[imc-alberta] Fwd: Summary Indy/ASF Meeting,Wed., Nov. 24, 2004

[ESPA/Lyn X]

MINUTES Wed., Nov. 24, 2004; 6:10 PM

Indymedia Revival Meeting & Alberta Social Forum Brainstorming

In Attendance: Allan Sheppard, Katie Oppen, Waldemar Belczowski, Sheryle
Carlson, Robert Wilde, Lynette Bondarchuk

AGENDA TOPICS

1. INDYMEDIA GENERAL - REVIVAL OF EDMONTON/ALBERTA COLLECTIVE

2. ALBERTA SOCIAL FORUM (ASF)


 1.  INDYMEDIA:

a) Website:

. General: we now could have access to our previous domain. It looks like we
could use Vancouver (which soon might be BC-IMC) IMC's bandwidth but we'll
need to come up with funds and human resources to maintain it. Waldemar
notes that we have been offered assistance rebuilding.

. Issues: questionable content issues and eventual policy: Questionable
content (racist, homophobic, etc.) needs to be dealt with; Waldemar wants to
avoid censorship in favor of 'flagging and hiding'; Sheryle suggests we use
UN guidelines to determine said content and our decision, if necessary, to
prevent such postings; Waldemar notes that Indymedia has already invested
much time and effort on this topic and we might be well served to further
review what has been done already; more discussion is needed on this.

Waldemar suggested we hold another Indymedia meeting as soon as we could to
work through the previously divisive issues such as the censorship question,
to determine procedures/policies re admin, maintenance and cooperation, and
to hammer out the ASF project.

Positions To Fill

1) Moderators to monitor the various posting lists for objectionable
content, and to monitor postings to ensure that they were listed in the
appropriate category.

2) Programmers And Web Geeks to maintain tech needs

3) Membership Services Coordinator/recruiter(s) to respond to problems with
subscribing, posting, etc.); outreach and membership drives; other general
networking activities

4) Features policy nominating/seconding postings to feature/

Waldemar mentioned WIKI (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page ) where
anyone can edit postings.


NEXT MEETING

Topics To Deal With:

Censorship policy, features criteria, other general content, administration
and maintenance (participants can (hopefully) attend in person or if that
doesn't work, remotely via email or phone).
What is the soonest date that works for the greatest number of people? Is
the first week of Dec enough notice? Please email back.


Still need to discuss:
General Administration:
. internal communications strategies (keeping working members abreast of
what each committee is doing,              resolving conflicts, delegating
of duties, etc.).
. increasing participatory involvement with the listserv and website.
. financing - paying for bandwidth and other administrative needs.
. other? Please forward your suggestions.


2. ASF:

Three Components Suggested:
. Indymedia Presentation/Workshop
. Speakers on Indymedia and/or Media Democracy
. Film Screenings

a) Presentation/Workshop: Indymedia 101; an Open Call for others to
participate in a Alberta Indymedia Revival; Sheryle suggests components on
outlining how to 'become the media', media analysis (media literacy 101),
discussion regarding journalistic integrity, etc.;

b) Speakers on Media Democracy: Waldemar suggests bringing in an expert (or
more) to present; Lynette discourages us from trying to bring in a speaker
for this year, as she thinks it is far too late for us to try this without
creating high stress and no guarantees of success (recommends we take at
least a year in advance to take on this kind of multidisciplinary
presentation); Waldemar suggests we might find good (and affordable) local
speakers, and Allan is willing to put out some feelers for such speakers.

c) Independent Film Screenings: a combination of local and other noteworthy
productions.


Issues identified (by L. ) include logistics of:
. determining what films would be screened.
. reserving theatre (or smart classroom) to ensure we have the venue and
equipment required.
  Ideally we will have a bottomliner/liason with the ASF to ensure that all
works smoothly.
. media/advertising/outreach.
. person or group to arrange speakers.

Still need to discuss:
. financing - how do we pay for this production?
  Sheryle suggested we might approach APIRG; she will look into it.
. coordinators/bottomliners/committees (for all components).
. volunteer coordinator/recruiter.
. travel, accommodation and per diem for coordinators or other participants
while in Calgary).


MEETING ADJOURNED AT APPROX. 8 pm.


SUMMARY
RE Indymedia: please respond re availability for next meeting. We would like
to convene the first week of Dec if possible. That meeting will also deal
with ASF organizing.
We also need people willing to make short-term commitments to help produce
the Indymedia ASF project.



-- 
Edmonton Small Press Association (ESPA)
P.O. Box 75086, R.P.O.
Edmonton, AB T6E 6K1
(780) 434-9236 /  contact[at]edmontonsmallpress.org
"People Before Profits, Collaboration Before Competition"
http://www.edmontonsmallpress.org

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