[OldNorth] Re: ONA meeting place

[Valerie Vann]

I'm in general agreement with John on two recent points:

1) The flyers on the porch. Where mine gets left, for example, is
pretty much OK in summer, but when it rains the porch gets wet half way
in or more with water blow off the edge of the roof (even tho there's a
gutter.) Most time's I remember to check for stuff early, but lot's of
people leave for work too I'd bet. I appreciate the effort of the
distributors, but I think we should think of a more formal way to do 
this.

2) The meeting place. We do have a quasi-public function related to the
City government, and I for one would like to see that relationship expand;
for example, I would like to push for a change in building regulations 
requiring not just notice to neighborning properties within 300 yards, but
to the relevant Neighborhood Association if there is one, and a requirement
on larger projects that the developer or property owner make a presentation
to the Association at some early point in the process, to allow for 
questions and head off problems sooner rather than later.

I see some possibilities here:

First, I have urged a few times that we regularly get our meeting 
notices in the COOP newspaper (if a twice monthly knitting circle can
do, why haven't we? it's free). There are other community BBs, even on
radio: the PRS and KDVS carry community event announcements. I don't 
use TV, but doesn't the Cable "local" channel do announcements?

2. Can't the use of the Museum be semi-permanently reserved? perhaps 
with Coop as a backup? Another possibility that could be looked into
perhaps with a small fee is the Catholic Student Community facilities
at 5th & C, or the Community Church (across from the museum.) But as the
only public facility "in" or close to our neighborhoos (even the
city council chamber is getting a bit "out") 

3. If distribution by mail of notices would be too expensive, we could
raise the dues. $5 is not a big deal for most people. I belong to other
non-profits (including the COOP) who have student rates, waivers in case
of hardship, and even "scholarship" funds. Also, soom of these
allow you to specify no paper notices, email only, or both. We can't go
exclusively email, but we could make it a option to free up funds to 
distribute literture more formally and effectively. 

4. Our standing as a quasi-official body speaking for the neighborhood is
the best weapon we've got. The position as the first grassroots "rung" on
the democratic process ladder is invaluable. 

If it takes paying rent to permanently reserve
a public meeting place, we should give it priority. Again, raise the dues
if necessary. Also solicit donations, though we'd have to be careful about
that to avoid conflicts of interest.

Valerie Vann

John Lofland wrote:
> 
> Robin,
> 
> You are correct to imply that governmental groups can have two kinds
> of meetings, ones in which official decisions are made and ones in
> which there is only social mingling.
> 
> The former should be in public places and the latter can be anywhere.
> 
> In the case at hand, there is to be a meeting in November at which
> decisions are made and held in a home.
> 
> And, the ONA will have a social mingling event in homes in December
> at which no official decisions will be made. That is fine and good.
> And, such events could be held many times a year for that matter.
> 
> The central issue here is legitimacy. Can a group claim to speak for
> a geographical area If it does not operate in a way that is as open
> as possible to everyone in that area?
> 
> Official meetings in homes send a message of special insider-ism that
> I think the ONA wants to avoid.
> 
> It is exactly the kind of practice our detractors would point to
> before the City Council at some inopportune time to question our
> authenticity in claiming to represent the area. ("They are just a
> bunch of buddies who met among themselves in their homes. They don't
> represent us.")
> 
> I am not suggesting the meeting this Thursday should not go forth.
> The die is cast. But, I think we should not make official decisions
> in such a location in the future.
> 
> If needed, we can arrange a backup room with the Coop, which makes
> its conference room available to community groups, sometimes with a
> fee, sometimes not. (At the start and before Anne Brunnette said we
> could have the Museum free, I had talked with the Coop's Doug Walters
> about holding ONA meetings in the Coop conference room and that
> seemed fine.)
> 
> Remember, ordinary groups pay $41 an hour to use the Museum. The fact
> that we get it free tells us that we are defined as a special kind of
> unit of the Davis City government. That special status comes at a
> price. One price is truly public meetings. (We could of course elect
> to withdraw from that special relation with the City.)
> 
> John
> 
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