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)

• Facilitator (ash)
• timer (briar)
• note taker 
• whiteboarder
• stack  

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)

• landlord updates from johnny (relayed by ash)
• fundraising stream updates

Whiteboard session to ideate (30 min)

• pros and cons of the options 
  
  • this lease, dino and problems with the infrastructure 
    
• possible collaborations 
• fundraising streams 
• how spokescouncil can work with "leadership" roles to create real accountability: committees, role rotations, etc

Break (5 min)

Task Team formation, volunteer groups (20 min)

• gauge who is interested in what sort of labor and then form teams around them
• alternative spaces research
• legal support: commercial, lease
• how to deal with patreon funds
• possible collaborations 
• finance breakdown + fundraising
• how spokescouncil can work with "leadership" roles to create real accountability
  
  • committees, role rotations, etc
• lease holders
• lease research: do we take on as individuals or a corporation?
• any others?

Katelyn's document + q/a (10 min) 

• Commitment to Collective Stewardship of the 585 Space
• ash's notes on the doc:

  • obviously we need to think about the timelines and what makes sense but very happy you have added have more breathing room in this proposed timeline

  • General Assembly (GA) and spokescouncil meetings are different in nature in some definitions. we would want to finesse that. we've never use GA in our spokes explainer but that doesn't mean we can't, we just need to get our terms straight. i personally see GA's as different than spokes meetings. we can talk more about this later.

  • the governance model may also need to include some form of expanded "leadership" body in tandem with spokescouncil to move forward with johnny to stay on the lease. we will discuss this more in the  meeting.

  • one of the "transition phases" should specify a transition of funds and funding streams:

    • the communication to patreon donors (esp coworkers) and other donor streams about the new schism (apparently its illegal not to do that) with links to our new patreon and time for them to move over onto our own platform.

    • also a timeline for receiving seed runaway funding, and any other funds promised to the upkeep and improvement of 585 (like the stove, asbestos, etc)

    • how to reroute CSA funds, gym funds, basement donations

  • we should also consult a lawyer about this agreement and get feedback and ask what sort of accountability this entails for us and matt. also whether we should have a notary or not

     

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

• Mayday needs permanent home

• Food fight

• Soccer team

• Ridgewood tenants union

  Spokescouncil Creating Accountability w Directorship

• Concern: What if a proposal from the Spokecouncil puts the leaseholder in a position where they’re exposed to undue personal risk?

  • Structure should take risk into account, but in order to do this we need clarity into what the specific liability concerns are. We need to flesh this out and build a firm framework to address these areas.

• Suggestion: Form committees around specific tasks ie fundraising, finance, events. Committees should come from the spokescouncil and are beholden to spokescouncil. Allows us to disperse responsibilities among more individuals, lightening the workload.

• Assertion: Directorship/ leaseholders should be involved in the actual running of the space. Come to pantry and events occasionally.

• Counter point to concern: current directorship has a history of not immediately addressing safety issues when they arise, which creates tangible liability issues. So why is the directorship worried about amorphous future liability problems?

• Many in the group expressed a desire to hear from Matt directly or have him attend a spokescouncil meeting.

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.