Minutes of Manchester NO2ID Meeting, Wednesday 13th September 2006

Labour Party Conference
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We will be getting a conference schedule, and this should enable detailed planing nearer the time. We will be bypassing the fringe as it has been done the last 2 years. Instead we need to focus on the people advising Blair's replacement.

Phil Booth offered some advise for getting near the MPs:
* wear ya No2ID tshirt etc. and security will be OK with you
* come as a group
* work the line of MPs
* flyers will be taken into the conference, so think of a special edition - 'this is a vote loser' more than half the country are against it, why aren't you'

Funding
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Voluntary Action Manchester were appointed by the council to organising funding for groups like ours. They forgot to apply for funding themselves, and so have no cash until the next finical year.

City Council Motion
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The Lib Dem members of the council will let us know when might be a good time to resubmit the motion - there is little point banging it in every 9 months or whatever. It was suggested that the economic case be highlighted as this has worked well in Brighton during their council tax review. The Lib Dems should be brought in on this calculation.

Media
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We will be highlighting the student society with the MEN - 'no ID card, no loan' etc.

Police
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It was mentioned (by Phil Booth) that the rank and file are against the plans as they'll be on the sharp end of (trying to) use it. We still intend to write a quick letter to clarify the local position.

Unions
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No progress as UNISON haven't got back to us yet. We will continue trying.

Publicity
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No2ID beer mats are expensive, so we wont be doing them
No2ID business cards would be cheaper, and we have an older template we can reuse as a base.
We have a new logo to go with the new web site, due next week.
Four people went to Oldham last week, very positive experiences.

Odds'n'sods
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There is a new and more up to date flyer out.
There was discussion of shifts etc. for a store at the freshers fair - I see this has been overtaken by events, however, so instead just read the mailing list for the new plan.
CND are holding a demo on 23rd September:  http://www.cnduk.org/pages/23sept.pdf

Actions agreed
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National Office will send us
* conference plans
* details on calculating ID costs per council tax payer (~300ukp/yr)

We will
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* talk to the LibDems about calculating per tax payer costs of the Register and Card.
* organise a list of which people are in which wards and have who as an MP and sort out some template-ish letters (anyone want to kick this off ?)
* advise MEN we're outside due to the founding of 'students against id'
* send a letter to Hebden Bridge Gazette/Times to say we're coming and why
* ensure that from now on the main meetings dates are booked at least 2 months ahead - this gives flyers a longer shelf life.
* Obtain/finish a list of local newspapers
* Draft a letter to the local police chief asking for their policy (anyone want to kick this off ?)