[Peace] minutes of weekly AWARE meeting 2009-04-19

[Randall Cotton]

Minutes of 04/19/2009 AWARE meeting are below, but first, AWARE Volunteer
Opportunities and the Upcoming Events Calendar:

AWARE Volunteer Opportunities
----------------------------------
(various ways to volunteer in AWARE's work)

AWARE is considering moving our monthly demonstration venue from Main &
Neil in Champaign to a higher-traffic site. It would be helpful for us to
discover which intersections in Champaign/Urbana have the most traffic to
help us in that decision. A volunteer is needed to contact the appropriate
city department/official in both Champaign and Urbana to obtain a list of
and available statistics on, say, the 10 busiest intersections in each
city. It's probably a fair assumption that this is tracked by both cities
and that it's public information. For assistance, contact Randall Cotton,
recotton at earthlink.net, 351-8644/722-8470.

AWARE is helping search for locations to set up
a portable electronic LED display that reports (in a loop) various
statistics on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (casualties, financial
cost, etc.). Here's a video of the sign going through a typical loop:
http://dart.ncsa.uiuc.edu/stuffed/slevy/costofwar-sign.mp4 Dimensions of
the sign are: 50.3" L x 6.3" H x 1.7" W and it weighs 12 pounds. Full
specifications are at: http://www.bigbrite.com/product.aspx?id=78 . The
display could be set up anywhere indoors - home, business, event - where
it will be seen by many, for as long or as little as you like. If you can
volunteer to display the sign somewhere or have any ideas where it could
be set up, contact Barbara Kessel, barkes at gmail.com, 365-9473 or Randall
Cotton, recotton at earthlink.net, 351-8644/722-8470. As of March 2009, the
sign is installed in the lobby of the Urbana/Champaign Independent Media
Center, right next to the Post Office there in the building (202 S.
Broadway, Urbana).

Help is needed with content creation and maintenance for AWARE's website,
anti-war.net. Technical experience (UNIX/HTML/CSS) required for
maintenance work (but not content creation) Contact: Stuart Levy,
slevy at ncsa.uiuc.edu, 351-9264/244-1543 or Randall Cotton,
recotton at earthlink.net, 351-8644/722-8470.

Meeting minutes: Someone is needed to share or take over meeting minutes
duty (preparing these notes each week). Help will be provided (as much as
necessary). Contact: Randall Cotton, recotton at earthlink.net,
351-8644/722-8470

AWARE publicity: Someone is needed to maintain AWARE publicity documents
(and arrange for copies, as needed). This includes our business card,
intro sheet for new meeting attendees and our general information sheet
for tabling events). All reproduction costs reimbursed, Help provided as
needed. Contact: recotton at earthlink.net, 351-8644/722-8470

Upcoming Events Calendar
----------------------------
Apr 21 (Tuesday) 1PM, Urbana City Council Chambers, 400 S Vine St
Taping of "AWARE on the Air" for UPTV to be broadcast later the same day
(see below)

Apr 21 (Tuesday) 10PM, UPTV (cable channel 6)
Broadcast of "AWARE on the Air", taped earlier in the day (see above)

Apr 24-27 (Friday-Monday), Stockton Unitarian
Universalist Church, Stockton, IL
Midwest Catholic Workers Resistance Retreat and Conference. Focus: is
Blackwater. Civil Disobedience at Blackwater's Jo Daviess County, IL site
being organized by Catholic Workers and Clearwater. Speakers include
both Jeremy Scahill and Kathy Kelly. Local trip planned - see details
under
Student Groups below.

**NEW** Apr 25 (Saturday) 7PM, First Mennonite Church of Champaign-Urbana,
902 W Springfield Ave, Urbana
Anna Baltzer: Life in Occupied Palestine
Anna Baltzer, Jewish-American granddaughter of Holocaust refugees and
volunteer for the International Womens Peace Service is a Human rights
worker & supporter of Palestinian-led nonviolent resistance to Occupation.
Her presentation will recount first-hand experiences with the conflict
while living with Palestinians in the West Bank. She wishes to share
information difficult to obtain through US mainstream media sources and to
encourage dialogue towards taking action for peace with justice.
Sponsors: Center for South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, Center for
Global Studies (UIUC), First Mennonite Church, Central Illinois Mosque and
Islamic Center, Anti-War Anti-Racism Effort, and Illinois Network on Islam
and Muslim Societies (I-NIMS)

Apr 28 (Tuesday) 1PM, Urbana City Council Chambers, 400 S Vine St
Taping of "AWARE on the Air" for UPTV to be broadcast later the same day
(see below)

Apr 28 (Tuesday) 10PM, UPTV (cable channel 6)
Broadcast of "AWARE on the Air", taped earlier in the day (see above)

**NEW** Apr 30 (Thursday) 5PM, Tang Dynasty (in Lincoln Square Mall)
Dinner event for AWARE folks with Paul Street. Meals will be ordered
individually at the event itself.

