Anarchist Free University (AFU) General Meeting

Sunday March 23, 2008, 519 Church Street, 3-5pm

In attendance: Angel (minutes), Michael, Enda (facilitator), Rachel G., Possum

• Newcomers: Craig, Alberto, Alissa, 2 Newcomers from Sketch.

Agenda as set at meeting:
1. New student-loan defaulting workshop proposal. (Enda)
2. New wood-working class proposal. (Craig)
3. Changes to the AFU website. (Angel)
4. New video-editing/culture-jamming class proposal. (Alberto)
5. Potluck outreach proposal. (Possum)
6. Contacts with SEED alternative school for joint classes. (Rachel)

1. New student-loan defaulting workshop proposal. (Enda)

• Enda offered a preliminary proposal on a new workshop idea he's been thinking about, "How To Default On Your Student Loan", in the sense of a mock serious workshop for the purposes of timely dissent, PR and outreach during these times of global Credit Crisis, during which strikes and job quitting are being discouraged.
• A documentary, "My Student Loan" was mentioned. Alissa mentioned that the "Chicken Baker" University may offer credits for Loan default in conjunction with their "diads" class. Alberto mentioned the tie-in to culture jamming and dissent against the current hedgemony and coprate world war of ideologies. Angel mentioned the need to be sensitive to the possibilities of destroying ones long term credit score if one were to participate in such actions to which Craig and Possum suggested the possibility of finding someone with a law degree and or investigating to laws associated with such an action. Alissa elucidated on dynards and Enda ended it with the invitation to meet informally for feedback around the idea.

2. New wood-working class proposal. (Craig)

• Craig, a carpenter with experience in beginner instruction, brought a proposal for a new beginner to intermediate wood-working class. The class would incorporate widely applicable fundamental concepts in woodworking and structural design elements. The class may also include salvaging walks to gather materials. The possibility of a materials/tools fee as was the case with the "Gentle Judo" course previously offered was also discussed and deemed acceptable by most. A source of tools was discussed and went no further than the participating students. Venue was discussed and possibilities discussed included someone's (undetermined) backyard/garage and Bike Pirates. Safety of participants and the need for a safety primer was discussed. The need for a formal proposal/approval was discussed and suggestions to look at previous proposals and course descriptions on the AFU website (level of student, temporal and structural breakdown of classes), as well descriptions of the approval process were given to Craig.

3. Changes to the AFU website. (Angel)

• Angel informed the group that he had instituted a change to the homepage of the AFU website whereby new page additions and changes to the site as a whole could be easily surveyed directly from the homepage via a "new changes" column on the sidebar of the homepage. No objections were raised.

4. New video-editing/culture-jamming class proposal. (Alberto)

• Alberto brought a new video-editing/culture-jamming class proposal based around pacific resistence to "popular culture". The class as proposed would offer hands on video camera use and video-editing software instruction with possible use of YouTube? as outlet. The advertising culture was suggested as a possible centre of attention for the course.
• Alissa mentioned "The Take" by Naomi Klein as a good resource. Enda and Rachel tried to work with Alberto on possible sources for the needed equipment including cameras and computers. Rachel suggested she could look into LIFT as a possible source of equipment. Alissa saw the connection with this course and the current trends in satchmoism and the disturbing extinction of "daisies". Other needs thrown out were the possible need for a projector for instruction. Angel suggested that Alberto should not be discouraged by lack of equipment . One of the newcomers from Sketch suggested that Sketch (www.sketch.ca) may be a source for needed equipment including video camera and a video editing station. The need for formal proposal and outline were discussed.

5. Potluck outreach proposal. (Possum)

• Possum brought the idea of the return of a "stone-soup" style potluck for the purposes of outreach and networking with other activist groups/communities.
• The group seemed agreeable and Rachel mentioned how the season certainly warrants it and how Toronto Island may be a good location for one. Enda suggested TSCI as another good location.

6. Contacts with SEED alternative school for joint classes. (Rachel)

• Rachel brought that she had been talking with a friend named Lee highly involved with the SEED alternative school in Toronto and how that person was a good influential contact from SEED and how she'd like to follow up with Lee concerning putting together a preliminary informational gathering contact regarding offering joint courses with SEED. The idea is to gather information now from students/administration at SEED in get-togethers/meetings regarding desired classes that we could put together jointly for the upcoming fall.
• Rachel said that she will pursue the possibility further and put a general call-out to the AFU for anyone who wants to help in further cultivating/developing this relationship. Possum and Christian were discussed in regards to their previous contact with SEE and SEED. Possum discussed some of the pitfalls that had discouraged attempts previously with SEE/SEED including legal matters involving who could teach students on school premises vis-a-vis student safety and release waivers.

The general meeting ended with Rachel voicing concern over general tone and attitude that had been developing at general meetings. She suggested that it was highly discouraging and even led her to contemplate no longer participating actively in the AFU and suggested that it may also be discourging other long-standing members from participating as fully as we and they would like. She mentioned Rob and Tobie as two members that may have these feelings and seem to be conspicuously absent and who she misses and would like to see return more actively. The group agreed with Rachel's criticism and tried at some preliminary attempts at elucidating the problem.