[sudo-discuss] [omni-consensus] [backspace] Re: [BAPS-Organizing] Re: Backspace Space proposal

[margaretha haughwout]

No we are exploring co-administration with other groups so that classes
could be taught in the disco. 2 dedicated rooms.

margaretha anne haughwout
uncli*que* <http://beforebefore.net>, disconnect
<margaretha.anne.haughwout at gmail.com>

On Tue, Oct 21, 2014 at 11:27 AM, Cere Mona Davis <ceremona at gmail.com>
wrote:

> So, to clarify is Backspace going to be asking for 3 "dedicated" rooms,
> one of which will be the disco room now run by OmniDance?  If they are
> dedicated solely to BWC I don't see how the comment about BWC and BAPS
> co-"administering" the space fits.
>
>
>> In our next proposal iteration we will seek a trial period for these
>> rooms of 3 months. At this point, everything is conjecture. Is it too much
>> space, is it too little? Will it feel like a welcoming place for those
>> seeking wellness? Will BWC and BAPS get along in administering the space,
>> does the ADA lift need to go in, etc.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> margaretha anne haughwout
>> uncli*que* <http://beforebefore.net>, disconnect
>> <margaretha.anne.haughwout at gmail.com>
>>
>> On Tue, Oct 21, 2014 at 1:31 AM, David Keenan <dkeenan44 at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Hello everyone,
>>>
>>> After reading through all the responses on this I am hearted by the
>>> support for Backspace and how far it has come. I am obviously in total
>>> support of a wellness collective at the omni, and personally have over the
>>> last year spent a lot of time working *extremely* hard specifically on
>>> this point in pretty much every way I could - since we got this Omni thing
>>> going, I have probably worked harder on making backspace a wellness
>>> collective than any other group including BAPS. Actually Backspace, before
>>> you are disheartened by the concerns that must be aired in this current
>>> process, I think its fair to say Backspace has over time been more nurtured
>>> and gotten more support from the rest of the OOC than any other group, in
>>> spite of the financial commitment issue. I thank my lucky stars that
>>> Margaretha in particular has made unbelieveable effort to get wellness into
>>> backspace, and make backspace awesome. Andrew deserves a huge amount of
>>> credit for his patience, generosity and incredible flexibility really with
>>> respect to Backspace's evolution and mission.
>>>
>>> However, I am not in support of this proposal as it is currently
>>> articulated for one reason: With respect to the use of space, I think it is
>>> *too* limiting for Backspace, and at the same time it also has
>>> unnecessarily negative and significant downstream effects for others,
>>> especially any other group without dedicated space (community groups, etc).
>>> The 'den' in particular in my view should not be privileged to any one
>>> group.
>>>
>>> Why? Well:
>>>
>>> Backspace can *already* use *all* the currently-common spaces in the
>>> Omni for its intended consultations, classes and events, not just
>>> privileged use of this or that room. In this way, as Don actually pointed
>>> out in a way, the current proposal outlining all the specific rooms they
>>> want privileged use of versus not, actually *limits* the space
>>> Backspace already has at its disposal - and it limits it for others too,
>>> since especially those without dedicated space are as a result conversely
>>> unprivileged (and left presumably to fight for the scraps of remaining
>>> 'commons' that they can then have their own privileged use over). It's a
>>> funny sort of forest-for-the-trees occlusion of how space can be
>>> effectively used that's going on within the proposal I think, but it's a
>>> serious one because it speaks directly to the heart of what a radical
>>> commoning of space is and shapes the very concept of what 'sharing'
>>> equitably means, at this crucial axis of praxis right now.
>>>
>>> Currently, *without* Backspace;s proposal for new dedicated/privileged
>>> space, Backspace could schedule yoga or martial arts classes in the
>>> ballroom, or the 'den' room or, with OMNIdance's permission, the disco room
>>> (who have already offered this resource to Backspace in several delegate
>>> meetings).
>>>
>>> One-on-one Backspace consultations can *already* be had in the 'eyeball
>>> room', the ticketbooth room once it is finished, or TIL's old room (aka
>>> kids room aka 'Storage 1')... or OMP's basement rooms, or the 'bunker room'
>>> (aka plotting room), etc.
>>>
>>> Regarding locked rooms, I have talked with Margaretha several times in
>>> the past about the need to lock up sensitive tinctures and supplies, and
>>> from what she told me they could be locked up in a cabinet, and would not
>>> need to take up a whole room. Likewise we talked about locking up massage
>>> tables and so on, and figured out places where they might safely be stored
>>> that would not leave a whole room empty and unavailable for people to meet
>>> in when it was not used. In other words there does not appear to be a need
>>> for a locked room, when there can simply be locked cabinets or lockers.
