Tuesday, January 15th, 2012

at the State Street Church (http://www.statestreetchurch.org/) 

159 State Street Portland, Maine 04101-3701

6:30- 8:30pm (snacks will be provided)

Join us for an fact finding discussion about housing rights and foreclosure statistics in Portland, and Maine and across the country. The first part of the night we will discuss what information we need to find and where to find it. The second half of the meeting will be using resources (bring your laptops!) to actually find those statistics. 

In the past five forums people who have attended have formed different groups focused on different issues of housing. The groups have accomplished many individual goals including: calling political candidates about supporting foreclosure rights, creating a database of people in foreclosure, forming pot lucks and sit ins at houses that are people foreclosed on, providing awareness of legal rights for those facing foreclosure, and setting up petitions and making phone calls. 

Please come join us!

Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/573803819301191/?fref=ts

6pm at First Parish Portland

425 Congress Street, Portland, Maine 04101

http://firstparishportland.org/

Attendance: 

Grace Braley

Heidi Vierthaler 

Peggy Akers

Robin Farrin

Ron Porter

Brian Leonard

William Hessian (fascilitator/ note taker)

Minutes:

6:10  General introduction and job assignments

6:15  Check back fro the previous week. 

Heidi: Alliance for the Common Good rally in Augusta. Photos from the event

William: A Child's View from Gaza

Heidi: Community Land Trust meeting last monday.

Brian: Idle No more day of action. Video from the event on January 5th. 

6:25  "Searching for Occupy" filmmaker Crystal Yvonne is visiting us next General Assembly (1/16) and wants to interview members of Occupy. Peggy Akers gave a background history of Crystal Yvonne's work. Grace Braley had a brainstorm session about what Occupy has been, and meant to us. We filled three large sheets of paper with all the things we have done recently. All of the things are topics we can discuss with Yvonne. 

7:00   Announcements and proposals.

Upcoming Events:

1/22/12   10:30  Maine Clean Elections, Augusta, ME and Citizen's United rally at the court house in Augusta, ME.  https://www.facebook.com/events/246396915491577/

ongoing    Occupy Maine website. Ways to submit events. http://occupymaine.org/

2/14/12  One Billion Rising planning and outreach. https://www.facebook.com/events/227462327386887/

1/19/12  Tar Sands free school and march in South Portland, 12noon. https://www.facebook.com/events/322561741191032/

1/26/12  Tar Sands Action: 

https://www.facebook.com/events/107887362715742/?fref=ts

2/12/12  City Hall Street Artist rules meeting:  

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Protect-Portlands-Creative-Community/269162369784744?fref=ts

1/15/12 Foreclosure Forum #6: FACT FINDING EVENT:https://www.facebook.com/events/573803819301191/?ref=ts&fref=ts

The new owners of the Eastland Park Hotel are trying to turn Congress Square, a big public space in the middle of downtown Portland, into a fancy private ballroom.  Join Occupy Maine in working to defend this space and make it a beautiful and welcoming space for all of us - not just the one percent!

For more information, follow our efforts on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/354969907890642/

Senator Olympia Snowe profits off the exploitation of low-income workers and veterans who go into debt to take the uncredited classes offered at EDMC, the massive, for-profit educational conglomerate led by her husband,  John McKernan.  So when USM decided to honor her with the honor of speaking at commencement, we had a little something to say in response.