CC Meeting

Agenda:
Art grants
Banning and Privacy
Town Hall agenda
Facilitator: clovis,Stack:Bonobo,Scribe:patrick
In attendance at meeting:

Clovis, Sparky, Sexton, Thomas, Princess, Psyche, Gyesika, Nobody, Genevieve, Krahnik, Reese, Izzi, Tom, Pat, Bonobo, Beth, Prost, Rocky, Lance, Sodium

Facilitator: Clovis
Stack: Bonobo
Scribeish: Lance

Action Items from this meeting:

1. Set agendas for next series of meetings (discussed online and possibly at next meeting)
2. Add new CC members to mailing list -- Beth, already accomplished
LLC Report…

-There are 9 AFs. Decided on more AFs to better split responsibilities.
-Thanks to new AFs for stepping up, thanks to those who have worked
-New AF position - Site prep. Will work on site prep and the never-ending search for new land.
-NEW GOALS - Expand ethos of volunteerism. Ava as Volunteer Coordinator will help lead this up.
-LLC/AF retreat occurred last weekend. First time they included AFs, lots of great input/discussion/team-building as a result
-LLC has taken things off their plate. Primary focus now is mass gathering and gate policies. Those are the big topics. Moving towards non-profit is back-burner'd
-Things are ahead of schedule. Looking to make improvements and work towards the goal of increased volunteerism.
-They have a ticket lead/team. Rochelle is taking point, has assembled team.

Town Hall Agenda discussion (This is what we came up with for the Town Hall agenda and who will be speaking.)

Intro: LNT, Rules, Agenda Overview, – Clovis

LLC Report -- Thomas

-States of the Organization
-Membership Change
-Tickets: Prices, Number
-Location
CC Report -- Pat Wheton

-Sustainability (success)
-New members, old members
-Doublerainbow
-What is the CC?
AF Report - AFs (as introduced by LLC)

-Introductions, who the AF is, what their area is about
Volunteering! – Ava

-Volunteer Ra-Ra
-Lead Selection Process
-Sustainability
Art Garden – Sparky, et al.

-Updates
Sticket lead, call for sticker team submissions -- Rusty

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- (break)

-DaFT Selection – Kris
-Reintegration Celebration -- Angelique and Reese
-Warehouse update -- Angelique
-New Events List (how to use, who to contact) -- Reese
-Theme Presentations Rule Reading -- ????
-Theme presentations
Theme Voting

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- (break for voting and theme voting and counting)

Events - Clovis

-Santa, EAST, FreezorBurn, (not an open mic)
Theme Announcement -- Clovis

Closing: LNT, Final Thoughts -- Clovs

LLC announcement on new leads selection/ratification process

During review of historic process, found it was difficult to get everyone involved in leads selection committee scheduled. Tried to find way to make it more efficient.
Rather than bringing in physical community members, take community feedback over email.
The AFs agreed unanimously that they wanted process expedited. AFs have final veto over any lead under their area
Want to up volunteer ethic. Opening up positions in advance of Town Hall may get people who are outside of Town Hall reach to be able to be involved.
AFs said yes.
Could fall behind schedule trying to get a 20-person leads selection committee scheduled to meet.
Trying to be more broad-based

Prost raised question about feedback about this before decision was made, if feedback was requested. It was explained that it was decided over weekend retreat.

Tom raised concern that this makes things appear undemocratic.

Sparky says that he trusts the AFs to make proper decision and that there will still be community input.

Thomas mentioned that he's okay with the addendum that this is set for this year only at this point.

Prost feels that the previous process was not helpful or added much in the way of democratic input.

Lance spoke about concern about our processes and how the processes get defined/changed. Suggested agenda item about more well-defined who makes what calls. Also
wants policies that will help when none of us are left and people we've never met are doing our jobs.

Psyche spoke about importance of input from previous leads and how this can affect that. Also about perception of to much LLC control.

Pat agrees that we need to work on better definitions. Wants more discussion about how CC gets involved in discussion in the event that something goes wrong.

Sodium says that the input has been valuable in the meetings, but the delay has been so bad that some departments just found ways to skip out on it. It's more of a scheduling problem than an input problem. Thinks that all leads, even liability leads, should be up for nomination (even if actual selection is still made by LLC/AF/etc). Thinks that scheduling can work out such that nominating won't hold things back.

