[Peace] minutes of weekly AWARE meeting 2008-05-04

[Randall Cotton]

Minutes of 5/4/08 AWARE meeting are below, but first, the Upcoming
Events Calendar:

May 5 (Monday) 7PM Urbana City Council Chambers, 400 S. Vine St.
(also televised live on UPTV (cable channel 6))
Urbana City Council Committee regular meeting.
ANTICIPATED VOTE on new UPTV Policies and Procedures Manual for submitting
materials and videos for UPTV. Based on Committee of the Whole meeting
last week, vote is expected to pass revised UPTV Policy and Procedures
Manual that does *NOT* narrow allowed speech on UPTV. Turnout is important
to demonstrate continued attention to this issue, but is not as crucial as
for prior Council meetings.

May 6 (Tuesday) 10PM, UPTV (cable channel 6)
This week's broadcast of "AWARE on the Air"

May 7 (Wednesday) noon-1PM, Champaign County Courthouse (101 E. Main,
Urbana).
Demonstration! Drawing attention to upcoming sentencing for Brian Chesley
(May 9, see below) and 3rd trial of Patrick Thompson (May 12, see below).

May 8 (Thursday) 7PM, Urbana Free Library Auditorium (210 W. Green St.)
"Enhancing Democracy in Champaign County: Where Do We Go from Here?",
sponsored by the Libertarian Party. A wide-spectrum community gathering to
address various timely issues of Democracy. More details on this at:
http://lists.chambana.net/mailman/archive/peace/2008-May/021267.html
and in last week's minutes at:
http://lists.chambana.net/mailman/archive/peace/2008-April/021248.html

*** TURNOUT NEEDED ***
May 9 (Friday) 9AM, Courtroom E, Champaign County Courthouse (101 E. Main,
Urbana).
Brian Chesley court date - anticipated filing for new trial and, more
importantly, SENTENCING.

*** TURNOUT NEEDED ***
**** VOLUNTEER NOTETAKERS NEEDED WEEK OF MAY 12 ****
May 12 (Monday) 1:30PM, Courtroom A, Champaign County Courthouse (101 E.
Main, Urbana)
First session of Patrick Thompson's third trial.

May 13 (Wednesday) 5:30-6:30PM,  Urbana Free Library, 210 W. Green St.,
Urbana
Parkland College Urbana Town Meeting. See
http://www.parkland.edu/townhallmeeting/

June 24 (Tuesday) 9:30AM, Courtroom D, Champaign County Courthouse (101
E.Main, Urbana)
Final ruling expected on Patrick Thompson's small claims case against
Harvey Welch for return of legal fees due to ineffective representation of
Patrick during his 2nd trial.

*****
Minutes of 5/04/08 AWARE meeting:

About 10 in attendance

News of the week was heard, courtesy of Mort Brussel

Finance Report:$2151
IMC rent for AWARE storage space may change (currently $110
every 3 months)

Main Event monthly street demonstration:
Both "Cost of War" AFSC pamphlet and Winter Soldier materials were handed
out. Turnout was low this month, perhaps due to lack of an e-mail reminder
being sent out. Barbara noted the "sheep effect" whereby acceptance and
denial of pamphlets/flyers tends to run in streaks. Thanks to Boltini's
who came forward with Tacos (including vegetarian) for demonstrators.
Randall apologizes for promising to help hand out flyers and then
forgetting to show up 8-P

Working group reports:
*****************
AWARE presents
=============
No meeting scheduled for now, but one anticipated soon. Refreshments
suggested for future AWARE Presents events.

Anti-Racism:
=========
Courthouse demonstration to draw attention to Chesley and Thompson cases
set for noon May 7 (details above in upcoming events calendar).

Brian Chesley case: next scheduled court date is this Friday May 9 at 9:00
a.m. in Courtroom E. Perfunctory motion for new trial expected and, more
importantly, sentencing. Turnout requested! Much discussion this week
regarding premise of having to stop for police officer for any reason or
risk being thrown to the ground/pepper sprayed/tasered. Also, Jamie
explained her involvement in court diversion panels as a volunteer.

Patrick Thompson's third trial is approaching. First court date of
the trial is May 12, 1:30 PM, Courtroom A. Turnout requested. In addition,
there is a call out for folks to volunteer to take notes for a half or
full day so that daily reports of the trial can be sent to keep the
community apprised. Email recotton at earthlink.net to volunteer.

There was a court date this past week where final arguments were heard in
the small claims case against Harvey Welch for return of legal fees due to
ineffective representation of Patrick Thompson during his 2nd trial. .
Final ruling scheduled on June 24 (details above in upcoming events
calendar).

Blackwater:
========
There was a Springfield meeting this past week with various interested
parties regarding state legislation intended to counter Blackwater
activity in Illinois. Police groups are determined to oppose any action
that might restrict their possible contracting options with anyone. No
common ground with state police. HB5700 is stuck in committee, currently
and next up is a rewrite by Clearwater, Rep. Hamos and supporters.

Cerberus hedge fund recently abandoned plans to invest $200 million in
Blackwater.

AWARE on the Air:
==============
Taping still occurring Mondays at 1PM, but broadcasts have now been moved
to Tuesdays at 10PM to avoid conflicts with Urbana City Council meetings
that run long.

Farmer's market
===========
All preparations are set - more folks signed up as the volunteer grid was
passed around again. Starting date next Saturday. Reminder: a first slot
person (8:00 - 9:20) sets up, a last slot person (10:40-noon) tears down
and can keep the chairs/tables/bins or drop them off at Kruses (2007 S.
George Huff Dr., Urbana).

Student Groups
===========
Quad Day, CAN, ISO and IVAW will have table and we could share table space
with one or more of them.

Old Business:
**********
4th of July:
=======
In speaking with various ex-military activists, there is some trepidation
about participating with AWARE in the 4th of July parade this year (theme:
honoring our military heroes). It would seem that plans and ideas need to
be firmed up to reassure them if we want their participation. The
prevailing idea seems to be honor military peace activists and/or war
resistors.

"Cost of War" billboard
================
Project going forward. First contract has been signed. Substantial and
adequate money has been raised for now. May 9th WILL-AM Public Square
radio spot anticipated on this from Jennifer Hixson. First Billboard will
be SW corner of University and Vine. Costs are lower than anticipated. The
billboard specialist point person is actually with UFPJ (United for Peace
and Justice), not AFSC (American Friends Service Committee). AWARE stands
ready to provide financial support should it be needed for this project.

Events of the past week
*******************
Noted at this point: AZ state may pass legislation against teaching
"dissident" messages and theories in schools and
colleges. See:
http://www.douglasdispatch.com/articles/2008/04/17/news/doc4807baad8e35a498617393.txt

Mention made of low turnout but strong union presence at the Chicago May
Day march and demonstration.

Not much said here - meeting was running late.

Upcoming events
*************
Two upcoming conferences noted:

Socialism 2008 June 19-22 in Chicago - impressive list of speakers:
See: http://www.socialismconference.org/

National Conference for Media Reform June 6-8 Minneapolis/St. Paul
See: http://www.freepress.net/conference/