Describe [Minutes.20040121] here. Hello to BCers old and new. The first meeting of the semester commenced at 8:30pm at Cloyne Court. The energy was high, the lights were low, and Cloyne was....Cloyne. The primary purpose of the meeting was to begin planning for this semester's DIYfest/skill share.

Members in attendance included (sorry if i don't spell your name correctly): John, Andy, Anders, Scott, Charlie, Jonathan, Rosie, Ian, Chelsea, Lindsay, Hunter, Spoon, Chris, and Maive Jonathan facilitated. Lindsay took minutes. There was an agenda including: venue, date, delegation of tasks, overall structure. In the minutes, I'm trying to capture the overall jist of the discussion and the decisions that were made.

Summary of Decisions: Tentative location and date for DIYfest (dependent on availability) 3/12-14 at People's Park. Chris is venue contact. Next meeting 1/29 8:30pm, Kingman.

I. We began with brief introductions and John gave an overview of past DIYfests: We have organized three fests in the past. They were held at CZ, Cloyne and People's Park. We invited different bay area collectives and cooperatives and activist organizations such as Food Not Bombs, the Longhaul, Gilman, Midnight Special, DASW to set up tables and give workshops. There have also been workshops on biodiesel, making your own feminine hygene products and alternative currency. We have organized panel discussions and had bands play.

II. Overall Structure: Jonathan: We should think about how we spend our energy. Do we want to concentrate on inviting lots of outside groups to table/put on workshops or creating an atmosphere in which participants spontaneously share skills? Lindsay: We can do both things. We don't have to limit ourselves to concentrating on either one or the other. Rosie: Maybe we could have a sign up sheet for leading spontaneous workshops. Spoon: We should collect ideas overtime throughout the co-ops. Have people email a point person with an idea of something they could teach, or something they would like to learn. Rosie: We could have a two day fest. Jonathan: When we invite collectives, we have a responsibility to ensure that people attend their workshop. Chris: In the past, there has been too much going on at once. We should separate events like food, music, workshops--have them at different times.

• Let's set a date so we can network.

Spoon: We should showcase the bands--no workshops at same time.

III. Date: Before or after spring Break? Before Spring Break--- pro: Jonathan: DIYfests create networking opportunities. We will have more time to utilize both the contacts that we make and energy that we create if we have the fest sooner. Chris: I have a lot more time to commit now than I will later. We should use all the energy that we have here now. Maive: No matter what, we will use all the time that we have. con: Spoon: Weather? Is March too early? Scott: What about 4/25? John: Is there enough time to organize? Chris: Will people be too busy with midterms? strawpoll--majority for before spring break. Proposal: Weekend March 12-14 (preferably 3/13). Consensus for March 13.

IV. Venue: People's Park? pro: Charlie: More community members Lindsay: Good use of public space con: Charlie: Less co-opers John and Lindsay: Maybe that was the fault of too little advertising and the last minute venue and date change in the fall. Anders: Is there some place better? What about blocking off a street? Charlie: We have to deal with bureaucracy and permits and fees. People's Park was easier in the fall in this respect. Maybe we should have a back up venue--Rochdale courtyard? Proposal: Date, location in order of preference: People's Park 3/13, PP 3/14, PP 3/12 (fri afternoon), Rochdale 3/13, Rochdale 3/14. Consensus reached. Chris volunteered as venue committee. She will get in touch with People's park peeps.

V. More Structure Stuff/Brainstorm Scott: We could have bands play Fri and get people excited about the next day's events. A preview. Spoon: Like "DIY Foreplay" Jonathan: Let's go around and just give ideas of what or who we want at the fest. Spoon: pirate radio for broadcasting bands/some workshops. I can contact Liberation radio, Freak radio Santa Cruz. Needle exchange. (De)programming Collective in Santa Cruz. more groups from around the bay area. Hunter: let's advertise throughout the bay. Santa Cruz kids would be interested Chris: I can contact Beehive collective, indymedia. DASW, revolutionary knitters, I can do weaving, high school reachout. We can also form a directory and print a schedule. Group: We can have groups bring a page of info and form a DIYfest zine on the spot. Ian: more day-to-day stuff. Dumpster dive, scamming copies. Jonathan: notebook making, environmental justice groups, making camp stoves Rosie: plumbing, electrical info. Feral Library Andy: invite USCA Central Maintenence. Berkeley Worms can give out compost and do a workshop. I can talk to some biodiesel folks. Berkeley Free Clinic. Try to bring in older community members. Storytelling. Scott: I know some bands and one-man band performers. Anders: Homes Not Jails. Lindsay: I can contact Cooperative Roots kids, People's Grocery. Let's get Longhaul, Slingshot, FNB, cellspace, rainbow grocery, other groups we've had in the past. John: banner drops, other culture jamming groups Charlie: more acoustic musicians. we can recruit at local open mics.

VI. The Future Chris will email when we know about People's Park. Everyone decided to start preliminary contacts. Andy: if you decide to contact a group, you are responsible for remaining in contact or making sure another member has the info. we should have follow through John: when we contact groups, we should have an idea of what we want them to do. Chris: Let's meet next week at the same time. Charlie volunteered to make the flyer. There was also talk of creating a flyer to solicit workshops. Another oganizational meeting was set for Wednesday, Jan 29 at Kingman 8:30pm.

VII. Other BC stuff Jonathan: I'll bring Disorientation Zine for distro next week. Last meeting we decided to ask houses for $10 in copies. We should put them in co-op bathrooms. Chris: Let's have a general membership meeting to discuss Copy Cafe, discussion groups, other past BC stuff. We decided to talk about that more at next week's meeting.

• Meeting ended with a "DIY" cheer and that was that.