General Assembly

March 24, 2019 2pm to 4pm

Montague Common Hall, 34 Main St.

Montague Center

Agenda

1. Reports and lessons from recent events

Postcard writing, including upcoming plans

East County at Deja Brew

Richie Neal actions, including update about CD 1 Progressive Coalition

Trump Emergency Declaration – Greenfield rally

2. Upcoming events – how to plug in

Municipal Socialism Conference, Mar. 30, GCC, 8:30 – 1:30 – update and encourage registration (fccpr.us/conference-registration)

June 19 Benefit Dance and Concert at Hawks & Reed to commemorate 100th anniversary of 19th amendment and kick off voter registration drive. Benefit for Fair Fight

Post Card Writing Parties – What’s Next

3. Coordinating Committee – ratify new members, discuss additional openings

4. FCCPR Endorsement Process – proposed changes and vote; including update on Greenfield city organizing; encouragement to other towns; call for additional Greenfield candidates

5. 2020 Presidential Primaries and Election

** Small group discussions focusing on questions

1. How can the campaign be used to build a democratic socialist movement?

2. Should FCCPR endorse a candidate prior to the MA primary?

3. What are the pros and cons of endorsing Bernie vs any of the other candidates

** Report back: no more than 3 main points from each group

6. Announcements and Comment Period

FCCPR in Action

Two ideas that members proposed in recent General Assembly discussions are being implemented and are off to a good start.

On Saturday, February 23, FCCPR hosted a lively discussion for folks in the eastern part of Franklin County. 25 people from towns as far away as Barre crowded into the back room of the Deja Brew, enjoyed pizza and beer, rekindled old friendships and made new
connections – all while discussing organizing strategies for two of FCCPR’s priority issues.

Judy Atkins gave a presentation and led a discussion about Single Payer health insurance
and FCCPR’s leading role in the fight for a state bill. She warned us to watch out for a bad bill that would set up a study commission stacked with opponents of single payer. David Detmold provided an overview and tactical considerations in the campaign to change the racist state seal and flag – note the broadsword over the head of a
racist depiction of a Native American. Both campaigns are looking for volunteers to bring resolutions to Town Meetings this spring. They have passed wherever they have been proposed.

The very next day, 25 people took advantage of new FCCPR member Louise Antony’s
amazing cooking and wrote over 130 post cards to politicians on a variety of climate-related issues. Over a 4-hour span, people came and went, had stimulating informal discussions, and showed off their best penmanship. Some wrote thank you’s to progressive legislators, while others urged support for the Green New Deal,
carbon pricing, a Green Bank, and other issues. Climate Task Force chair Bob Armstrong provided all the needed information about pending legislation, We hope that each month one of FCCPR’s task forces would host such a gathering – building community and providing opportunities for some quiet collective action. The Education and
Women’s Rights task forces are considering similar events this spring. Stay tuned.

Rally Against Trump

More than 60 people came out to the Greenfield Common Monday, Feb. 18, at a noon rally called by FCCPR in conjunction with a national call to protest Trump’s state of emergency. Trump’s declaration of a state of emergency is another attempt to do an end
run around Congress and the majority of people who see Trump’s action for what it is: racism plain and simple.

Municipal
Socialism:

A Conference on Curbing Corporate Power & Expanding Democracy in
Our Towns

March 30, 2019 8:30 AM – 1:45 PM

Greenfield Community College

Morning snacks and light lunch provided $15 (nobody turned away for inability to pay)

At the workshops, experts will help activists and town officials explore the creation of publicly owned & non-profit solar power, hydro power, affordable housing, broadband, public banking, expanded school services, and incentives for forming worker coops. Each workshop will address one of these topics with ample time for discussion.

Schedule

8:30 am registration and morning snacks

9:00 – 9:15 Opening remarks

9:30 – 11:00 workshops

Creating Affordable Housing

Community Owned Solar Power

Community Owned Broadband

11:10- 12:30 workshops

Public Banking

Community Owned Hydro Power

Creating Workers Coops

Public Education vs Corporate Education

12:30- 12:45 return to main meeting and lunch

12:45- 1:30 Keynote speaker Gianpaolo Baiocchi.

1:30- 2:45 Wrap up – What’s Next

Gianpaolo Baiocchi is a New York City-based scholar and activist. He directs the Urban Democracy Lab at NYU and works closely with organizations such as Right To The City. He is the author of many books including “Militants and Citizens,” and “We the Sovereign”.