[Peace] minutes of weekly AWARE meeting 2008-05-25

[Randall Cotton]

Minutes of 5/25/08 AWARE meeting are below, but first, the Upcoming
Events Calendar:

May 26 (Monday) 1-3PM overpass banner drop "IMPEACH BUSH/CHENEY" on I-74
Neil St. overpass [this event has already taken place]

May 27 (Tuesday) 1PM, inside Urbana City Council Chambers, 400 S. Vine St.
Recording for this week's "AWARE on the Air" at UPTV

May 27 (Tuesday) 10PM, UPTV (cable channel 6)
"AWARE on the Air" broadcast

May 31 (Saturday) 5:30PM-6:30PM Central Illinois Mosque and Islamic Center
(CIMIC), 106 S. Lincoln, Urbana
First class in CIMIC's Introductory Arabic Course for Summer 2008
10 weeks, 20 classes (Saturdays 5:30PM-6:30PM and Wednesdays
6:30PM-7:30PM)
Course fee: $100, to register, e-mail arabic at cimic.org

June 6-8 (Friday-Sunday) IMC, 202 S. Broadway, Urbana
Books to Prisoners book sale - proceeds fund the shipping of free books to
Illinois inmates.
June 6 (Friday) - 3PM-9PM Special Preview ($2 admission)
June 7 (Saturday) - 8AM-4PM Free admission
June 8 (Sunday) - 11AM-2PM Bag Sale $2/bag

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

June 7 (Saturday) 2-4PM Main & Neil Streets, Champaign
Monthly "Main Event" demonstration, bring your own signs or use ours.
Help us distribute flyers to motorists if you like.

June 15 (Sunday) 2-4PM at the IMC (Independent Media Center) 202 S.
Broadway, Urbana
IMC celebration of Bob Wahlfeldt and dedication of the Family Room in
Bob's name.

June 19-22 (Thursday-Sunday) "Socialism 2008" conference in Chicago -
impressive list of speakers. See: http://www.socialismconference.org/

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 5/25/08 AWARE meeting:

About 20 in attendance

News of the week was heard, courtesy of Carl Estabrook

Finance Report: $2281
IMC rent for AWARE storage space may change
(currently $110 every 3 months)
Envelope w/card passed around for contributions toward a gift for Mike
Mulberry

Main Event:
Next demonstration is June 7. Consideration of flyer continues. Some
flyers remain from last month.

Working group reports:
*****************
Library Resource Group:
=================
(Compilation of valuable reference materials w/appeal to Libraries to
carry them). Met last Sunday. Library Catalog searches beginning.
Contact made with Urbana Free Library and they are very supportive.

AWARE Presents:
=============
Meeting anticipated in June. New idea suggestion: a film series at a local
library this fall.

Anti-Racism:
=========
No news this week

Anti-Torture:
=========
Mention made of Attorney General Mukasey's defense of US Administration
lawyers who justified torture.

For example, see:
http://www.salon.com/wires/ap/2008/05/23/D90RJT080_torture_memos/index.html

Enrollment sheet passed around for Anti-Torture working group.

Blackwater:
========
$25 ratified for "Blackwater" DVD purchase for use by AWARE (proposed last
week, ratified this week)

Work by Clearwater is proceeding to revise proposed private military
contractor legislation so that a new bill can be introduced next fall. A
report to AWARE with details may be forthcoming.

AWARE on the Air:
==============
Taping occurs each Tuesdays 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.

Work underway to put "AWARE on the Air" episodes on the web.

Farmer's Market:
============
Canopy research - cheap, lightweight canopies are available - more
research on the way.

Sign-up sheet passed around to continue filling up timeslots.

"Impeach" T-shirts sold out. "Coexist" bumper stickers very popular.

4th of July:
=======
$25 entry fee necessary, expenditure to be ratified next week.

Suggestion is made that if quotes are to be featured in the parade,
anything more than 8 or 10 words is probably impractical.

Working group meeting anticipated soon

Old Business:
**********
"Cost of War" billboard
================
Billboard still in its debut for one month on University in East Urbana.

Overpass Banner Drop
================
Plans finalized for Memorial Day 1-3PM at the I-74 Neil St. overpass.
Signup sheet expanded and phone tree set up in case weather forces
rescheduling at a different time [this event did successfully take place].

Events of the past week
*******************
Strong showing at the picket event before the Champaign County Board
meeting on Thursday in support of increased funding for the Champaign
County Nursing Home and in support of the workers there. Good and diverse
public comments as part of the meeting itself as well.

Upcoming events not in the calendar above
*********************************
There is rumor of a new Greenpeace presence in town and in particular, an
event where they will be present at West Side Park on Sunday June 1st from
2-4PM.