ISF Minutes and Information

ISF Minutes and Information

A Cháirde,

See below most recent minutes of the ISF Co-operation and Solidarity Summit group.

See also re-issued rough estimate of likely costs we face (previously circulated on August 20 last)
Regards,
John

Irish Social Forum (Co-Operation and Solidarity Summit Group)

Minutes of a Meeting held on Thursday September 4 2003 @ 7.30pm in the Teachers' Club, 36 Parnell Square, Dublin 1.

Attendance :
John Meehan, Willy Cumming, Jean Somers, Caoimhe deBarra, Joe Kelly, Paul Dillon, Niav Keating, Orla Walsh, Segun Nelson, Rory Hearne, Paul Cummins, Paul Kinsella, Niall Smyth, Brian Cuddy, Patrick Maphoso, William Morake, Mark Grehan, Joe Campbell.

Apologies :
Pat Clafferty, Barry Finnegan, Brendan Young, Marnie Holborrow, Ian McDonald, Mary Kinane, Pól Ó Gráda

Nomination of Chair and Minute-Taker :
Chair : Niav Keating Minutes : John Meehan

Buildings and Finance Group Report :
John Meehan and Mark Grehan reported back from the meeting of this group with the following fund-raising proposals :

Table Quiz, Tuesday September 30, 8.00pm, in the Teachers Club, 36 Parnell Square

Sponsored Walk - from the General Post Office, O'Connell Street, to Dún Laoghaire, Sunday October 12, 2.00pm to 5.00pm approximately.

Brochure/booklet to be produced for the weekend and available for purchase by people who attend.

Music/Disco to be held in University College Dublin on the Saturday evening of the Summit, October 18.

Queries were raised regarding charging for admission to the summit - it was agreed to refer again to the draft budget/business plan, drawn up by Pat Clafferty for the Buildings and Finance Group, and circulated a few weeks ago. Agreed to re-circulate this document.

Agreed that proposed expenditure has to be met by realistic plans for fund-raising - we are not going to spend first, and second use up months afterwards raising money from diminishing numbers of volunteers and sympathisers.

Report from Carnival/March Group :
Orla Walsh reported that a Smithfield "Event Management Plan" is needed. Meeting to be held with Smithfield residents next week. Progress so far is good. Contact ongoing with Oxfam, which may be able to act as a sponsor. Once community support is in place, we should be able to use the venue without cost.

European Social Forum :
Rory Hearne reported on invitations to the European Social Forum.

Outreach
Paul Cummins reported. Numerous leaflets and letters were circulated and discussed. It was agreed to issue the comprehensive letter of invitation drawn up by Mark Kinane, with a small amendment regarding the likely venue for the carnival/march.

Irish Social Forum literature will be needed for numerous upcoming events : September 17 Rally against deportations in Liberty Hall; September 27 anti- war demonstrations; etc etc

The workshop invitation form will posted on various websites.

Agreed to also advertise the European Social Forum November event in Paris.

Agreed that leaflets/invitations should be co-ordinated by the outreach group.

Timetable for Plenaries and Workshops :
War, Foreign Policy - organisations to be approached are PANA (Roger Cole) and the Irish Anti War Movement, Grassroots Gathering, others - Willy Cumming reported on ongoing contacts. PANA at present planning to hold its AGM in Liberty Hall - invitation stands for this group to use UCD venue, if it wishes.

Caoimhe reported on the "Public Services not Privatisation" plenary - Mary Kinane will liaise on this for the Irish Social Forum. Environment / Sustainability - approaches to Feasta/Sustainable Ireland/Friends of the Earth/Gluaiseacht - Pat Clafferty to be asked for up- to-date information at next meeting.

Racism/Discrimination/Equality - John Meehan reported that Residents Against Racism, Alliance for Choice had been approached - there is general agreement in principle to work on this plenary - details need to be worked out/discussed etc.

There was a general discussion on the proposed content of the final Sunday morning session. Different views were aired. Some speakers wanted it to focus in on the European Social Forum in Paris in November, and to be led off by an European Social Forum representative; others felt it should be an open session, where each participant would have a chance to speak for a very short while, and assess the weekend, and say where/how we should go forward. Agreed to continue the discussion at future meetings.

Next Meeting :
It was agreed to re-convene on Thursday September 11

[30th anniversary of the USA inspired coup in Chile, 1973 : overthrow of the democratically elected Allende régime and installation of the Pinochet dictatorship -

also the anniversary of the airplane attack on the Twin Towers in New York]

@ 7.30pm in the Teachers' Club, 36 Parnell Square.

Notes :
ATTAC and Comhlámh are jointly hosting a fund-raiser in aid of their support for the Irish Social Forum on Thursday October 9, 8.00pm, in Chief O'Neill's, Smithfield - showing of Donnacha Ó Bríain's video on the failed coup attempt to bring down the Chavez Government in Venezuela - The Revolution Will Not Be Televised - the full director's version - about 20 minutes longer than the programme you probably saw on RTÉ!

Note need to pay Teacher's Club for use of the room tonight

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Buildings and Finance Group Report
The followingis a 'rough' estimation of budget needs as well as lines of attack for the neccessary funding required;

Expenses

Venues
TCD Friday evening Launch and first Plenary e500
Teachers Club Saturday Workshops and food e700
Main Plenary venue Saturday e1000
Sunday Morning Forum(Teachers Club?) e200
e2400

Carnival Venue(may not apply)e500

Total Venue costapprox e3000

Travel and Accomodation costs

Estimate of e300 per international speakerx5 e1500
No speaker fees.

Administration costs

Sustainable Ireland building, use of, sponsored e0
Full time admin person for four week period e1200
Ticketing and identity badge costs e400
Telephone/Internet/email e600
e2200 e2200

Press Launch e1000

Carnival/March
PA and Platform hire e1000

TOTAL COST ESTIMATE e8700

Income
Registration fee
e10 per person x600 persons weekend total e6000
(Look into Credit card facility. Registration via email/website/office beginning one week beforehand).

Sponsorship

Estimate of 20 workshops.
Each sponsor donates e50 towards costs. e1000

Affiliation

Parties/Organisations/groups encouraged to be affiliates of ISF
Programme sponsors/launch tickets etc. e600

Fundraising activities
Pub quiz/poker classic
Gig
Sponsored walk
Tshirts,badges, cards etc. Total estimate e1000

TOTAL INCOME ESTIMATE e8600

All above are estimates only. Do not accept as definite.
All plenaries will be ticketed on a first come first served basis. All regional participants may order via telephone.Once registration fee is paid,a person can get tickets to all events for free, subject to availability.

Both buildings and International speakers must be finalised within two weeks. Sponsor letters should be finalised asap. The estimate of 600 persons attending should be at the next meeting agenda. What do people think?? Is it realistic??