[Peace] minutes of weekly AWARE meeting 2008-11-02

[Randall Cotton]

Folks may not recall, but I was pretty busy around election time and I
never did get around to posting the 11/2/08 AWARE minutes. I did have
notes from that meeting, though, and it's still worthwhile to have the
minutes on record (especially since decisions were made, including an
increase in what we pay for our meeting space at the IMC).

Happy Holidays!
R

****************************
Minutes of 11/02/08 AWARE meeting:

About 15 in attendance

News of the week was reviewed jointly

Finance Report: Balance is $2168.
Financial report passed around.

Working group reports:
*****************
Main Event:
========
(AWARE's monthly street protest held at the intersection of Main & Neil
2-4PM on the first Saturday of each month).

This month's Main Event took place yesterday.

Suggestion: Call City of Champaign to ask about busiest intersections.

Library Resources:
=============
(Compilation of valuable reference materials w/strategies to make them
available in the community through various channels including local
libraries).

Michael Moore's "Slacker Uprising" shown on October 28th at Allen Hall.
They lock the doors at 7PM, which was a bit of a problem. There were about
15-18 people, dropping in and out, 1/2 were students, 1/2 were adults.

Showing of Naomi Wolf's "The End of America", based on her book of the
same name, now firmed up for Dec 1st, 7PM at Champaign Public Library. See
http://www.endofamericamovie.com .

AWARE Presents:
=============
(Organization of AWARE-sponsored events in the community)

Working group meeting to be scheduled.

Current AWARE Presents event lineup:

1. Jeremy Scahill event still being pursued (he is on a book tour this
Fall). Contact made, currently in a "wait and see" pattern.

2. Proposal under development: Invite Juan Cole to speak (University
of Michigan Professor of History, middle-east expert, author of Informed
Comment blog, see: www.juancole.com ). Initial contacts to promote
interest in this at UIUC: Center for South Asian and Middle Eastern
Studies and Center for Global Studies.

Anti-Racism:
=========
(AWARE's efforts to keep apprised of and provide support for
anti-racism/anti-discrimination efforts, including efforts of CUCPJ -
Champaign-Urbana Citizens for Peace and Justice)

CUCPJ efforts are focused on promoting passage of the Township poverty
referendum on the November ballot (and campaigning for Carol Ammons run
for County Board district 5).

Referendum flyer suitable for passing out to the public is available
online. Latest revision is online at:
http://imsahp.chambana.net/~randall/champaign_township/povref.pdf

Randall asks for volunteer to flyer with this document at high-traffic
spots in town (especially on campus during the day). John, Conrad, Ricky,
Don, David, Stuart step forward.

Farmer's Market:
============
(AWARE's presence at the Urbana "Market on the Square" each Saturday from
8AM to noon where we offer progressive and anti-war materials, generally
at or below cost).

Sign-up sheet passed around

AWARE on the Air:
==============
(AWARE's weekly television show on public access cable channel 6 - UPTV,
Urbana Public Television)

Taping this week occurs MONDAY at 1PM, not TUESDAY, since Tuesday is
election day. Broadcast is still scheduled for Tuesday 10PM as usual.

Taping usually occurs each Tuesday at 1PM and is broadcast later the same
day at 10PM. AWARE members (and friends) invited to participate - the more
the merrier (see details above in upcoming events calendar). Program
quality is always better with more participants.

There is always room for more participation in AWARE on the Air - prepared
statements OK. Arriving late/leaving early is OK.

Blackwater
========
(Activism regarding notorious domestic policing and international
mercenary contractor Blackwater, including coordination with
Illinois-based activist group Clearwater: see:
http://www.noprivatearmies.org )

(nothing new this week)

Student Groups
===========
AWARE requested for support with Nov. 13 IVAW Winter Soldier event:

Organizing meeting occurred - 2 people requested housing - CAN (Campus
Anti-War Network) students are  coming down from Wisconsin. 5 offers of
beds. Bunch of offers for counseling.

AWARE is helping with:
-----------------------
1. Cosponsorship
2. Veteran support - gathering mental health professionals to assist
testifying veterans as needed.
3. Housing for out-of-town vets coming to participate
4. Water bottle supply for all speakers - donation already received for
this.

Mention made that Urbana Library has a DVD of the first (Vietnam era)
Winter Soldier,  worth seeing.

Old Business
**********
1. Regarding new rental rate for AWARE meeting room: the room (Grandpa
Wahlfeldt Family Room) officially rents at $10/hour for members and
tenants of the IMC. There is a contract - good for a year at a time. IMC
budget is tight - OJC has left - they are anticipating a shortfall.
Consensus without objection for payment of $15 per meeting starting the
quarter beginning Nov 15.

2. "Cost of War" billboard set to go up this Wednesday at 2PM on the
outside
of the Wesley Foundation facing Green Street.