**UPDATED** Apr 30 (Thursday) 7PM, Urbana City Council Chambers, 400 S
Vine St
AWARE Presents: Obama, The First Hundred Days
Keynote Speaker: Paul Street, journalist, researcher, author of "Barack
Obama and the Future of American Politics"
(see http://www.zmag.org/zspace/paulstreet )
Panel Discussion (beginning 8PM), featuring:
Carol Ammons, Local Community Activist and Champaign County Board Member
Bob Naiman, National Coordinator, Just Foreign Policy
Brian Gaines, Associate Professor, UofI Political Science
Paul Diehl, Professor & Chairman, UofI Political Science
This event will be broadcast *LIVE* and also recorded for future broadcast
on UPTV

Apr 30 (Thursday) 7PM, 407 Illini Union, 1401 W Green St
"Red States, Blue States and the Jewish State: The Israeli View of the New
Administrations in Washington and
Jerusalem and their Impact on Israel's Future."
Speaker: Gil Hoffman, Chief Political Correspondent and Analyst for the
Jerusalem Post

May 1 (Friday) 10AM, WILL AM580 Interview with Paul Street.

May 2 (Saturday) 8AM-noon, first Farmer's Market (Urbana Market at
the Square) of the year. AWARE will have our usual booth throughout the
season, which lasts until Nov 7.

May 2 (Saturday), all-day event, IMC (Independent Media Center), 202 S
Broadway, Urbana
Central Illinois Social Forum.event arising out of the recent monthly
"People's Potluck" activity.

**RESCHEDULED** May 9 (Saturday) 2-4PM Main St & Neil St, Champaign
The Main Event - AWARE's monthly street demonstration event. Usually the
first Saturday of each month, but pushed back a week this month due to
conflict with the Central Illinois Social Forum. Largely focuses on
opposing U.S. occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan, but is open for anyone
to join us either using one of our signs or one of their own. We try to
have a topical flyer to distribute to motorists and passers-by each month.

*****
Minutes of 04/19/09 AWARE meeting:

About 10 in attendance

News of the week was reviewed jointly
-----------------
Finance report:
AWARE balance is: approximately $1325
Recent expenditures:
- $75 for rights to show "The Take"
- $75 for ICJPE (Illinois Coalition Justice Peace and the Environment)
- $75 UFPJ (United for Peace and Justice) dues for the year

Anticipated expenditures:
Notes n Quotes expenses for Main Event flyers
-Mid-may $320 quarterly rent
- $350 for "Obama: The First Hundred Days" event

NOTE: AWARE funds are running low and are in need of replenishment

Contribution jar 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).

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> NEW <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
>>>>> MAIN EVENT RESCHEDULED THIS MONTH <<<<<
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> TAKE NOTE <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Since key folks will be out of town on the weekend of May 2nd AND due to
the direct conflict with the Central Illinois Social Forum, May's Main
Event is being rescheduled for May 9. Location will be the traditional
Main & Neil site in Champaign. See details above in the Upcoming Events
Calendar.

**NEW** Flyer possibilities suggested include UFPJ material on Afghanistan
(for instance, see:
http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=4044
and
http://www.unitedforpeace.org/downloads/UFPJ%20Peaceful%20Alternatives%20Fact%20Sheet.doc )
Mention also made of the idea to use Glen Ford's piece on the "defeat" of
the anti-war movement:
http://www.blackagendareport.com/?q=content/first-black-president-defeats-us-antiwar-movement

Mention made recently that we could use more Afghanistan signs and
probably should make some.

Stuart has volunteered to create an AWARE Facebook page.

No new information yet on Champaign/Urbana's busiest intersections.
Volunteer opportunity posted for this.

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

Current AWARE Presents event lineup:

**NEW INFO APPENDED** 1. A panel on the occasion of the first 100 days of
the Obama Administration (April 30) at Urbana City Hall (already
reserved).
UPTV recording/broadcast planned. Confirmation so far from Paul Street,
Robert Naiman, Carol Ammons and Paul Diehl **NEW INFO** Confirmation now
also from Professor Brian Gaines (UofI Political Science). Event title
finalized: "Obama: The First Hundred Days". Flyer finalized and ready for
posting/distribution. Event will be broadcast live and also recorded for
future broadcast. Event to be submitted for Daily Illini and News Gazette
community event calendars. Conrad can record a WILL AM-580 Public Square
spot if someone else writes it up (3 minute limit). Full event details
above in Upcoming Events Calendar.

