[New-imc] Online form: Proposed new IMC! (Oshkosh Independent Media Center)

[boilingpoint at riseup.net]

Submitted by: Mateo <boilingpoint at riseup.net> on Saturday, April 5th, 2008 @ 6:07:22 pm (-0700)

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Online Form Fields
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proposed_imc_name:
Oshkosh Independent Media Center

proposed_imc_url:
oshkoshimc.org

current_url:


city:
Oshkosh

state:
Wisconsin

country:
U.S.A.

contact_name:
Mateo

contact_email:
boilingpoint at riseup.net

contact_phone:


tech_name:
Kato

tech_email:
puma at riseup.net

tech_phone:


focus:
regional_focus

critical_dates:


supporting_groups:
The Oshkosh IMC will have a wide array of supporters to help facilitate its process. The majority of these individuals will be members of the Earth Diver Collective. The Earth Diver Collective is a collectively run consensus based group of folks committed to creating change on many different fronts. The EDC has somewhere around twelve to fifteen deeply dedicated members. A good portion of these members have committed themselves to the creation and facilitation of the Oshkosh Independent Media Center. Also there is the University of Oshkosh here in Oshkosh, WI. With these resources and the genuine urge to provide honest regional (and global) information, we feel we can properly run an IMC in Oshkosh, WI. 

introductory_statement:
In our mechanized world, where mainstream news and information is created, facilitated, and distributed by the corporate elite; defiance is a must. We must as revolutionaries and activists, in our reconfiguration of society and culture, not leave any stone unturn. With this said, we are obligated to create new vehicles of communication and conveyance for those who have been left no voice, as well as those who may have no other avenue to use their silenced voices. This is why we wish to create an IMC in Oshkosh. In doing so, we also hope to bring more of our community together on common ground to learn, understand, and fight for change in our local community. By introducing an Independent Media Center to Oshkosh, we hope to create, facilitate, and distribute information and news that has not been homogenized like our corporate counterparts.

resources:
The Oshkosh IMC will have access to four computers (three being laptops), four cameras (one video recorder), and one microphone. Our main computer can run at 10/100mbit/s. The members who are organizing the Oshkosh IMC have a variety of organizing skills to bring to the table. For example, some of our members have worked as editors and writers for school newspapers. Others have a good understanding of computer programming. Still more have a few years of campus organization under their belts. Among the experienced, we have a lot of newer members who are ready and willing to act and learn. 

outreach:
We have held two meetings specifically in regards to the creation of an Independent Media Center in Oshkosh, WI. At both of the meetings there were somewhere around twenty eager and willing individuals. As this process continues, so does our continual effort of spreading the word about the Oshkosh IMC. In doing so, we are focusing on the University and more impoverished parts of town. Regardless of our methods of outreaching, we plan on maintaining an open and transparent process. This will allow those willing to voice their concerns and/or comments the ability to do so.

identity_makeup:
Currently our collective has a diverse group of individuals that represent a multitude of different sexual orientations as well as political, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds. By maintaining an open platform of communication and participation we hope to expand our collectives makeup.

steps_represent_diversity:
The demographic makeup of the city of Oshkosh is, overall, not very diverse; therefore we will hopefully draw out those who are in search of an organization such as this. Currently, we are directly trying to gain the solidarity of the local community through grass roots organizing and the creation of the IMC. We will also continue to reach out to those who have been left voiceless. The university will also be a good resource for gaining members. 

steps_involve_new_workfields:
This is important question and we are not taking this issue lightly. Our collective plans on organizing workshops covering particular functions of the IMC to better educate each of our members. We have also discussed the idea of assuring that the roles within the group are on a constant rotation so that all involved will gain experience and be able to learn, grow, and move on to teaching others. Rotating roles will also hopefully eliminate the occurrence of one gender dominating over another. Sexism is not something that will be in any way tolerated or ignored. We are taking whatever steps necessary so that we may create a group that does not succumb to any sort of hierarchal structure. Our goal is to create, facilitate, and distribute news and information in direct opposition to the current patriarchal hierarchal corporate media conglomerates. 

username:
Mateo