Forum Post: Proposal to Create a Weekly Newsletter

--This is a proposal I have for the General Assembly-- -rough draft-

As our occupation grows from a small collective of activists and the disenfranchised into what can be perceived as the first actions in a national movement, I believe it becomes necessary for us to hone our message, and through doing so, legitimize our actions.

I propose that we create an open committee to oversee the publication of a weekly newsletter that can be used not only to inform the public of our happenings, but also to recruit more people to our movement. This newsletter can be drafted as many times as needed, with an eventual final draft being presented before the General Assembly and approved by our direct-democratic process.

With this proposal I would also like to suggest some guidelines to keep the newsletter within the bounds of our direct-democratic process, and not allow for it to become an instrument misused by a minority which does not represent the General Assembly.

---Weekly Newsletter---

To communicate a unified message to the media and inform the general public about our actions and concerns, we of the General Assembly do herby create the Weekly Newsletter Committee.

--Guidelines--

-Composition of the Weekly Newsletter Committee (WNC)-

a. The Weekly Newsletter Committee will be an open committee which anyone may join.

b. At every General Assembly at least one member of the Weekly Newsletter Committee must be in attendance to present candidate news articles to the General Assembly, and also update the General Assembly on the WNC’s plans and activities.

c. Cases of misuse and/or abuse of the Weekly Newsletter by a WNC member will be dealt with within the confines of the WNC, but will also be reported to the General Assembly.

-Newsletter Pieces-

a. Anyone may be allowed to submit a piece for the Weekly Newsletter, including those in the Weekly Newsletter Committee.

b. No pieces may be edited without author’s approval.

c. All pieces which cannot be considered candidates for reasons of illegibility, incomprehensive, etc., must be given back to the original submitter along with reason for their piece’s rejection.

-General Assembly’s Approval of the Newsletter-

a. A draft containing all candidate pieces of the Weekly Newsletter will be presented to the General Assembly before publication.

b. A vote of approval will take place on each piece.

c. A vote of approval will take place on the final draft of the newsletter.

-Post-GA-Approval Editing-

a. Any changes after the General Assembly’s approval of the Weekly Newsletter may only be aesthetical, such as in print size, font type, spelling, etc.

b. The overall design and order of the pieces will be left to the judgment of the WNC.