Thames Valley SolFed
Skype Meeting, mainly to organise public meeting
25th February 2011
Present: Carole, Peter semi-present, Izzy, Mike, Tobias
Agenda:
- working out the 13th regarding stall then meeting then public meeting
- how public meeting'll be, with a speaker and stuff, who etc.
- sorting out treasurer and secretary
- buying/printing leaflets, pamphlets
- survey
- minutes
- Banners/flags
- Chair
Working out the 13th regarding stall then meeting then public meeting
Discussion:
We shouldn’t bother with getting official insurance for the stall, unnecessary hassle. It’s Sarah’s 1st birthday on the 13th! That’s fine, we can have birthday cake which Izzy and Tobias will make. If the time’s 6.30 to 8.30 we should provide some food.
Agreed:
Stall at 2, then meeting and some time off politics before public meeting starts at 6.30. We shouldn’t bother with getting official insurance for the stall, unnecessary hassle. Public meeting 6.30 to 8.30 at Friends Meeting House in Reading, Sunday 13th March. Carole/Peter to book Friends Meeting House. Tobias to set up a facebook event through our tvsf person, and advertise it on solfed discussion list [and also internal forum, libcom, indymedia, etc.]. Carole and Peter advertise to IWW [and any others]. C and P to sort out simple food for the public meeting, as well as the cake T and I will make.
How public meeting'll be, with a speaker and stuff, who etc.
Discussion:
Ideas for topics for discussion were centred on whether it should be more about anarcho-syndicalism and SolFed, or more practically focussed on fighting austerity, with a little on what our approach would be and thoughts on existing trends. T and C want it more austerity less SF/anarcho-syndicalism, I, Mike and P want it more anarcho-syndicalism while still being about how practical a/s is.
Want a speaker to kick things off, discussion over length. Discussion over who the speaker should be, someone from another local who’s good at public speaking? No need, P will do it.
Title of meeting? Some suggestions were: ‘Anarcho-syndicalism and Austerity’; ‘Workplace organisation in time of austerity’; ‘Fighting to win – anarcho-syndicalism and austerity’; ‘For Workers’ Control: Direct action against austerity’, etc.
Agreed:
Roughly 25 minute talk given by Peter to kick things off followed by discussion. Talk about anarcho-syndicalism with a focus on how it’s practical. Last 10 minutes or so specifically about austerity. No decision made on a title.
Sorting out officers
I, T, P and C all said they’d be happy to do any of them. Possibly the roles should be split across the two cities. Izzy has preference for secretary. Carole will be treasurer. Everybody happy with that. Role of the treasurer is to collect dues (£5 monthly, could be more or if can’t pay then less), pay the national treasurer and store money [and make reports to group every few months on financial state of affairs]. Role of secretary is to talk to and welcome new members, remind people of meetings, gather together and send out the agenda before meetings.
Pamphlets, etc.
We should get/print SF pamphlets for stall. Tobias to send round list of pamphlets so people can have a look. We’ll hold a very short (maximum 30 minutes) skype meeting on Thursday at 7 to organise printing of pamphlets. We have some other stuff, e.g. education workers’ bulletin, Catalyst and for workers’ control already. [Should get some intro to anarcho-syndicalism printed as well, the leaflet, and stuff your boss, etc.]
Survey
North London group did a survey of members’ industry, skills, languages, etc. Interesting and useful. Everybody agreed we should do the same. Izzy to sort that out through our meeting and mailing list.
Minutes
Some groups put minutes, viewable only to SF members, on the website. It shows what locals can do which is useful, especially for us as new local. All agreed we should do the same. Tobias to put minutes on the website.
Flags, Banners
Would be nice to have some, for public meeting, stalls and demos. Some other groups got really nice banners, getting people asking questions more. We especially liked the ‘Austerity - Up Yours - Let’s build a world worth living in!’ one. Tobias wanted to copy it, but it was decided we should do our own. Discussion over whether it should say Thames Valley Solidarity Federation or a quote or image, or some combination. Informal kind of agreement that we should make one and it should say TVSF but with a quote (maybe Durutti) on it. People to work on thoughts and designs (Izzy already is). We need red and black flags at least, for stall. Izzy made one! Should make more.