Center for Supportive Bureaucracy
EMPOWERING CLERKS NETWORK (LLE) Official Catalog 2016
K775 Empowering Clerks Network Department of Understanding Official 2015 Catalog What is the CSB? In first grade I got punished for writing ‘they fucked’ in a story in my little yellow memo pad. I was trying to describe a naive family movie scene I saw on TV, got sent to the principal’s office but was so scared I hid in the bathroom instead. Eventually a shrink stated that I was bored and should attend second grade. After that experience, I stopped my creative writing attempts for twelve years. Whatever shame or other complexes my first grade teacher had around sex, my goal as an artist is to politely, publicly and profoundly tell her to go fuck herself, metaphorically. She and other people like her may pause us from expressing ourselves, but they will never stop us. To make sure they don’t fulfil their vicious goal, the Center for Supportive Bureaucracy (a subdivision of Alfassi Books Community Publishing House) is dedicated to serve and protect your life path and creative experiences through various official forms, certificates, declarations and playful paperwork. Enjoy, Ori Alon
Matchmaking Unit I came back to writing during my army service. A miracle happened; suddenly I found myself on an isolated army base in the desert, just me and an Hermes Baby typewriter, alone in the medic room. It was the beginning of a complicated, passionate and exciting relationship, the longest one I’ve ever had. I wrote experimental prose and fake army slogan ads which I posted around the base. Some of them created destructive tension between me and the sergeant. Though I’m a polygamist when it comes to typewriters, it didn’t stop me from becoming one of the world’s most popular matchmakers for writers and typewriters, carrying the message that typewriters have souls. It’s hard work that requires a lot of thought, dedication and patience. Not every match leads to great writing, but I’m proud to say that many of the dozens of matches I’ve made so far do. Like any matchmaker, I can’t tell you my secrets. But I will share with you the most important one pay close attention to the writer’s eyes when you introduce him or her what you think is The One.
The service is offered on a regular basis around the country, by Skype and in various ECN public office hours.
Letter Writing Station I enjoy writing letters. As a little child my mom helped me to write a letter to the Israeli president. I asked him to stop car accidents. As a soldier I wrote to the Major and asked him why we use M16’s when it’s against the Geneva Convention. Eventually the art school headmaster refused to receive my letters and Obama hasn’t replied to me, yet. The Center for Supportive Bureaucracy is constantly training new clerks who provide the desirable service. Some participants agree for the CSB to make artistic use of their words, and Letters, of all Sorts is a booklet collection of some of the letters (available at alfassibooks.com). The letters vary a lot in their subjects. I helped a man with a behavioral disturbance write a letter to his boss, many letters were written to the dead and some to those who were about to be born. One of the letters was written after a frustrating day for me; I was waiting in a coffee shop for many hours for people to use my service and I was mostly by myself, questioning my artistic path. I was about to go home as a woman approached me and asked for my help. She ended the letter to her old lover who lives in another country sobbing. She wanted to keep both copies of the letter and was surprised that I was totally OK with that. “Why are you doing that?” she asked me. “For people like you” I answered.
