Current events
From OFSVolunteers
OFS Volunteer Meeting Minutes: 9/4/2007, 7:00-9:00 PM
Location: Freeschool
In Attendance: ~30 people
OFS Meeting: 9/4/2007
7:10-7:15
Introductions: 28 in attendance at beginning of meeting. www.ofsvolunteers.com.
Agenda Items:
suggestions for the future
petition
walk-out
7:15-7:45
Discussion:
J: stunned with language about presumed intent on Olyblog.But admits that the majority of language is respectful. Worried about core community of people not being involved.
T: Feels that heart of org. is being chipped away, J issue the last straw.
M: Why was S not included aware of J eminent firing?
J: S is not part of the staff collective.
L: How does the board represent the membership's opinion in decision making?
J: Tries to get agenda, minutes to interested members, larger meeting spaces, and membership meeting. Working with organizational development consultant and potential executive director.
H: Why was Jeffery given only 2 hours to get out?
J: Hindsight is 20/20. Didn't feel that retribution was the issue but wanted a clean break.
V: Why were you unwilling to bring the new board members up to date?
J: Process began 18 months ago. Was personally exhausted by the process, and would have left if they went through it again.
I and J left.
7:50-9:00
Executive Session:
Should we remain on walkout? Until membership meeting? K: does not want to count on just a new board to make changes? That other bilaws changes should be made to make the board more transparent T: the radical re-elect board and re-hire staff.
A: Let's get back to the issue.
A and M describe the process to the petition.
There is a lot of concern over the film festival happening
We need to get a list of membership and the number.
H will write a letter tomorrow to Linda and Josh.
P: Keep it simple: Bilaws change. Do not try to fix it all at once. Special board elections and that process will be decided at the special meetings. Don't worry about changing number of Board members, or requiring concensus training. Simply point out this is a decisive moment in OFS history, and a wonderful opportunity to reinvigorize the organization. The current group process, including Board, staff and membership, is dysfunctional. Direct elections is how to fix it. The more complex the petition is, the more the membership will be confused. KISS.
Other coments:
Opportunity to re-invigorate the OFS
Normal growing pains
Walkout: It was decided that the general concensus would be to end the walk out. Although not all were in total aggreement, many felt that remaining unified was more important than their personal opinion. A will write a letter to the board and staff announcing the end of the walk-out.
OFS Volunteer Meeting Minutes: 8/26/2007, 3:00-5:30 PM
Location: Maya's Studio (old K records building) In Attendance: ~ 20 people
We tightened up our position and decided upon a single formal demand to be presented to the board: a revote on Jeffery's firing.
Many other frustrations were brought up: poor programming, trust in volunteers, festival director not being a local, etc.
We decided to pursue other concerns through standard procedure and direct the effort of the strike solely to the revote demand
Drawing a line here is a message to the board that they can not ignore
Having a clear goal will help other members see our intentions and possibly offer their support
Public opinion will be the crucial in resolving this issue, so getting the word out is very important in the weeks to come.
Most striking volunteers will be continuing to go to their shifts to hand out propaganda and talk to filmgoers and other community members. Please head down whenever you have a few extra minutes. If you can not make your own shift try to get someone to cover for you.
Please print and circulate copies of our position (1 page letter). Or get in touch with Kim (burlieredwood@gmail.com) for copies.
Palu is working with Keith to get the info online. Keep checking @ www.ofsvolunteers.com for info to become available.
Palu, Adam, Kim, Matt, John, and Noah will be taking over publicity and distribution of information.
This story will run on the front page of works in progress on September
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday (8/28/2007) @ 7pm. Gather at the theater and walk to meeting place (Freeschool?). This meeting is open to all concerned parties.
OFS Volunteer Meeting Minutes: 8/29/2007, 7:00-9:00 PM
Location: Maya's Studio (old K records building) In Attendance: ~ 20 people
Last nights meeting addressed a variety of topics. Probably the most important was a discussion on the boards anticipated response to our demand. Isaac informed us that the board was drafting a letter, outlining the issue, to be distributed among the volunteers. It is likely they will respond to us directly. The expected date is Saturday September 1st.
The main question on people's minds is "what next?" If the board rejects our demand, we need to carefully consider our position. We have recourse of holding an emergency membership meeting in which we could vote to dissolve the board. A new board would be elected at the same time. For this to happen we need a lot more support from the membership at large. Many people still think this is simply about our friend being fired or that the movement is limited only to projectionists. It is up to all of us to address these issues.
Kendra was present at the meeting. She informed us that 4 screenings were lost over the weekend. Also, some members have been offering to help project in our absence and others to help with sound at last nightÂs show. She says 3 to 5 people are currently staffing the projection booth.
Printed media, such as the informational sheets we have been passing around and some new half-sheets and quarter-sheets will be available at Last Word Books. If you have time to distribute info, stop by there for some hard copies. If you have time and want to contribute it, help make copies to stock there. We art trying to get the info out in emails, so download and print them. We will have funds available for reimbursing money spent copying these flyers, so please help make copies and get them out there.
The website is coming along, but still needs energy to be put in to it. Contact Palu, Noah, or Paul if you want to help out with the online portion of publicity.
There will be an ice cream social for volunteers on Saturday at 2:00pm. Kendra suggested we have a signup sheet for people who would like to get on our email list and/or attend meetings. If anyone is interested in going down there it would be a good way to get some info out to the other volunteers. If you do, please use discretion and restraint when talking about our position. We wonÂt make any friends by crashing the social.
Next meeting is on Tuesday, 9/4 at 7:00pm location The Freeskool, 610 Columbia St S.E. downtown across from Oly Supply. A space for future meetings is needed. The library was suggested, but if anyone else has ideas, please let Adam know.
Thanks to everyone for your efforts!
