PNC 01/29/2023

Summary

Meeting called to order at 9:11pm EST.

New Business

Meeting adjourned at pm 10:17pm EST.

Minutes

Record of the meeting

18:12:04 <Woden> Calling the meeting to order at 9:11 Eastern time.
<Woden> IDs?
<pmchi> Mitchel Davilo, Chicagoland/ILPP, Swarmcare Manager
<Joe> Ma rep, Mysty is otw
<Woden> Anthony Jay, IN, PNC Chair
<Jester> Ashley Melody, INPP Interim Rep
<Joe> Joseph Onoroski, MAPP, USPP, COA
<Joe> Treasurer
 Mysty has joined
<yari> Rose Klein, CA
<Woden> Welcome Mysty! Please ID with your name and state
<Mysty> Mysty O'Kneel, MAPP
<Woden> Thank you!
<Woden> Here is the agenda, though it appears to be blank. https://wiki.uspirates.org/w/index.php?title=01/29/2023
<papegaai> Title: 01/29/2023 - United States Pirate Party (at wiki.uspirates.org)
<Woden> We will do committee reports first.
<Woden> Anything to report from IT?
<yari> nothing to report. IT didn't meet. I'm emailing Jamie right now to set up a time, since I've been swamped with classwork.
<Woden> Thank you!
<Woden> Outreach put out a form requesting new volunteers. We did this for a number of reasons, but I'm hoping to finally scout out a new chair and put together a board of people committeed to meeting weekly.
<Woden> We have 7 responses so far. That isn't a lot, but is is better than 2, which is what I was expecting. I look forward to seeing where it goes.
<Woden> Platform? Pmchi
<pmchi> There was no platform meeting this week
<Woden> Thank you!
<Woden> Officer reports
<Woden> Secretary
<yari> got the chance to train Rowan from IL on the wiki before my classwork got more intense. It was fun, and also I'm glad that one more person knows their way around the site. I hope to do more trainings this week.
<yari> not much else.
<Woden> Excellent.
<Woden> Swarmcare
<pmchi> I reached out to the gentleman who sent us an email about his podcast and being interested about Georgia. I’ll talk with him soon, and if anyone is interested in joining me, by all means. If nothing seems out of wack, I may volunteer myself to appear on his podcast. Otherwise I messed up much of Yari’s hardwork by rearranging and renaming the discord rooms.
<Joe> I am willing to join you if possible. 
<Woden> Thank you x2
<pmchi> I wanted to host state outreach throughout February and March. Hoping to get that up asap, and I don’t see why we couldn’t get it up and running by the 1st
<yari> pmchi I am glad you did so, I just am sad that I haven't been able to catch up on it
<yari> very cool and classy of you, I think
<Woden> I still have issues with American Mediterranean but the American Mediterranean Pirates seem to like the new label, who am I to disagree?
<pmchi> Well thank you Yari. Sorry everyone for coining the American Mediterranean Pirates
<Woden> Treasury
<yari> we should be thanking you, it seems
<Joe> Current funds are $292.38. Year end reports are due on Wednesday, plan to wrap them up tomorrow morning.
<Joe> Also, may I join you pmchi for the podcast?
<Woden> Thank you! Always happy to hear we have money that can be used to cover the operating expenses
<yari> Joe what help do you need to get that wrapped up?
<pmchi> Of course Joe! I will let you know if and when it happens and get you the links accordingly
<Woden> We have a bit of vetting to do before we take the offer, but I'm sure Mitch wouldn't mind
<Joe> Also would like to organize a bumper sticker fund raiser in the next month.
<Woden> I like that. We need new merch, any ideas are welcome
<Woden> And then we need to sell it
<yari> I can design stuff easy
<pmchi> I’d love our polcompball on merch if we figure out how to swing that
<Woden> Okay, I don't believe there are any other officers in attendance.
<Woden> SO I will give mine
<yari> do it i dare you
<Joe> Fuck the system, my vote is for Pirates! <uspp.com, underneath phase>
<Woden> Bottom text
<Joe> Bottom text? 
<Woden> So - a slower week, but not a dead one. The PPI GA happened and Joe can talk about that more if they would like. They elected new officers and everything. Bailey has retired from chair and a notable leader of the French Pirates has stepped up in her place.
<Woden> Let's see, what else?
<Woden> Ah, it was just a meme, no worries
<Woden> There is a PSA I want to make.
<yari> make it
<Woden> All, we need to show up to meetings. We need to have meetings. And when we can't make them, we need to communicate. And when we are here, I need your undivided attention. The more we know the more understandable it is. I know why IN can't always attend, for example, But we need to communicate about this better.
