Emergency council meeting notes

07-06-2025, 8:30-10:30 @ 585 Woodward

585 Collective Transition Meeting - Date: 07-06-2025 @ 585 Woodward

Agenda 

Goal

The goal of this collective meeting is to amend and then ratify the transition plan so that the collective as a whole can move forwards. After that, we will discuss putting the transition plan into practice.

Agenda

Sunday, July 6th 8:30pm at 585 Woodward

(rachel is taking notes)

PLEASE READ AND REVIEW THE LINKED DOCUMENTS IN ADVANCE

Goal


The goal of this collective meeting is to amend and then ratify the transition plan so that the collective as a whole can move forwards. After that, we will discuss putting the transition plan into practice.


 

Notes

Proposal for Collective Stewardship of 585 Space

CLARIFICATIONS AND EXPANSIONS TO 585 SPACE TRANSITION PROPOSAL

 

06-22-2025 "Leadership and Accountability" Breakout Group Meeting

Spokescouncil Meeting - Date: 06-22-2025

6.22.25 Leadership & Accountability Meeting

AGENDA:
1. Names & cute weekend

Tomorrow: 

Page wants to know what the steering element is of the structure “spokes council”

UPDATE: Briar: “Admin Collective” > steps away from any language we’ve used in the past, highlights “collective” nature; highlights un-sexy necessity of important admin work, without being called “leader” or anything like that 

- Brooklyn “Leader-ful” rather than “Leader-less” > distinct from being “in charge” without making decision > all this shit needs to be done, anyone can do it, but you gotta commit to doing it

- Being on ‘directorship” > there would be areal split on decisions > ie calendar access > taking away things without real reasons only breeds resentment > invisible power defaulting to what Matt wanted because we weren’t able to come to an agreement >> so if half of directorship disagrees >>> what DO WE DO? 

= a void in That process > exhaustion

= sometimes you simply need to make a decision

“Admin collective” > you have specific tasks, 9 people doing 9 specific things, (Odd number so no ties) > feedback, digesting decisions > spokes council to have feedback “tickets” to give anonymous feedback

——————————————————————————————————

Meeting with Dino:

Fiscal sponsorship: Tyler EVLoves is a organization that gives us the meals for food pantry

- 5 yrs relationship

Lease as relates to leadership / structural stuff: LIABILITY

How to create structures that integrate with “admin collective” & “spokes council”

CLEANING PROPOSALS

Arrangement with the landlord: we pay Marciela for monthly cleaning and trash maintenance; full cleaning of the space doesn’t happen enough; confusion; 

PROPOSE: WE START A DOCUMENT CLARIFYING WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT: NOTES ARE DISCUSSION ,BUT WE NEED CLEAR DOCUMENT FOR TOMORROW’S MEETING: INCLUDE TWO WHEELED BIKE WITH CAVEATS, CHARTER, EMERGENCY IDEAS >> REFERENCE DOCUMENT WE CAN START AND STUFF > ASH WILL MAKE THIS DOCUMENT

Last items / follow up discussions:

admin collective_spokescouncil-01.jpg

06-23-2025 6:30-9 pm @ MayDay Space

Spokescouncil Meeting - Date: 06-23-2025

Spokescouncil Strategy Meeting 3 (aka what to do about the future of the space)

Agenda

Roles (5 min)
  1. Facilitator (Ash + Katelyn)
  2. Timer (Dora)
  3. Stack (Caroline)
  4. Note taker (paul)
  5. Whiteboarder (none)
Names/Pronouns (5 min)
Updates from Johnny about Lease + Short Q/A (10 min)
Document Template walkthrough (5 min)
Proposal section breakout groups (5 min)
Proposal writing time! (30 min)
Break (5 min)
Proposals presentations (50 min)

we go section by section together

Follow up plan/action items (10 min)

Detailed Meeting Notes

Intro & agenda review

Updates from johnny

breakout groups

groups are working on editing sections of this transition doc to be presented to the directorship

group red
group green
group purple

point of clarification: at the last meeting it was decided that we would continue to operate at 585 woodward as an organization independant from Woodbine.

