25 July Matilda meeting

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Matilda meeting 25th July 2005

The meeting started at 8:20ish and there were around 25 people present.

Some notes taken during the meeting

A group agreement for the running of the meeting was suggested by the person facilitating the meeting and then people introduced themselves.

Group agreement

The following rules for meetings were agreed:

• Using hand signals was agreed (though it wasn't clear exactly which ones were agreed... or what they all mean...)
• Don't speak over each other
• No smoking except at outside meetings
• No racist, sexist, homophobic language to be used
• Meetings to start promptly
• Only come to meetings if you are not so intoxicated (by owt) as to be able to contribute usefully

Issues from the previous meeting

• Ground rules
• Guiding principals

Working groups

• Legal and long term future group - had a meeting, have made contact with a friendly laywer and Councilor Jillian Creasy. One idea that was discussed was applying to get the building listed. The next meeting is at 6pm on Thursday.
• Cleaning, borrowing a steam cleaner and vaccum cleaner was agreed
• Cafe collective - social night on Thursday, info stall at Shefstock - help is needed for Shefstock
• Biodeisel, a list of things needed has been posted to the list. Concerns were raised about health and safety and insurance issues.
• Hacklab, should be up and running soon, the benches still to be built and computers will need moving in.
• Library, nobody was able to report progress

Events from the last week

• Consensus workshop from Seeds of Change, was very positive.
• Saturday zine reading went well

Various issues

• A free stall for free stuff was suggested
• Skip rading for useful stuff was suggested
• It was raised that the agreement at the last meeting for selling magazines at the zine reading only applied to that event.
• Hosting a skill share weekend was suggested
• A security working group for events was discussed and people will meet to discuss from 6 on Thursday

Ground rules

Some general rules for the space were agreed

• No non-consensual violence
• Events should be proposed email list / notice board and people should have the chance to veto via them
• No harrassment including including sexual and racial harrassment
• No thieving off each other or the building

There were other issues that need further discussion

• No for-profit activities
• Drink / drugs policy
• The space should be open to everyone who abides with the ground rules
• PGA Hallmarks to be discussed at the next meeting
• No fascists / neo-nazis

Getting things done

Issues to discuss in smaller groups

• Cleaning group - volunteers needed
• Weekly social / food evening
• Visiting other social centres
• Help is needed with wood work (eg building work benches etc)
• Skills audit - who can help with what?
• Permaculture
• Caretaker / security (keys etc) / room booking tasks need sharing out
• Biodeisel
• Darkroom, work is underway

Announcements

• G8 legal support - info on notice board
• DIY festival this weekend
• Filthy radical radio show is due to to continue
• Beta web page
• Prisoner support
• Massage class on Wednesday 7:30pm
• Sandwich board for announcments / news on the street

Next meeting

7:30pm Monday, 1 August, main agenda item - politics and aims etc