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News :: Miscellaneous |
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March Membership Meeting Notes |
Current rating: 0 |
by Ellen Knutson
(No verified email address) |
02 Apr 2002
Modified: 03 Apr 2002 |
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Notes to the March Membership Meeting |
IMC General Membership Meeting
March 30, 2002 3pm
Working Group Reports:
--Finance (Sascha Meinrath): We are now officially fiscal sponsors of the global IMC network. That means that all moneys (grants…) for the global network come through the Urbana-Champaign IMC due to our being the only official 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Sascha passed out copies of the IMC budget including income and outlays. We have been able to stay afloat financially, but individual funders are needed in order to keep doing what we've been doing. Questions, comments, volunteers to help out with finances should contact Sascha at finance (at) ucimc.org. Finance group meets 1st and 3rd Wednesdays at 7:30pm.
--Technology (Paul Riismandel): The tech group has been able to keep the U-C IMC web site (http://ucimc.org) up and running, a difficult task due to the sometimes unstable software that is currently being used. The group is also in charge of network administration for the space and upkeep of the public computers and workstations used for production of media. Along with computers, video and audio infrastructure is designed and kept up by the tech. Group. The group has been successful in their undertakings but would always like new members. You don't need to be a geek to be in the tech. Group. Questions, concerns, ideas? Contact the tech group at imc-tech (at) ucimc.org. Tech group meets Wednesdays at 6pm.
--Print group (Brent McDonald): 8 issues of the public i, the newspaper of the U-C IMC, have been produced to date. 5000 papers per issue are produced and delivered around the community at a cost of about $260/issue in printing costs and much time and energy of volunteers. They have started to list sustaining contributers (organizations or individuals that have given $240/year).The public i is also online at http://publici.ucimc.org/. There has been steadily growing positive response from the community. The largest concerns for the group revolve around distribution and volunteer writers. Contact the group at imc-print (at) ucimc.org to get involved. The print group meets Sundays at 3pm.
--Library group (James Jacobs): The library's collection has doubled over the last 6 months and continues to grow. The number of journal subscriptions has remained constant at about 25. The library's web site has grown to include research guides in various subjects, virtual access to the collection and media archive, and links to government information and statistics. The media archive is a work in progress. Another project in the works is a community online catalog where the library/reading room collections of community organizations can be held within one database. There are two organizations so far interested in the project (IMC and Illinois Student Environmental Network). A software package has been downloaded but we are waiting for a newer iteration that is more stable. Donations of books, video, audio, magazine subscriptions are needed and welcome. Volunteers are also needed to help with data entry into the media archive database. Meetings are every 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 8pm. We start with a "shhhhhhh" but similarities to traditional librarian stereotypes end there! Contact us at imc-librarians (at) ucimc.org.
--Outreach (Brian Hagy): Outreach handles membership and outreach to community organizations. They also have responsibility for the fun and successful Friday night open mic cabaret (soon to be moved to Thursday nights). This group needs more volunteers because the members of the group are also involved in other working groups and projects. Contact them at imc-outreach (at) ucimc.org. Outreach meets 1st and 3rd Wednesdays at 8pm.
--Space (Mike Lehman): There have been lots of improvements in the IMC space over the last 6 months: new library shelves built, production room improvements including fan and minidisk shelves, and the conversion of the back space from a warehouse into a large performance space. A continuing issue for space is the recruitment of space staffing volunteers. The IMC could expand hours of operation if more people would be willing to volunteer. A big project on the horizon for space (and the IMC as a whole) is a capital drive to raise funds for the purchase of the entire building. This would be feasible because the rent earned from the upstairs apartments would essentially cover costs of the building. A large down-payment will be needed though. Stay tuned. Questions, comments, concerns, volunteer for staffing? Contact imc-space (at) ucimc.org. Space group meets 1st and 3rd Mondays at 6:30pm.
--Radio News (Avram): The news group focuses primarily on radio news. The group heads up a weekly show on WEFT (5:30pm on Mondays) as well as several other IMCstas having shows or spots. In addition, pieces are produced for the nationally syndicated show, "Free Speech Radio News". Avram sets aside Mondays from 6 - 8 PM as audio training sessions. More reporters and volunteers are needed to continue the good work. Contact imc-newsroom (at) ucimc.org. Radio News meets Sundays at 1:15pm.
--Shows (Sascha Meinrath): The number of shows booked at the IMC has increased with the opening of the 1200 sq.' performance space (the IMC Ballroom!). These shows have proven to be popular with the community and an important resource for generating funds. Volunteers are needed for flyering, staffing and sound engineering, all of which are easily picked up with a minimum of training. Contact space (at) ucimc.org. Shows meets Wednesdays at 9pm.
Angels of Public Interest
Amy Aidman gave a report on the recent protests of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in Washington.
Structure discussion:
After what turned out to be a much longer process than anticipated, (thanks to all who stayed), a revised structure document was created. The revised document showing all the changes is posted at the IMC.
The following concerns were raised at the General Membership Meeting about structure and culture of the U-C IMC. These concerns will be addressed by a meeting called by Ellen and Becca within a month from the membership meeting.
--Membership a necessity for Working Group participation? [Addressed in revised structure document]
--Space for posting IMC minutes, info
--Conflict resolution system
--Issue with irresolvable clock clause [Addressed in revised structure document]
--Definition: what is work of IMC? --Incorporating acknowledgement of appreciation
--Easy way for structural issues to be brought up
--Transparency for suggestions
--Public comment periods during meeting
--Suggestion boxes for Working Groups
--Explicit understanding that spokes are for one working group only [Addressed in revised structure document]
--Membership process is transparent
--Outreach primary goal for next 6 months
--Regular updates on outreach by working groups
--IMC Handbook
--IMC need energy and focus on training as a part of outreach
--Greater signage
--Transparency on production room, keys (Who gets them and why and how)
--Invitations to specific projects
--Core people should take a sabbaticals (Get the hell out of the IMC)
--Presentations into African-American community (Douglas Center, Boys and Girls Club)
--Culture what can we do??
Respectfully submitted
James Jacobs and Ellen Knutson
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Sabbaticals? |
by *****
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
03 Apr 2002
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??--Core people should take sabbaticals (Get the hell out of the IMC) ??
Please O please let this include the small-minded, point-obscuring, delusion-of-superior-intellect-plagued IMC'o'log whose initials occur at 13th and 12th places in the english alphabet. |
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A Sure Way to Avoid Criticism |
by ML
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
03 Apr 2002
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The surest way to avoid criticism is to do nothing.
That would seem to go in exactly the opposite direction of what the Indymedia movement is all about.
Involvement
Concern
Expressing One's Opinion
I'll leave it up to our readers to decide who's right in this discussion. |
