[sudo-discuss] [URGENT] Omni Commons Response to Current Climate (was re: "Omni as a distribution point")

[Laura Turiano]

Hi everyone,

I hope you’re all healthy. I have suggestions about being a drop off point and then I’d like to be taken off these emails. Basically I’m seconding Jenny’s stipulation about staffing and hygiene,

It’s important to have a list of supplies that are actually needed and to turn EVERYTHING ELSE away. I would say no clothes, no used toys, no heavily used items. 

Items that are donated should be in their original packaging that can be squirted w a 10% bleach solution and wiped down, or be something hard and easily cleanable w the bleach solution.

Have Cici or one of the other medics show volunteers how to use masks and gloves properly so they are actually protected. A person trained in infection control should also help define the drop off procedure.

If crap accumulates, or people aren’t following the agreed protocols, it should be shut down. 

Love,
Laura


Sent from my iPhone

> On Mar 16, 2020, at 11:47 AM, Jenny Ryan <jenny at jennyryan.net> wrote:
> 
> 
> Hey all!
> 
> While I'm replying to Roberto's message, I'm also cc'ing various Omni mailing lists (including member collectives):
> 
> Yes, I think we should be a dropoff point - but only if the organizers will staff it fully and abide by extremely high hygiene/sanitization standards. 
> 
> We all need to be talking more about next steps as a community place-based organization. I've revived our Slack channel here so we can have real-time conversations: Click Here To Join Chat!
> 
> Questions for the community:
> Should we send a request to our mortgage lender to belay payments for a month or two? We have $30K as bare-minimum operating reserves (which I'd rather not touch), and an additional $15K in the kitchen fund. Our checking account is currently at a little over $3K, with March mortgage and utilities paid, but we are not receiving ~$1K in member collective payments, and half our necessary monthly income (~$5K of ~$11K) comes from event rentals... that have all been cancelled...
> Builders/handypeoplez: I have put out a call/request for someone to install the touchless soap dispenser i bought last year - it is powered by rechargeable C batteries and needs to be mounted onto tile with masonry drill bits - all materials (dispenser, batteries, charger, masonry bits and drill) are in the secure storage; foaming unscented hand soap is in massive quantities in the cleaning closet (please lock! but share combo lock code liberally with trusted folks who won't steal all the TP ;) - it could also be wired to existing electrical. I personally can't do it as I'm currently a probable asymptomatic vector of covid-19. At my home in W Oakland, we have a box of N95 masks (I believe CCL ordered more?) and lots of food as well as herbs and some meds, so ping me if you need and I will leave it outside our door for you <3 Can also order things online if anyone needs and doesn't have the resources right now.
> Per requests from Robb, I have purchased 4 bottles of 70% Isopropyl alcohol with spritz bottles, as well as a dozen air filters. Who is currently regularly at Omni (Robb? Sierk? AB? anyone else?) that can be my point of contact for delivery updates? If you think of other things we need you can make a purchase request here: https://omnicommons.org/budgetrequest
> Some relevant announcements:
> CCL has recently purchased various supplies for decontamination and cleanliness. Also a good resource for people with questions about the virus. Patrik, lmk if you need to go halfsies with Omni on the sanitizer dispensing station - if CCL is strapped, that is - cuz Omni will be in coming months. 
> Please donate to Omni and/or Sudo right now! Also, consider making a donation to CCL member (and my former beloved housemate!) Craig, who is working on a vaccine - he is currently trying to raise $1500: You can send PayPal donations to: finance at renegadex.bio - or Venmo: Craig-Rouskey
> I'll be sending out a financial report with coming-month prospectives by the end of March. This is one of my priorities right now, and I'm downshifting my full-time job and other gigs to do it and will not be charging my $25 bookkeeper contract rate for those hours. I am concerned about the lack of financial support from events (most all of which have been cancelled or postponed), as well as from Phat Beets (4 months unpaid rent, $2,518) and FYE (1.5 months unpaid rent, $525) - PB & FYE - please let us know how your orgs are doing and what we can do to best support you and in turn, Omni Commons as a whole! 
> Current costs and recurring income sources have been regularly updated on the Finance Wiki Page: https://omnicommons.org/wiki/Finances 
> Additional Resources:
> COVID-19 Mutual Aid Resources- Huichin/Oakland
> https://bayrising.org/organizingduringcoronavirus/
> https://covid19freelanceartistresource.wordpress.com/
> https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/alameda_county_food_banks.html
> Alameda County Public Health Deptartment's COVID-19 resource hub
> http://www.alamedacounty.info/content/housing-and-renting-aid
> Bay Area Financial Solidarity
> Mad love & solidarity - and hope to see you on the chat! (link above)
> <3 jnny
> 
> 
>> On Mon, Mar 16, 2020 at 10:07 AM Roberto Martinez via commons <commons at lists.omnicommons.org> wrote:
>> Hello all, 
>> 
>> I got a request about using the Omni as a location for dropping off donating goods. Are we doing something already? If not are we open to have the Omni as a drop of place? 
>> 
>> I’ll ask them to submit a formal request and take it from there. 
>> 
>> Thanks, 
>> RM
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> 
>> Begin forwarded message:
>> 
>>> From: Cc Raye <viviraye at gmail.com>
>>> Date: March 15, 2020 at 8:16:01 PM PDT
>>> To: Margot Brennan <margot at seedsandstones.org>
>>> Cc: Roberto Martinez <rcm00189 at gmail.com>
>>> Subject: Re:  Omni as a distribution point
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Hi Roberto,
>>> Thanks Margot for connecting us.
>>> Some of us are trying to coordinate some mutual aid and wanted to suggest a centralized location for dropping off donated goods that could then be redistributed.
>>> Do you think Omni might be open to this for some period of time?
>>> Would we need to have designated times?
>>> Looking forward to being in touch if y'all are open to this.
>>> Thanks!
>>> Cici
>>> 
>>>> On Sun, Mar 15, 2020, 8:07 PM Margot Brennan <margot at seedsandstones.org> wrote:
>>>> Hi Roberto,
>>>> 
>>>> Cc'd on this email is Cici who has a question for you all about possibly using the space for something.  Cici, this is Roberto my contact for the Omni.
>>>> 
>>>> Thanks,
>>>> 
>>>> Margot
>> _______________________________________________
>> commons mailing list
>> commons at lists.omnicommons.org
>> https://omnicommons.org/lists/listinfo/commons
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