Combustion Chamber Meeting
Monday, April 20, 2015
Facilitator: Prost
Stack: Henry
Scribe: Chim-Chim
Attendees (21): Tully Mars, Prost, Adam, Izzi, Chim-Chim, Breezy, Henry, Beth, Princess, Wrinn, Gyeseka, Turtlebunnie, Pixie, Kate, Problem, Danno, Puzz, Doug, Thomas, Clovis, St. Tiki
7:56pm MEETING BEGINS
7:58pm AAR/LLC UPDATE (Adam)
– Many representatives from the Texas region attended the Global Leadership Conference (GLC) this past weekend
– There were (5) tracks to choose from
– Community engagement was the big theme of the conference
– There were keynote addresses
– Most interesting parts of the conference were the breakout sessions
– One of the sessions included, “How to hold a better meeting”; Relates to the importance and value of the Combustion Chamber and how it takes an active approach to help solving issues occurring in the community
– Safetyside occurred last weekend; 250 registered; 165 attended; Many may not have shown up due to inclement weather or sickness; People representing (6) different regions attended
– AF meeting occurred
– AAR/LLC will be meeting with Gate in a couple of weeks to go through a dry-run
– LEADS-ALL-HANDS is this Sunday (April 26) at the Warehouse
8:06pm AF UPDATE (Wrinn/Gyesika)
– Art registration and Art Car registration have ended
– City Planning is hoping to have a preliminary map available before the next work weekend
– Regarding Communications, the Flipside Flame and Announce list are up
– On the volunteer page, there is a “Choose Your Own Adventure” link where you can answer questions and sends you to specific departments that include the email for the Lead; Thanks to Dahling for putting this link together
– 155 theme camps are currently registered (20-30+ more than the previous year)
– DAFT is kicking ass and kicking names
8:10pm TOPIC: WAREHOUSE (Problem)
– The land where the current warehouse is located has been sold
– We have a new land owner which means prices have gone up
– The lease has been renewed through September
– AAR/LLC is currently exploring options
o Should we rent, buy, or build another space?
o Currently discussing with lawyer about structures
o Possible co-op opportunity
– Concerns: Determining the next move versus the ultimate move; Central location potentially in conflict with getting a good deal on a property; Flexibility; Ramifications
– NOTE: Commercial market tends to move quickly; We may find property where we would have to make a move that same day
– NOTE: City of Austin has a (6) month backlog on plan reviews (residential/commercial)
– Fall-back Plan: Purchase a second or third container and searching for a few places as storage in between events
– Major Tenets: Having a social meeting place; Having a place to build things; Logistics—storage, accessibility; Central location; Determining whether we need a warehouse or not; Bigger space with an 18’ clear height minimum
– AAR/LLC has a spreadsheet of potential properties
– Potential Option: Buying a bigger property than we would need, then subletting the part we don’t need
– List of priorities is requested
– AI: Add list of priorities to calendaring after Flipside as a topic for discussion; Ask for community feedback; Discuss the future of the warehouse; Topic to be discussed after Flipside
– We should dream big and think about what change and artistic endeavors means to us; We can always rent; There are places in town that still have warehouses; We will decide if we want to own; Right now, the status quo is not quo; Questions to ask are—Where should the warehouse be? What should it look like? Who do we know in zoning?
– Suggestion: A multi-modal approach where we would rent storage while having a spot to go to
8:35pm Motion was made to close stack and move on as TOPIC
– Develop criteria for what’s important; Acquire more community feedback; Calendar Warehouse topic for the summer; Discuss with the community
– Topic of Warehouse has been tabled for the next meeting; AAR/LLC cannot buy a warehouse immediately; It would not be legal; PLAN: Have another structure setup to protect the community from itself, the AAR/LLC, or the participants
8:39pm REGIONAL UPDATE (St. Tiki/Clovis)
– Report from the Global Leadership Conference (GLC)
o Notice of cost-cutting/dilution involved
o This year’s conference felt less hospitable, but the discussions were robust
o Good representation from Texas
o Format was different this year
8:45pm TOPIC: THEME CAMP LEADS MIXER (Kate)
– There will be a Theme Camp Leads Mixer, 7:00pm, Wednesday, April 22, at the Warehouse
– SUGGESTED THEME CAMP MIXER TOPICS
o Fundraising
o Sharing resources among theme camps
o Edjumicating your noobs
o All the Safetyside topics—The rundown, not the reacharound
o Communication with theme camp leads
o Theme camp registration process
o Theme camp events
o Volunteering! “The zombie horse that just won’t die!”
o Alcohol restrictions – Age limits, etc.
o Theme camps across events—Interregional theme camps
o Polycamporous
o LNT—both intra and extra (No dumping at the ISD!)
o Exodus—Not GTFO, but GTFO
8:58pm Motion has been made and seconded to close stack and send; Motion PASSED
9:00pm TOPIC: CC RETREAT (Kate)
– Community Announcement: Tinderbox Update: $4600 will be disbursed, including Twitch’s Grant and FAIL grant (ends Friday, April 24); The art jury decided to fund everybody
– Option: Split venue with Leads appreciation
– No luxury of time this year—May be a benefit or detriment
– CC retreat would be tentatively set in June/July
– First retreat was one day
– Suggestion to formalize a business discussion for Friday night
– Request for clarification on sleeping arrangements
9:24pm Motion has been made and seconded to move forward and bust out info; Motion passes
NEXT MEETING
FACILITATOR: Beth
STACK: Turtlebunnie
SCRIBE: Chim-Chim
TOPICS:
State of Volunteering (Kate/Gyesika)
EAST or NOT EAST: Topic left open; Scope will change
AI: First meeting after Flipside scheduled for June 8; TOPICS—Flipside wrapup, Calendaring, Followup on retreat; Warehouse
9:29pm MEETING ADJOURNED
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