<Woden> I think more or less every state could benefit from analyzing their delegates and which delegates they employ when.
<Joe> A quick note for a report on PPI?
<Jester> Understood
<Woden> Also, KY is barely around and that is an issue.
<Woden> You are okay Jester. Like I said, I know your case and I know that none of the rest of the IN Pirates are ready
<Woden> Joe - go ahead yeah. We can talk about this in a moment
<yari> I do want to have a conversation about what you said, Woden
<Woden> We will
<yari> okay
<Joe> You were spot on in your description, Woden, I just wanted to add....
<Joe> PPI had general elections. Some long time members whom I have a lot of respect for stepped down. Glad Bailey took another post but we lost Bastian.
<Joe> Bastian has long held the PPI together and I hope he will continue to support Pirate interests.
<Joe> There was conflicts, but now that I actually have access I will be attending them a lot more.
<Joe> Also, permission to connect with Ethan and the KY pirates.
<Joe> ?
<Joe> Let me see if I can support them and see their status while I have more time.
<Woden> Of course, you always have that permission
<Joe> Ok, ty.
<Woden> Anything else before Yari expands on this?
<Woden> Going once
<Woden> Going twice
<Joe> PPI GA was a long meeting, but thatis the summary. 
<Woden> Sold. Yari - you have the floor
<yari> cool
<yari> I want to tie this into the PPI meeting, actually. I'm curious, Joe, if you noticed any discussion of how to get people who can volunteer their time to help the PPI as an org as opposed to just acting as reps.
<yari> I ask because I find that our issue seems to be moving folks from the 'interested' category to the 'volunteering' category faster than burnout happens.
<yari> reducing burnout would help with this of course
<yari> but I think those tasks are connected
<yari> So I'm curious if the PPI is grappling with this in any way as well, and if so, how they resolved it.
<yari> I will also mention that, very much tied into my thoughts on this is my desire to step back and take on a USPP support role after the elections as opposed to an officer role.
<Joe> I am not sure there is a good answer here. Bailey served as chair for 6 years and her replacement was very contentious. 
<Joe> Secretary burnout is on the higher end. It's "defense against the dark arts" pirate edition.
<Woden> I understand where you're coming from Yari. We do need new volunteers. However, I think all of us on the current board need to think about what we can all do with our current resources too
<Woden> How can we improve things with the people we have?
<Jester> Yea, if we can't pull together with limited resources we won't be able to get more volunteers.
 NiceGuySky has joined
<Jester> We need to show that we can make a difference without free labor
<yari> I mean, we have pulled together, and we are doing plenty, and all of our labor is free labor.
 NiceGuySky has quit
<yari> I'm not getting paid. are you?
<yari> I don't think we need to be showy.
<yari> I think we need to ask for help.
<yari> I think we need a priority list
<yari> I think we need to figure out what we want to do.
<Jester> Fair points, you got me there
<Joe> Motion to put Youtube on hold then.
 NiceGuySky has joined
<yari> not seconding that, personally.
<yari> youtube is easy to run, and jitsi is actively helpful to me
<yari> unless you mean the youtube projects we've been talking abt
<yari> in which case agreed
<NiceGuySky> Nice Guy Sky (Rowan T.), Chicagoland/ILPP, ILPP Swarmcare Sentinel
<Woden> I think we are engaging in a bit of scope creep here lol. The existential questions are valid, and Mitch and I have talked about that this week, but right now I just want to know what we can do to increase meeting attendance 
<Joe> Let's keep it super simple instead of making it a big production. O, yeah I see what you did there.
<Woden> Exhibit A: Rowan is here to operate if Mitch is busy (he sometimes is). That is the kind of W I am looking for
<yari> countering: I think the existential questions are essential.
<Joe> Yes, Yari, we are in agreement. 
<yari> I think we keep coming up with really cool ideas for outreach, for ways to help make a difference or to spread the message, but until we have a priority list of what to do first, nothing gets done
<Woden> If we're asking the existential questions, I think we are currently barely functional.
<yari> No, not existential in that way
<yari> and we are what you see
<yari> look at the output of the org and decide for yourself if we are functional
<Woden> I agree with your idea of a priority list
<yari> I'm not here to debate that
