# 2026-06-13 Spokescouncil Meeting - Jawn ### Agenda - prep, review, propose, announce #### Preparations - 10min role call (what would you like to be called, what roles are you representing) - 10min [Spokescouncil goal + process review + alignment](https://cryptpad.bolha.tools/slide/#/2/slide/edit/+wKjeSHl7oIvCXLgsWPMBcnY/) - 10min agenda additions / modifications #### Review - Check-in on past proposals (these are both short, we can read them aloud together & discuss how they've been going) - https://wiki.commons.nyc/books/spokescouncil-proposals/page/proposal-for-bathroom-cleaning-rotation - https://wiki.commons.nyc/books/spokescouncil-proposals/page/physical-rc-community-calendar - Admin group reportbacks - Facilities - Finance - Fundraising - Programming & Rentals - Tech - Outside Comms - Working group reportbacks - Collective Strength - Food Pantry - Political Education - READgewood Youth Tutoring - Spokes Planning - Sunday Dinner - Tech Collective - Tuesday Reading Group - Writing Workshop - Yoga & Meditation #### Proposals - New proposals and regular process - Are any working groups wiling to organize the Spokescouncil meeting next month (see work required in the [draft proposal here](https://pad.degrowth.net/H5Y7t1wOTmKKU3N_f9BCAg?view#org4fde609)) #### Announcements - Admin group announcements - Working group announcements - Any animal announcements ### Meeting Notes > > Copied from [this google doc](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KzH9zm_34LL3p12PiOxJRnWshHAsa5gX9Aeq7k4BfNU/edit?usp=sharing) on Jun 13, 2026 > > [AGENDA](https://wiki.ridgewoodcommons.nyc/books/spokescouncil-meetings/page/2026-06-13-spokescouncil-meeting-jawn) > > > Attendance: > > - Micro > - Myf > - Charli > - Shea > - Caroline > - Dora > > What is the role of spokes now? > > REPORT BACKS: > > - Admin: > > > - People a little lost on the role of spokescouncil > - Dora’s finance update: > > > - Doing pretty good - Dora and Shea are going to work with Monk Works soon > - $16.5k in the bank ($361 petty cash) > - -$3k down because it is the middle of the month. Membership money comes in later. > - There is a finance proposals chat Dora made - financial consensus chat - can request up to $300 without a question, but can also ask more. > - The expectation is that the groups talk to each other about these expenses and people are on the same page. > > > - Dora reports what is requested and spent > - Pantry: > > > - Need food through July - been needing to explore other food options > - Yearbook Committee: > > > - Have prom on July 24th > - Rat Report back: > > > - Charli: The rat walked in here > - LP: The rat problem was the most expensive experience this space has gone through. We could use a bleach solution. Stuff spilled off the stove. > - Do we have a rat living in the space? No. > - No open food or snacks > - Fundraiser update: > > > - Bird walk: $690 > - Biking: $542 > - Brunchraiser for tomorrow has been postponed - because the Knicks game - but there will be a new event > - Programming Update: > > > - August 22nd Block Party is a street event - not quite approved yet. Waiting on Monk Works to get a COI to get an insurance company. Lots of things…. Shea is on it…. > - Basement: > > > - Meeting on Tuesday of next week > - Micro proposal upcoming about the ventilation in the basement! > - Micro is taking the resin printers away - the tent, also. It has only been used twice. > - The mesh is working really well - better than Verizon > - Drop Verizon to a slow speed? So that people are encouraged to use Mesh. And then we donate to Mesh half of the money that we save. > - Connection between the basement and main space is difficult. The real estate itself taken into thoughts of the main space. > - There used to be meetings weekly in the basement. > - Gathering area in the basement? > - Myf says the basement used to be very social downstairs > > REVIEW > > - Past proposals: > > > - Bathroom cleaning: > > > - Seems like it is going very well – resounding success. People autonomously pass it around > - Cleaning station was also a past proposal > - Library: > > > - Challenging? But not a conflict. > - Confusion about what a proposal was - early in the process of proposals. But now the dishes are there. > - New Proposals: > > > - Compost - collection of food waste > > > - make a community garden partner at little or no cost. Use small, secure collection bins to drop off at sites at Ridgewood Commons members. > - Community gardens hours with buckets that Charli makes with detailed collection instructions. > - Compost fairies!! > - Should we think about BK Rot again? > > > - Myf and LP: They are unreliable? > - Charli: Wants to research BK Rot > - LP: Shitty bathroom scale? > - Future idea of proposals: > > > - LP and Caroline: doing monthly check-ins of the space - trying to move people’s personal belongings. Having a rule that every month the space is scanned. > > What can we do to get more engagement? What purpose does the spokescouncil play? > > - Tally report backs from the different working groups? > - Dora: BE VERY explicit about what the spokescouncil does. This is what it has done, how it can be beneficial to the space. > - LP: The spokescouncil is a reactionary response to try to make the space democratic. Misestimation of the culture here that these groups don’t want to be involved as much. > - Doing a “why are we here” - external message to remind ourselves the importance of this. Grievances? > - Myf: What made woodbine work was that it was a doers get to do things. Causes conflict, is not scalable. Spokescouncil is very formal. How can we be playful? > - Bonding: > > > - Theater of the Oppressed > - Parties - office parties? > - Consistent meeting times? > - Titles/representatives get pins or shirts > - Problems and Solutions > - Asynchronous report backs? > - Points of unity - the bigger vision that is being built here through use of the space. > - Issues of people who don’t use the space “correctly” - don’t follow collective protocols > > > - Shelby: We need a conflict resolution group. This didn’t get followed through, but we need a conflict process. > > WHO IS DOING THE NEXT SPOKESCOUNCIL MEETING??? > > > > Action Items: > > - We need a conflict process - Shelby said this. > - Pantry logistics meeting with drivers - Caroline > - Points of Unity. LP: The most valuable thing about the space are Safety, Welcomingness & Usability > - Shelby bringing a shitty bathroom scale