Structure

• 1 The Network
• 2 Groups
• 3 Committees
• 4 Working Groups
• 4.1 Working groups and committees can be granted decision making power by the consensus of member groups.
• 5 Caucuses
• 6 Individuals
• 7 Networking
• 8 Decision Making
• 9 Projects
• 10 Assemblies
• 11 Affiliation

We encourage everyone to organize first and foremost in their own
communities, to participate in and support existing movements in those
communities, to form their own local groups if none already exist,
and to work towards self-determination with models like ongoing
popular assemblies and community control of resources.

The Network¶

We are a decentralized Network based on the voluntary association
of autonomous local groups, collectives, and assemblies committed to
the aims described above.

Groups¶

This Network consists of equal, democratic, autonomous groups which
are connected by communication and decision-making. A group must
consist of at least two members. They must hold at least occasional,
but preferably more frequent, face-to-face meetings.

Committees¶

Committees will be created and run by volunteers from the Network to
carry out functions considered essential or helpful towards fulfilling the
goals of the Network.

Working Groups¶

These are special purpose groups formed to address specific tasks or needs falling outside the normal work of projects or committees.

Working groups and committees can be granted decision making power by the consensus of member groups.¶

Caucuses¶

The Network embraces the self-organization of identity/ally caucuses. In an oppressive situation during any regional assembly, caucuses can call for a caucus meeting, interrupting the regional assembly. Caucuses may call their own assemblies, should such events be deemed necessary by caucus participants.

Individuals¶

If you are a member of an affiliated group, then you are a part of the Network. If you are not a member of an affiliated group, but have been to an assembly and have been involved in a Network committee, working group, or caucus, you may, as an individual member, take part in the discussion of proposals, but the decision making is done by affiliated groups. All members of the Network have access to the internal listserv through their affiliated groups, working groups, caucuses, and/or committees. A specific Working Group will also be formed with the expressed purpose of connecting individuals working within the Network with active local groups in their region for possible join up, if the individual so wishes.

Networking¶

We encourage local groups to maintain contact, exchange information, request support and solidarity from the Network whenever needed, and to open up mediums of communication to identify and share needs and projects within the Network. For face-to-face communication, we propose regular trips and visits of members between different communities, and periodic gatherings of the Network in assemblies. For electronic communications, we propose the creation of one or more listservs, an emergency response phone tree, and an open-posting website.

Decision Making¶

Consensus Decisions: The Network is committed to and encourages the use of consensus decision- making procedures, both within and across groups. However, autonomous groups affiliated with the Network are free to use whatever decision-making process they choose within their own meetings.

Basic Decision-Making Procedure: Project proposals that involve two or more groups will first be discussed and decided upon in the local groups. Then negotiators from each group involved in the project will confer to work out differences and prepare a general agreement, which will then be returned for ratification by the concerned groups. This back and forth process will continue until all groups involved are satisfied with the decision. This process has nothing to do with Network-wide regional assemblies, which have no power to make decisions for the Network about anything. This procedure applies whether it is just two groups or five groups or all the groups in the Network.

Point Persons: Each affiliated group will select a Point Person. This person could also function as a negotiator for the group, although that might also be a different person. Point Persons/Negotiators will maintain an up-to-date list of the phone numbers and email addresses of the Point Persons of all groups affiliated with the Network. These persons will be responsible for disseminating project proposals to all the members of their groups and for facilitating communications amongst groups in general. For negotiating agreements, the discussions will probably take place first by email, followed by telephone conversations, followed by a conference call if necessary. These means should normally be sufficient to negotiate agreements across groups. Only in rare cases will it be possible for the negotiators of affiliated groups to meet in person to hammer out agreements, unless all the groups involved in a particular project just happen to live close to each other.

Projects¶

Projects are the work undertaken by one or more affiliated group — through actions, campaigns, demonstrations, publishing, research, agitation, and so forth — to further the aims of the Network.

Control of Projects: Projects are under the control of those groups that are doing them. That is, there is no such thing as Network control of a project through its regional assembly. Also, all projects are to be accountable to the communities they are in or working with.

Disavowal of Projects: The Network can choose to withdraw support or disaffiliate with a project if the project is in violation of the Network’s Purpose or Points of Unity.

Emergencies: From time to time events happen that require an immediate response. There is no time to use our normal negotiating processes across groups for getting a project defined and launched. In these circumstances, the groups who want to respond to the emergency can send out a call or appeal to all the affiliated groups. Those groups who want to, can respond and participate, and label it as a response/action by some members of the Northeast Anarchist Network.

Assemblies¶

Regional Assemblies: Network-wide regional assemblies will meet on a regular basis in places and times to be determined by the Network. These assemblies have no decision-making power over projects or the Network as a whole. They can only make proposals, which thereafter need to be ratified by affiliated groups. Included among their several possible functions are: sharing information about and evaluating current projects; generating ideas for new proposed projects; general assessments of the state of the Network; building friendships and solidarity among members across the region; workshops and skill shares; reviewing the work of the committees, caucuses, and working groups; and having fun.

Sub-regional Assemblies: Sub-regional assemblies will be scheduled as needed. They will function in the same manner as the regional assemblies.

Affiliation¶

Prospective affiliates join the network on the consensus of affiliated groups.
Each affiliate needs to submit an update to the Nor’easter three times/year.
Each affiliate must have an active responsible point person whose phone number is on a/the phone tree. Each affiliate must also have a back-up contact on the phone tree.