HLQ

Twenty Five Years of Service
A Not-For-Profit; All Volunteer Educational Organization
HLQ/Holistic Living Quest

Ideas and Operational Suggestions
Global Occupation Movement

Suggested Overview Introduction Statement
Group Participation Guidelines - Working Group Guidelines
Operations Groups (OGs)
Encampment Groups (EG) - Communication Groups (CGs)
Marginalized Groups (MG) - Think Tank Groups (TGs)
General Assemblies (RGA & SGA) and Administrative Council (A/C)
Possible Specific Legislative Demands - Possible General Legislative Demands
Possible Participation of the Wealthy

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Suggested Overview Introduction Declaration: (11 Short Statements)
Statement 1, Tone: Connective Tone: Listen to Us:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all human beings are equal and have certain inalienable rights, and among these rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of joy, love, and wisdom.

Statements 2 & 3; Tone: Who we are: Do not be afraid of us:
We, the occupants of (your city) and the surrounding communities, are a non-violent, de-centralized, diverse movement.
We have assembled to speak freely and engage in meaningful dialogue and to experience direct, inclusive, and participatory democracy. We are engaging an inclusive dialogue regarding the challenges we face with the intent to provide solutions.

Statements 4 & 5; Tone: What we are against: Some specifics:
We are united to take a stand and to act in opposition to political, economic, and social injustices.
These injustices include corporate money in politics, the favoritism to the few, the lack of justice regarding the Wall Street meltdown criminals, and the lack of regulations that will curb the excesses of our economic and financial system.

Statements 6, 7 & 8; Tone: Issues we are against and what we value:
We are working against Inequality and Discrimination in all forms, and Military Excesses.
We are taking a positive stand related to economic and financial justice, the Social Safety Net, Health Care for All, employment, education, a living wage, and an ecologically secure environment.
We value dialogue related to encouraging self-reliance, wellness and spirituality,community service and service to our country, the maintenance and improvement of infrastructure, and our relationship to all living species.

Statement 9; Tone: We are serious, take us serious:
When a government fails to protect the majority and serves the economic, political and legal interests of the few. We the People have the right, duty, and responsibility to petition the government through peaceful protest and dialogue or We the People have the right, duty and responsibility to replace the government and replace the institutions that do not serve the People.

Statement 10: Tone: This movement is unified and global:
In taking this stand, we join in the history of activism throughout the world and we stand in solidarity with the global occupation movements and the quest for freedom, liberty and justice for all.

Statement 11: Tone: Invitation:
We are your next-door-neighbors, your friends, your relatives: We are the 99%. Join us today.

Group Participation
Group membership is open and accessible for persons willing to join; and a member can only ne excluded for repeatedly disrupting the group process or behaving in such a way that violates the principle of respect, honoring of differences and participation in open and peaceful dialogue.

Suggested Working Group Operational Guidelines
o Meetings start on time
o Meeting notice: posted by cord in at or at least 5 days in advance
o Agenda; coordinator queries the members for agenda items; then post the proposed agenda 3 days before the meeting; the agenda is approved by the members at the meeting.
o A certain percentage of members is required to make decision. If a quorum is not present dialogue can occur with no decisions.
o Working Group coordinator assigns the following duties for each meeting:
     o Facilitator: Responsible for information and decision making process
     o Stack monitor: Keeps track of order of person making statements
     o Vibes watcher: supports open honest dialogue, honoring of difference       and respectful language
     o Opening Statement Person provides opening statement to center       and focus the group
o Comments limited to 1-2 minutes
o Brief introductions and welcome to new members
o Contact information available for all members
o Email communication should be respectful.
o Some distinction between active members of the WG and visitors.

Operations Groups (OGs)
Groups focused on the financial and administrative operations of an Occupation Movement. Examples of OGs are:
o Urban Planning
o Facilitation
o Financial and Fundraising
o Hospitality
o Legal

Encampment Groups (EG)
Groups focused on the operation of residential sites and controlled meeting space. Subgroup might include:
o Food
o Shelter
o Night Watch
o Medical
o Library and information
o Donations and Fund-raising

Communication Groups (CGs)
Groups focused on community actions and activities, community events and media and public relations. Examples of CGs are:
o Social Media
o Art and Performance
o Communication between Occupy Camps
o Actions: Protest, Demands, Occupations
o Outreach: Speakers Bureau
o Education and Dialogue
o Special Events
o Kindred Group Dialogue
o Community Service
o Service to Country

