Minutes 031006

From The Bean Melbourne

Apologies: Stephanie cook, Emma, aaron’s brain, yuriko, Erica, two other friends of devon, adele, two of brodie’s customers steve and Rachael, Jac’s friend Rachael (arrived later), 6 friends of Rae

Welcome: Devon

• Icebreaker: name, why came along, something about yourself
  • Aaron: committed to core values, thinks we’re all wonderful! Treasurer and fundraising skills, record-keeping, facilitating decisions about funds; knows printing people so can get discounts. Articles: indigenous, asylum seekers, children, public health
  • Karina: is looking to purchase disco lights, excited about getting information about how people can act positively in the community. Interested in writing, attending forums etc; likes editing. Articles: homelessness
  • Brodie: want to help contribute to everything in the magazine. Vegan, fair trade cooking mainly.
  • Rae: want to learn about issues and help to spread information. Articles: charity work opportunities, sustainable living, charity interviews
  • Devon: want to learn and share information. Website and editing experience. Articles: free range farming. Excursions
  • Juliet: this is something that’s needed – learning about issues and integrating into life. Has been chained to a ship. Articles: informing people on how they can change their consumption – environmental, indigenous. Distribution
  • Bianca/Binks: does social justice stuff, used to do at school and keen to get involved again. Photography, creative art, painting, indigenous issues (through mum – has done puppet shows etc with kids), refugee issues, children.
  • Tim: excited about possibility of this resource and untapped potential coming out of these people and the project. Fair trade, spirituality, international issues.
  • Jac: useful resource, want to keep being challenged to become a better citizen, living more holoistic lives. Tips for ethical family living, layout, networking (helps distribution)
  • Rachael: public policy and its effects on social justice, migration, communities

Background: Karina and Brodie

• Karina reads from script….

The idea of The Bean began with a group of Christians meeting together weekly to learn and support each other in putting our faith into practice. This has involved looking at what our religion has to say about how we live our lives and interact with other people and our environment. Not only have we been looking at specific social issues, but also steps we can take ourselves so that we don’t have to engage with, or be a part of unethical systems and can live more contentious lives.

We’ve realised that many other people in our city would like to learn about similar information and issues, but more importantly, know what they can do or how they can change so that they no longer contribute to the problem. For this reason we decided to create a zine, both in hard copy and online, to get this information out into society.

The purpose of having fortnightly meetings is not only solely for the purpose of producing The Bean, although that is our primary goal. We realise that it can also be difficult to maintain new initiates we choose to implement in our lives – like avoiding sweatshop made clothes or unfairly traded products for example. As a result, we recognised there was a need to bring like-minded people together as a support and learning and sharing base – hence the idea of building a community that not only produces the zine, but shares resources and information with each other and encourages one another to take up action starting with their own lives.

• Brodie: meetings. Brainstorming – present and share ideas, research. Assign stories for fortnight, organise events, lectures, excursions, etc.
  • May need additional meetings for layout on weekends etc – this way can also include ppl who can’t make Tuesdays.

Submission procedures: Aaron

• Specifications: what articles need to look like when submitted: by email or posted on website. Will have global templates so format will become standardised. First draft of first issue done by 5th December so articles submitted 2 weeks before then. Final issue on street by 12th. Will there be opportunity for sharing before submission? Probably not on internet – not public until editorial process passed.
• Editorial team: Brodie, Karina, Aaron, Devon.
• Editorial process: filtered according to our values, as specified. We will send back any comments on things that might need changing. 3 day protest period to object to changes.
• Sources: just from Bean team members, or anyone? Articles submission should be accepted from anyone, and filtered according to editors’ discretion. All sources should be cited as per normal regulations.

Content – sections:

• See list on mission statement:

- Editorial (including letters and responses) - Environment - Fair trade - Ethical eating - Animal welfare - Coming events - Marginalised groups - Indigenous issues - Spotlight on the continents - Local politics - Celebrating Melbourne

• Some regular sections: editors, spotlight on globe, coming events, recipes, marginalised group, local politics, celbrating Melbourne
• Broader topics for feature articles: Enviro, social justice, indigenous issues, animal welfare etc. Still give each section a cool heading.
• Article format: have box on side for summary points of issues and what you can do. No limit to number of articles. Should keep content on different issues fairly even in interest of diversity.

Style and Layout (Devon):

• Cut n paste – community building activity, then photocopy. Might be more difficult and expensive in terms of magazine quality printing – printers prefer stuff on disc in set templates. Glossy cover with photocopied pages? Our style may affect the audience we reach. Colour covers and insert for artwork? Can still get homemade effect on computer. Bean logo on every page, doing different things – flip book? Badges and t-shirts.
• Voting? Dispute/decision resolution process needs to be established

Brainstorming:

• someone puts forward their ideas at meetings; during week people should keep eyes out for things that could help. E.g. Karina – homeless people. Interview a homeless person each issue? Many of us work at soup vans etc.
• Bianca: mental illnesses. Experiences living with illness or ill person, sources of help etc. More personal experience angle – leads better to actions.
• Christmas theme? Themes for various issues
• Articles should generate directories/forums on website for further discussion/resources
• Indigenous: bush food angle also. Language, songs etc.

Next meeting: Devon

• Where? Coco loco a bit pricy. Members spread out everywhere…FOE? People’s houses. City may be easiest. Rooms in state library (Karina)? By this Friday send email in re results. RMIT (Aaron) – cafeteria?
• Time: 6:30, bring dinner, go til 9.
• Agenda: send items to Devon by Friday. Aims, share research ideas (bring them!)
• Vic gov’t is giving grants for youth week – may be able to get publication funded if can get application in by Monday (endorsed by Hooked). Jac and Rae may have a go
• Chairperson: Devon did a good job!