[Seattle-editorial] David vs Goliath, or IMC News vs Corporations

[Joseph Eisenschmidt]

Friends, 

Staying Strong means staying small.

Staying small is really the only option, and since we are small at
this point, with a tiny but functional Ed. WG, and a tech person
still maintaining the site, we need to find out what is working for
the folks doing the day to day work, and see if it's ok just to
continue doing that. 

We experienced, creative folks can come up with more great ideas
than the field units will be able to use. I think you'll agree that
this is part of our long-term institutional problem. Striking the
balance between support and direction, needed imagineering and
actual reality based organizational capability.     

Frankly, we have nothing to ramp up for; no G-8 in Seattle in 2005,
etc. And Seattle has a wealth of 'news and ideas' in it's
alternative press at this time, from KBCS to Colors mag.

My concerns about the top heavy nature of imagineering must be
tempered with the need to develop formal as well as informal ways
for the community to interact with - and help give direction to-the
IMC. An advisory board or something might help. 

We ARE just a website now, and will remain so for as far as I can
see at this point. Randy's video work is a good source of raw
material, and I think the way he plugs into the SEAIMC, like an
autonomous module doing great supporting work, is the model we
should seek to encourage and foster.

UC-IMC is run this way, with WG's doing their own thing, and only
reporting back occasionally. The decision-making is forced down to
the WG level, and GM's are twice yearly. All meetings are open, so
anyone who wants a say just plugs in where they feel most useful.

After all is said and done, I can see there are still great and good
feelings towards the SEAIMC. I was talking to Jim G., the local
permit-getter who is the official permit holder for the DNC in
Boston, and he said folks in Boston were concerned with our
struggles and thought highly of us. That feels warm and fuzzy.

At Ed., we need bodies. Not many, but just a very few good workers
streaming in over time. Same with Randy's video collective. S.B.
can't train newbies easily do to the technical nature of software
work, and her schedule and stuff. Recruiting just the right tech
person or three is something we need to work on. 

Add in fundraising for bandwidth and a piece of media recording
equipment or two and an occasional upgrade, and were still tiny.
Like a diamond or a little baby, we're tiny and therefore hold much
promise and potential.

In Solidarity, 
and keeping it simple and therefore not stupid, 

Joseph