<yari> yeah. priority list
<NiceGuySky> I am confused, but hello!
<Woden> Then I am a little confused about the scope of the conversation
<Woden> How existential?
<Joe> Well, our focua has been building states and I think we have done a good job at that.
<yari> fuck, you used that word first, I'm dropping it
<Joe> Focus*.
<yari> not existential
<Woden> Fair
<Woden> New word?
<yari> yes.
<yari> uhhhh
<Jester> I think it's more how do we want to exist in the socio-political sphere, not having every board member sit in a room and ask "what is the pirate party?"
<yari> Joe makes a good point
<Joe> Far from done but still not a bad start from where we were.
<yari> ^^
<yari> What Jester said
<yari> Basically, what is the goal we want to focus on as a group?
<yari> and then, priority list for that
<Woden> If we did that with each board member it would end in the thunderdome.
<yari> ?
<yari> elaborate?
<Joe> We should have yearly goals, so yes.
<Woden> I'm making a joke about what Jester said
<Woden> Okay, easy idea. I want everyone to give me one word that describes their current goals
<Joe> I choose the mace and the sawed off shotty.
<NiceGuySky> Communication
<Jester> Recruiting, and you now why Woden
<yari> post-capitalism?
<Woden> Recruiting! That's a good one. Give me more
<yari> is that one word?
<Woden> Okay, ideological but that works and I'll accept it
<Joe> Booty
<yari> But see - you have a specific goal as well. What's yours?
<Jester> ^
<yari> woden
<Woden> I'm here to facilitate. my word is less important. I want us to brainstorm first
<Joe> I am the Treasurer after all.
<Woden> Then I will talk
<Woden> Yes, you are here to be booty-minded
<NiceGuySky> I mean a freer and fairer society
<NiceGuySky> *free er?
<yari> No, because then we don't know what framework you're bringing to the table.
<Joe> Freeist
<yari> Also "my word is less important"? BS
<Jester> I think we need to focus on one thing in particular and that has multiple facets. We need to show the people that we are an active political party, and that means being involved on social media, in real life, and actively recruiting.
<Jester> Look at the midterms for example:
<Woden> Okay, fair point. When I say goals, what I mean is that MY word would be something like growth
<Jester> the red wave was blunted by a huge youth turnout
<Woden> I will go with growth.
<NiceGuySky> Also if I may add an opinion, maybe consider a less radical overtone and more so a pragmatic one.
<Jester> the youth and even middle aged americans are feeling disaffected with the political establishment
<Woden> Something we should focus on right now. That's the kinda word I want
<Woden> So, let;s re-roll our words. Gimme
<Mysty> ?rights
<Jester> We need to be growing out base and growing our messaging more
<Jester> our*
<yari> Woden, the 'focus on right now' part would come with the priority list
 Joe has quit
<Mysty> reproductive, sexual, human, civil
 Joe has joined
<Woden> I am trying to check in with what everyone wants to get our of the organization right now. The priority list is a good idea, but I need to know what our priorities are to make it.
<Jester> I hate to take a page out of my old edge lord days, but I think we should be disruptive
<yari> ^]
<Woden> So I need a window into our priorities.
<yari> I mean, I think goals and priorities are similar enough, but fair.
<Joe> We should focus on swarmwise protests where we are active
<Joe> Also, fundraising for election years will be key.
<Woden> Yes! So let's all briefly describe our organizational priorities for the short and middle-term.
<Woden> Please
<yari> when you say 'organizational'?
<yari> do you mean 'about the org'?
<yari> or ...
<Joe> Join protests for good shit, organize counterprotests for nazi shit.
<Jester> these next two years are honestly going to be an amazing time for us to grow since the GOP is going off the rails and the Democrats can't do anything. In states where we have members, they need to be at protests, and even if we only have 1 person at that protest give them a pirate party shirt, or a flag or something. Get our "face" out there and show there is an alternative that isn't the far right or even truly far left but rather a more pragmatic center 
<Woden> I mean pertaining to what we do. 
<Woden> This isn;t a platform or ideology question
<Woden> It is everything else
<Jester> We need to show our faces honestly
<Jester> we need to engage with the public
 Mysty has quit
<Woden> I am hearing a lot of talk about public engagement that is not necessarily electoral. That counts as a priority.
