showed up. It went really well. Suggestions to do it at Radical Roots cooperative cafe. May re-jig it to make it more participatory. It was more like question and answers and very polite. There are about 30 people are on a waiting list for a future workshop. Darren, Alan and the Robin Hood Collective were the organizers. Also, the mass media course is going well--about 10 people come out regularly.

Randy filled us in on the Secret history of the World. The secret is getting out. 15 out of 30 people enrolled have come out to the course regularly with about 7 hard core members. Now magazine and Ralf Benmurgi (!) plugged it. Numbers have dwindled.

Chris updated us on Judo for Gentle People. Numbers have dwindled as well. Sunday class just concluded. It seems that the “gentle” aspect of the course was taken somewhat literally instead of a more social/political nuance as intended. Judo requires at least a minimum of body contact and the occasional fall on mats. Chris is thinking about reworking the description when the course is re-offered. Most people who come out are unfamiliar with Judo or other Martial Arts. People have been socializing after the class and this has worked out well.

Rachel mentioned that the Radical economics course is going really well.

Paola told us that the Spanish class is going really well; a dozen people coming out.

Common theme emerging here: numbers in classes tend to dwindle and after-class socials are way cool.

Summer Term

Group decided that having 2 terms in the summer is a good idea; the courses run from 8 to 10 weeks.

First summer term runs: Monday May 1 to June 25. Second summer term runs: July 3 to end of August.

Course Proposals

Milton proposing a course on urban security and survival. A course for activists designed to share information on the situation of activism and safety in the rising security-surveillance state. Activist based security, how to collect information pertinent to various actions, and survival oriented information in states where stepped-up security state action against activists are on the rise. Thinking about offering it in the first part of the summer. Milton to bring a more worked out proposal to the next meeting.

Rob discussed two course ideas that he may offer in the summer. The first is a revival of the child sex panic course which he wishes to revamp to make is less academic and more participatory. About 8 people have contacted Rob to indicate interest in this course so far. Also, he will draft a proposal for a course that explores urban social space, queers, sexuality and the neoliberal order. Course will aspire to be part reading and sharing, part oral history/experience project, and part catalylst for activating and thinking through resistance to the gay market monoculture.

Akua proposed a one-day intensive workshop course on stress, natural childbirth and women’s health. This course will look at feminist healthcare and self-care movement, including natural herbal health based on an empowerment model. Akua has trained as a midwife in Ontario and teaches yoga. Worked in women’s community and is an activist. Outline was circulated. Course approved. Will happen on April 8.

Meetings

A proposal was put forward to have regular meetings for the first Sunday of each month. Consensus agreement to have it occur on sunday. A potluck meal will be scheduled for 5pm and meeting will commence at 6pm. Not vegan exclusive. Vegan and non-vegan food will be labeled accordingly.

End of term party.

Thinking about the end of March or in April. Ideas bounced around include having a rented hall or space and community DJs or other talent. Darren, Chris, Paola, & Sonja on the committee to work out details.

Email

Rob’s been looking after email for 6 months. Rob reminded folks who are facilitating classes to invite participants to monthly meetings and to obtain their email for the general AnarchstU? listserv. Rachel volunteered to look after email.

NEXT MEETING:

Sunday April 2, 2006

Potluck at 5pm

Meeting at 6pm

Quote of the month:

"I shit on all the revolutionary vangaurds of this planet." --Subcomandante Marcos

-- AnarchistU - 07 Mar 2006