[Peace] AWARE Minutes - March 26, 2006

[Carl Estabrook]

	AWARE Minutes
	March 26, 2006
	Facilitator: Durl Kruse
	Minutes: Carl Estabrook

1. NEWS OF THE WEEK.  The week saw the USG apparently promoting civil war
abroad (in Iraq) and at home (in regard to immigration) in a desperate
attempt to regain lost support before the fall elections.  "News notes"
for the week were posted to the peace listserv (and sent to those
requesting them).

2. INTRODUCTIONS -- a small but sturdy band of co-conspirators; it was
thought that numbers were reduced because of the UIUC spring break.

3. NEW IDEAS

The sad news of the death of May Kao Xiong's brother in an auto accident
was announced.  A card of sympathy was circulated.

Ricky Baldwin brought a request for formal affiliation from Jobs with
Justice, a coalition of community, labor, etc., groups, forming a chapter
in this area.  Their founding meeting is April 22, and the conditions of
affiliation will be decided then; dues for affiliates will be about
$50/year.  Jobs with Justice of Chicago is one of the sponsors of the
Illinois Coalition for Peace and Justice, meeting in C-U on April 1.
After discussion, action on affiliation was deferred.

Progressive Quad Day on Tuesday, April 18, 11am-3pm, sponsored by a
coalition of progressive campus groups (Andrea Brandon), will include an
AWARE table, staffed by our usual stalwarts.  Karen Medina will arrange
the schedule.

An ad for the program for the annual dinner of the Champaign County Health
Care consumers was agreed to, at a cost of $65.  Jan Kruse prepared a text
with the help of the assembled throng and will see that it is placed.

In regard to NOW's (National Organization of Women) upcoming campus events
relating to Womens History Month, it was agreed that more information
about the nature of those events was needed prior to consent to
co-sponsorship.  The temporary secretary will contact Karen Medina on the
subject.

The question of a co-sponsorship of a program entitled "Religious Voices
Against War" was raised, and after discussion no action was taken.

Ricky Baldwin suggested that a separate collection at AWARE events,
tables, etc. be made for monies specifically marked for legal defense
funds.  After discussion there was no consensus on the proposal.

Jan Kruse noted that the founding conference to Illinois Coalition for
Peace and Justice on April 1 at McKinley Presbyterian Church (to which she
and Mort Brussel are AWARE delegates) will include a table on which the
AWARE mission statement should be made available.

Mort Brussel pointed out that UFPJ was encouraging demonstrations on April
19.  ("...hardly a man is now alive who remembers that famous day and
year...")

4. WORKING GROUPS

Finances: Jan Kruse reported the treasury's holdings, but your unpracticed
scribe failed to note the amount (although it was in the usual four
figures).

Main Event: Ricky Baldwin noted that the usual monthly demonstration at
Main and Neil streets in Champaign will take place this Saturday, April 1,
from 2-4pm.

Church Presence: Randall Cotton reported on the small demonstration this
morning at the Methodist and Presbyterian churches, on Church St. in
Champaign: four AWARE members were present.  On April 2, the Presence will
be at the Windsor Christian Church in Urbana; and on April 9th, the last
Sunday before Easter, the Presence will be at St. Johns and the Newman
Center, on campus. The theme of these Presences is Give Up War for Lent.

Champaign (sic) City Council Resolution: Carl Estabrook reported on
discussion with a Champaign City Council member on bringing an "Out Now"
Resolution before that body.  It was reported that a member of the news
media suggested it would be possible to bring such a resolution before a
study session and present comments from the audience.  The Champaign
residents in AWARE will constitute a working groups to that end.

Counter-recruitment: no new events.

AWARE Presents: Mort Brussel reported on contacts with Paul Street; Jamie
Storm is in contact with Noam Chomsky; and Anna Pilar will be in C-U on
May 11 and 12.  Jamie Storm suggests that "What I Heard About Iraq" by
Eliot Weinberger could be presented as a staged reading.  (See below.)