Reviewing the document

Transitional governance

We decided this section was confusing and dropped it. wasn't clear the difference between emergency counsel and the admin/spokes groups.

Agreements w/ landlord
Basement
kitchen
governance model

are these structures temporary or not?

are the individual admins reviewed every 6 months or is the entire admin structure going to be reviewed in 6 months?

clarification that each admin committes are committees-- groups of people, but have a point person that rotates every 6 months.

finance & fiscal sponsorship

Next Action Items

06-18-2025 7-9 pm at MayDay Space

Spokescouncil Meeting - Date: 06-18-2025

Spokescouncil Strategy Meeting 2 (aka what to do about the future of the space)

Agenda 

Names/Pronouns (5 min)
Roles (5 min)
Review of "Options" (5 min)
Review of Monday meeting (10 min)
Brief Updates and Open Questions (10 min)
Breakout group research huddle (35 min)
Break (5 min)
Breakout group reportbacks (15 min)
Plan for Monday June 23 Meeting + Proposal Teams (10 min)
Action Items + Bottomliners (5 min)

Meeting Highlights

Roles (5 min)

Review of "Options" (5 min)

Review of Monday meeting (10 min) (Dora)

Brief Updates and Open Questions (10 min)

Breakout group research huddle (35 min)

LEADERSHIP AND ACCOUNTABILITY group notes: Relationship btw spokes council and leadership roles

Note: Property taxes for 585 lease : $8000/yr in taxes: Department of Finances

Question: Is landlord paying for major repairs ??

 discuss pain points from the past to help inform going forward: WHAT HASN’T BEEN WORKING (not blame person but like more generally what dynamics don’t work > with intent to address/avoid a structural concern)

- UNCLEAR overlap / delineation between leadership roles vs responsibility roles : ie busted things : ppl who are in roles of leadership vs roles of responsibility for pragmatic needs

- daily needs need to delineated more clearly

Leaseholder stuff: mostly dependent on SATURDAY discussion

Break (5 min)

Breakout group reportbacks (15 min)

WAIT: why am I talking:

LEGAL: 

- PATREON & With Friends: their terms of service require that that change of services provided be announced

- NYS law: we do have to report to our donors that we are changing the structure of the organizing;

Leadership / accountability:

QUESTION: what is the point of third space / option 3: the vast majority of people want to stay with 585, have a collective body that pairs with leadership; 

- 3rd space is useful to understand value of staying at 585 

Plan for Monday June 23 Meeting + Proposal Teams (10 min)

- write proposals prior to meeting to finalize one by the end of the meeting

Action Items + Bottomliners (5 min)

06-16-2025, 7-9 pm at May Day Space

Spokescouncil Meeting - Date: 06-16-2025

Spokescouncil Strategy Meeting 1 (aka what to do about the future of the space)

Agenda

Introductions: name, pronouns (5 min)
Volunteer for roles (5 min)
Refresher on meeting gestures and protocols: jazz hands, stack, "WAIT" (5 min)
Review of the "options" and Open container for processing the news together: fears, hopes (20 min)
Updates (5 min)
Whiteboard session to ideate (30 min)
Break (5 min)
Task Team formation, volunteer groups (20 min)
Katelyn's document + q/a (10 min) 
Special signal chat for these meetings and updates? (5 min)
Action Item Roundup + bottomliners (10 min)

Meeting Highlights

Space 585 Spokescouncil Meeting \#2 Notes Spokescouncil Strategy Meeting 1: What to do about the Future of the Space

Facilitator- Ash
Time Keeper- Briar
Stack- Andrew
Notetaker- Shea
Whiteboard maven - Nina

Review of Options

1- Lease takeover of Space 585 by a new group. Woodbine entity moves to a new space. Working groups remaining at Space 585 would collaborate with lease holders to form democratically run space. ~3 mos rent available to working groups to fund the space during the transition.
2- Current leaseholders remain on the lease, directorship is expanded. Things remain largely the same.
3- Woodbine retains control of Space 585, working groups receive seed money (~3 mos rent) to move mutual aid/ working groups operations to a new space.

