uhcan-mn : Message: notes from UHCAN-MN mtg

Hi Everyone,

I thought we had a very productive, engaging mtg last evening at walker Church.

We used consensus decision-making which included a lot of brainstorming,

synthesis of ideas, until we reached decisions everyone could agree with.

We decided that given the intensity of debate and public awareness of the health care crisis,

Sit-ins, creative actions etc are happening across the country at "health insurance" corporations. that we will:

1. continue to organize and emphasize the importance of direct action (e.g. sit-ins, creative actions) AND

2. use this critical juncture as an opportunity to build the collective and personal capacities of this movement for

HC rights, justice, and the single-payer model. Major emphasis will be placed on participatory, inclusive organizing

and democratic decision-making, and better coordinating and networking among groups. We feel that grassroots

direct action from the bottom up will put positive pressure at many levels, including legislative.

We decided that we will send a draft letter to various organizations inviting them to a one-day

retreat on saturday Nov 21 from about 9am to 5pm at Circle Pines (about a 10 mi drive) along a

lake which we have already reserved.the objective of this retreat will be to network among groups

on single-payer and measures consistent with it, but also to have "teach-ins" on various aspects of

direct action. Beginning friday evening at 7PM UHCAN-MN folks only can come out for a pot luck and

relaxation, music. But saturday will be open to all progressive groups.

We formed a working group of 5 people (Dorothy, Jim,Joan,Joel, and Brad) who will meet this saturday

at 7PM to continue planning for it. If interested in being on working group let me know. Some of the

workshops we are working on may include: What is direct action ?; Organizing 101(from how to run a mtg

using the "spokecouncil" model, facilitation of a mtg); media campaign; creative approaches like Billionaires for

Wealth Care etc; "How-to" stuff like make a banner, sign etc.

A first draft letter for comments, revision etc will be circulating on the UHCAN-MN list serve soon. Any questions

let me know.

thanks,

joel

Joel Albers

Clinical Pharmacist, Health Economics Researcher

Universal Health Care Action Network - MN

Community/University Collaborative Research

www.uhcan-mn.org

phone: 612-384-0973

address: 3500 35th ave S

Mpls, MN, 55406