Marginalized Groups (MG)
These groups are self-determined by people that share a common experience of being or perceived that they are systemically marginalized by society at large? Selected marginalized group may include the following:
o Race
o Sexual preference
o Belief System
o Gender identity
o Age
o Education
o Ethnicity
o Criminal history
o Economic status

Think Tank Groups (TGs)
These groups have a specific dialogue theme that might empower the Occupation Movement and be a catalyst for transformation change in persons, neighborhoods, nation and our planets. Examples might include:
o Living light on the earth
o Development a personal wellness toolkit
o Curriculum Development
o Development of position papers
o Implementation strategies
o Project development skills
o Religion and Spirituality
o Gardening skills
o Communication skills
o Facilitation and Conflict resolution skills
o Brainstorming ideas

Routine General Assembly (RGA)
Routine General Assembly serves as regular scheduled gathering to welcome new folks, to discuss and make discedion regarding the general operations of the occupation movement. Selected agenda items might include:
o Announcement
o Operational concerns and clarification
o Brainstorming needs and visions
o Discussion and dialogue on proposal ideas
o Networking and sharing

Administrative Council (A/C)
o Proposals which require complex analysis are usually best developed in small groups
o The Administrative Council reviews, discusses and simplifies proposals before they are presented to the General Assembly
o The Administrative Council membership could be made up of the following:
    o One members from each active Operations Group (OGs)
    o Three members of the Encampment Groups (EG)
    o Two members of the Communication Groups (CG)
    o Two members of the Marginalized Groups (MG)
    o One member of the Think Tank Groups (TG)
    o Selected administrative and operation personnel

Special General Assembly (SGA)
The SGA has the power to review all proposals and make all decisions related to the operation of the occupation movement. Selected agenda items might include:
o Announcement
o Proposals presented by the Administrative Council
o Networking and sharing

Possible Specific Legislative Demands
o Corporate Money out of Politics
o Persecute the wall street criminals
o Curb speculation: Taxes and Regulation
o Single Payer, universal Health insurance
o Public financing to support electoral politics
o Undo "Citizens United “decision
o No special perks for legislators
o Gerrymandering: Equitable redistricting
o Tendency toward flat tax
o Reduce national debt; Focus on efficiency
o Streamline entrenched bureaucracy
o Worker/Management representation of Corporate Board

Possible General Legislative Demands
o Promote forums for national conversation
o System of increased direct democracy
o Investigate methods to redistribute concentration of wealth
o System of monetary policy dialogue
o Review Military Spending
o Job creation, job sharing
o Nepotism and privilege dynamics
o Revisit statement on human rights
o Priority for global environment safeguards
o Review of our electoral system
o Legislation clarifying corporation are not persons

Possible Participation of the Wealthy
A: Overview Information
o World's richest 1% own 40% of all wealth per United Nations Report
o According to recent US Census Bureau data, the top 10 per cent in America holds around 56 per cent of the overall wealth.
o The Pew Research Centre found that two-thirds of the US public now believe there is strong conflict between the haves and the have-nots, up almost a fifth on two years ago
o A government of the people, by the people and for the people is becoming a government of the wealthy, by the wealthy and for the wealthy
B: What is Considered Wealthy
o When family income exceeds $75,000 US Dollars the family might increase involvement in the following participation options:
o When family wealth (excluding personal real estate) exceeds $200,000 US Dollars the family might increase involvement in the following participation options
o When family value of personal real estate exceeds $350,000 US Dollars the family might increase involvement in the following participation options
o Obviously as family wealth increases participation might increase in greater proportion
C: Participation Options for the Wealthy
o Buy US Government Bonds and help reduce our national debt
o Support a tax system that encourages the growth of the middle class and the possibility of upward mobility of marginalized communities
o Donations: Seek out progressive, efficient non-profit organizations and support these organizations financially
o Sharing; some possible options:
    o Seek out a street person and offer to take them out to lunch
    o Seek out a low paid hard working person and offer them a financial         gift.
    o Seek out a person you know is in need and offer them a financial gift.
    o Seek out a person you know and help them start a business.
o Personal Involvement: Seek out progressive, efficient non-profit and/or small for-profit businesses and be involved in administration or operational activities and also be involved financially

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