Minutes from 7/31 IMC Reboot Meeting

        ** IMC-StL_ReBoot Launch Meeting **
        Tuesday July 31 @  7:00 PM
CAMP - 3024 Cherokee, St.L

Meeting Minutes
  -- from sca Notes & whiteboard

        Revised Agenda:

o  New Website Template -- the logic & layout, reviewing the final draft.
o  Training Project Reports -- status & next steps in building IndyJournalist skills
o  Forming an Association -- new structure for interaction, grants, & continuity
o  Crew-Building -- volunteers for 3 working groups: Editorial, Tech, Co-Ops
o  General Meetings -- restoring the monthly schedule for ongoing work
o  Writing and Publishing on StLIMC -- the call for new stories, tools to make 'em.
o  Stories NOW -- topics needing coverage, news ideas


  Sign-in List & Intros:
  A regular procedure -- who's there, every meeting... basis for group decisions
(Appended Below)

__Website__

     Ben:  New set-up, 3-column mainpage, from good models (IMC-Belgium, etc.)
Issue:  Open newswire policy, problems with 'Anonymous' posts, yet concerns over disclosing names & sources on some stories.  Suggestion:  require registration with real eM address, allow spoof address for protection; can track IP's as deterrent to flames.
Need review of Editorial Policy... Features vs. Open Post, how to handle... some IMC sites are consolidating under national IMC admins, vs. local management
SCA:  Looking at new site elements & functions - Advocate Org'ns, press releases & links ... Topics make info logical & accessible ... Forums for interactive discussion move inside Topics for more focus.

Site now in pre-design... set date for work powwow ~ 'Virtual Barnraising':
Sat. 11 August, 2-6 pm... @ CAMP or Mokabe's
Folks on BarnRaising: 
Ben West, David Arnold, Brian DeSmet, Scottie A., AmyCate S, Jellybean ?, etc.

__Training Projects__

   SCA report:  KDHX-IMC project launched in May... anticipated IMC applicants in May-June-July intro classes, setting up for intermediate 'Media Production' class with journalistic focus in September.  However KDHX shifted personnel and delayed intake for 6 weeks, broke the agreement.  SCA is the only IMC volunteer in July intro class, so there will not be enough IndyJournalists to set up the next class by Fall as planned. will try to straighten things out discreetly, will report back


__'Association'__

        Scottie:  Brief outline on concept from Brainstorms - IMC Collectives not built to last, natural evolution to 'voluntary association', unincorporated but bound by consensus of members.  This accords with IMC principles, but enables IMC act as a real entity... various legal advantages, ability to engage a fiscal agent, etc.

Proposed & consensed:  Do further research and report to next meeting.


__Crew-Building__

Crew Signups:

Editorial   Tech    Co-ops
Digger    Ben W.          scottie a.
Ben   Peter   AmyCate
(Brian)  Dave    Linda
(Dave)


__General Meetings__

Consensus:  Monthly meetings of St. Louis IMC will be restored, to be held on the 2nd Sunday of each month, at 7 PM, location flexible and to be determined. 
The first meeting will be held on Sunday, August 12 at CAMP.


__Writing & Publishing__

       (discussion deferred...)


__Stories Now__

Topics for IMC coverage, local & beyond:

Lionel -
HUD Budgets, §8 vouchers vs. low-income housing access
Sudan solar energy potentials vs. oil run-out
Brian -
Urban Farming, alternative energy
AmyCate -
Organic farming, food & sustainable urban living
Aaron -
Co-housing & consensus decision-making; Time banking
Patricia -
Civil liberties, sky-cams $, Feds & commercial developments ~ ATT
Linda -
Civ Libs too, loss of civics in education; militia movements now...
Confederate Festival in Pacific, MO
Scottie -
Reg. Clemons event, death row; Metro-East sprawl, regional land use
Cops v. 1st Amendment in St.L
Ben -
Surveillance in St. L; City/County merger in Louisville, exp.of community groups

-----------------------------------------------

...Attending...
...Introductions, Interests...

Linda R.
Writer's isolation - rural area, reactionary climate; difficult to find outlet
Patricia S.
Isolation too - drawing the box, bring issues to focus
Aaron A.
Collboration is important... tried to work with IMC '01-02, very cliquish
Brian D.
Getting crew together, must respond to events - Voice in the Wilderness, pool bloggers
David A.
Political connections & special research, knowledge of web design
Donald S.
Interested as observer, IMC connections for stl911.org
AmyCate S.
Have done 'everything', broad work history, will see how to help
Scottie A.
Longtime IMC ally, started ReBoot w/ Ben in February.
Lionel N.
Entrepreneur, media exp in Chicago... present info in new ways, collaborative spirit
Monica C.
Came to see what's going on.
Ben W.
Major media don't publish certain issues, per editorial personality & bias