I’ve typed up and made some small edits to Mel’s excellent meeting notes (thanks, Mel!).  For those of you not there or not on the list, I want to highlight a few major points in the notes:

1. The group decided to have a central focus on the Yellowstone buffalo situation.
2. The group decided, for now, to continue using the consensus process.
3. The group decided to meet next Wednesday, April 16, 7 PM at the same location (MSU Student Union Building, 2nd floor cafeteria in the NW corner) - Alex will facilitate (thanks, Alex!)

In more detail, here are the meeting notes.

Bozeman ad hoc activist group meeting
April 9, 2008
7 PM
Montana State University Student Union Building (2^nd floor cafeteria – NW corner)

Meeting Notes
Attendees: 8
Facilitator: Jim M.

Introductions: 7 – 7:15 PM

Overview of Consensus Process: 7:15 – 7:25 PM

- group makes decision together, not majority rule

- people raise concerns

- proposal modified to meet concerns

- blocking concern – a concern that can’t be met w/compromise (will kill proposal, very serious)

- standing aside – when there are still concerns, no opinion (does not kill proposal)

- process is not set in stone for the group; can be changed as group evolves

Agenda: 7:25 – 7:30

- discussion whether or not to have break out session

- we will see what issues are brought up and then decide from there

Bison update: 7:30 – 7:50

- overview of management plan and recent news

What is this group: 7:50 – 8:30

- Share activities the group is interested in

o Ideas:

§ 1. action to take w/bison

§ 2. Free market in the park

· Would be a good way for the group to advertise concerns

§ 3. Free school at MSU

· Dance, bike maintenance, education on issues, etc.

§ 4. Our group could help us connect to local issues and other active groups, ways to bring those groups together.

§ 5. petition related to bison management

o Talk over ideas

§ 1. Free market:

· Concern – labeling by others because of “socialist” values

· Concern – not enough time for individuals to give energy

· Concern – will it spread group too thin, should we have multiple paths

§ 2. Should this group have multiple small groups or one main concern (e.g., bison).

· Focus on bison is the main reason most people are at meeting

· Or allow the group to expand

o Decision – Discussion:

§ 1. Should we focus on bison in Yellowstone?

· Group was okay w/focusing and name would reflect that

· Bison are primary reason why this group is here

· Free market/college maybe for another group

· We should allow our group to evolve

· As to the free market, 1^st date (May 1) would be a symbolic act then could lead to further dates and could be used to advertise bison issue

o Descision – Consensus

§ Everyone in the group (with no stand asides) agreed that the purpose of the new Bozeman organizing group would be the Yellowstone bison.

Goals: 8:30 – 8:55 (Discussion ideas that came out by individual members)

- focus on YNP, keep other bison issues in mind

- Create a digitalmap that describes issues

- Get issue out to public

- Use skills of members to optimize contribution to bison issue

- Disseminate info

- Support Buffalo Field Campaign specifically

- Support legislative agenda for bison

- Support a diversity of tactics and strategies (legislative, solidarity with other groups, direct action) depending on energy of group

Next Meeting: Wednesday, April 16, 2008
7 PM
Place: MSU Student Union Building 2^nd floor cafeteria (NW corner)
Facilitator: Alex R.

The group agreed to continue using the consensus process.

Announcements:

Tuesday, April 15, Chief Arvol Looking Horse prayer service for buffalo (near Gardiner at Stephens Creek Road)

University pow-wow May 2 – 3 at MSU

Bring proposals for actions, a name for the group, and other group-defining ideas next week