Clovis says there are several issues. Bringing in new blood, which is finding ways to bring in new people to do the jobs. Hearing about new people is good because even if they
aren't ready for a particular position yet, knowing about them helps us bring them in. Opening things up to email is a good idea because it gives an avenue for input and people
giving red-flags. Operationally, promoting leads from within works well. Finally, he doesn't think we should have rigid processes as that can encourage bureaucracy.

Ava says process of opening call for AFs before Town Hall online can provide more feedback and resource for finding good leads. Says that they talked about sending out
announcement for more leads so that more people,. Talked about idea of lieutenants so you open up to even newer people and widens the pool.

Genevive says that process didn't happen last year. (Prost objected, details about it happening but scheduling error means she wasn't there).

Tom says that years ago they sat down and talked about why the process occurred as it did. Says that at the time liability leads were carved out, and the other leads were
then opened up to the larger pool and to encourage involvement. The purpose was to get the community to run itself. Doesn't want it to appear that you're either on the inside
track or not. We need to think about the role of CC, that LLC and AFs have taken on things that were previously in CC meetings. Some of which is good because it is
operational, but sees that it could go down dark road of everything being operational.

Beth asked if last year they asked people to only come if they could meet in. Likes that call goes out before Town Hall because then at Town Hall people can ask for info or
say that they want to be a lead to AF in person.

Reese asked who has been a lead/AF on the CC now. Asked if the CC could be called in for special feedback.

Prost said that the democracy could work best on policy side, and perhaps we should vote for CC members.

Thomas said that what they're trying to do is avoid unattended consequences. Concerned to be able to make things both more egalitarian and more of a meritocracy.
Something that looks better and works better, too. Trying to solve a problem that is real and already here. It looks bad, but it can look better if you understand it. We're going to
try to win. Throws out vote if everyone is okay with them doing that this year.

(Tom brought up point of order, asking if all leads would be solicited publicly. Ava and Thomas explained that they were.)

No one objected to Thomas's motion.

Art Funding

Should we fund art? How should we fund art? Should we promote art? How?

Pat says that not funding art by the LLC/org/ticket money is a bad idea and not part of Flipside. Happy medium might be making tickets more available to artists. Not giving
away tickets, but making tickets available for sale at later date for artists.

Prost says we already have art grant process, art garden. They help, but can't do it all. There are ways to support artists that don't take ticket money directly--space,
knowledge sharing, helpers,

Genevive says that over 2 years as art AF has been asked by artists from other events with large-scale projects have asked for things like money for transportation and fuel.
Art Garden doesn't give grants for transportation, due to their charter (doesn't give money to artists from other areas). At EAST found good artists and when bringing up Flipside
gets replies that they're too burnt out because they don't feel supported. We say that we're an art event, but artists don't feel the love. The amount of art is decreasing. People
are spending time/money on theme camps. There isn't a lot of large art. Placement made it look like there was more than there was. DaFT keeps warehouse too busy for other
large-scale artists to work. Doesn't think money is sole reason for issue. We need to address how we can support the people who do make art. LLC has funded art in past to
bring it to Flipside. Since we've done it in the past, we should ask about doing it now. Bringing in outside, large-scale art can help increase excitement in community and art
activity there. We need to find ways, and they need to be codified. We are part of the community, and we need to support artists.

I agree that art garden is helpful like nice middle step. One medium sized step, it helps out a little bit, but it doesn't get you all the way there. People go into debt with this
shit. Starving artists are a stereotype for a reason. As much as pushing volunteerism, but just the idea needs to be put back into the community as an Art event. I don't think
it can be done as a pure, tell everyone it's an art event will fix it…Church night is a project work night. Projects should be more socially important. The person that's working
on the space and using it is more important than the person drinking beer. General, bigger conversations, value shaping talking, details like assistance with Transpo, giant-ass
trucks might be with a drop-off at the Warehouse so it'll go back and forth when the trucks are empty, but if you can meet the schedule, we'll get it there and back. I

Ava: I have an idea…cost is prohibitive for some artists getting out to the event. It's not personally AAR's responsibility. Finding someone who will be in charge of helping
artists find funding and grants could be a good way to help. Kickerstarter is also a very good new method of funding. Explained how Kickstarter.com works. A whole theme
camp from Seattle was able to fund themselves with Kickstarter.

