SECONDARY VIBES (aka 2ndary rules) are the principles that define the way we want the building to run, ie. they are for our own internal use and don't have to be tailored for funders/Companies House etc. Here's as far as we've got with creating a finished document - users' input is welcomed and needed! AIMS - - non-hierarchical, inclusive, welcoming / non-threatening space, social, ecological, green, environmental, social justice, campaigning, action, free... (maybe also some negative bits - e.g. rejecting - authority, racism, sexism, patriarchy, t-shirts, naff logos, membership cards, steering committees, 'avowedly anti-capitalist in intention and practice' etc..). WHO FOR ? Here are some of the dichotomies that have sprung up: resource vs. social, or local community vs. activist community. Suggestions have included '.. a meeting place for people of all ages, races, sexuality, and religion to come together and better understand each other..' and '..our relationship with the local community must be strong and symbiotic', others have centred on the urgent need for a space for our 'activist community'. NEW people have to be welcomed and involved... The simplest answer to 'who LARC is for' has to be - ANYONE (and-that-means-anyone - hopefully with no positive discriminations) who (genuinely) shares the desires and aims laid out in the 'mission statement'.. MEMBERSHIP There's a basic division between those of us who want membership and those who don't (whatever 'membership, means of course). From - 'Membership is inherently hierarchical and divisive' - and the idea of being a COLLECTIVE - to a more formal set-up... Unresolved questions for those who want membership include: Does everyone who uses the centre have to be a member? Do all members have to be company directors? What criteria must people fulfil to become members? How can we 'expel' members if the need arises? Do we need to have a maximum number of members? A theme central to membership is that of 'rights and duties' (horrible but descriptive terminology) - i.e. if you're going to contribute to making decisions about what goes on, then you're going to have to be involved in what goes on - whether you're cleaning the floor, answering the phone or doing any of the thousands of less-sexy but vitally-necessary jobs... A huge amount of concern has been expressed over avoiding the existence of an elite group hoarding power over the use of the centre...How much of this is a spin on image and the words we choose to describe different roles, and how rooted this is in reality needs to be clarified. Luckily no-one has suggested membership cards or annual subscriptions... Secondary Vibes meeting Sun 14 Oct X-UIDL: d5102b1e24ff3698ecf7aee232e9e07a These were the suggested conclusions we came to for the dilemmas we face: AIMS We only got as far as saying they should be a pithy statement of the ideas and aims of the building on the wall by the door. STRUCTURE An admin group should be set up and run for a period of 3 months comprised of ourselves, but with a monthly open meeting for everyone. After this an admin group should be comprised of anyone interested once the transition period is over. MEMBERSHIP There should be three types of 'membership' 1. Anyone who comes into the building is a 'user', no membership required 2. Group membership for certain things, ie. video nights where the sale of alcohol happens. * 3. Temporary for individuals on the night * * Such 'memberships' may be needed only to circumvent health and safety and licensing laws, this is to be checked out SMOKING/DRINK/DRUGS No smoking in upstairs office, mezzanine and basement. Smoking on groundfloor at discretion of users. Alcohol not to be banned, question of peoples behaviour if drinking, under influence of. No drugs notice may be a legal requirement, also for sec rules. Advice to be sought. WHO IS CENTRE FOR? Not necessarily 'who for'? But what activities take place in building and who wants to organise, supervise if necessary, and get involved in them, but we must emphasise the general welcoming nature of the building. Not a question of whether we should attract 'local community' or 'activist community' STRUCTURE The present Thursday meetings will last for another 3 months. (Starting when?). Probably after the builders leave. Then what group should take on running the building after that? Should be some sort of continuity between this group and that - ie some of the same people yet open for more participation. In three months will there be a break off or organic development? We felt it should be organic. Thursday meetings to continue. Weekly meeting necessary for upkeep etc. Perhaps the new group should have a "rep" from each user group with office space. Should be open but with structure so doesn't get out of hand. Possibility of disruptive people or too many conflicting views. Perhaps a number limit five to ten-ish. As little "legislation" about it as possible though. CLEANING What are groups obliged to do when using the building? 