AU meeting minutes: January 7, 2007

Time: 2:30 pm Location: 519 Church St., Main Floor, New Wing.

Meeting started by Ryan at 2:45pm

Present: Ryan—facilitator, Doug—minutes, Robert, Marjorie, Patrick, Andrew, John, Mike, Emily, Jason, Nick, Dee, Mitch, Jonathan, Enda; Arrived after start of meeting: Tim, Rob, Rachel. (Apologies for incorrect name spelling. Please inform recorder of changes at next meeting.)

• Ryan facilitator; Doug recorder
• John passed a list around to collect email addresses for contact (personal use)
• Go around: introductions and proposed agenda items.

AGENDA

I. Proposals:

1. Ryan
2. Patrick
3. Dee
4. Mitch

II. Housekeeping Issues

1. Ryan: Traditional Anarchist Revival (TAR)
   
2. Mike: organizational issues: admin email list, committee system, organizational continuity, vision.

PROPOSALS

1. Ryan proposed a course on Japanese Cinema and the “micropolitics of desire”. A handout of the proposed course syllabus was distributed.

Q&A: Screening location? Ryan will check for site. Aiming to begin screenings in February. Days course will meet? TBD at first course meeting Primer for Japanese film? Will be distributed at first course meeting

Discussion. Course approved.

2. Patrick proposed a monthly study group which will meet to discuss texts examining “alternative psychology”. 5 texts to be used, already chosen. Study group already has members and will begin to meet on January 27.

Q&A: Mike asked for clarification of course focus. List of texts open to group selection? Patrick answered: already selected.

Discussion. Proposal was approved with following suggestions:

• Study group may be posted on AU site as a book discussion group, but not as a course. Group will have AU affiliation.
• make discussion question-based rather than text based; discuss topic rather than text

3. Dee proposed a course examining “Contemporary Issues in Sexuality”. The course syllabus and reading list were distributed.

Nick offered his Xerox copier for use by AU participants. Patrick asked how to post courses on website. Mike answered.

Q&A: Overlap with Jason’s course? Jason responded: no issue. Date to begin? March, but date TBD. Concern raised about course beginning later than normal February start. No objections. Location? TBA (but south of St. Claire)

Discussion (with Dee present). Course approved. Jonathan suggested courses be posted on the website as soon as possible.

4. Mitch told us about the archive project he is involved in. He is looking for volunteers to help archive material. This process involves photocopying (non-copyrighted) material in the library and sending the photocopies to him so he can scan them and post them online. A sign-up list was distributed.

Q&A: Photocopying costs? Volunteers would pay. Mike recommended sending URL of project to Possum.

Decision: Mitch to post call for volunteers on website. Those interested in participating can email him for info.

HOUSEKEEPING ISSUES

1. Ryan: TAR: Ryan wanted to discuss relevance of TAR to AU. Why should we look to the past? Is it relevant for us? He suggested that this topic should be discussed in a general discussion about foundational issues, vision of AU, etc.

2. Mike: Proposed moving focus of meeting to planning a discussion about organization/vision. Those interested in staying were welcome to stay and participate.

Members remaining to discuss planning foundational issues discussion: Ryan, Doug, Robert, Marjorie, Nick, Jason, Mike, Rob, John, Enda.

Rob suggested such a discussion include: foundations of AU, course proposals: practice more important than content, what norms do we set? orienting new participants. Rob suggested organizing a retreat day to discuss and decide these issues.

Discussion. Decision: Retreat would take place in March.

Mike suggested the primary agenda item for next meeting should be Retreat Day organization.

Rachel raised the issue of a course proposal cut-off date to handle inquiries.

Decision: Ideally courses (for this term) would begin no later than the end of February; however, proposals to be decided on a case-by-case basis.

Decision: Primary agenda items for next meeting:

• organize retreat day
• admin email list (Mike suggested 10 minutes)

Next general meeting: February 18 (the 3rd Sunday of the month). To be posted.

Meeting ended: approx. 4:30pm