Princess is in general mostly opposed to ticket funds going directly to artists. Having another org (Art Garden) doing it takes away perception that LLC controls everything.
Putting monetary value on art is a big deal. A voluntary fund for art transportation would be helpful. Not enough people have submitted for Art Garden grants. Transpo costs are
a very big deal, both for us but especially for out-of-towners.

Izzi agrees with Genevive about making tickets more available helps. Thinks that volunteer coordinator or art AF could help solicit volunteers for artists who need help making
projects.

Sodium says that we are not an art festival, we are a community festival. Art is a manifestation of the community that is there. We are successful if all the people in the
community are making art. Camps are inherently civic spaces and are our focus. Frustration seems to be that fewer and fewer people are creating. We need a cultural shift.
Agrees that transpo assistance could help. Heard idea that contests or challenges could also bring in more creativity and involvement. There are a lot of ways to shift values, and one of
them is to lead by example. He challenged us to lead by example, to produce something for Flipside. If the leaders can't be bothered, then what's the point. Thinks giving
money for bigger projects can shift focus from individuals creating and towards spectating.

Nobody feels that there are two issues being discussed. It isn't a question of yes fund art/no don't fund art. Says that discussion is about supporting art. Thinks that things like
scheduling the warehouse and making it more available can help. Transpo can help. We have a lot of resources, money is just one of those resources. Dangers in just saying
"we're going to fund art". It can be who decides who gets money and when. It can be having nothing else to support art besides money. Saying "we can do anything for you but
we cannot give you a damned dime" can help being too reliant on money. Seeing the giant pieces can be inspiring. Sees 3 or 4 groups of artists. 1) People who have a
particular idea. 2) Serious artists who are in Austin but not involved/find out too late to get in. 3) Artists who are burners but outside TX. 4) guys who want money for their art.
Keeping ticket cost low can help artists.

Gyesika says transpo is issue that we can work on. Says opening up discussions about art can help (like the old DaFT charrettes). Grant process can be scary if you've never
done one before. Art Garden could do a workshop on how to put together Art Garden proposal.

Tom thinks transpo issue could be helped with adding another line in ticket submission form that would be used by Art AF/department to help move art from Austin to Flipside
or from outside TX to Austin/Flipside.

Kris says that he feels that if it all happens organically (no funds or organizational support) then no reason for him as Art AF. 10% or so of ticket money goes to art. Art Garden
gives out grants, but they give out small amounts for the costs involved. Saying it's participant-driven and so no ticket money should go to art ignores that ticket money comes
form participants. They come to event to create, observe, and interact with art. Would love to have art grant lead. Love to have an art transept lead. Worried that we get caught
up in giving food/money/beer to volunteers, but we don't give anything for artists. Are we focused on creating logistics, on supporting art. Effort, communication, and even
money should be channeled into art. Would like to see satellite-DaFT projects being started. It doesn't just have to have financial support, but that can help.

Sparky says that we could add an extra line item for local transpo could be done by LLC and doesn't need extra donation line on ticket form. Art Garden gave out $1500, but
had $4500 available. Not enough grant applications. AG doesn't pay for transpo or artist salary, only for material costs. Announcements are made, it's been 5 years of being
announced twice a year. Going to add another grant cycle to get more applications. Grant proposals could be greatly improved. Marrilee is going to do workshop on how to do
grant proposal (for AG and for other ors). Likes Ava's idea of grant-pusher. **LLC hat on now** Asked (along with LLC) for AFs to make their position a year-round job. There
are commitments to work towards make things better this year. They (LLC) have funded transportation in the past. They funded an artists to do a workshop, which ended up
funding the artist as byproduct. Gave assistance for artist who had devastation due to arson, which helped him later get back on feet.

