[Peace] AWARE notes

[Carol Inskeep]

 Notes from AWARE 9/15

Al Kagan planned and facilitated the meeting.  About 25 folks attended.
We passed the hat and collected about $40.  Six people signed up to help
with facilitation/food/notes for future meetings.

Irfan Ahmad of the Central Illinois Mosque and Islamic Center was the
guest and educational speaker.  He discussed a variety of topics related
to the Muslim community here in the United States and the effect of 9/11
on American Muslims, as well as suggestions on how to work together.
Irfan also made a generous $100 donation to AWARE.

ANNOUNCEMENTS OF UPCOMING EVENTS

- A Palestinian activist will give a talk titled, "The Occupation is
Killing Us All"
	9/23 at 7:00 at ILLINOIS DISCIPLES FOUNDATION

- There will be an Anti-Chief protest on the Quad
	9/13 at noon on the QUAD

- Two speakers on Human Rights in Colombia will visit the Illinois
Disciples Foundation in the next month:
	ELDER SANCHEZ on OCTOBER 10th
	and a second speaker on NOVEMBER 9th

- Ricky Baldwin announced that there is a boycott and upcoming protest
against Taco Bell for its inhumane treatment of workers.  If you would
like to receive more info, contact Ricky at 356-2205 or
baldwinricky at hotmail.com

- The Mosque (106 S. Lincoln in Urbana) will host an Interfaith discussion
this Wednesday, 9/18 at 7:00

EVALUATION OF RALLY AND MARCH ON 9/11

Many comments reflected a strong sense that the rally was a big success,
and that real appreciation is due those who worked to organize it.
Several folks mentioned hearing a lot of reaction to the strong Anti-War
presence. Other comments:

- Good to see people debating and discussing political issues on the Quad
- One person suggested writing letters to the DI to further explain/assert
our reasons for protesting
- Next time it might be good to designate people to perform certain roles
during the rally - someone to lead chants, someone to give quotes to the
press, someone to debate the right wingers, etc.  
- We might want to have press packets available on site for the press
- One person was concerned that the bullhorn disrupted classes inside the
old train station where we were protesting
- The distribution of flyers seemed to be very successful in getting our
message out.


EVALUATION OF THE TEACH-IN
 
Again, people felt the teach-in was a success, with a good turnout (120 or
so), and strong presentations by all three speakers.  Other comments:

- The speakers were accessible and good at humanizing highly volatile
political issues.
- Some folks liked the format of having one speaker following another,
rather than having simultaneous sessions.  One person recommended having
brief breaks.
- It was useful to have the Voices in the Wilderness speaker visit several
high school classes and WEFT.

PLEDGE OF RESISTANCE

Next time AWARE will consider whether to begin a campaign to get folks to
sign up for the Anti-War pledge that Jeff Guntzel of Voices in the
Wilderness presented.  The pledge involves promising to either peacefully
protest or to commit civil disobedience if the US invades Iraq.

FINANCIAL REPORT

Raia reported that our funds got dangerously low and reminded folks that
they need to clear expenditures with the Finance Committee if they want to
be assured of reimbursement.  In addition, try to be respectful and
patient with those dispensing the money.  It's not an easy job.

Raia will confirm with other committee members that they still want to be
active members (Vicki Ansermet and Mike Walcher) and one member will
always try to be at AWARE meetings in order to facilitate communication.
We will recruit more members if necessary.

WHAT SHOULD WE DO NEXT?

Ideas included:

= Work on the Pledge of Resistance
- Sit in at Tim Johnson's office
- FUNDRAISER to improve our dire finanacial situation - possibilities
include: make and sell silk-screen anti-war T-Shirts; Have an Art Auction
where postcards created by local artists would be displayed and sold at
the Independent Media Center; Have an "Anti-War Kegger" where folks could
drink and talk politics;
- Have a regular informational table at the Urbana Farmer's Market
- Create a poster to sell or give that promotes peace
- Have a presence at the "Re-Thinking Terrorism" Conference on October
3-6.

WORKING GROUPS/ACTION

Folks met in working groups, and individuals agreed to follow-up on
several projects:

- Rob will research silk-screening T-Shirts and will work with Adrienne
and Raia (and any other interested folks) on a fundraiser project.
- Sandra will follow up on making the Art Auction Fundraiser happen -
interested others joined her for a brief working group meeting.
- Jay Mittenthal, Jeff, Gabriel, and Elizabeth are working together on
a Farmer's Market presence.  Ricky and Carol will come up with a brief
flyer with possible actions that folks could take.
- Al will organize a meeting for AWARE Care sometime soon.
- Jeff will look into the creation/design of a peace poster.

Summary:  well-run meeting with lots of people and lots of great ideas.

(notes by carol inskeep)