Minutes: 9/20

Moxie Meeting Minutes for 9/20

• Welcome!
  • We had a really nice turnout despite problems with advertising. Thank you, everyone who came, both new and previous members!
  • Mailing List
    • If you would like to be notified of upcoming Moxie events,
• Changes at the OSDA
  • Mandatory Training
    • There was a mandatory training session for student organizations this week. Erica Reade attended (THANK YOU, ERICA!) and is now the most informed person about official policies.
  • Re-Recognition
    • We need to turn in our re-recognition forms this coming week in order to get funding soon, etc. Ann Snitow dropped by and signed the form for us, people at the meeting signed on as official members, and some people were placed into official roles. We will need to revise our constitution and fill out the rest of the paperwork before it can be turned in.
  • Roles
    • To make things easier to manage, roles have been assigned.
      • OSDA contact: Erica Reade
      • Treasurer: Liza Bley
      • Advertising & Communications: Richenda Gould
      • Secretary: Jill Pason
  • Budgeting
    • The first budgeting deadline is fast approaching. We will need to decide on any events in the coming 1-2 months and determine if they need funding.
  • Meeting Space
    • Richenda emailed Kate, and we need to fill in an event request form in order to secure a weekly space. Richenda and Vlada will make sure this gets done.
  • Meeting Formats
    • This semester we’ll try something new. Each week our meetings will have a different focus; some will be for planning, some for discussion, fun, etc. You can keep track of what will be happening when via <a href=”http://www.google.com/calendar/render?cid=nl4b6306r4seonppu8a1nhi0i8%40group.calendar.google.com” mce_href=”http://www.google.com/calendar/render?cid=nl4b6306r4seonppu8a1nhi0i8%40group.calendar.google.com” target=”_blank”><img src=”http://www.google.com/calendar/images/ext/gc_button1_en.gif” mce_src=”http://www.google.com/calendar/images/ext/gc_button1_en.gif” border=”0″ /></a>
• OPEN’s upcoming event: But I’m a Cheerleader!
  • OPEN will be screening the comedy “But! I’m a Cheerleader!” on Thursday, September 27^th from 6PM – 8:30PM in the 8 E. 16^th ST Building in room 1106. This does overlap with our meeting, so we understand if you bail on us to go chill with them. OPEN is the Out, Proud Environment at the New School.
• Potential Events/Causes
  • We brainstormed for events and issues to focus on this semester. We will need to make some decisions in the next week or so, as we want time to plan and get budgeting approved. It was decided that the ideas would be sent out via email, and next week we will have a vote. Ideas were as follows.
    • Self Defense Workshop. A continuation of Erica’s previous events, involves hiring someone to come in and teach people how to defend themselves.
    • Verbal/Street Harassment. (Popular) Looking for methods to combat, possibly working with Holler Back NY. We may already have a contact via Harmony.
    • Body Workshops. Understanding the body, body image, possibly with Babeland.
      • Health issues
      • Sex Ed
        • Contraception–prices
      • AIDs
    • Look for existing feminist issues and events already happening in NYC
      • Take Back the Night. This is an event/rally/march to reclaim safety on the street, in homes, etc. More info, and kits to run your own event (a lot of other schools seem to have done this) can be found here: http://www.takebackthenight.org/
    • A bulletin/newsletter/zine. Possibility has been discussed of Moxie putting out either a regular publication or a collaborative effort at the end of the year/semester.
    • The involvement of men in feminism, particularly in Moxie!
    • What Is Feminism, and why it’s considered an ‘outdated’ or even ‘dirty’ word. What constitutes a feminist? Open discussion, hopefully with Ann Snitow.
    • Issues surrounding AIDs and helping to prevent the spread. Heterosexual women are one of the fastest growing groups of new infectees.
    • Bike Workshop, encourage women to be involved in a hands-on activity that is often dominated by men.
    • Continuation of porn talk series, viewing and discussion. We should try to get people involved in the sex work industry to participate, like Rachel or Harper’s contact who films transgender porn. Possibility of a co-event.
    • Consent workshop. What is consent and how do you give it?
    • A reading of feminist-oriented literature, etc., similar to the Lang Reading Series.
    • T-Shirts! We have PLENTY left over from previous Moxie Masturbation Months (February) and we’d quite like some new ones!
    • Teaching the teachers. Contact Eleni Litt, who teaches our teachers, and have her talk to Moxie about our experiences in the classroom. How feminism, gender issues, etc. have and are being handled at Lang and the NS in general.

• The Moxie Show!
  • Is an open-mic show by Collective Unconscious. http://www.nytheatre.com/nytheatre/moxi5664.htm Not feminist per se, but it’s got our name!
• Our next meeting will be Thursday the 27th. Time and location TBA, but probably 6:30ish in the Lang Cafe. As it is an informal discussion meeting, feel free to drop in when you can!
• Our first event will most likely be a screening of Clueless. Fun, a bit silly, and an opportunity for discussion afterwards about the merits of this popular film and the messages it gives.