The following items were discussed at the meeting on August 11

• Finding a place to meet
  • The Long Haul - Inconsistant days, would require someone to volunteer working the front
  • Niebyl Proctor Library - Information is being collected
  • Grand Lake Neighborhood Center - We will meet here for the time being, 530 Lake Park Ave, Oakland, Ca 94610. The next meeting will be August 23 at 7:00pm
  • Rockridge Library - Thirty dollars a night would be required here
• Finding a place to hold the fall conference
  • UC Berkeley - First choice if available, professor's sponsorship is needed, progess is being made
  • Scottish Rite Center - likely to be very expensive
  • First Unitarian Church
  • Veteran's Memorial Center - at Harrison and Grand
  • Listings of halls available for rent may possibly be found at libraries, chambers of commerce, or similar places. Acquiring such a list would be helpful
  • A suitable venue must meet certain criteria. A preliminary list:
    • Number of rooms
    • Indoor and outdoor space
    • Parking and transit availability
    • Cost
    • Capacity (~500 folks)
    • Anteroom/Lobby
    • Audio/visual accomadations
    • Security
    • Insurance
    • Disabled access
    • Food accomadations

• The focus of the conference

  • It was suggested that the conference be more about coming together as a community, asking questions, and forming groups to conduct studies of the situation rather than simply being about presenting solutions in a top down fashion.
  • The goal of speakers or representing groups should be to network and refine their expertise rather than simply give a sermon
  • The question was raised of how we keep people's energy and motivation high in the days following the event
  • Having a well defined list of the topics we want to cover was stressed

These notes are my best attempt to capture the essence of the meeting, contact me to make any additions or changes.