>>> (This is very similar issue to what came up initially with the RLL
>>> proposal.) Given this, if we all treat the rooms in our Commons with
>>> respect as we should, why can't this be an Omni 'members' only area along
>>> with the rest of the building?
>>>
>>> Yes, all these common spaces and rooms must currently be scheduled and
>>> shared with other collectives. But I don't understand why this is bad? or
>>> something that would 'stymie' Backspace in any way at all.
>>>
>>> To me it is rather a huge amount of space for Backspace, far more than
>>> they had in their initial commitment (since collapsed) for $2K/mo. If in
>>> fact we as a commons run out of space for a wellness collective to operate
>>> along with the rest of us inside of 22K sq.feet, massive areas of which are
>>> still shared and available for precisely such purposes and with that intent
>>> all along, it will be precisely *because* too many rooms and spaces are
>>> being taken or edge out of the what is commonly available and allocated to
>>> or 'privileged' for specific people.
>>>
>>> That this staking out of space was *already happening* is probably why
>>> Backspace is so worried about not having any space, leading them to stake
>>> this claim with such urgency. Backspacers, I feel I understand this fear
>>> very well, and believe it or not is why I counterintuitively proposed that
>>> BAPS have a bit of space for its own 'privileged' use. As all those at the
>>> BAPS meetings when I proposed this to BAPS can attest, the BAPS proposal
>>> was articulated from the start as a conspiracy: Actually BAPS wants the
>>> remaining common space including all the space BAPS proposed for its
>>> supposed privileged use, to remain in common *for everyone*. If the
>>> proposal passed, we would ensure that it would remain common as we always
>>> have (and currently continue to do by not having dedicated space and
>>> demonstrating how this is not just possible but effective). If the BAPS
>>> proposal didn't pass, we would hear objections within the OOC from people
>>> saying "no, it's important to have a commons and shared space", and that
>>> would be a win also for the commons - in that others would begin advocating
>>> clearly for the virtues of shared space, articulations which in our view
>>> was sorely needed from others, not just BAPS. I realize now theres a
>>> commons working group which is *amazing*, but there wasn't then, and I
>>> got tired of seeing proposed floorplans without BAPS or any shared commons
>>> aside from the ballroom even on it.
>>>
>>> The allotment of space, time and rent in the omni should to my mind be
>>> based on not just one group's needs and abilities, but the needs and
>>> abilities of everyone else in the commons, too: It should be inherently
>>> relational, not territorial. There is no demonstrated need for Backspace to
>>> have dedicated or privileged use of room X or Y, especially when they can
>>> use every common room in the building along with their comrades.
>>>
>>> If Backspace gets so popular that they do run out of rooms to schedule
>>> comfortably with other groups who are also here and have a right to them
>>> too, why not deal with that problem when we get to it? Too much business
>>> doesn't sound like that bad of a problem to have. I see no good reason why
>>> we can't all share space *equally*.
>>>
>>> The downstream effect here is that carving up the remaining common space
>>> will and has already led others to be inclined to do the same thing,
>>> instead of sharing as equals, and then there will only be a 'commons' of
>>> like 2 rooms in the whole building, and as someone who cares about the
>>> commons and the health of the whole project more than just any one group in
>>> the project, that concerns me most. To me this sort of fear is exactly the
>>> kind of 'hypothetical' anti-pattern that Yar talks about, and a fear that
>>> becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy in that acting on it by staking out
>>> space away from the commons actualizes the problem itself - maybe not for
>>> backspace anymore, but certainly for others like BAPS, or all the other
>>> community groups at large without any space at all who we would like to
>>> meet here and for whom I thought this space could be a resource.
>>>
>>> I say this as someone who fought and worked *very* hard for the concept
>>> of backspace as a wellness collective - incorporated backspace, signed the
>>> lease for backspace, defended backspace's previously-chosen dedicated space
>>> at many many meetings and one on one - and most importantly implored my
>>> community and everyone I knew with an interest in wellness to participate
>>> and make it happen.
