8/17/08 Full Moon Community Conference Call 

Present: Eris, Candace, Malondies, Reese, Mina, Inel 

Check Ins: 

Candace from NY in MN. Involved on site, with group in NYC for a couple of years. Currently organizing wellness space for RNC in MN. 

Eris from MN, involved in icarus since 2003 on and off, currently organizing wellness space for RNC. Wants to share what’s up. 

Inel, challenged by internal/external forces, excited by icarus evolution, happy to be here and hear voices of community and feel connected. 

Reese, first call, just started on forums, heard about icarus 7 years ago while traveling, working towards local group in Pittsburg, PA. 

Malondies, Vancouver, BC, on site a while, interested in taking part but live far from others, people in his area would be interested, busy, stuff going on, testing the waters. 

Mina, inspired to come at the last minute (sorry late), Portland is hot and muggy. Since full moon feeling grounded. ((Mina has been involved in TIP for forever at least.)) 

HERE WE ARE! 

Things that came up in check in are 
1) RNC organizing overview and what’s going on there. 
2) Ideas for new group start up. 
Let’s talk about that and see if there is time left. I (inel), am/is available to answer any behind the scenes Icarus questions in general as they arise. 

RNC Overview (Eris/Candace…with the spirit of Irene who is “crazy awesome super hero”!): 

Eris/Candace joined at hip 16 hours a day. It’s a good thing they get along. 

They will be opening up the RNC Wellness Center 8/29-9/5…RNC is 9/1-9/4 
Sharing building with First Aid. 
This is the first time (known) that space is being created during big mobilization for mental health and trauma support. There will be multiple rooms and quiet space. 
Currently gathering volunteers. 
Irene is coordinating mental health support. 
Eris is coordinating body workers, acupuncturists, massage, reki, etc. 
Candace is coordinating general helpers and admin. 
((geeze they’re organized!)) 
Space is located 12 blocks from heart of protests. 
They are making amazing contacts. 
Want nightly Icarus style meetings (in another separate space away from activist action) for peer support. Having trouble with having enough bodies to cover and facilitate. 
Mostly excited by so much work, documenting well because this has not happened before, creating new model which is reproducible at other such actions/events. 
Making the point that mental health is just as important as first aid. Highlighting importance. 
Working with “Seeds of Peace” out of Montana. 
Giving series of workshops—“Psych First Aid & Trauma” which is a 3 hour training being offered 4 times over the next few weeks. Days before the actual event a shorter version of Psych 1st Aid will be given along with basic first aid for protests. 
Icarus members are working as a wing of NorthStar Health Collective covering all things related to health. 
Q: What is the RNC and protests you speak of? 
A: Republican National Convention. Large mobilization of tens of thousands of people from all sides of political spectrum. Look online for info. *Inel agrees to add link to info related to notes. 
LOOK HERE...http://rncmentalhealth.wordpress.com/aboutus/ 
On their organizing site there is now a paypal button. Asking community to support $ in any way they can…even a little means a whole lot…any amount good. 
Mina: A lot of folks are heading there from Portland, many known healers. 
Contact Eris if you know of alternative support healers (body workers) heading to RNC if they are interested in helping out. 
Organizers have no sense of who is coming. 
Q: Is local MN Icarus group able to support by facilitating meetings or…? 
A: Core organizers in MN moving, gone to a few meetings, not a lot of interest. 
Suggestion: Send invite to trauma/emotional first aid training, see if folks are interested. 
Q: Have organizers considered having support in place for support people? Make plan, make space, use healers who are there. 
A: Talking and thinking about this. Laying foundation for future. Making space for “staff” support people to debrief, decompress, quiet space, having partners, will seek healers who come. Currently watching “school of rock” ((and still giggling)). 

IN AWE OF RNC SUPPORT ORGANIZERS!!! BIG AMAZING LOVE, SUPPORT AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ERIS AND CANDACE!!!! 

Starting A Group (Pittsburg, PA) w/Reese: 
Putting info out, looking to secure a space, set first meeting for Sept, really winging it. Looked for stuff on site. Didn’t see much. Read Friends Make the Best Medicine guide. 

Wants 1st hand experience: 
(mina and inel chime in) 
a lot of good threads on site about what works/what doesn’t 
location matters (geographical and physical) 
some pitfalls include, taking on too much, burn out conflict around being pro choice/self-determination. Open space/safe space/inclusive space. A place without shame. 
Coming up with your own materials/people stay involve if they contribute. 
PDX made tri-fold with mission, what, where, contact info. 

(inel said stuff/she was talking so not taking notes…oops!) 

Hold consistency/time, honor ebb and flow, be flexible/organic 
Open slowly, shift ownership from a few to many/core vs. no core. 

Q: Problems with facilitation? Not consistent not enough to rotate responsibilities? 
There is interest, but people are waiting for things to happen. Folks less likely to lead and more likely to follow. Concern that it’s not just me. Is it worth starting if you’re not sure you can sustain? 
A: Depends on people/situation. 
Encourage others to bring/share talents. 
Take it slow. If it doesn’t work out now, doesn’t mean it will never work out. 
Facilitators are not always necessary. Everyone is responsible to hold safe space. 
Begin with some basic guidelines/shared values. 
Topics start conversations/have list of topics, conversation starters. 
AVL was 6 months old before starting facilitation/because of numbers/sharing space/time 
Support groups are ongoing where activist/art/activity groups come and go based on group energy/morale/momentum. 

(We said a lot of stuff I’m forgetting. *Could someone remind me to ask for someone else to take notes when I talk?) 

One thing mentioned was holding a conference call for past, present and future local group organizers to skill share what works/what doesn’t, what we want to learn/share, how to mentor one another on the collective journey. 

Reese, said she wished she had questions already together. 
Suggestion was to put questions together and post to site and/or email supportATtheicarusprojectDOTnet to be circulated within support network or to other local group allies. 

Folks checked out when they needed to. 
Thanks Everyone! Gratitude!