LSFDec2004

Agenda ideas for the weekend

Saturday 4th December

Meet at 10 for an 11am start. Sharrow Community Hall, John Street, near the orange dot labelled 1 on this map.

Think we should have two workshops at once if numbers and interest permits, that way we can split expertise and be more productive - hopefully...if there's not enough, would suggest the day is split into workshop 1, 2 (lunch) 4, 3 and 5 (see below for 5, last minute addition, shortest workshop on time-banks).

1. Introductions

Tea and Coffee, chat. Circle introduction, what do you want out of the day, proposed format of the day.

2. Morning Workshops

• Workshop 1: Towards ESF 2006. Learning and reflections from this year's ESF. Coming up with a statement, if possible, about the ESF in relation to the extraordinary Paris meeting on 18/19 December. Not 'the LSFs' say this; but perhaps a short statement of impressions of the ESF in terms of its impact, outcomes, process, democracy and purpose. There will be a debate in Paris at the future of the ESF process. A major issue is the process of putting them on. (Stuart H)

• Workshop 2: Organising local social forums - How do people organise, open space or action group or both. How do you decide on campaigns. Charter or no charter. Voting, consensus, or go your own way. Involvement of political groups. Involvement of NGO's/charities. How do you relate local and global. Can the LSF back something, or is it purely a meeting space. How does action come out of it. What are you trying to acheive.

Present back and discussion

Lunch

Democracy cafe style, or maybe creative gubbins, games, poetry, food fights:)

Afternoon Workshops

Workshop 1(continued if needed/wanted): Towards ESF 2006

Workshop 3: Building a UK network - webs, survey, co-ordination of campaigns, communication, Building the university social forum network. Relation between Uni SF's and LSF's

Workshop 4: Building local social forums - tips, tricks and tactics. Publicity - flyposting, stencils, distribution, media work. Funding and finances. What spreads the message and what doesn't. How do you get people along, what sort of event do you organise. What about socials, creative events. Making clear what an lsf is, distiguishing the idea from being 'just another group'. What is your focus, who are you trying to involve.

3G Mast Campaigns - I'd like to include a brief summary of the issues and activity of the various campaign groups in Sheffield if this can be squeezed in. (Danny)

Present back and discussion

Summing Up

• Where/when do we meet again (poss from Workshop 3). Final impressions.

Evening

• Have a decent social on Saturday night... leftie Sundays just aren't the same without having only 2 hours sleep the night before
• Plan an action for the Sunday in the town centre or at Meadowhall, for a laff...
• Democracy Cafe?

Sunday 5th December

We have the option of an all day meeting at St Matthew's on Carver Street, or just using that space in the morning for some action planning/flyer writing/banner making - bring materials!

EU LSF statement

This was drafted by a group of European local social forum activists at the ESF:

• We are a group of participants to local social forums all over Europe, who are starting networking between local social forums in Europe.
• The purpose of the network is to get to know each other, learn from each other, build up memories, exchange experiences on operating practices and processes, and on activities taking place in local social forums,.
• During ESF2004 we met , had a seminar , had workshops and an open space.
• We intend :
  • to carry on working together in an open and horizontal way, using the following tools : eulsf@lists.riseup.net email list, and www.fsl-lsf.net site (alternative address www.localsocialforums.net) with for the moment a home page with links to local websites – All the minutes from our groups will be published there
  • to continue networking towards the next ESF 2006 in Athens, Greece, by having workshops during the European Preparatory meetings
  • to have a space for local social forums within the WSF2005 in Porto Alegre

signed : Network of people participating in local social forums in Europe