<Jester> Because we may be unofficially the "political party of the internet" no one is going to vote for a terminally online political party
<Woden> It can go on the list
 Mysty has joined
<Woden> Growth, rallying and protests, what else?
<Joe> Using public engagement is a classic way to gain political momentum. 
<NiceGuySky> I think if we come off as a Pragmatic alternative option versus a radical online party that could be helpful to add on to what Jester said.
<yari> Short term: I think we need to connect with our community members, have conversations where we live, and bring the results of that back to national.
<Woden> Setting up for 2024?
<Joe> The fundraiser is definitely for 2024
<Jester> I say that for things we need to do, we should be encouraging our members to talk about the pirates to their irl friends. I mean, hell I've recruited about 5 or so people who I knew from high school for Indiana. And possibly two more where I live.
<Joe> But I want a catchy pirate teeshirt now.
<Jester> Absolutely what yari said. We need to engage with our communities, not with isolated pockets of other pirates
<Joe> Hrw.org
<Jester> Not that we shouldn't colaborate mind you, but we need to be active on a local level, in our neighborhoods and counties
<Woden> That is a good external goal.
<Woden> Do we have a internal goal? How can we shape our organization to maximize efficiency?
<yari> Pirate Support Group
<Woden> I am holding all of you to community engagement 
<Woden> Elaborate
<yari> A group that can be organized on the discord where we talk about this engagement we have with the rest of the world
<yari> Meetings weekly or bi-weekly
<yari> etc etc
<Joe> Lets plan on meeting Thursday night at 8pm on Jitsi
<yari> would be so that ppl can just chat about "how the heck to talk about this to other people?"
<yari> and "how did your conversations with others go?"
<yari> no other purpose
<Joe> Nah, for youtube
<yari> Joe ?
<yari> what are you talking about
<Jester> Woden we are a couple hundred or so pragmatic political dissidents, asking questions about the form our party takes is going to be something we ask when the party isn't a couple hundred people across 5 states. As much as I don't think anarchism is all that, I'm going to borrow from anarchist philosophy and say that we need to grow ourselves out naturally in our communities before we can ask questions about "how do we run the party?"
<Woden> I hear you, though it feels like we could just bring back Pirate Chat
<Woden> If someone else wants to do Pirate Chat PLEASE do
<Woden> Get people together to talk on Discord weekly
<Woden> About anything'
<Jester> Yea I like that
<Joe> This is slightly off topic, back to youtube and doing improve cannon blasts as national and international stufd.
<yari> Yeah, gosh that's basically what I'm suggesting
<yari> Joe lol you have to give context for that
<Joe> Also, before this meeting ends....
<Woden> Jester - I disagree, I think we need to start building systems that work and then place people into them
<Joe> May we have a moment of silence for our pirates in Russia whom has gone missing.
<Joe> Thank you, that people have to still give their lives just shows us how far we still have to go.
<yari> ^
<Woden> I was unaware of this. Give us the information, we should raise awarenes
<yari> I think before anything else outreach wise, we should relaunch pirate chat. 
<yari> if we don't have pirate chat, we don't have a party
<yari> what night of the week was it last time?
<Woden> Tuesdays
<Joe> I wish I had more but currently PPRUS is not even in Russia anymore. They were organizing the antiwar protests but many had to flee and some we have not heard from in sometime from what I understand. 
<yari> I can try to organize pirate chat
<yari> I do really think that's the most important element
<yari> I have that time free
<Woden> I agree with that.
<yari> I will make a note here to remind everyone that all of the records of this meeting will be up on the wiki within ten minutes or so, and ppl should check back to read through all the ideas - many folks shared cool stuff
<yari> anyway
<yari> motion to adjourn
<Jester> seconded
<Woden> I will say though, to all of this - I am concerned that we too often solve issues by saying we are going to talk about it and leaving it at that. If possible, I want a serious solution to PNC attendance. I want action items that each state can follow to fix the issue
<Woden> Okay,
<Woden> ALl in favor?
<Jester> I agree Woden
<Mysty> aye
<yari> aye
<Woden> IN, IL
<Jester> aye
 Joe has quit
19:18:02 <Woden> Meeting adjourned at 10:17 Eastern.