CALL OBJECTIVES:

  • Connect women and feminists across the occupy movement
  • Finalize a plan for coordinated actions on International Women’s Day, March 8th
  • Build teams to bottom-line different aspects of organizing for International Women’s Day

 

CALL AGENDA:

Welcome & Introduction

  • Introduce facilitation team, welcome, say how many people are on the line (5 minutes)


# of participants:
Nancy M reviewed the guidelines for all calls (at bottom of notes.)

  • Brief Procedural Comments (see Call Participation Guidelines at bottom) (2 minutes)


Rae welcomed newcomers to WO calls and reviewed the following points:
Communication using phone keypad (review numbers 1-5)

1)  Get on Stack

2)  Agreement, applause & approval for current speaker or idea (twinkles)

3)  Disagreement with current speaker’s comments

4)  Direct response to current speaker

5)  Point of process or request for tech assistance


* For future call add intro of newcomers to the community; add overview of what we’ve done so far

Messaging for International Women’s Day! (20 min)

  • Suggestion to target Bank of America


  • How do we make the connection between women and economic issues in a way that is both creative and clear to the larger public?

 

Name?: Brought up “The theme of justice, and the fact we are speaking for ourselves and our children/future children”

Ruth, Women’s Circle at Occupy LA, Global Women’s Strike: Interested in economic issues relating to women, beginning planning for Saturday, March 10 event, encircling City Hall (working title) “Women Occupy LA for the Care of People and the Planet.” The work that women do in raising families and taking care of people is work, and deserves compensation; group wants to bring together a diverse group to plan and participate.

Mimi, unaffiliated so far w/Occupy movement, Vermont: We still earn less than men – average 75%, depending on race, living wage still an issue, women are first to be fired, Bread & Roses Strike, 1912, is an inspiration and would like to tie in. Calling for Global Women’s Strike – seems like a good year to do it or at least plant the idea. We’re the ultimate disposable workers but let’s flex our economic muscles.

Nancy: These are ideas for moving forward after IWD.

  • What response would we ideally like to elicit from B of A?


Kat, Occupy Seattle, part of a group defending abortion clinics from antichoice bigots, have an event planned for March 10 at Wesley (?), want to get an international group of women speakers to bring a global voice to economic issues and materials, event with music and art as well. Chase Banks have been main focus in Seattle area.
(Several sparkles for this idea)

Laurie, Reclaiming Collective, LA: Regarding B of A actions, let’s use Superheroes – a Justice League – such as Justice Lady, Wonder Woman, be fun and upbeat, appeals to young people
(sparkles for this idea!)

Ruth:  direct response to Global Women’s Strike: please check out http://www.globalwomenstrike.net/; that name is already more and more known.

Kat: Look at how B of A’s policies affect women, especially low-income women.
(Many sparkles to this!!)

Nancy M: We need resources and info about B of A and women.

Breakout Sessions (15 minutes)
Report backs from 3 breakout groups:

OUTREACH

Mimi: 4 women in this group; March 10 event outreach and also publicizing IWD B of A actions, using facebook and twitter; Martha  of Occupy Witchita announced OW is doing an event, not sure of exact date, will target Koch Brothers, and will announce IWD at next General Assembly; Grace talked ‘ Ruth suggested posting to various websites about IWD events.

MESSAGING

My notes during breakout group:
Janet, Tamara, Rae, Sharon, Grace, Jodie, Laurie, Margaret (Radical Women), Melanie B, Pat

Tamara: Freeze all foreclosures – women need homes to raise children!

Jodie: Public Citizen and RAN have campaigns on B of A, so whatever we do they can continue to push. PC has filed in court for b of a to be broken up; talking points on WO website will be posted tomorrow. Protests in CA and NYC about 2 cents on the $ in the

Melanie: I really like targeting foreclosure practices AND the idea of Superheroes, naming them specifically to the action.

Janet: plug for using the idea/word “home” in our messaging for its strong emotional appeal; please read this article which I sent to the WO listserv: http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/02/09-5

Melanie: Mothers are really important, but we shouldn’t limit to mothers, we want to attract women who are not mothers as well, many reasons why women need homes.

Laurie: Superhero idea: lot of listservs on this, could put out to many people to create their own superheroes for actions.

Jodie: That’s what’s exciting – we can do this on IWD and it’s not just a one-off. We will all have talking points on B of A no matter what each local does, costuming, etc.

Laurie: In struggle to save South-Central Farm, people came in Superheroes costumes and it was heart-warming and gives a burst of enthusiasm and “wow” factor.

Jodie: Idea works great on Free Market idea – what are the ideas that people use around Free Market. What’s a real free market? What creates a gifting society, a feminist economy?

Closing Comments/Housekeeping (5 minutes)

  • Next Call: From here forward calls will be on Wednesdays at 5:30PT/8:30ET in the evening.  You will receive an invite to register for the next call soon!  When you sign up please use your full name or at least a last name initial as we often have two people with the same name, like Melanie, on the call.
  • Show of hands for those who wish to share their contact info for the call


This was done with assistance from Mike.

  • Nancy asked: Has everyone filled in the contact form? Will be sent out again.
  • Big thank you for the note taker & tech console – Janet and Michal!  Nancy M asked for feedback to improve call. Send to rae[at]codepink.org with subject “General Call Feedback.”
  • Please add your events to the Women Occupy calendar: www.womenoccupy.org.
  • GROUP GOOD-BYES!References / Links