[GPSCC-chat] Minutes of the GPSCC General Meeting on October 27, 2011

Fri Oct 28 11:23:55 PDT 2011

Hey Y'all,

I did a little research to see if I could confirm the tidbit that I told the group about free higher education in one of the former Soviet Bloc countries that I witnessed a visitor from one of those countries talking about on the live stream of the Human Rights Conference that happened in SF on Oct 25th and 26th 2011 (https://www.rightscon.org).  It seems that there are a few former Soviet Bloc countries that offer free higher education, but there is no documentation to back up the assertion that one (probably Kazakhstan, which is the closest match) provides BOTH free higher education TO ALL at home and provides free higher education abroad. Kazakhstan provides free scholarships at home and abroad to selected students. Maybe the guy who was blabbing about this at rightscon.org was one of the select few who qualified. See below for my complete summary on the situation.  Thanks.

Sincerely,

John Thielking

Capitalism has destroyed education in ex-Soviet bloc countries
http://www.pslweb.org/liberationnews/news/07-10-02-capitalism-has-destroyed-educati.html

Some higher education is free in Kazakhstan
"Citizens compete for socialized institutions of higher learning."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Kazakhstan

In Kazakhstan as of 2006 higher education was financed by grants and loans
"Students are assigned financial aid in the form of
state grants or loans based on their scores,
and state-owned universities then accept students."
http://www.gfme.org/global_guide/pdf/331-334%20Kazakhstan.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazakhstan#Education
The Ministry of Education of Kazakhstan runs a highly successfull
 Bolashak scholarship, which is annually awarded to about five thousand
 applicants of Kazakhstan citizens. The scholarship funds their 
education and all living expenses abroad as well as 
transportation expenses once in a year from home to a
 university and back home.

Free higher education continues to be offered in Kyrgyzstan
http://www.country-studies.com/kyrgyzstan/education.html

Higher Education is free in the Czech Republic
http://www.ncee.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Czech-Education-System.pdf

Higher Education no longer free in Tajikistan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Tajikistan

Higher education in Turkmenistan no longer free as of 2003
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Turkmenistan

From: Spencer Graves <spencer.graves at prodsyse.com>
To: Valerie D. Face <vdf at juno.com>
Cc: sosfbay-discuss at cagreens.org
Sent: Thursday, October 27, 2011 10:14 PM
Subject: [GPSCC-chat] Minutes of the GPSCC General Meeting on October 27, 2011

Additions, corrections:  Please post to this list.  Thanks.  Spencer

On 10/26/2011 8:00 PM, Valerie D. Face wrote:
> Hi everyone,
> 
> Here's a draft agenda that includes all of the items posted to this list as of 7:30 PM today.  This is what I'm bringing to the meeting, but note that we have time scheduled to revise and affirm the agenda if you want to make changes.
> 
> 
> === Draft Agenda for GPSCC General Meeting on October 27, 2011 ===
> 
> Location:  San Jose Peace&  Justice Center, 48 S 7th St, San Jose
> 
> 7:00 PM  Social time: practice one-minute speeches, eat, chat, etc.
> 
> 7:30 PM  Begin meeting
> 
> *  Choose

> facilitator:  Tian

> , note taker:  Spencer

> , timekeeper, Jim

> vibes watcher, Fred

> November agenda preparer, Caroline

> November one-minute speakers:  Jim Doyle, Merriam Kathleen
>        2 min

> 
> *  Introductions
>        3 min

      Fred Duperault, Mt. View

      Betsy Wolf-Graves

      Spencer Graves

      John Thielkin

      Amy Samualson

      Valerie Face

      Jim Doyle, Treasurer

      Tian Harter

      Merriam Kathleen

      Caroline Yacoub

      Drew Johnson

      Isabela Lamar, been involved in CFJ

      Rosa de Leon, Californians for Justice
> 
> *  Guest speaker from Californians for Justice
>        15 min (total, including Q&  A)

      A community based organizations primarily High School Students, Oakland, Longview, ...  working with 4 High Schools.  Have worked to get official certificates to acknowledge bilingual students.  "pushed out" NOT "dropped out".  A through G campaign = provide college prep education to all students.  Summer Youth Leadership Academy.  1700 responses to a survey.  Campaign for Quality Eduction = coalition of other groups

Perpatorio = 12th grade in Mexico:  graduating means you are ready for college.  You can get a high school diploma in the US without the ability to apply to college.

      California Dream Act:  a very important thing for students who want to go to college.
> 
> *  Short announcements
>        7 min

      * Treasurer's report:  $2,757.28.  Paid $100 for a tile for the Peace Center $150 for our rent here + a couple of phone bills.  Bank is now charging a monthly fee.

            ** The Green now banks with BBVA bank that charges a monthly fee.  Jim tried Provident CU, Wells Fargo.  Jim wants to find a credit union that offers free checking.

      * Tabling:  Fall Junior State, Sat., Nov. 19.  Need a lead for Junior State = Caroline.  Tian will help.

            ** Sat. Dec. 3, Holiday Peace Center:  Approve $40 tabling fee and recruit volunteers.  Lead = Caroline with help from Merriam.  Need someone to attend the next meeting either Nov. 10 or 15, ~noon.  Tian may attend the next planning meeting.
Willow Glen United Methodist Church.

