[Peace] meeting minutes from March 12, 2006

[karen medina]

AWARE Meeting Minutes
Sunday, March 12, 2006

Facilitator: Randall Cotton
Time Keeper: Bob Illyes
Minutes: Karen Medina
(All mistakes and misrepresentations belong to Karen)

Note: A journalism student was filming the meeting for the first hour. 
(Ricky might know her name, but he wasn't telling us).

1. News of the Week (10 minutes) – Carl Estabrook

2. Introductions (5 minutes)

3. New Ideas: (15 minutes)

3a. "Community Court Watch" - $50
Bob Illyes spoke to this issue. CCW had asked last week for AWARE to 
consider making a $50 donation as a nominal amount toward Patrick 
Thompson's court defense as a way to overcome "inequality of justice," 
but the full amount would go to the defense of one person. Following a 
lengthy discussion (with many points including: 1) whether this is 
something that money donated to AWARE should go to, 2) how this one case 
was important to equal justice, 3) anti-racism, 4) token support to a 
$400 shortfall, 5) whether there is a precedence for supporting the 
defense of an individual) there was a call for consensus. 2 in 
attendance were against the proposal, and 1 indicated a desire to 
abstain. After a short discussion more, it was determined that a 90% 
vote would not be achieved if the 2 remained unconvinced. The discussion 
closed. Bob Illyes is taking personal donations for the remaining $400 
for Patrick's defense.

3b. UFPJ (United for Peace and Justice) - $50
Member organizations of UFPJ are required to make an annual financial 
contribution and/or provide in-kind services. UFPJ recommends local 
organization with no paid staff to contribute $50. ( 
http://www.unitedforpeace.org/ ). It was proposed and through consensus 
approved that AWARE renew membership by sending the $50 contribution for 
this year.

3c. co-sponsor ad with CCHCC - $65 for approval next week
The Champaign County Health Care Consumers put out a booklet each year. 
AWARE is invited to put an advertisement in the booklet again this year. 
The cost would be $65. The topic was mentioned this week, so it will be 
up for approval at next week's meeting.

3d. co-sponsor "Religious voices for Peace"
"Religious Voices for Peace" is sponsoring an evening of Historical 
Readings on Peace and Justice Issues. Brian Miller (from the Mennonite 
Church) contacted Durl Kruse to see if AWARE would be interested in 
co-sponsoring the event (no money, just put our name on it). The event 
is in honor of Mother's Day (Mother's Day was used historically to 
encourage mothers to rally for peace, since mothers bore the loss of 
human life more harshly than anyone else (– according to 
http://mothers-day.123holiday.net/ ). Durl will look in to it more, but 
encourages AWARE members to volunteer to read for the event. Brian 
Miller is the person to contact: bgmiller at eiu dot edu.

3e. Submissions to ICPJ by 3/15
The up-coming meeting of the Illinois Coalition for Peace & Justice 
(April 1st) needed suggestions for break-out sessions. They called Jan 
Kruse to ask for some. Jan responded with some ideas, and she passed 
this response around for the AWARE members to approve and be aware of.
http://ilcpj.org/ for more information.

3e. Presence at Urbana City Hall, 3/13 (resolution)
The Urbana City Council will discuss a city resolution calling for "The 
Withdrawal of U.S. Troops from Iraq" at its upcoming meeting Monday, 
March 13 at 7:00 p.m., 400 S. Vine Street. A week later (on the 3rd 
anniversary of the invasion, March 20th), the City Council will vote 
whether to pass the resolution. Note: There may be some movement to 
change the wording of some of the "Whereases," but the current wording 
can be found here: http://www.ucimc.org/newswire/display/112136/index.php
There will also be a "Community Peace Vigil" on March 20th, 6:30 – 7:00 
pm, at the Urbana City Hall, 400 S. Vine St.

4. Working Groups: (30 minutes)

4a. Finances – Jan Kruse
One outstanding check; $91 collected at Shadid event; $2659.69 balance

4b. AWARE Presents
Next planning meeting: Tuesday, March 21st, 7pm, 2007 George Huff.
Upcoming: In May, events with Anna Piller from a human rights 
organization based in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Hopefuls: Noam Chomsky (has a full schedule up to Fall 2007; audio 
presentations available here http://www.chomsky.info/audionvideo.htm ); 
Howard Zinn (see cool stuff here: http://howardzinn.org/default/ ); 
Cindy Sheehan (Fall this year?).

4c. Church Presence – Durl Kruse
There will be a "Church Presence" planning meeting Wednesday March 15, 
7pm at the Kruse's house. Bring suggestions for churches that need the 
presence of AWARE. They will be creating handouts and new signs. Give up 
war for Lent!

4d. Urbana City Council Resolution
There are two upcoming City Council meetings. This week (Monday March 
13th) there will be a discussion; if enough members vote yes this week, 
next Monday (the 20th) will be the vote. This week, there is a 10 minute 
time limit for us to present our case: Gary Storm will do a 5 minute 
history of the resolution; Mort Brussels will give a 5 minute concise 
summary of the economic and social impact of the war. The current 
signature count is: 329 from Urbana; 221 from surrounding areas.

4e. Counter-recruitment
There has been no word from Centennial High School. There was a short 
discussion of Talon watching and use of Freedom of Information. 
Evidently, law schools have to accept recruiters because they receive 
Federal funding (and the Supreme Court was involved in this). At least 
one law school has given up the federal funding and refused recruiter 
access.

4f. MAIN Event
Carol Inskeep has the signs. The next One Main event will be on April 
1st (the same day as the Illinois Coalition for Peace & Justice meeting).

4g. Racism Working Group
(see Community Court Watch in 3b).

4h. Books 2 Prisoners
Books 2 Prisoners needs books on Black History. There was an offer of a 
DVD on the 1963 Lincoln Memorial. JBJ and libraries? David Green 
suggests that we might keep our eyes open for good books at these sales.

5. Last Week's Events (15 minutes for 5 and 6)

Anthony Shadid events brought to you by AWARE, the university, and the 
Muslim community. Mr. Shadid also spoke at Uni High (Durl was his escort 
and said the teens were great). It was suggested that we reach out to 
Uni High students and encourage them to join us.

6. Upcoming Events (March 2006)
•	Paradise Now is a really good film. Showing at the Boardman's Art 
Theatre. It is about a suicide mission. 9:45pm showings. 3pm on Saturday 
and Sunday. NOW SHOWING, THROUGH THURSDAY, MARCH 23.
•	Resolution Discussion; Urbana City Council; Monday, 3/13, 7pm
•	Community Shares, Tuesday, 3/14
•	Police Review, Tuesday, 3/14, 7pm
•	Church Presence Working Group Meets 3/15, 7pm, 2007 George Huff
•	SDS (Students for Democratic Society) Film Showing, Wednesday, 3/15, 
7pm, Channing-Murray (SDS is reforming! This film is on the history and 
origin of SDS)
•	Jobs with Justice Tatman's Picket, Kirby and Neil, Friday, 3/17, 12noon-1
•	Community Court Watch meeting – 3/18, 4pm
•	3rd Anniversary of the Invasion – Monday 3/20
•	Community Peace Vigil – Monday, 3/20, 6:30–7pm, Urbana City Hall, 400 
S. Vine St.
•	Resolution Vote; Urbana City Council; Monday, 3/20/2006, 7pm
•	Community Court Watch – 3/22, 1pm County Courthouse
•	Potluck at the Kruse's - 3/25, 6:30pm

Respectfully submitted by Karen Medina
All mistakes and misrepresentations are mine.