[Peace-discuss] What happened at the last AWARE meeting?

[carol inskeep]

February 8, 2004 AWARE Meeting

Facilitated by the Diplomatic Durl Kruse

Time-keeping by the efficient and tactful Lisa Chason

Notes by Carol "Attention Span of a Gnat" Inskeep 

Mort Brussel currently does the weekly agendas if you want to volunteer to facilitate or have something to talk about next Sunday.

The meeting was preceded by a very well-attended, informative talk by Michael Goldman on "Global Institutions: What Are They Good For?" These educationals happen because of the hard work and creativity of Lisa Chason. Contact her with ideas and comments or to just tell her "thanks".

News of the Week by Carl "Laptop" Estabrook (posted separately)

Working Group Reports

Prospect for Peace – Saturday’s protest was cancelled because it was too damn cold. Well, not exactly. David Green and Gabe were there along with the signs, and decided not to remain when others didn’t arrive. A few folks tried to trickle in, but there were no signs and no comrades. Let’s try again the first Saturday in March – next time with a plan in case of inclement weather.

Hard-working Ricky (with coughing Izzy in tow) gave a report on the police follow-up (or lack there of) to the December incident in which a driver came up on the sidewalk near protesters. Though Ricky spoke to the very apologetic young driver this week, AWARE folks are very dissatisfied with the way police have handled this and many other incidents related to the protest. We discussed several ideas for follow-up – a meeting of some AWARE folks with the police, inviting the police to come talk to us at one of our meetings, having a public forum (with publicity) in which we discuss these issues. Our agreed-upon first step is to enlist legal help (Sharon will contact Stuart Laird of the ACLU and Stan Levy) in order to get some expertise on clarifying our rights.

Treasurer’s Report – Linda reports that we still have something like $2,228.14 with payment to WILL for our underwriting spots still pending.

March 20th Event – The working group coordinating plans for an event to commemorate the start of full-scale war in Iraq will meet next Sunday before the meeting at 4:00 pm at Strawberry Fields. Questions or ideas: email carolinskeep at yahoo.com

Veterans and Their Families Speak Out – Al Kagan reported on plans for an event in which the anti-war mother of a soldier killed in Iraq will speak. The event will take place on Thursday, April 1rst. More details to come.

Annual Black Women’s Achievement Dinner: AWARE agreed to purchase a ½ page ad ($55) in the program. Next week we will discuss whether any folks want to attend the dinner (on February 20) and whether AWARE wants to pay all/or part of the cost for those who attend. ($35 a ticket or $200 for a table of eight people).

Racism Watch – Mort recently represented Socialist Forum at a conference in Atlanta sponsored by the Independent Progressive Politics Network. They have developed a Racism Watch program around the electoral campaign – both to raise objections when race is exploited in the campaign (a la Willie Horton), and to raise issues related to race which might otherwise go unaddressed. Mort will keep us posted. 

Anti-Chief Organizing and the PRC – AWARE will co-sponsor the multiple showings of "In Whose Honor" organized by the PRC as part of a month-long series of events to educate and organize for the elimination of the Chief as UI mascot. We will also donate $100 to the PRC to help cover costs. Linda offered to attend PRC’s meetings and to act as a liason so that AWARE can fully support their efforts. Mike Simon is also involved with this effort, and he will set up an additional AWARE-sponsored showing of "In Whose Honor" at the IMC. Details to come. Linda will post a listing of PRC"s activities and action ideas to the list separately.

Upcoming Events

- Socialist Forum is sponsoring "The March Primaries - A Look at the Candidates: Posing the Unconventional Questions" on Thursday, February 26 at 7 pm at the Illini Union, rm 404. Our own Ricky Baldwin is one of the speakers.

- Lakota Harden, an American Indian educator and activist is in residence at Allen Hall / Unit One. Events every night this week.

- Beth asked for support and involvement in her work on Liberation Education. Linda offered to attend planning sessions to see how AWARE might use this resource.

- There will be an Active Nonviolence Training Workshop, "Deepening the Roots…From Violence to Wholeness" that will take place on March 5-6 at Channing Murray Foundation. For more info: pfettig at prairienet.org or c-szoke at uiuc.edu. Peter and Rebecca Plummer Rohloff will both be facilitators.

- Neal from Student Peace Action commented that SPA is in the beginning stages of researching and organizing for a possible campaign around getting the University to divest from World Bank bonds (as mentioned by Michael Goldman in the afternoon’s educational). More to come on this…

Then, Durl let us all go home. 

Thanks to all for keeping up the good work. While at times it seems mundane, it’s little groups like ours all over this country and all over this world that keep this good fight for justice going…

 

 

 



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