1. Clean up 2. Empty bins 3 Basic care for the building However there will need regular overall cleaning as well. Especially toilets. Need to have an additional clean up committee. However, rotas don't usually work. Those using the building most should have obligation to join clean-up ????????????????????????????????????????????.??????????k 56a etc - how do they do it? DIRECTORS What if directors are not active? They can resign. However, we can become invisible ie not necessarily involved with the ongoing meetings. But will be encouraged to resign if not involved at all. SMOKING Agreed no smoking in most of the building After discussion came to agreement that smoking ok during events on the ground floor because of difficulty in enforcing, making people feel uncomfortable, etc. Ventilation and fire both are factors to consider 'Mission' 'statement' Here below is a list of the ways that this building works - we ask that you respect them while using it. ? This co-operatively owned and run building is dedicated to taking steps (however small or large) towards a socially just and environmentally sustainable future; ? No one can discriminate against anyone else on the grounds of colour, gender, sexuality, nationality, religion etc. In fact, we seek actively to overcome such prejudice. ? This is a non-hierarchical space, meaning that no one is 'in charge', or able to tell others what to do. So that means that making it work is down to all of us! ? We believe that respect for the planet goes hand in hand with respect for its people, so wherever possible, we're trying to reduce the impact the building has on the planet. That means taking care to save as much energy as possible (and even generating our own at some stage), using ecological building materials, and generally working to reduce, reuse & recycle what we can. ? Users of the building are asked to contribute to making it work, both by helping out physically on a regular basis (all the way from washing up your tea cups to occasionally cleaning the toilet), and also by helping keep enough income coming in to keep the doors open. ? Regular Users Group meetings will be open to all who are actively involved in the building, and that will be where big decisions concerning it will be made. Anyone using or visiting the building is asked to agree to the principles laid out above, and to generally lending a hand to make it a success! People actively working against these principles will not be able to continue to use or visit it. Thanks! The Fieldgate Users Group (FUG) (!) London Action Resource Centre - a few guidelines Here below is a list of the ways that this building works - we ask that you respect them while using it. This co-operatively owned and run building is dedicated to taking steps however small or large towards a socially just and environmentally sustainable future. The aim is to create a safe, supportive and non-threatening space where no one can discriminate against anyone else on the grounds of colour, gender, age, sexual orientation, nationality, religion or class. In fact, we seek actively to overcome such prejudice. This is a non-hierarchical space, meaning that no one is 'in charge', or able to tell others what to do. So that means that making it work is down to all of us! We believe that respect for the planet goes hand in hand with respect for its people, so wherever possible, we're trying to reduce the impact the building has on the planet. That means taking care to save as much energy as possible (and even generating our own at some stage), using ecological building materials, and generally working to reduce, reuse & recycle what we can. Users of the building are asked to contribute to making it work, both by helping out physically on a regular basis, (all the way from washing up your tea cups to cleaning the toilets), and also by helping to raise enough income to keep the doors open. Regular Users Group meetings will be open to all who are actively involved in the building, and that will be where big decisions concerning it will be made. The building is not to be used for any illegal or immoral purposes. Please note that this means there is a no 'illegal' drugs policy inside the building. The building holds no licences for the sale of alcohol or for the performance of music or dancing. Anyone using or visiting the building is asked to agree to the principles laid out above, and to generally lend a hand to make it a success. Thanks! The Fieldgate Users Group (FUG) non-hierarchical, inclusive,welcoming / non-threatening space, social, ecological, green, environmental, social justice, campaigning, action, free... (maybe also some negative bits - e.g. rejecting - authority, racism, sexism, patriarchy, t-shirts, naff logos, membership cards, steering committees, 'avowedly anti-capitalist in intention and practice' etc..). > '.. a meeting place for people of all ages, races, sexuality, and religion to come together and better understand each other..' and ' > LARC is for' has to be - ANYONE shares the desires and aims laid out in the 'mission statement'.. > > ---------------------------------- > The Fieldgate Centre is a space dedicated to the furthering of environmental and social justice issues: locally in Tower Hamlets, as well as in London, the UK and globally. This it plans to do mainly through education and information exchange (in the ecological design and use of the building, its library, its meetings and occasional exhibitions etc.), but also by providing affordable office space and other resources for sympathetic groups and individuals. The Centre has an equal opportunities policy (that is, it will not discriminate on grounds of race, gender, sexuality, colour or religion), and will be actively dedicated to the eradication of such prejudice. ''''''''''''''''''''''' a resource for people interested in the growing movement for a co-operative, non-hierarchical and ecological society. It will be co-operatively run by and for its users, every effort to minimise the ecological impact of the building,