Feelings Processing

The group expressed excitement over the opportunity to form a democratically run space, as well as conviction that the mutual aid and community building are vital to the neighborhood. We acknowledged how much those in the 585 working groups care about the space and the community, and how important food pantry and Sunday dinners are to the well-being of many who receive these services.
Many in the group are anxious as well, due to the short timeline, vagueness of the agreement, and lack of cohesion around the vision for the new space/ management structure. Some wondered whether the funds allocated to space repairs and management (electricity etc) would still be available in the event of a split. - A clarification was given that the end of June deadline is for a statement of intent, and that submitting the Collective Stewardship Commitment prepared by Katelyn and signed by the group to the leaseholders would fulfill this deadline.

Update from Johnny- LL is ok with Johnny and Hunter remaining on the lease without Matt. LL is wary of adding new names to the lease, and any new names added can expect a full background and credit check before being added.

Fundraising Update:
CSA- Natalie: it is not a certainty that CSA will remain operating out of Space 585. CSA contributes ~$16k/ yr to the space, which while helpful, “wouldn’t save the space.” That being said, CSA has logistical needs to consider that are already being met by the 585 Space.
Patreon- Dora: If the planning group decides to take control of the 585 lease, Patreon funds for 3 mos would be split between Space 585 and the new Woodbine space. Donors would be informed of the split and a new Patreon formed for Space 585. Once the new Patreon is running, donors would be able to choose which space receives their donations. Other current revenue streams: gym, pantry grants, co-working.

Whiteboard Time- Pros and Cons Options 1-3

Option 1

Con: our group has skills that are underdeveloped in this area, and historically there is a low level of engagement by stakeholders- are there enough of us willing to take this on?
We will need to restructure our relationships with each other and the space.

Pro: Immediate pursuit of the deadline and high levels of group interest indicate this is the most favorable option- group consensus.

Pro: gym, food pantry, and CSA are already well entrenched and operating out of 585. They may not have the desire or capability to relocate.

Pro: we can always revisit option 3 (starting new space) either as we grow or as challenges arise at 585.

Option 2

Q: Is there a role for the spokescouncil here?
A: Possibly, but seems to hinge on which of the current leaseholders remains on the lease and how open they would be to collaborating with the spokescouncil.

Pro: If we are unable to reach group consensus around Options 1 or 3, we can always revisit in the future.

Con: runway funds are most likely not indefinitely available

Con: Many comrades who formerly worked in mutual aid groups have stepped away from Woodbine due to conflict arising from the current structure. They may return if we reach consensus on Option 1 or 3, but will not be interested in Option 2. Several in the working group agreed with this statement and expressed similar feelings.

Option 3

Pro: Funding for new space could open new opportunities for the group.
Con: This is the least clear path forward.

Brainstorm

Q: What do we want to do?
Q: What structure do we need to create to accomplish this?

Briar- allows us to have a voice. There are few democratically run spaces in NYC. Learning these processes will enable us to make more democratic decisions in this group and in our wider communities.

Andrew- the mutual aid and working groups are all community focused, that’s what brings us together.
Usman- our goal should be to center the community
Lippy- create paths to social and communal skills building, development of principles of operation in a shared space
Nina- prompted the group to define “community” for ourselves- which community? Social, geographical, ideological? Who are we centering?

Possible Collaborations

Break out into Groups
Alternative Spaces
Legal Support
Patreon
Collaborations
Leadership Accountability
Leaseholders + Relationship
Incorporation?

Groups created Signal chats to communicate and collaborate between meetings

Katelyn presents Stewardship doc- meant to be a statement of intent. Group should feel free to review and revise as needed.
Andy reiterated that the only option with a deadline attached to it is Option 1, Stewardship doc with group signatures meets the requirement of the deadline.
Ash clarified that MOLU are representatives onboarded to a Signal chat who coordinate the spaces everyday operations.

Group voted to start the 585 Emergency Council signal chat.
Group voted to have another Spokescouncil Meeting 6/23 @ 7p location TBD.

Action Items
Groups work on your respective research projects.
Need volunteers for 6/23 meeting facilitator, time keeper, stack, and note taker.