>>>
>>> I care far too much - exclusively practically - about the wellness of
>>> the *entire* collective and the effort as a whole in its mission as a
>>> commons. Through the input of many people whom I love and respect, I
>>> realized that I needed to actually care less about this effort, and care
>>> more for myself. With a bit of distance I can say that I now speak with a
>>> sense of love and appreciation for every group including Backspace, but
>>> beyond any one group, its that for this to remain a commons, we should try
>>> to operate from a space of radical sharing before deciding in advance that
>>> it would never work.
>>>
>>> Love,
>>> David
>>>
>>>
>>> On Mon, Oct 20, 2014 at 5:16 PM, margaretha haughwout <
>>> margaretha.anne.haughwout at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> This is really wonderful everyone.
>>>>
>>>> THANK YOU <3 <3 <3
>>>>
>>>> margaretha anne haughwout
>>>> uncli*que* <http://beforebefore.net>, disconnect
>>>> <margaretha.anne.haughwout at gmail.com>
>>>>
>>>> On Mon, Oct 20, 2014 at 3:08 PM, Donald Hughes <kamiyodojo.ca at gmail.com
>>>> > wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>    So what I am hearing is that we are all supportive of each other.
>>>>> I hear general consensus on Backspace being able to schedule time in the
>>>>> Dance Room, the Den, and the downstairs space next to the lift.  No one
>>>>> wants any one else to not be able to have access to these spaces, but we
>>>>> would like the ability to begin scheduling in these rooms. I hear people
>>>>> not being opposed to the idea that we get the EyeBall room and that it is
>>>>> lockable.  So it seems as though we have the rudiments of agreement.
>>>>>     Nikki, I would like to address what you are asking for.  We need
>>>>> to have something certain to give to other professionals who would like to
>>>>> use the space for healing or classes.  This has not yet manifested, so it
>>>>> is difficult to tell you exactly what the time and space looks like as of
>>>>> yet.  My goal would be that we have this mostly fleshed out by November
>>>>> 1st, and have everything totally solidified by December 1st.
>>>>>    But what I think we can do in the meantime, is offer basically our
>>>>> proposal.  Which is to have scheduling power over 50% of the Den.  But we
>>>>> also want to be able to schedule time in the other spaces in conjunction
>>>>> with the other collectives who want a say in those spaces.  To my mind it
>>>>> seems fair that when we schedule something in other spaces we give up some
>>>>> of our scheduling time in the Den.  But none of this is worked out.  I just
>>>>> think this is something that could be fair and will work.
>>>>>   In order to move forward on a Nov1st start date for the clinic, we
>>>>> would need the ability to schedule time at least in the EyeBall room, which
>>>>> I would like to start calling the clinic room.  We would need this ASAP as
>>>>> it will take a process to get new members who are willing to pay money for
>>>>> space to do their practices.  I hope this helps us to move forward.  Note
>>>>> that these are my opinions and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of
>>>>> the rest of Backspace.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thank you everyone,
>>>>>
>>>>> Don
>>>>>
>>>>> On Mon, Oct 20, 2014 at 4:07 PM, niki <niki.shelley at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Agreed! Thank you, Yar!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I also want to assure everyone involved that my bringing up issues
>>>>>> around money is meant only to make the material realities of this project
>>>>>> visible, so that there are no surprises and to encourage member groups to
>>>>>> be explicit about what they can and cannot contribute. It's important that
>>>>>> we reconfigure our expenses to reflect changes in member groups
>>>>>> contributions in order to accurately project our needs.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> That said, I had a conversation with Margaretha some time ago in
>>>>>> which I said that having Backspace involved in the Omni was way more
>>>>>> important to me than their financial contribution.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I know it's very hard for us to talk about money. I am hopeful that
>>>>>> we can be clear and open so that we may begin to
>>>>>> replace feelings of shame, anxiety and anger around money with
>>>>>> feelings of compassion and support.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I LOVE BACKSPACE and really want to help support it in coming into
>>>>>> being in whatever way I can.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> <3 <3
>>>>>>
>>>>>> N
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Mon, Oct 20, 2014 at 11:25 AM, Sara Larsen <
>>>>>> saralarsenyoga at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I want to thank you Yar for this incredible letter. Needless to say,
>>>>>>> I support the views you expressed 100%!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Mon, Oct 20, 2014 at 8:40 AM, Scott Nanos <scott.nanos at gmail.com>
>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I agree 200% w/ yar and hope we can come to a conclusion that works
>>>>>>>> for all of us (particularly for backspace). I can't come to this thurs
>>>>>>>> meeting but my fingers are crossed double crossed triple crossed. Hoping
>>>>>>>> Baps and backspace can team up to become champions of the commons <3
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Xo
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Scott
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> > On Oct 20, 2014, at 8:28 AM, yar <yardenack at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>> >> On Thu, Oct 16, 2014 at 12:58 PM, yar <yardenack at gmail.com>
>>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>> >> It's not your fault, it's not anybody else's fault either. I
>>>>>>>> really
>>>>>>>> >> hope the confusion isn't interpreted as bad faith or a lack of
>>>>>>>> >> support. We all need to get better at that, of course, but also
>>>>>>>> get
>>>>>>>> >> better at forgiving each others' mistakes, in the spirit of
>>>>>>>> jubilee.
