[New-imc] Rochester IMC response to Membership Criteria doc.

[adillon at frontiernet.net]

In addition to the introductory letter we sent a few days ago, here is our 
responses to specific items on the membership criteria document: 


Membership Criteria:
A. PRINCIPLES OF UNITY
We agree to the Priciples listed in this document 

B.  COMMITTED MEMBERSHIP
We feel that our group has achieved
the  size, level  of commitment and coherence necessary to provide an
important voice for the  Rochester activist community, and  others 
interested
in this new media.  Within our group, we  have the necessary support to
undertake this project.  We have  at least two members who have extensive 
experience with
technical  issues involving the internet aspect of our work. Of our members,
several  have already been doing reporting in the way of print,  video
documentary,  and radio work. As activists, we experience  first hand the
need for a media  which serves the movement  for change. 

C. OPEN MEETINGS
Yes, we advertise for our meetings on the local activist listserve and with 
flyers we distributes to community groups. 

D. MISSION  STATEMENT
A draft (unfinished) of our mission statement reads:                         
This media collective seeks to address the serious lack of a  peoples media 
in  Rochester, NY, through its work to create and  make use of direct- 
democratic  forms of representation.  Through  participation in action to 
advance the role of  the media in representing  the needs and aspirations of 
the broad majority of  humanity, we  reject the current corporate strangle- 
hold on the dominant forms  of media.  We embrase the example of the 
independent media collectives  that were  born out of the Battle of Seattle 
in 1999.
This  collective acknowledges the  broad struggle being waged during  this 
period against the dehumanizing forces of  world capitalism.   Media is 
about how we communicate with each other, and it is  crucial  that the 
movement develop its own media and not rely on the corporate  media.  It is 
our goal then, to use this media collective to  buld a sense of  coherence 
among the forces for change in Rochester.   We consider ourselves part  of 
this struggle for change and and  not a disinterested party.  After all, the 
notion of media neutrality  is employed to stifle change- how can one stand 
still  on a moving  ship? 


E. EDITORIAL POLICY
We have a tech contact, who will deal with the logistics of posting 
editorial content.  At the present momement our collective is small enough 
that everyone who attends our meetings is on the editorial committee, we use 
our meetings to discuss which articles get priority for center column space. 
As we grow, we will revisit this proceess,  but we are committed to ensuring 
that  everyone in our general collective will have a say in editorial 
content. 

F OPEN PUBLISHING
Yes. 

G.  DECISIONMAKING POLICY
We all share a commitment to the  process  of direct-democratic decision 
making and transparency of process. 

H. GLOBAL REPRESENTATIVE
Dawn will be our Rep. on the Global list. 

I. NETWORK COMMUNICATIONS
Andy will be on the communications list 

J.  AFFILIATIONS
None 

K. COMMERCIAL  ENTERPRISE
We are not a commercial enterprise 

L. IMC  LOGO
We are working on a logo that visually represents rochester's radical 
history.  Our website will be under the name IMCRochester 

M. LOCAL  CITIES LIST
Yes