AFU Meeting Minutes

14 August 2005

People present: Asher, Ivan, Chris, Tim, Alan, Stu, Possum, Bill, Stephanie, Paola, Hassan, Josh, Todd, Richard and one other person whose name I didn’t catch

Facilitator: Asher

MInutes: Rob

AGENDA

1. Course proposals

2. promotion stuff

3. Email

4. Money

5. Picnic

6. working groups

PICNIC (ANTI-FROSH EVENT)

Our Anti-Frosh Dis orientation picnic will be held on September 11, 2005 at Trinity Bellwoods park from 3-6pm.

Chris reported on the Anti-Frosh meeting. They discussed doing a parody or subversion of a university’s traditional Frosh week events. Ideas like a fun campaign like “mohawks for cancer” and streaking at a university event while handing out flyers there. Someone mentioned that Darren O’Donnell came up with an idea of having children give haircuts. The working group decided that a permit is not needed. Alan suggested that at their next meeting they discuss a strategy for dealing with the police in case they show up. Stu mentioned that the Mohawk idea may be insensitive to First nations communities as cultural appropriation.

PROMOTION

Posters for the new Fall section and the Anti-frosh event were distributed through email (PDF) to the anarchist listserv. They will also be available on the website. Ideas for pursuing press releases was discussed. Richard put together a press release. By Tuesday Aug 16 a whole whack of flyers can be picked up at Uprising Books and at the AFU “Frathouse” (540 Spadina Ave, main floor). Tim mentioned that he has a contact in the public library system who will be able to post our material for their patrons. It was also suggested that we flyer and poster cafes, bookshops, listservs that we are all on (i.e. adbusters).

Rob asked if there was a process for adding new links to the website and whether there has been or should be a discussion about this. Some new sites seem to be appearing and he was wondering if these were discussed at meeting before posting. There has not been a process for posting new sites and no discussion about it either. People seemed to feel that it was OK to just go ahead and post new links or make changes to the website and if problems or objections arise then these can be dealt with at meetings.

COURSE PROPOSALS

Chris mentioned that he is going to retract his Public Space Course for now. He will be going ahead with the Judo for Gentle People course (great name!) but is still looking for a space and matts to tumble on.

Rob mentioned that he is going to step back from offering the Terror & Sexuality course at this time but will meet with 3 intersted people to brainstrom about the course for possible future enagement.

Stu proposed a course on getting back to the land and cooperative living. Stu will draw upon his considerable experience in living in a self-managed cooperative, ecological community in rural Ontario (Dragonfly). Stu wants to focus on the practical ideas and problems faced by self-organized communities and why some efforts fail. Stu will also use readings from the areas of permaculture activism, back to the landers texts, green anarchist and anti-civilization ideas. The group liked the idea in principle but the course will be pending approval as Stu will develop a course outline.

At this point Ivan spoke about space being available at the Campus Co-op. This is an off-campus student housing which is cooperatively run and several folks there are involved and/or sympathetic to the AFU. We can have access to the board room and dining halls (after 7pm) through a contact person. Ivan will send out a list of contacts for the co-op and facilitators who need space can contact them. There is space for 3 courses running simultaneously.

Tim introduced a course idea on the anarchist dimensions of Buddhism, or is that the Buddhist dimensions of anarchism or both? Tim talked about the relevance of a socially engaged Buddhism in the context of capitalist social relations. (The Buddhist Monk, Thich Nhat Hanh was radicalized in the 60s and was an anti-Vietnam war protester). His emphasis will be on the practice (on sitting and walking meditation) but he does not present himself as an expert on the subject. Tim will use a Theravadan approach and will invite people from the community practice to participate (the queer Buddhist group Dharma Friends was mentioned). Rob mentioned he knew someone who has been a practitioner for close to 20 years and is knowledgeable on the subject in both theory and practice who might be sympathetic to our school and may offer her help. Course is pending approval and Tim will develop the course outline in more detail.

Hasan discussed offering a course on the “Koran for those who don’t like the Koran” and tie it in with an understanding of social movements of Islamic militancy. Hasan was asked to develop his course proposal for the next meeting.

EMAIL

Rob has been looking after the email for two months now and is willing to extend it for an additional 3 months. Rob mentioned two emails he wanted to bring to the group’s attention. One is from a female who asked if there is an age limit on participation in the school. Rob answered her that there is not (she did not specifiy her age) but wanted to raise the issue at the school. The group generally agreed that age is not an issue, if someone has an interest and the where-with-all to get him/herself to meetings or classes then they can obviously participate.

Another email concerned someone from Europe who is doing research on anarchist libraries in Canada. Do we know of anarchist library collections? Bill mentioned someone in Brampton has a collection and will forward details about this to the list. Todd mentioned there is a library in Philadelphia at the anarchist space there (The A-Zone?). Alan mentioned that David Sheen, who is moving away, will be donating a considerable amount of anarchist books to the AFU. Hurray!

FINANCES

Rob reported that he has been able to find the AFU funds. It was never lost just hiding in plain sight! It was buried under other stuff in Luis apartment. Luis will hand over the money and it was agreed that Rob will look after the piddling amount.

As of August 14, 2005 we have:

$105.00 in Canadian cash

$ 40.00 in U.S. cash

$25.00 cheque from Stu (uncashed)

Rob suggested that the cheque from Stu, dated last August, remain uncashed and will convert the US funds to Canadian.

WORKING GROUPS

There was a brief discussion about working groups. The concern was raised (by Todd) that we need to guard against the tendency for working groups to fall away from the collective process. Their autonomy must be counterbalanced by their accountability to the larger collective process. It was suggested that we post working-group meeting minutes as well. Todd also suggested that we have a training session in facilitation and collective process. This has worked well in the past. He knows folks from the Karma Co-op who may be willing to come and speak to us. At present we have 3 working groups: promotion; picnic; and website.

THERE WILL BE A POSTERING ACTION GROUP ON TUES AUGUST 16. COME OUT TO HELP POSTER! MEET AROUND 8PM AT 540 SPADINA, MAIN FLOOR.

NEXT MEETING:

SUNDAY 28 AUGUST 2005

540 SPADINA AVE, MAIN FLOOR

4 PM