Back in the early daze of Dewey Square, as monies started pouring into Occupy Boston through the OB website WePay Button and from donation boxes at the camp, several amongst us thought it would be a good thing to “manage” this money, in a “responsible manner.”  This thought became even of more import as we realized that one amongst us was taking it upon himself to spend $ without any process other than his own decisions.  OB’s Financial Accountability Working Group emerged from this dynamic – at the time, a good 10 plus people strong, dedicated to the issues of accountability and transparency.

In order to open an account at a local credit union, FAWG filed and received an Employer Identification Number for Occupy Boston, and a Doing Business As Certificate for Occupy Boston FAWG.  Subsequently, two FAWG members offered to be the signatories on the credit union account. From that point,  FAWG  proceeded to track, deposit, spend, record and report on as many OB expenses it could discover. It set up cash disbursement systems. It set up an online bookkeeping account.  It stabilized OB’s financial management.  Now, if only OB members would turn in receipts more often . . .

That said, FAWG, over time, has narrowed and become a very insular group . . . 2 or 3 people with the access, control and knowledge of OB funds, and most of the $, and the accounting thereof, only flowing through one person’s hands.  To these remaining FAWG members, this does not seem like a good model for a horizontal democracy movement. We feel so strongly about this we challenged the OB community to have a conversation about any and all aspects of its finances. That Community Conversation took place on April 10, at a General Assembly.

FAWG recorded all the issues and concerns raised at the April 10 meeting, categorized them, and held a subsequent meeting on May 6, at which fifteen members of the Occupy Boston community met to discuss the next phase of Occupy Boston’s financial management.  By meeting’s end, participants consented to begin the process to set up new structures to address Occupy Boston’s finances, in regards to accounting, liability and governance. Of paramount importance is  reducing the liability of the two credit union signers.

This work will continue at FAWG’s next meeting, on 5/16/12., from 7:00 to 9:00, at City Place.  All are welcome. Bring your ideas. Cookies will be served.

Please see the 4/10/12 meeting minutes here:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZDSrDgRgj4yptY0nA7glRNPobJJBcq8FONEozoCxEwk/edit

Please see 5/6/12 meeting minutes here:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/18T1MBqS6yqQwjyURkbOCRkQzkAGKY-PD-J_JnUgjDcU/edit

Please see a categorization of issues and concerns raised at the 4/10 meeting, now grouped under the areas of Liability, Governance and Accounting (on the Next Steps tab) here:  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AsQk3Yy-nTUxdHgzbUdCd3U2Z0hrUi1jNV93di1XM3c#gid=7

On May 6, 2012, fifteen members of the Occupy Boston community met to discuss the next phase of Occupy Boston’s financial management.  By meeting’s end, participants consented to begin the process to set up new structures to address Occupy Boston’s finances, in regards to accounting, liability and governance.  This work will continue at OB’s Financial Accountability WG’s next meeting, on 5/16/12.  All are welcome.

Please see meeting minutes here:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/18T1MBqS6yqQwjyURkbOCRkQzkAGKY-PD-J_JnUgjDcU/edit

Occupy Boston’s People of Color, Anti-Oppression, and Decolonize to Liberate Working Groups all endorse the participation of Occupy Boston in the annual Mothers’ Day Walk for Peace, Sunday, May 13^th. Registration starts at 7AM and the walk begins at 8:30AM from Townfield Park in Fields Corner, Dorchester.  The walk is nearly 4 miles long and is generally completed by 10AM.

This is the 16^th annual Mothers’ Day Walk for Peace, organized by the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute in Dorchester.  The Peace Institute is a small grassroots, survivor-led agency that serves over 90% of the families of homicide victims in the Greater Boston area.  The Peace Institute is renowned for its crisis management services as well as empowerment of parents and siblings in the aftermath of homicide through court education and political advocacy (such as testimony given before Boston City Councilors and the Governor).  The Peace Institute is also known for their peace curriculum used in local Boston public schools, and they are beginning to become known for their new healing center using art therapy and other alternative holistic modalities such as massage and acupuncture.

Please remember that this is not an Occupy Boston event but one in which we are continuing humbly to build relationships with marginalized communities impacted by structural oppressions and legacies of colonialism.  Any signage used that day should be small and respectful.  The walk is open to the public and many join in from all segments, but the leaders are the families who have lost their loved ones to street violence and who have their own chants that they use as they lead the march.  Please join in with humility and respect.

1. Reimbursing Occupy Jamaica Plain for money spent on supplies for  Wake Up the Earth. Receipts attached for the sum of $345.67

2. Proposal to spend $60 to pay the Harriet Tubman House for the meeting that occurred on 5/2.

3. Discussion Proposal presented by Occupy Jamaica Plain to set an agenda for the General Assembly on 5/5.

1. Reimbursing the family of Angela Giudice for rent of apartment for use as storage space for the sum of $1000.

2. Proposal to spend $1090 to buy ten tickets for the annual gala of the National Lawyers Guild. Tickets will be made available on a first come, first serve basis.