Points of Consensus

Points of consensus agreed upon by the General Assembly

Occupy Richmond will add to this list as GA comes to further consensus.

Process

  • We make decisions in General Assembly by modified consensus (90%)
  • We use hand gestures to facilitate communication – see glossary
  • We use the people’s mic to ensure everyone is heard
  • We use a stack to speak
  • We limit stack to 5 people at a time
  • We are respectful of all involved, the movement and the process
  • The goal is to run consensus based meetings as efficiently as possible so we can get things done
  • We table items that don’t have clear consensus for discussion at end of G.A., when all other agenda points have been covered
  • We are all together.  We seek to keep discussion positive within the group.
  • Facilitators ONLY facilitate and must refrain from expressing personal viewpoints during G.A..
  • Facilitators rotate every G.A..
  • G.A. uses multiple facilitators
    • One to keep the process and discussion moving
    • A second keeping Stack – calling on members of the assembly to speak
    • A third keeping open eyes for people who might be missed + temp check of group
    • Scribe
  • We agree that no one interrupts the speaker – the exception being a facilitator to keep the process moving
  • We honor the stack, and listen to each other
    • To limit the repetition of ideas, limit stack to 5 people at a time
    • After two stacks of 5 people, facilitator asks assembly for consensus on whether  to table discussion or continue
    • If someone speaks our viewpoint in stack before us, we leave the stack
    • We implement the progressive stack process, ensuring that the 5-person stack has a decent representation of the group as a whole, including marginalized persons.
  • G.A. sets the date and agenda for all G.A. meetings
    • Facilitation committee can propose an agenda in the case of unexpected circumstances such as weather, movement of the occupation, etc.
  • After agenda items, G.A. has a general discussion period (“soap box”) with a time limit of 5 minutes per speaker.  No decisions will be made during this time.

Identity

  • We are the 99%
  • This movement is about “Us,” not “I”
  • We will keep sober space, in occupation

Action

  • We will meet at 4pm on 10/15 to decide on a location for the occupation
  • Formation of temporary Finance committee, to be presented at next large GA
  • The Occupation will take place at Kanawa Plaza, but may be moved
  • We agree that smoking take place outside the group at General Assembly, and that smoking, in general, be respectful of all who Occupy.
  • 10/16/11: We agree that if people want to camp in the park, they be allowed to do so without any consequence or fear of persecution, or factionalization, and that people who want to stay on the sidewalk can do that too.
  • 10/22/11:  Proposal that we voluntarily remove the chalk graffiti and construct our own wall/tarps/canvas to place our message upon.
  • 10/25/11: Isaac proposes the following three points be put on an upcoming flyer: “1.Corporate influence has corrupted our government through Lobbyism and financial contributions; 2.The ability of our government to work for the best interest of the people is failing; 3. Occupy Richmond is a social justice movement dedicated to equal opportunity for all.

Resolutions Passed by General Assembly

  • 10/16/11: We’ll form a finance working group that will present guidelines for its own procedures to the GA.
  • 10/18/11: The general Assembly of Occupy Richmond grants exclusive and explicit permission to the media work group to publicly release official
    statements regarding the Occupy Richmond movement. These statements are
    to be informational only, based upon decisions made in General Assembly
    through modified consensus. All statements must also be released
    simultaneously or previously through a currently established channels of
    communication available within the Occupy Richmond movement.
  • 10/18/11 Mark Carter: “My proposal is: I understand that we are in the process of obtaining a permit. Even though we’ve had certain liberties, as tents are allowed, they are still requiring us to petition City Council for a permit. This is critical, because they could say that we did not try to work with them through the proper channels, and we are. One thing I do now understand: Someone has to sign that permit, stating they are responsible, not liable, for any accidents, good or bad, that the city has to address. I propose I will sign the permit.”
  • 10/18/11: Proposal that we have multiple rotating, credible, competent Police Liaisons on a Liaison committee that will keep notes and records at all times of every police interaction.  This working group will form and come back to future GA with proposals.
  • 10/19/11: Proposal that we have a 3-person liaison committee, nominated and approved by the group, to talk to Richmond City Council.
  • 10/19/11: Proposal that daytime GA focus on issues w/r/t living here (camp-based needs), and evening GAs focus on larger issues. This is as a guideline, not a rule
  • 10/20/11: Three representatives to form first City Council Liaison Committee were chosen.
  • 10/22/11: Proposal for special GA times on Sunday 10/23/11.  For the purpose of the Education Working Group’s Education Forum, we will have 3 GA’s – 9a.m. to discuss Sunday’s events, 11a.m. to welcome new people, and a closing GA at 8p.m. with Sur facilitating. None of them will be slow-moving or contentious, but simply to demonstrate the process to our new people for this special event day.
  • 1/8/12: Proposal to hold General Assembly only on Thursday and Sunday passed.
    Proposal to hold a Special Assembly for educational and soap box purposes passed. Locations will vary, it will be run by the Education Working Group and will be a “special” non-decision making assembly. Proposal to have an on-going presence at the Virginia General Assembly passed as well. No permits will be sought. Actions will occur between 11 am and 3 pm. All activities and demonstrations are open to all members. Potentially a high-risk of police intervention when participating in some of these actions due to a lack of permit.