At the 11th hour, the state of North Carolina’s Facilities Management has removed a 2.5 hour window from our permitted period at the state capitol. The permits now exist from 2:30pm – 10:00pm. Due to this, we will start the rally at the encampment at 11 N West St, then around 2:00pm, march on the state capitol and resume from there. Sorry for the late notice – it was just sprung on us as well. Please spread the word!

http://occupiedncga.org/2012/02/24/urgent-last-minute-change/

Re: General Assembly: Dec. 29th Minutes
“A total of $1,395 was raised; including $333 in credit card charges, and $1,062
in cash and checks. As per a previous General Assembly consensus, $200 would be
earmarked to OCHC to recoup the cost of the stolen generator, with the
remainder going to Vimala for various food costs and for her pilgrimage. There
was much discussion regarding details of communications with Seth (the
generator’s owner) and various things said or not said by whom and when. Ron
brought up the fact that there were two separate jars at the counter, one for
Occupy donations and another for donations for the pilgrimage. This he saw as a
conflict of two separate fundraisers, not one. Sonia mentioned that the entire
event was presented as a joint fundraiser. Ron felt that many donors may feel
this was misrepresented as being for Occupy, when in fact most of the money was
actually going towards Vimala and the pilgrimage, and as our thanks for her
efforts. He considered this as reflecting poorly upon the integrity of OCHC and
OCHC needs to be more transparent in its actions.”

Being involved in the origin of the fundraiser and therefore having some responsibility for the outcome, I write to register my serious dismay and to express my complete agreement with the comments of Ron [see above].

I/we recruited a number of our friends sending them the following e-mail on December 24,2011:

“Dear Friends:
 
We visited Occupy Chapel Hill this afternoon, Christmas Eve, and discovered that a generator loaned to “Occupy” has been stolen, leaving the occupiers without a source of electricity.  The cost of a new generator is about $700.
 
We (Jeannie and I) are going on Wednesday Dec. 28,  5 pm-8pm to Vimala’s Curryblossom Cafe,  for dinner/fundraiser. Vimala is opening the restaurant just for this purpose.  Her Indian cooking is extraordinary as those who have been there well know!! 
 
Vimala in addition to being a great cook also does many wonderful things to help feed those less fortunate.  
 
We urge you to attend and contribute to the cause.  If you are unable to come but want to contribute, we would be pleased to take your contributions there.  You may drop off at our house a check made out to “Occupy Chapel Hill” or call and we will pick up cash donations–preferably before 4 pm on Wednesday, December 28, 2011.”
We explicitly promoted the event to help replace a stolen generator and not to contribute to Vimala’s trip to India. Our friends responded intending to contribute to the Occupy movement and not to make a gift to Vimala for a trip to India.

We feel that the donors have been misled and did not even know that the fundraiser was to enrich Vimala, not to mention letting her have all but $200 of the gifts collected. As late as today, your website still lists a generator among the “OCH Needs” for which you are soliciting donations.

We agree with Ron who says this event reflected poorly on the integrity of the movement and that the movement needs to be more transparent in its actions.

The “Occupy” movement after all is fundamentally to raise awareness for integrity and fairness in our society. As such it cannot afford to indulge in misleading supporters, without jeopardizing its credibility and essential values, even if as in the case of Vimala, it is meant to benefit a benefactor. This sort of situational ethics is lamentable and is condoned by the 1% but hopefully not by the 99% whom “Occupy” represents.

Perhaps you should circulate this email and an appropriate apology to those people who made donations thinking that they were buying a generator for OCH!

Peter Vig