ISFb&fGroup ISF Summit Group Minutes (14.8.03) plus other information

national | public consultation / irish social forum | press release

Wednesday August 20, 2003 22:01

by Irish Social Forum - Irish Social Forum

Minutes of a Meeting held on Thursday August 14 2003 @ 7.30pm in the Teachers' Club

ISFb&fGroup ISF Summit Group Minutes (14.8.03) plus other information

A Cháirde,

Minutes of last week's meeting are below.

Also included are :

request for help doing an ISF stall in Dún Laoghaire this weekend;

report from buildings and finances group on likely costs facing us

Slán,

John

A Cháirde,

Minutes of last week's meeting are below.

Also included are :

request for help doing an ISF stall in Dún Laoghaire this weekend;

report from buildings and finances group on likely costs facing us

Slán,

John

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

Minutes of a Meeting held on Thursday August 14 2003 @ 7.30pm in the Teachers' Club, 36 Parnell Square, Dublin 1.

Attendance :

John Meehan, Willy Cumming, Mark Grehan, Paul Dillon, Ion Anghel, Paul Kinsella, Niav Keating, Paul Cummins, Jean Somers, Brian Cuddy, Orla Walsh, Pat Clafferty, Rosanna Flynn, Joe Kelly.

Apologies :

Marnie Holborrow, Justin Moran, Brendan Young, Barry Finnegan

Nomination of Chair and Minute-Taker :

Chair : Joe Kelly, Minutes : John Meehan

Outreach Group Report :

Paul Cummins reported that the Outreach Group has produced an Irish Social Forum CD. Volunteers to burn extra copies and bring them to the next meeting. The CD's will be put on sale in outlets such as "Cultivate Ireland", Connolly Books, and so on. If anyone has further suggestions, or would like to make enquiries, bring it up at the next meeting. The outreach group welcomes volunteers to help in its work : if you are interested please e-mail Ian McDonald : ian.mcdonald@synopsys.com. Ian participated in a NEAR FM radio discussion last Sunday, and explained the work of the Irish Social Forum.

A query was raised on what was meant by "sponsoring" of workshops. It was agreed there was some overlap between some of the work being done by the outreach group and the "workshop" group, which has drafted invitations to different organisation to run ISF workshops.

It was agreed that the Co-Operation and Solidarity Summit Group would make decisions on final contents, based responses to the invitations.

International Speakers to be Invited :

Noted that the following people had already agreed in principle to participate : Nicola Bullard, Alex Callinicos, Judith Richter

Most of the following possible speakers have been contacted - but no definite replies back from most of them so far.

Michael Moore, Greg Palast (Killian Forde), George Monbiot, Naomi Klein (Willy Cumming), John Pilger, Robert Fisk (Brendan Young), Joe Stiglitz, Susan George (Jean Somers), George Galloway (John Meehan), Denis Halliday, Christophe Aguitton (Marnie Holborrow).

It was agreed to place a deadline of August 21 on this process.

Others possible speakers mentioned for various parts of the weekend :

Richard Boyd-Barrett (IAWM), Caoimhe Butterly, Mary Kelly, Mary Robinson, Andy Storey, Bill McCamley, Rita Fagan, Richard Douthwaite, David Hickie and Peter Conlon (Beaumont Consultants), Trevor NGwane,

A point was raised about the need to contact people involved with Trade Unions. People were asked to come back with definite suggestions at future meetings. British names mentioned included Mark Serwortka and Billy Hayes.

March / Carnival :

Noted that speeches are planned for the start of the event, and are to last for about ½ an hour. It is hoped that the carnival can move from Parnell Square to the Civic Offices, and that the event can conclude by 6.00pm.

Venues :

Paul Dillon reported on negotiations regarding University College Dublin - a 600 seat hall is available, there are various small meeting rooms, media and fund- raising facilities. Booking has to be done via a recognised society, and this should not be a problem.

Orla Walsh reported on Findlater's Church (Parnell Square) - further information will be available at the next meeting of the group.

Willy Cumming reported on Temple Bar facilities - not available on the dates requested, but voluntary groups at reasonable rates can use facilities. Information can be put to future use.

European Social Forum :

A meeting took place attended by various members of the Irish Social Forum and the Irish Anti War Movement. The meeting scheduled for Wynn's Hotel on Saturday August 23 is proceeding. While some differences of opinion remain, it was agreed that as many people as possible should attend the meeting. All agreed that participants should agree among themselves who chairs and minutes the meeting, that there should be an open format (people sitting in a circle etc) where each person present would be offered a chance to air their views.

It was agreed that the Irish Social Forum (Dublin) will register with the European Social Forum; that regional Irish Social Forums would be encourage to do likewise- and that all regional Irish Social Forum groups would be consulted on the all-island Irish Social Forum registering also.

It was noted that the Irish Social Forum could send its own nominees to relevant European Social Forum meetings.

Pat Clafferty reported on a proposal from Barry Finnegan that the Irish Social Forum organise an all- island meeting very shortly after the November European Social Forum gathering, to hear feedback and reports back from the ESF, and decide on appropriate action.

The meeting agreed to endorse this proposal, and request views from regional ISF's.

Buildings and Finance Group Report :

It was agreed to take this report @ the next meeting - text of draft budget etc will be circulated.

Next Meeting :

It was agreed to re-convene on Thursday August 21 @ 7.30pm in the Teachers' Club, 36 Parnell Square.

Message from Paul Cummins
chewy@Redbrick.DCU.IE
we are trying to get a stall at the festival of world cultures this fri/sat/sun in dun laoghaire

if anyone has some time to spare on sat/sun they could helps us give out leaflets and perhpas sell the cd please contact me at 0857197145

Buildings and Finance Group Report

The following is 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 cost approx 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??

See you Thursday all being well.

Pat

To find out all about the Irish Social Forum see:
http://www.IrishSocialForum.org