5. EVENTS OF THE LAST WEEK

"Rachel's' Words," a program drawn from the writings of the late Rachel
Corrie -- killed by a Caterpillar bulldozer operated by the Israeli army
while she attempted to protect a Palestinian home three years ago -- was
presented on WEFT 90.1 FM by the AWARE Radio Players (Mort Brussel, Carl
Estabrook and Linda Evans) on Wednesday, March 22.  A successful London
play, "My Name is Rachel Corrie," was scheduled to open in New York that
night but did not, owing to political pressure.

6. UPCOMING EVENTS

Racism Working Group: Bob Illyes noted a panel on "Students for a
Democratic Society" on Tuesday, March 28, at 7pm in Allen Hall; and that a
local court watch group held a demonstration at the Urbana Court House on
Tuesday, March 21, involving twenty people.  Further demonstrations are
scheduled for April 5 and April 19.

Professor Francis A. Boyle will speak on "The National Case to Impeach
President George Bush, Jr.," on Tuesday, March 28 at 7pm in 213 Gregory
Hall on the U of I Quad, sponsored by the PRC and co-sponsored by AWARE.

The Champaign-Urbana Cable Television and Telecommunications Commission
will be making a presentation on the future of public access television
and franchise renewal at the March 28th Champaign City Council meeting,
102 North Neil Street, at 7:00pm.  More information is available from Kali
A. Boyden UPTV, Channel 6 Outreach Coordinator (217) 384-2452 400 S. Vine
Street, Urbana, IL 61801.

On Wednesday, March 29th at 7pm, the Social Justice Forum at the
Channing-Murray Foundation, 1209 W. Oregon, U., will feature Prof. Robert
McKim, head of the U of I Religious Studies faculty.  His topic will be
"The Religions: Can they all get along?"  He says it will be "a discussion
of ways of thinking about other religions that every religion can
profitably engage in and that would reduce conflict and promote
peace-making. Topics to be mentioned: ways of being inclusive towards
others and their religious views, where this includes being open to the
possibility that we might learn something significant from them. Seeing
all of human religious experience as a rich resource in which it is good
to have a healthy curiosity, as distinct from seeing others and their
views as threatening.  And more of the same.  I may not have much explicit
reflection about the direct payoff for peacemaking of such constructive
attitudes, but there are not too many dots to connect."  Co-sponsored by
AWARE.

A conference sponsored by U of I African American Studies and Research
Program: "Race, Roots, and Resistance": March 30-April 1, Illini Union
(including Kathleen Cleaver, on Friday, March 31st, 112 Gregory Hall).
Most panels will be at the Illini Union.  See
<www.aasrp.uiuc.edu/conference/index.html>.

Quilt Auction to Raise Funds for Project Lakota: "On April 2 following
Meeting for Worship at Urbana-Champaign Friends Meetinghouse, Ellen
Baranowski and Bobbi Trist will speak about their experiences working with
Project Lakota on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. After the
presentation, a traditional star quilt made by Lakota women will be
offered through a silent auction to raise funds for Project Lakota.  The
public is invited to attend the presentation as well as Meeting for
Worship, which is from 11 AM-noon. The meetinghouse is located at 1904 E.
Main, Urbana.  A potluck dinner will follow the talk and quilt auction.
Project Lakota works to improve housing and living conditions of the
Lakota people. Project Lakota sponsors a work camp each summer.
Volunteers help Lakota families build new houses and repair existing
homes. The project works with three organizations on the reservation,
including Habitat for Humanity and two local Indian groups. Providing
adequate housing is one of the most pressing needs on the Pine Ridge
reservation.  Project Lakota helps families improve their housing
conditions and brings hope to the people of the reservation. Project
Lakota is under the care of the Saint Louis Friends (Quaker) Meeting.
For more information, contact Charlotte Green <chgreen at yahoo.com>."

"What I Heard About Iraq" by Eliot Weinberger will be presented by the
AWARE Radio Players on "Digital Citizen," WEFT 90.1 FM, on Wednesday,
April 5, 8-10pm.

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