Empowering Clerks Network (ECN) This unique report card was issued to me 7 years ago and is the most precious document I have. It was 2am, at the end of a semispontaneous community art festival at “Makhne Yehuda" the West Jerusalem market. We were about to close the event and go home when two guys showed up with a big plastic container and invited people to their "office" (an empty vegetable stand). They had them sit on produce boxes while they issued them a new end of the year report card. I wasn't quite sure what I was getting into, but being drunk and excited for the success of the event, I went along with it. I don’t remember how they introduced themselves, they asked me if there was any school year that was somewhat hard for me. I thought about it for a few minutes since I had many bad years in school, many moments full of shame, sadness, low selfesteem and lack of
true friendships. Eventually I decided to share with them my first grade experience. Soon after sharing my traumatic episode with them I was issued a Refurbished Report Card, in which I was described as a wonderful kid, that no one should disturb from developing exactly as he already is. A lovely and creative child who is perfect just the way he is. Besides getting straight A's in all of the classes (both semesters) I was sent into the next grade freedom, and I wasn't allowed to attend the class of boredom and fixedness. I was described as a child who fulfills his huge potential and that can deal with life challenges in the best way possible. I got sent early to second grade out of love (and not out of my first grade teacher's issues around fucking) and with faith that I'd keep discovering my true self. I couldn't stop thanking them. It might have been the most meaningful artwork I've ever participated in and I can't overstate how it affected me as a person, a teacher, a parent and an artist. Yes, art can be serious, expressive and sad and many other things, but it can also, using very simple tools, make people happy and empowered and explore the boundaries between "art", "lovingkindness", "therapy" and "humanity". I'm not even sure if these two guys considered what they did as art (that’s a different conversation), but I would never look at my first grade experience the same way after revisiting it with them. I don't think I still have my report card from first grade, but this report card will stay in my heart forever. Our memory is tricky if we tell ourselves a story many times, we remember it as if it really happened. If I'd tell myself this alternative story about me as a child, my mind might consider it a reality. So why not tell ourselves, sometimes, alternative versions of our past? For years I was thinking about that work. I told and wrote about it many times, trying to figure out the magic component of it. Recently a friend invited me to her studio and gave me an old stamp collection as a gift. As she pulled it out of the shelf she found another box with blank
certificates and said “maybe you can find a use for these.” Right away I thought of the two guys at the market, and a few days later I started issuing Certificates of Recognition. I usually phrase the certificate together with the participant during a short interview in which I ask the questions about his or hers qualities in life and areas they deserve recognition for. Once an Empowering Clerk and an eligible witness sign it and seal it, it becomes an official document.
Recently Ms. Teafly, head of the Oregon CSB branch and ECN Secretary of Design developed a unique Refurbished Report Card for the ECN. In office hours I issued an RRC to a 60 yearsold to shine a different light on his entire K12 school years experience (it was a very emotional experience for both of us), one to a 90 yearsold (for his third grade experience) and recently an eleven yearsold who is a little stressed at school started issuing himself a Refurbished Report Card. I made sure his descriptions of himself are accurate and authorized the document. You can download an RRC and issue it according to the EC Guidelines (G786) at www.supportivebureaucracy.org .
Many Empowering Clerks (EC’s) around the world are answering the high demand for recognition. The CSB distributed hundreds of Empowering Clerk Starter Kits (ECSK2.0) with presealed blank certificates and other official documents. You can order yours at alfassibooks.com. Certificates are available in various languages and you’re welcome to add translations and offer new services. The Center for Supportive Bureaucracy is now offering the G786, the EC training program, and new Local Empowering Clerks Unit (LECU) are constantly being established. After you show devotion to the healing bureaucratic process you will receive a Portable Empowering Clerk’s Office (PECO) with your own embosser and fountain pen. The CSB is also offering 2 types of Forgiver’s License for applicants who pass the Compassion Exam, form 601(c), Pain Deed, OK Parent Award, True Friend Diploma, Loving & Liable Entity (LLE) certification, Refurbished Report Cards, Validation Tickets and many more documents.
Official Joy Permit (JP33) is valid for 6 months and can be renewed online or using whiteout out.
The Forgiver’s License is inspired by the life story of Holocaust survivor Mrs Eva Mozes Kor who publicly forgave the Nazis. Class A license gives permission to forgive oneself and others, Class B is for forgiving others only. The Compassion Exam application for a Forgiver’s License, Form 601(c), is available at www.supportivebureaucracy. org
Page 2 of Form 601(c), the Compassion Exam application for a Forgiver’s License Class A of a refugee from Sierra Leone who was a torture victim during the civil war in his country.
Page 2 of Form 601(c) of an eightyear old
Various Pain Investment opportunities are available. Good Deed Dollars will be available soon.
Recently the ECN partnered with the Hudson Valley Wellness Cooperative to offer a variety of new health related documents such as the Happiness Insurance Card, NonViolence Prescription Form and more.
