[fc-uk-discuss] The BPI's Latest Claims

[Tom Chance]

Ahoy,

On Thu, 2006-04-06 at 12:21 +0100, David M. Berry wrote:
> At the moment, everyone does their thing. It feels like freedom, and
> it feels like you can do what you want but it has the unfortunate side
> effect of meaning that *actually* very little ever gets done. For
> instance, in the last FC-UK meeting held in London we passed a motion
> that 14+14 would be wiped from the FC-UK website... last time I looked
> it was still very much there... 

The web site is a wiki. Feel free to take the initiative :)


> The WE is made by forming FC-UK into a body that has organisational
> structures that ensure responsibility and direction. I have argued
> this many times before, and I understand that many people on this list
> prefer to stay as free-floating atoms, rather than join something.
> However, that means that we have no group identity, no focus, no
> projects, no named people who take any type of elected leadership
> and consequently we go round in circles.
> 
> I suggest 
> 1. Members pay to join. 
> 2. Member can join via paypal. 
> 3. The money is used to fund equipment and campaigns
> 4. We apply for external funding from AHRC/Arts Council/etc etc
> 5. We elect a board
> 6. We allow members to fund the work of those people who want to
> actively do things (i.e. paying expenses, a stipendary etc)
> 7. We meet regularly in REAL LIFE at an AGM and the board meet monthly
> to check progress. 
> 
> Yes, that means that FC-UK becomes more structured, less like an
> anarchist free love get together, and hopefully gets something done. 
> 
> I see it more as a campaigning think-tank. 

An interesting suggestion. Some questions:

a) What kind of fee would we charge, and what could we realistically
fund with the proceeds? Look at ORG for an example of an organisation
that has probably wiped up the majority of well-heeled, sympathetic
geeks.

b) If we apply for grants from the likes of the AHRC do we set ourselves
up as a new research institute, or will they be grants for
already-employed academics across departments to focus their research?
What would we ask of the Arts Council who, AFAIK, are pretty intent on
funding *artists*?

c) If we agreed to move forward along these lines, would you have the
expertise, time and energy to take the bull by its horns?



> > Well the message is barely being transmitted, though I hope that the
> > 
> > newsletter is helping there. 

> Sent out on email lists by any chance?

Cheers for the offer :) I've been away from home recently with
occasional net access so I've not sent it out to fc-uk-discuss, cc-uk,
rr-announce or libre society yet. It has gone out via the Free Software
Magazine.



> > building some sustainable local groups and/or national projects that
> > can
> > 
> > be carried off by our small collective, and that could promise great
> > 
> > things to new recruits. 
> > 
> > 
> 
> 
> We tried it in Brighton and it doesn't work. There is not enough
> identity, no structures and no plan. 
> 
> How many members are in Remix Reading? Real members, constant
> attendees, active, suggesting things? You cannot do it all yourself
> Tom. 

The fact that Remix Brighton found no common identity, no working
structures and no plan is, IMO, entirely the fault of the participants.
Trying to run an arts society in Brighton didn't help matters!

We had no such problems with Remix Reading. At the moment it is three
people including myself, yes. The question of sustainability in Reading
is difficult since most of the participants left Reading last summer,
but I believe we're close to integrating ourselves with several local
arts and geek organasations, and if this works it should carry on for a
good few years yet.



> The media don't care about boring local campaigns. They care about
> National and International issues. That is why FC-UK needs to have a
> national identity and focus. 

The local media care about "boring" local stuff. We've got a reasonable
amount of attention in Reading without a lot of effort, and the local
media are well recognised by activists as a very good way of reaching a
lot of people.



> What comes first? the chicken or the egg?

What comes first: a flourishing grassroots network or hard work?

Regards,
Tom