**NEW** Dinner event with Paul Street for AWARE folks finalized for 5PM,
April 30th

**NEW** Proposal RATIFIED from last week for up to $350 for Paul Street
($200 of it for travel)


Paul Street scheduled to appear on Focus 580 May 1st 10AM.


AWARE listed as sponsor of Anna Baltzer's upcoming appearance (April 25 -
see details in Upcoming Events Calendar above).

Additional ideas under consideration for the future:d

- Invitation to Stephen Kinzer to appear again.

- Invitation to William Blum

- Jeremy Scahill event: previously contacted, currently in a "wait and
see" pattern.

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)

Mention made of successful addition of advisory referendum in Champaign
for next Spring's Primary regarding funding for woefully under-resourced
General Assistance program for the poorest of the poor. Vote was 29 to 4
in favor. Future electronic posting on the way from Randall regarding
this.

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

Discussion on who can make it this week. Some volunteered, more always
welcome.

**NEW** Ron says he intends to be present, Carl's presence unknown at
meeting time since he's absent. Wayne may be able to make it.

Many "Aware on the Air" recordings are now available on-line. See the
AWARE home page at anti-war.net .

Taping typically 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 )

Local folks (in particular, Catholic Worker House folks including Kenny
B.) are organizing a trip to the upcoming Blackwater activism events April
24-27 in Stockton (see details above in Upcoming Events Calendar), so
opportunity is there for AWARE folks to join in.

Student Groups
===========
(AWARE's efforts to keep apprised of and provide support for local
chapters of student-affiliated progressive and anti-war groups such as
Campus Anti-Network, International Socialist Organization, and Iraq
Veterans Against the War).

**NEW** Mention made that meetings continue on campus regarding BDS
(Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement against Israel).

Trip being planned for St. Louis on April 21st to attend 2 events:
1. Trial of Matthis Chiroux, 9AM (see http://matthisresists.us/ )
2. possible Winter Soldier St. Louis event (unconfirmed)

Monthly Message
============
(Efforts to propagate the content of the Main Event monthly flyer through
various media channels)

**NEW** Carl successfully published both a Wednesday Letter to the Editor
in the News-Gazette regarding Afghanistan and also a superb Sunday
commentary piece as well. Persistence was necessary, no doubt, but has
paid off.

AWARE Films:
===========
(Organization of film and video showings in the community)

AWARE Films may be shown within an IMC Film series.

Showings being considered for the future:

1. "The Take" (see http://www.thetake.org )

2. "On White Privilege" (see
http://www.mediaed.org/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=137 )

3. Another showing of Naomi Wolf's "The End of America".

Old Business
**********
(new developments regarding ongoing issues)

Pursuit of meeting with Senator Durbin regarding his letter in support of
Israel during Gaza attack: Follow up attempts are planned to contact
Durbin after initial non-response. 3/1/09 update: Written response
received from Durbin, but making no reference to the meeting request.

Sweet Corn Festival application has been received. Some folks wonder
whether early submission will help us get a choice booth.

New Ideas
*********
(never before discussed ideas brought up during this meeting)

**NEW** Introduction provided on "Bring the Guard Home, It's the Law", a
national movement of state campaigns to end the state National Guard
deployments. Dan Kenney (of Clearwater fame) is the Illinois coordinator.
Handout provided to all in attendance. Support expressed without objection
for endorsement of this campaign. Stuart will facilitate this.

Events of the past week
******************
(comments/reviews of recent events since the last AWARE meeting)

(nothing mentioned here)

Other Upcoming Events
******************
(events of note which aren't listed in the upcoming events calendar above)

Apr 28 (Tuesday)  6-7:30PM Free Community Veterans Clinic at
Urbana-Champaign Friends Meetinghouse, 1904 E Main St, Urbana
As an outcome of AWARE's panel on PTSD in 2008, this free acupuncture
clinic was started in February 2009 and is held the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays
of each month. Credentialed professionals insert acupuncture needles into
both ears while recipients remain seated for 20-40 minutes. Much research
has shown the effectiveness of this treatment for stress reduction. This
free clinic is open to U.S. military veterans, current members of the
Armed Forces, or their immediate support network. Sponsored by
Acupuncturists Without Borders, www.acuwithoutborders.org .

May 12 (Tuesday)  6-7:30PM Free Community Veterans Clinic at
Urbana-Champaign Friends Meetinghouse, 1904 E Main St, Urbana
As an outcome of AWARE's panel on PTSD in 2008, this free acupuncture
clinic was started in February 2009 and is held the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays
of each month. Credentialed professionals insert acupuncture needles into
both ears while recipients remain seated for 20-40 minutes. Much research
has shown the effectiveness of this treatment for stress reduction. This
free clinic is open to U.S. military veterans, current members of the
Armed Forces, or their immediate support network. Sponsored by
Acupuncturists Without Borders, www.acuwithoutborders.org .