File Conversion I believe writing is sacred. I don’t know if we used to write better or worse before the internet and texting era, but we definitely write differently in these forms. As I started to explore creative writing in English, I found Facebook and the local parenting yahoo group to be my ideal places to practice and have an audience. Unlike the common understanding that Facebook is for cats and politics and parents groups are for nanny recommendations, I tried to write brief essays, parenting musings and more on these platforms. It seemed to work, and even my grammer got better during that process. But after awhile, I felt that all this effort was lost down the feed, and most likely no one will ever read it again. I guess it’s different when something is printed, maybe our mind or subconscious see it differently. I made the FSB (Facebook Statuses Booklet), a handmade collection of my writings on social media platforms which I send exclusively via snail mail, with stamped FP’s (Facebook Postcards) for easy sharing, on the fridge or via USPS. Printing my online musings and brief essays gave me a sense of validation as a writer. I started to experiment in doing the same to other writers, each time trying to find the right form for the text. Alfassi Books FCS (File Converting Service) offers writers to take their most precious written documents and give them a fresh look with new and exciting formats like postcards, booklets and scrolls.
Facebook Postcard The Gmail Scroll, ten weekly newsletters Torah teachings by Rabbi Brent Chaim Spodek.
Official documents issuing events with the Center for Supportive Bureaucracy with licensed Empowering Clerks. The workshop can fit various audiences including schools, businesses, spiritual communities and more. Contact for more details.
ASAS46, Adults Special Achievement Stickers. Available in a restricted kids friendly stickers.
What’s this gift economy thing?? The blood bank and Wikipedia are examples of the gift economy. Unlike the barter and monetary systems, participants don’t expect to receive any money or product for their contributions, but they do it generally in order to gain satisfaction by helping people they never met. Both the Center for Supportive Bureaucracy and the Empowering Clerks Network are based on the gift economy model. If you received a book or a bureaucratic service, you may choose to give something back by supporting us in creating new work, or choose another cause you’d like to support with time, money or talent (“ pay it forward ”.) You may also choose to take your time before deciding. Almost 2500 booklets and sketchbooks were made, about twenty thousands official documents were issued and hundreds of ECSK2.0 (Empowering Clerk Starter Kit) and ABCP (Alfassi Books Care Package) were mailed. Many thinkers state that we must experience other types of less destructive economies. In the process of distributing my art, many exchanges were made that didn’t involve money or that were done in order to support good causes around the world. I managed to cover my costs and develop new works with the generous help of my audience. So far the Supportive Bureaucracy Operation System (SBOS7) seems to work smoothly. They say America runs on Dunkin Donuts, and that’s why it’s slightly heavy, dysfunctional and destructive. Alfassi Books CSB runs on Karma and on your support. You too can become an ECN ambassador, by helping to spread the word, subscribe to receive ABCP’s, become an Empowering Clerk or publish your work. Alfassi is named after 31 Alfassi St. in West Jerusalem. I used to live in there for five years together with a great community. Together we shared friendships, Shabbat meals and roof parties in the beautiful
old Bauhaus building. But eventually the building was destroyed in order build a new condominium. I chose the name Alfassi so it will express that special community spirit and bring to life artworks that celebrate old and new dwelling together in creative ways. We would love to hear from you, via snail mail (60 Anderson St., Beacon, NY 12508) email (alfassibooks@gmail.com) or Facebook (Center for Supportive Bureaucracy). Learn more, order and donate so we can develop new projects and artwork at www.supportivebureaucracy.org. Thank you, Ori and the Alfassi Books team
Subscribe to Alfassi Books by sending a postcard with your name, snail mail address and the word “YES” in any language to: Alfassi Books, 60 Anderson St., Beacon, NY 12508. ABCP’s arrive irregularly and contain a variety of things. Based on the gift economy model you can either support Alfassi Books or give some of your talent, time or money to another cause.
The Center for Supportive Bureaucracy offers a variety of services such as the Forgiver’s License (Class A&B,) Certificates of Recognition, Pain Deeds, Refurbished Report Cards, OK Parent Award, Loving & Liable Entity certification (LLE), Joy Permits, True Friend Diploma, Typewritten Letters, Certified Apology Declarations and more. Our devoted staff of licensed Empowering Clerks is dedicated to making people around the world feel good through various official forms, affidavits, documents and artistic experiences. Ori Alon, founder of the Center for Supportive Bureaucracy is an artist, writer, teacher and a parent of three. He lives in Beacon, NY.