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PRE-MANIFESTACION

  • define project goals \x96 answer the \x93why\x94 question: documenting the experience with as many input streams as possible
  • a convergence isn't just the event, there is a bellcurve of activity / issues leading up to \x93the event\x94 and then trailing off afterwards
  • running a highly distributed project virtually
  • setup mailing list - e.g. at http://lists.indymedia.org - see http://newlist.indymedia.org to apply for a new list
  • setup wiki (EasyTWikiIntro for quick introduction!) or groupware collaboration software as center for all docs
  • define working groups and get people to bottomline each group. different working groups have different goals \x96 hasn't been defined clearly in the past. Often these groups have internal (but open!) mailing-list that then report back to a 'core' group that can act more like a spokes-council.
    • audio
    • comms
    • finance
    • food
    • housing
    • legal
    • tech / network
    • outreach
    • print
    • radio
    • space
    • website
  • setup online meetings - e.g. using internet relay chat (irc) - connect securely! - http://chat.indymedia.org for a nice web interface to the imc-irc server!
  • setup website or augment existing site
    • do research and stories about the issues ahead of time to post during the protests
    • calendar of everything that's happening \x96 links to other planning orgs / groups
    • prepare servers and infrastructure for the crushing extra traffic and tighten security - distributed server model
  • fundraising
    • draft budget as early as possible
    • think outside the box on every item
    • distributed works well
    • research grant options
  • tech
    • define hardware needs and start collecting
    • diskless terminals have worked very well in the past for public access workstations - i.e. using 'dumb' terminals to just run remotely off a much more powerful server.
    • order / obtain broadband internet access - redundancy is essential as your line will go down. best if poss to have a dsl and a cable line! try and leech - or even set-up! - a wireless network
    • order / obtain voice service \x96 voip
    • ship / transport hardware to convergence space
    • make mountains of network cables to have on hand for people to plug in laptops, and lots of network switches or hubs
  • outreach / on the ground work
    • establish contact with local groups on the ground and local imc. nb ensure you don't get roped into doing all their work!! if this isn't sorted out in advance, there is often confusion and people find themselves 'double-booked' and taking too much on (and not able to cope)
    • have people arrive as early as possible \x96 local point person is critical
    • wage pr campaign \x96 door to door with flyers, school outreach, etc.
    • coordinating address to receive shipments is key
    • communication is key to getting access to resources \x96 honesty about intentions
    • ability to issue press passes
    • create \x93welcome packet\x94 with local contacts and resources
    • setup legal liason for imcista's legal names and contact info
    • choose volunteer coordinator
    • get schools to visit for photo-ops, community support/publicity
    • create good relationship with food not bombs
  • space issues
    • must stress importance of securing space as early as possible
    • fundraising is critical for deposits
    • real names or organization willing to sign lease and take on legal responsibility - nb: there are ways of getting around these problems, but they require lateral thinking! and may be a bit more dodgy....
    • issue of whether to include with activist space, be near it or completely separate.
    • proximity to actions
    • decide on private or public space, or have both and need to have redundancy, avoiding single points of failure - reasons and examples - miami
    • obtain space well ahead of time, negotiate cost (considerations: near metro, close to protests, close to food and other resources)
    • should also distinguish between activist open-posting space and an indymedia workspace. ideally, the former should be near the activists main base/convergence so it will be accessible for people to use the open-posting; the indymedia workspace is better to be further away in a secure location that will not be disturbed by people and general chaos!
    • remote activists can be really useful too and are able to do stuff that people on the ground cannot do.... maybe this is discussed more in ManiFestacion
-- NadaCascadia - 18 Feb 2005
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Topic revision: r5 - 20 Feb 2005, GarconDuMonde
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