Pat says that back in the day, they decided not to fund art because they didn't want to be art critics. Likes grant pusher idea. Likes transpo idea. Likes finding artists
volunteers. Thinks that if you go to BurningFlipside.com, you should be able to see "If you want to bring art to Flipside, this is how we can help." Thinks Art Garden needs to
do more. Art Garden should be linked on Flipside website. Art AF position is needed. Flipside is a canvas for participants to paint on, and Art AF works to help them do that.
Thinks as new AF he can advocate and agitate and make that happen. Believes art comes from community, we can't go out and buy art, people have to bring it themselves. If
it gets to the point where it's 5000 hippies in their dirt rave and there isn't enough art, then there should be organizational change to change behaviors towards more art. One
thing that is debatable is what our community is? Austin? Texas? Other burn events? He thinks the community is the meme, and it's larger than just here. So someone who
goes to another regional and wants to bring stuff here isn't an outsider. The crux is: let's make the fucking art part of this the most in-your-face part. The first think you see on
the web site.

Reese said AAR is putting on music/art festival festival. Pumping up Art Garden, funneling people/artists/money towards them is good idea. Thinks we should link to them.
Thinks trying to find charitable assistance from shipping companies can help.

Thomas is asking for CC to be careful about what it resolves to past. Read from the bylaws of Corp(LLC). If we resolve to say "we don't spend ticket money on art" then we
end up violating the bylaws and causing serious problems. (can't link to art garden on web site if we can't spend any ticket money on art, because web site is supported by
ticket money and that would be spending it on art). The journey and the production are all part of the art, Remember meeting about last effigy last year. We passed resolution
that anything we spent money on for Flipside (as effigy) couldn't be toured outside Flipside. These kinds of resolutions can cause issues. We make artists here, and they go
out into the bigger world. We're having problems springing up new artists, though. We need to support our previous DaFT leads. Would you prefer that we spend money to bring
big art in here, or that through combination of resources we get money that helps a local artist make their own awesome piece they can take out into the wider world.

NOBODY MAKES A MOTIONS

-- 50 tickets set aside for sale to artists immediately -- Motion held until next meeting
-- Ticket money cannot be used for artist's salaries or material grants excluding grants (he then blocked own motion)
-- Double the art budget (he blocked own motion)

Bonobo says he's held things back, and now it's time to speak. He got on LLC without much experience because he had a degree in art, felt strongly about it, and felt strongly
about art. We aren't just doing bad about helping art, we're getting worse with it. The community will build our effigy, but it doth not make us an art festival. We have the best Art AF we could have for the position now, as past DaFT
lead. He came on because he wanted to make art happen. Recounted people saying they wanted to promote art more, but we've get an F at that, and we're getting worse. We
only have 3 people apply for art, and the people he knows who are great at art are over it, not even trying with Flipside anymore. It's disingenuous to just throw it back with "what is art". It's irresponsible to just listen to people who will always say "keep the ticket price down" because we do so at our peril. He doesn't care for voices on list saying art is dictatorial, it's winners/losers/that we shouldn't promote it. He cares about the people who are leads/AF's/LLC/volunteers who say they want more art. The way we are working in this organization is hindering us from helping art. City of Austin gives 3% of bond money to art. That puts them ahead of us for supporting art. What he doesn't want to hear is what we can't do. The "can't" is kicking our asses right now. Burning Man blew his mind, like no gallery in the world. We have to start moving towards that. At the rate we're going for support with large art, we won't need an Art AF (as Chronic
said). This is a wake up call. We're getting worse at this. Final perspective; when it was a smaller LLC, more informal process, smaller community, all it took was enough people to get involved. We're larger now, and no longer have the unity of vision. We need a majority/consensus of people who are willing to get it done. He wants people to be changed by the art we have.

BONOBO's MOTION BEING TAKEN BACK UP -- Intent to spend a minimum of 3% of the gross ticket ticket sales towards facilitation of art at Flipside, specifically excluding
effigy and infrastructure. --BLOCKED BY CLOVIS, too late for something this major

Banning and Privacy

tabled

We need to get another scribe.

NEXT MEETING
Town Hall run through
What is the CC?
When/if to un-table the banning/privacy issue
Further discussion on How to increase Art @Flipside

Facilitator - Pat Wheton
Stack - Psyche (as long as she doesn't have work)