            ** Protesting Bank of America at Cesar Chavez Park.  Thursday, Nov. 3, noon-2 PM.

            *** Delegates for the Green Party General Assembly in Southern California.  (It's the same weekend as the Peace Fair.)  We need  premeeting on the agenda.  Tian will be a delegate.
Caroline will try to get her Grandson to help with the Peace Fair.  Merriam will be a delegate.

      * Registrar of voters & electing County Council:

            ** Proposal to join county council meeting with monthly meeting.  If an agenda item requires a decision of the County Council, we can adjourn temporarily while the County Council makes their decision.  Put it back in next month.

      * Movie Night:  No one showed up last month.  For the future, we might co-sponsor with Occupy San Jose.  We will do Network in November.  If we have poor attendance again, we must revisit the Movie Night idea.

      * Sherry Hankala (sp) event planned for next week, Friday, Nov. 4.  Sandy Perry is organizing this event.  The Green Party and DeBug are co-sponsoring.  Proposed:  Green Party of Santa Clara county endorse Sherry Hankala for Sheriff of Philadelphia.  Approved.  Tian to notifiy Sandy Perry.

      * November Speaker:  Masao Suzuki.  Or Committee against Political Repression:
Latino teaching American History at Yerba Buena High School.  Merriam to get a November speaker.

      * two endorsements:

            ** The Disclose Act.

            ** Move to Amend (as long as we are clear that we are endorsing a movement but not any specific language).  Right now it's about education.  Later, they will develop specific language.  Endorsed.  Merriam and Caroline will tell Richard Hobbs.

      * Occupy San Jose:  There is an Occupy group on the campus of DeAnza.  donation + buttons:  Proposed:  Tian to make 25 buttons, offer them to Occupy San Jose and see what happens.  If they like them, he can do more.  Accepted.

      * Heathrow & Benton Harbor

      * Palo Alto Measure E.

      ** Announcements:

            ** Betsy:  Invites us this Saturday, Oct. 29:  Annual ACLU meeting at the Santa Clara Library, 2 PM:  Don Edwards Award, LaDoris Cordell, Independent Police Auditor of San Jose.

            ** John T.:  Rally at Occupy San Jose at 4 PM tomorrow.

            ** Merriam.  Her laptop died.  Merriam to get a Kindle.

            ** Merriam wants volunteers for Junior State, Sat. Nov. 19:  Tian and Drew.

            ** Fred:  There will be a huge demonstration of "Tax the Rich" Saturday, starting at noon.
> 
> *  Revise and affirm agenda
>        4 min
> 
> *  Treasurer's report, pass the hat
>        4 min, Jim Doyle
> 
> *  Movie Night
>        6 min, Merriam Kathaleen
> 
> *  Make a decision on a speaker for November meeting
>        4 min, group
> 
> *  Campaign finance reform (carried over from September agenda) / Proposal to Endorse the California Disclose Act
>        5 min, Jim Doyle and Brian Good
> 
> *  Fair and equitable taxation (carried over from September agenda)
>        3 min, Jim Doyle
> 
> *  Select delegates&  alternates for GPCA General Assembly December 3-4; schedule packet review meeting
>        10 min, Warner Bloomberg
> 
> *  Move To Amend: Do we want to sign on?
>        5 min, Merriam Kathaleen and Caroline Yacoub
> 
> *  Bank of America: Let's do it again on Friday, November 4.
>        5 min, Merriam Kathaleen and Caroline Yacoub
> 
> *  Election year infrastructure planning
>        20 min, Jim Doyle
> 
> *  Getting recent contacts (13) involved
>        10 min, Jim Doyle
> 
> *  Electing County Council
>        5 min, Jim Doyle
> 
> *  Report on the Registrar of Voters
>        1 min, Jim Doyle
> 
> *  Report on creative actions to stop an additional runway at London's Heathrow airport
>        1 min, Jim Doyle
> 
> *  Report on creative actions to stop purchase of public property, to call for impeachment, community organizing to get a recall on the ballot and to win the recall
>        2 min, Jim Doyle
> 
> *  Should we demonstrate at Bank of America or Wells Fargo?
>        5 min, Caroline Yacoub and Spencer Graves
> 
> *  Greens doing buttons for Occupy movement
>        _____ ?? min, Merriam Kathaleen
> 
> *  Move to Amend
>        _____ ?? min, Merriam Kathaleen
> 
> *  Holiday Peace Fair, Saturday, December 3: Approve $40 table fee and recruit volunteers
>        4 min, Jim Doyle
> 
> *  Participating in this year's fall state convention of Junior State of America on Saturday, November 19
>        3 min, Jim Doyle
> 
> *  Discussion of Occupy San Jose, including proposal for GPSCC to pay for some or all of the incremental insurance for vacant lot owned by San Jose First United Methodists
>        10 min, Merriam Kathaleen and Spencer Graves
> 
> *  Discussion of "Four Puppet Politics" bookmark
>        5 min, Spencer Graves
> 
> 
> TOTAL TIME: at least 139 minutes
> (Merriam's two items without times are not included in the total.)
> 
> 
> Respectfully,
> Valerie Face
> 
> 
> 
> 
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-- Spencer Graves, PE, PhD
President and Chief Technology Officer
Structure Inspection and Monitoring, Inc.
751 Emerson Ct.
San José, CA 95126
ph:  408-655-4567
web:  www.structuremonitoring.com

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