[imc-scotland-discussion] From ACE to Indymedia Scotland

[mike92 at riseup.net]

Dear all

please find below a message from ACE to Indymedia Scotland, as an 
important part of the letter is about a meeting due to take place on 28 
Sept, before our next meeting, I am circulating this to the list, hope 
thats ok with everyone

all the best embra mike

------------------------------------------------

from Autonomous Centre of Edinburgh, 17 West Montgomery Place, EH7 5HA

ace at autonomous.org.uk 0131 557 6242

September 2008

Dear Indymedia Scotland

We are writing to you,  as we are to all the groups who meet at ACE and 
use ACE facilities, because there are
two really important things we would like to bring to your attention:

*1. INVOLVEMENT OF GROUPS IN ACE *

We would like the groups associated with ACE to get more involved with 
the decision-making and running of ACE -- to this end we would like to 
invite you to send a delegate to our monthly organising meetings, and to 
participate in our special meeting on Sunday 28 September.


*2. FUNDING OF ACE *

Unless ACE receives more income over the next few months, we will run 
out of money and be unable to continue -- thus we need the Groups who 
regularly use our facilities and who have sufficient funds to give a 
regular donation of at least £10 to £15 per month. No Group will be 
stopped using ACE because they cannot afford this -- but unless our 
income increases greatly ACE will not exist.


*1. INVOLVEMENT OF GROUPS IN ACE *

We do not want ACE to be seen just as a building run by a small 
collective. Rather our vision is that ACE is an important resource to be 
used by a network of autonomous groups and individuals in struggles 
against oppression, patriarchy and capitalism. Thus we wish such groups 
-- like your group -- to be actively involved in ACE, and input into the 
direction it is going.

We therefore invite you to send at least one delegate from your group to 
our meetings, 7.30pm the first Wednesday of each month. And it would be 
great if some of you could make it to the ACE special "Way Forward" 
meeting, on Sunday 28 September, starting from 12.30 on and running 
through the afternoon.


*2. FUNDING OF ACE *

If your group has a bank account and could take out a standing order to 
ACE, this would be a great help as it gives us regular income we can 
reply on. (one or two groups do this already). Standing order forms are 
available in ACE.

As we stress, no group or individual will be stopped using ACE because 
of lack of funds, but we would like to suggest the following guidelines 
for contributions that your group could make:

*Receiving mail at ACE *
Suggested £2 - £3 per month (a PO Box at the post office is approx £4.50 
/ £5 per month)

*Meetings,* suggest around 5 - 10 quid per meeting, about a fiver if 
your group is v small and has no funds, while ten quid would be great, 
bearing in mind it is probably not possible to hire a room anywhere else 
for less than £10. If you have a bumper turn-out of 20 or so folk, 
please put the hat round and try and make £15 or so, that will help 
offset the meetings where 3 people turn up and we get 50p and a button!

*Storage* of group belongings in ACE, suggest around £2 per month

*Sale of group merchandise/ publications* in ACE: we suggest between 10% 
and 20% of sales, or a regular monthly donation approximately equivalent

If your group has been using ACE for a while, and hasn't given much to 
date, perhaps you could consider making a one-off donation in addition 
to a regular contribution in the future? (cheques are made out to 
AUTONOMOUS CENTRE OF EDINBURGH, cash accepted too!)

If your group has no or little funds, could we suggest a Collection at 
your meetings could be a way to raise a contribution.

On the other hand, in the unlikely event your group has a decent amount 
of funds, we would ask you to consider if you can make an extra 
contribution towards ACE's expenses, a bit more than the guidelines, 
either as a one-off donation, or as an ongoing contribution - we believe 
the existence of ACE assists all the groups associated with the project, 
and if we have to close down then we will all suffer.

Some other ways your group could contribute to help keep ACE going!

- Give ace half the proceedings of a fundraising event you organise 
(Edinburgh Chiapas Solidarity Group did that earlier this year)

-Jointly organise a joint fundraising event with ace, feel free to 
approach us with an idea

- Work with us for the Workers Beer Company -- by working for six hours 
or so at a festival ACE gets £6 per hour - £13 per hour at Hogmanay! - 
and you get into the festival free.

- Do your photocopying at ACE - only 4p for A4 - copies over 100 at 3p. 
A3 a bargain 6p per sheet.

- Let your group members know of our situation, perhaps some might like 
donate to ACE as individuals

- If you don't do so already, sell group publications/ merchandise 
through the ACE info shop - we ask if you can give 10 - 20% of the sales 
as a donation to ACE (most shops take 33%, so this is a pretty good deal)

looking forward to hearing from you

with best wishes ACE

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