>>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>> > I want to just reiterate this in light of the past few days of
>>>>>>>> > conversation. I have heard a lot of different narratives about
>>>>>>>> what
>>>>>>>> > happened with Backspace over the past few months. I don't claim to
>>>>>>>> > know exactly what happened anymore, but it seems to boil down to a
>>>>>>>> > huge string of communication failures that resulted in Backspace
>>>>>>>> > paying for space to operate, yet having no space until now.
>>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>> > At Thursday's meeting, the subject of past-due utility bills came
>>>>>>>> up,
>>>>>>>> > but it seems apropos to mention that lots of Omni groups have not
>>>>>>>> paid
>>>>>>>> > utility bills, or even rent, and one of the amazing potential
>>>>>>>> things
>>>>>>>> > about Omni is our capacity to be a non-evil landlord - each
>>>>>>>> according
>>>>>>>> > to their ability and their need.
>>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>> > It's clear that most backspace folks are WORKERS whose primary
>>>>>>>> concern
>>>>>>>> > is being able to see their clients and students and make a living
>>>>>>>> > wage. It's also clear to me that the primary benefit of having
>>>>>>>> > Backspace at Omni is NOT the money they'd bring in, but the new
>>>>>>>> > people, energy and perspectives. It would REALLY SUCK if we lost
>>>>>>>> all
>>>>>>>> > that by fighting with them over money.
>>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>> > Other than money, the only other concern I'm hearing about this
>>>>>>>> > proposal is about space. While I have expressed concerns about
>>>>>>>> > "enclosure" in the past, Backspace's plans for the den or "storage
>>>>>>>> > room" are NOT enclosures. They're stewardship of commons. This is
>>>>>>>> > exactly the model I always dreamed of for our building!
>>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>> > Finally, there's BAPS. I think it might help to separate BAPS'
>>>>>>>> > pragmatic need to host many evening classes from BAPS' position
>>>>>>>> as a
>>>>>>>> > roving "nomadic" group without dedicated space, and both from the
>>>>>>>> > concept of "enclosure". Because it seems to me like Backspace's
>>>>>>>> > pragmatic needs are similar to BAPS - to assemble in spaces and
>>>>>>>> occupy
>>>>>>>> > them for a finite period, for classes and 1-on-1 sessions. So
>>>>>>>> what are
>>>>>>>> > the ways we can frame this as a collaboration rather than a
>>>>>>>> > competition?
>>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>> > I think these problems would get solved a lot faster if we were
>>>>>>>> all
>>>>>>>> > able to trust each other, the best path to building trust is for
>>>>>>>> > Backspace to begin operating at the Omni ASAP, and the best way
>>>>>>>> for
>>>>>>>> > that to happen is to show support and forgiveness all around.
>>>>>>>> Thanks.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Let us be together,
>>>>>>> Let us eat together,
>>>>>>> Let us be vital together,
>>>>>>> Let us be radiating truth,
>>>>>>> radiating the light of life,
>>>>>>> Never shall we denounce anyone,
>>>>>>> never entertain negativity.
>>>>>>> -- The Upanishads
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>  --
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>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it,
>>>>>> send an email to backspacewellness+unsubscribe at googlegroups.com.
>>>>>> To post to this group, send email to
>>>>>> backspacewellness at googlegroups.com.
>>>>>> To view this discussion on the web visit
>>>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/backspacewellness/CAL8c4AY%2BqHJLys4eCcYLAGpxNG2AO405VpLHVJyxYVJTYBhtiA%40mail.gmail.com
>>>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/backspacewellness/CAL8c4AY%2BqHJLys4eCcYLAGpxNG2AO405VpLHVJyxYVJTYBhtiA%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>
>>>>>> .
>>>>>>
>>>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
>>>>>>
>>>>>
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>>>>
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>>>
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>>
>>
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>
>
> --
> Best Regards,
> Cere Davis
> ceremona at gmail.com
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