Anarchist Free University (AFU)

Collective Meeting Minutes

3 November 2005

519 Church Streeet Community Centre

Groovy People present: Rob, Richard, Rachel, John, Terrence, Lisa, Bob, Possum.

We did a go around and introduced ourselves to the group; greetings and salutations all around.

AGENDA

• emails
• Website/message board
• AFU web-radio
• course updates
• Promotion
• Terrence's idea

Terrence's Idea

Terrence would like to set up a computer recycling cooperative. He works in computer technology and would like to coordinate with the AFU a scheme where old computers are recycled in the context of teaching others how to build thier own computers. Cool eh! He could teach basic webserver skills and other ideas that can be fleshed out cooperatively. Terrence discussed the idea of posting the course in progress online and attract others who could help build up the course outline. This effort takes inspiration from www.freegeek.org, a similar coop that salvages computers and has set up public access terminals. Group decided that the Idea of developing the course outline online to a point where it would be brought to a meeting for final approval.

website/message board

Rob brought up an issue regarding web access and its use for promoting personal agendas and the possibility of flame wars. Some recent posts over the last couple of months involved a personal dispute. Rob asked the collective to consider how this use of the website is inappropriate and creates a crappy impression to others. There has also been some links and groups added to website that side-stepped a collective process. Rachel said that one of the reasons she found AFU so compelling is that it looked "serious" and she has come across other sites from other radical groups that had a lot of personal flaming online and it was a big turnoff. Also, we discussed a process for adding things to the website. We want to encourage an open and accessible means for the group to add to the website, we also agreed that some issues require a collective process and discussion to appear on the website. We also agreed that if an disagreement or issue arises over the content of the website then this would be addressed at collective meetings. We also discussed that our process of adding agenda items has been in -person at the time of meetings, rather than drawing up a list on-line before hand. This helps promote & develop a culture of direct participatory democracy.

We also discussed a bulletin board area in the website which would allow folks to discuss things in a separate site that leaves the basic website clear of personal messages, etc. A lot of technical mumbo-jumbo ensued about BBs, JS, and WIKI that is beyond my comprehension. (If anyone else wants to expand on this in these minutes, please feel free).

emails

Rob mentioned 3 emails that we received from others. One is from the Robin Hood Collective in Toronto, a direct-action group. Another communique came from the UGLF network (Urban Guerrilla Liberation Front) based in Atlanta. We also received a message from a political science PhD student from McGill^? University (Montreal) who is intersted in meeting young activists (16-21) to interview them on thier social experiences and activist practices. Rob will forward the emails over the list.

Three ideas came out of this discussion about how to manage emails. Emails that announce new groups, activities, and involvement, announcements, etc could be (1) forwarded to the Promo Committee, (2) posted on the BB, (3) forwarded to a second email list that the membership signs onto that will have slightly higher traffic than the current AFU listserv. John mentioned that he really likes to receive emails about other groups and stressed the importance of networking and building alliances.

course updates

Richard's anarchist anthropology course going well. Amazing discussions are happening with a very high level of engagement. Rachel reported that the Judo course on Friday has about 7-11 people in it. She feels that the Judo course could be promoted a bit more. The Sunday class still has space. Each class costs about $5 or 5 classes can be paid ahead of time for $20. This cost is unique to this course due to the specific space requirements. Direct Action is going well, the last class was autonomously facilitated as Sandra had other commitments.

web-radio

Richard discussed starting a web radio broadcast for the AFU. There are many possibilities about the content of shows, from meetings to class discussions to more formally produced segments about various topics to PSA's. There was general excitment about this idea. Terrence mentioned two websites that can serve as resources.

• www.ourmedia.org
• www.participatoryculture.org

A committee was struck to help give the idea some legs: Richard, Rachel, Terrence.

promotion

We discussed the pros and cons of a promotion committee. Pro-a group of people taking more immediate responsibility for promoting the school. Con-if left to others, it tends to get left by the wayside by others members. We have seen a slight downturn in how we promote the latest course series. Perhaps this is because by leaving it to a specific group, individual initiative to promote the school may have declined. OPIRG and Ontario Indy Media was discussed as possible hubs for promoting us.

Next meeting

A brief discussion about meeting days. Meeting during the week is dicey if it conflicts with courses. Some can't come on weekends. A double-bind. What to do? Most felt that conflicting with course time is really bad.

Sunday December 4, 2005

Time & Place: TBA (Rob will try to get 519 again). Not to conflict with Judo (2-4pm).

Minutes: rob

-- AnarchistU - 04 Nov 2005