15th August Matilda meeting

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Notes from 15th August meeting

Proposals for events and new ideas for space

New ideas

1. Proposal: Artist interested in murals/banner making.
   1. Thinking about Thurs evening for workshops
   2. Would also do murals in cellar.
   3. Meeting agreed said artist could go ahead.
2. Proposal: Someone made a suggestion about conducting a feasability study looking at creating a TV channel, based at Matilda, to broadcast locally.
   1. At least two other people showed interest in taking part in this.
3. Proposal: Someone wished to set up roof garden.
   1. There was a couple of people who were also up for this.
   2. We can also use 'no mans land'; a small area of unkempt land behind the buildings.
   3. Meeting agreed the project could go ahead.
   4. Though it is thought that we need to talk more about the saftey aspects of using the roof.
4. Proposal: Someone would like to use building to reherse next Sunday 21st August.
   1. Meeting found no objections.
5. Proposal: Someone wants to use a studio for artwork, for the time period of about 3 months. Said person will e-mail proposal to list. Will pay £10 per week for use of space.
6. Proposal: Someone points out that as demand is clearly emerging- now is the time for an art collective to set up meeting.
   1. Art collective members present in the meeting are identified.
7. Proposal: Somoneone voices their more general concern that collectives should begin to consolidate, with clear points of contact for each collective, and a key for each collective.
8. Proposal: Someone was present at a meeting which took place at The CommonPlace, a social centre like ours based in Leeds. They then proposed that we invite the people from The CommonPlace round for a joint social at Matilda to share ideas and experiences.
   1. Meeting agreed.
   2. Person who proposed idea will organize for end of September.

Interlude: Disscussion about decision making / veto process

• Confusion arises about making decisions on and vetoing proposals.
  • Do collectives make decisions?
  • Do meetings make decisions?
• Proposal: If people need to use space quickly, then provided it is not contentious, it should go ahead.
  • Direct response: Important for everyone to have a say, so 7 day veto IS important.
  • Anything important put on a board or taken to Monday meeting.
• Proposal: Have a series of blackboards for each collective. These would advertise what they are doing / what's happening.
• Not sure if original confusion was resolved?

Other Proposals for using space

1. No Borders collective explain u.k. wide day of action on 1st October
   1. Sheffield action to involve a 'magical mystery tour' of the centre of Sheffield; taking in the buidings and establishments that are related to asylum / immigration issues.
   2. Next meeting is at Matilda on Wed 24th August from 7pm.
   3. More Info: Visit the No Borders wiki.
2. Proposal: Benefit for No Borders day of action. To take place 9th September. Films and music
3. Proposal: Someone is working on an acoustic night at Matilda.
   1. No date set as yet
   2. Called out for anyone who knew good acoustic musicians in Sheffield to approach him.
4. Proposal: There is a national meeting, 'The Future of Benefits', about the million people who will lose benefits under new gov. proposals, on the 1st October. The proposal is to have a social afterwards at Mailda.
   1. This clashes with the No Borders day of action mentioned above. Is a joint social possible? Not sure if an answer is reached on this one.
5. Proposal x 3: Someone from Sheffield IMC has three proposals to make:
   1. Matilda to host UK indymedia weekend? See UK Indymedia working weekend proposal
   2. Fundraiser night for G8 defecit, inc. film screening, 15th October?
   3. Have weekend alternative film fest- end of November?
6. Proposal: Dissent Network may want to have their next gathering in Sheffield (TBC) at beginning of October.(about 60 people)
   1. Person who made proposal will organize
   2. Others show interest in helping.
   3. Entertainment and food.
   4. People are asked if they can accomodate visiting dissenters for a couple of nights.
7. Proposal: Fringe exhibtion to take place at Matilda for the Art 05 event which is taking place all over Sheffield.
   1. Maker of proposal comes with a detailed document laying out his intentions for the event, and Matilda's part to play in it. Has even looked in public liability issues...
   2. Meeting agrees to the event happening in principle. It is agreed he can use rooms...
   3. ...But decisions about opening times / supervision / and legal issues need further work.
   4. Proposer of idea would like others to help. To be taken on board by the 'art collective'?
   5. Part of the city-wide event is an open evening. Matilda should have a social on this day (27th October).
   6. Will put proposal up on wiki.
   7. (Please read full proposal here: Art05).

Security

• We need security working group.
• Someone is willing to bring a group together to talk about party logistics, including the security aspects of holding a party in Matilda.
  • The meeting will take place on Tuesday 23rd August at 7pm at Matilda
  • It is suggested that anyone who wishes to hold a social event at Matilda needs to be at this meeting, if possible. Meeting seems to agree to this.
• Keys:
  • Only one at present!
  • It is agreed that collectives are responsible for organizing / paying for their own keys.
  • Someone suggested we keep an account with a single, reasonably priced key-cutter so we can keep track of how many keys are cut. But this does not meet to general concenus.
  • Agreed no keys for individuals; only for collectives.
  • Log book in order to keep track of who has keys.

Rubbish and hygiene

• Someone brings to meeting concern about standard of hygiene in the building. Black bags of food stuff have been left lying around.
  • Someone suggests bins (different bins, different colours, for diferent wastes), Meeting agrees.
  • At least one person is on the quest to 'liberate' bins for our own use. Is that liberation?
  • We should take bin bags away with us at the end of a night, i.e. all take responsibility.
• Kitchen hygiene during social events is brought up.
  • Washing up has to be done same night.
  • Everyone should be responsible for washing their own plates and cutlery.
    • Someone has an elternative proposal that washing up should be on a rota system but former proposal is preferred by meeting.
• Some ground rules for recylcing and kitchen hygiene will be written up and posted on the wall.

Other things

• Someone asks if they can talk about Matilda in an interview they are doing.
  • Meeting seems to think we can start talking about what we are doing more freely now.
  • Though it is proposed that Matilda is properly 'launched' with an event.

• Discussion about exclusion process is carparked for next meeting.
• As is discussion about access (who to let in).

• F and E to facillitate the next meeting.

A very lively meeting comes to an end.