[Peace] minutes of weekly AWARE meeting 2009-01-11

[Randall Cotton]

Minutes of 01/11/09 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)

**NEW** 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.

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
----------------------------
Jan 1 (Thursday) -19 (Monday, day before inauguration) Chicago
"Camp Hope, Countdown to Change"
A nearly 3-week series of events coordinated by 40 Illinois activist
organizations, including a daily presence in Hyde Park. The focus is to
"build popular momentum behind the progressive goals of President Obama's
campaign". See http://camphope2009.org .

Jan 13 (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)

Jan 13 (Tuesday) 10PM, UPTV (cable channel 6)
Broadcast of "AWARE on the Air", taped earlier in the day (see above)

**NEW** Jan 16 (Friday), Chicago
Clearwater presence at Camp Hope from 3-6PM (see details on Camp Hope
above). At 7PM Clearwater and others from Camp Hope will repair to the
David Darst Center to hear Dan Kenney speak about Blackwater. Contact
Barbara Kessel (217) 365-9473 for transportation information.

**CANCELLED** Jan 17 (Saturday) evening (time to be announced), IMC
(Independent
Media Center), 202 S. Broadway, Urbana
Bash Bush Bash! - this event may be reworked/rescheduled

Jan 18 (Sunday) 2-4PM Champaign Public Library (Robeson Pavilion
Room A), 200 W. Green St
AWARE hearing/discussion of Martin Luther King's profound "Beyond Vietnam"
anti-war speech given at New York's Riverside Church.

**NEW** Jan 20 (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)

**NEW** Jan 20 (Tuesday) 10PM, UPTV (cable channel 6)
Broadcast of "AWARE on the Air", taped earlier in the day (see above)

**CORRECTED** Feb 7 (Saturday) 2-4PM Main St. & Neil St., Champaign
NOTE: This event is **NOT** on Feb 1 as incorrectly reported in prior
minutes.
The Main Event - AWARE's monthly (first Saturday of each month) street
demonstration event. 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.

**UPDATE - TIME CONFIRMED** Mar 8 (Sunday) 2PM, Urbana Civic Center
Community-oriented presentation from Juan Cole: University of Michigan
Professor of History, author of Informed Comment blog at www.juancole.com,
and remarkably astute expert observer on Middle East affairs. Proposed
lecture topic: "Withdrawal from Iraq and the future of American security".

**NEW**  Mar 8 (Sunday) 5PM, WILL AM-580
Juan Cole as guest on "Keepin' the Faith" with Steve Shoemaker.

**UPDATED** Mar 8 (Sunday) 1PM, WILL AM-580
Juan Cole as guest on Media Matters with Bob McChesney.
** THIS IS NOW IN DOUBT ** More info as it becomes available.

Mar 9 (Monday) 10AM or 11AM (TBA), WILL AM-580
Juan Cole as guest on Focus 580 with David Inge

Mar 9 (Monday) (time, place to be announced) Proposed date for
university-oriented presentation from Juan Cole. Proposed lecture topic:
"Iraq's provincial elections and what they mean for relations with the
United States".

Apr 18-19 (Saturday-Sunday), University of Illinois at Chicago
Tentative date and venue for the annual statewide conference of Illinois
Coalition for Justice, Peace and the Environment. See www.icjpe.org .
AWARE has attended in the past (when the conference was held in
Champaign).

*****
Minutes of 01/11/09 AWARE meeting:

About 15 in attendance

News of the week was reviewed jointly

Finance report: AWARE balance is $1981.36
Finance report passed around for inspection.
Contribution jar passed around.

**NEW** Mention made that annual Jobs with Justice membership dues
($50/yr) are pending. Question raised as to what our criteria should be in
contributing to other organizations, since many are deserving. In
response, distinction is made that with our annual contribution to JwJ, we
become members in a networked progressive organization in which we have a
say and may establish a two-way communication. Similarity noted to our
membership in UFPJ (United for Peace and Justice). Payment of $50 for JwJ
dues proposed and agreed to by consensus without objection, to be ratified
at a future AWARE meeting according to standard procedure.

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).

**CORRECTION** The next Main Event is February 7 (not February 1, as
incorrectly reported in prior minutes - see details above in Upcoming
Events Calendar).

**NEW** Suggestion that a site, perhaps University & State, be chosen for
February 7 on the assumption that Neil St. will be closed, perhaps moving
permanently. Suggestion that it's not certain that Neil St. will still be
closed on February 7 and that we wait to decide.

**NEW** Suggestion that a volunteer opportunity be advertised to obtain
information on Champaign/Urbana's busiest intersections to help AWARE
choose a new long-term demonstration site. Approved by consensus without
objection.

**NEW** Suggestion that we inventory how many flyers we have left from
this month's event. Mention made that Stuart (not present) has said
flyers.

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

(nothing new this week)

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

**NEW** AWARE Presents Working Group meeting held last Wednesday

Current AWARE Presents event lineup:

1. Juan Cole events. March 8th and 9th - Sunday and Monday. See details
above in the upcoming events calendar. More info as it becomes available.
Urbana Civic Center has been reserved for 1-5PM for Sunday, March 8th.
Outstanding proposal for up to $300 AWARE expenditures toward honorarium
and other expenses to be ratified at a future AWARE meeting as per
standing rule.

**NEW** 2. Phil Wilayto (author of new book "IN DEFENSE OF IRAN: Notes
from a U.S. Peace Delegation's Journey through the Islamic Republic" - see
http://www.defendersfje.org/dpi ). Phil is on a book tour and AWARE
members discovered him in December at the UFPJ National Assembly
Conference in Chicago, where he had a table. Phil requests only
reimbursement for gas money and a place to sleep. At the event, his book
will be available to AWARE folks at a much-reduced price, around $15 for
others. Date being worked out - anticipate sometime in 2nd or 3rd week of
March.

**NEW** 3. Jeff Monson, anarchist, Wobbly, UofI alumnus and a member of
the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Politically active, public with his
radical/progressive views, attends political demonstrations. See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Monson . Inviting him as a speaker would
connect and carry weight with a completely different audience than AWARE's
usual events. Development of this event is in progress.

**NEW** 4. A panel on the occasion of the first 100 days of Obama
Administration (April 30) at Urbana City Hall (already reserved). UPTV
recording/broadcast planned.

Additional ideas under consideration:

- **NEW** Invitation to Paul Street (suggestion: invite him for the 100
days panel
since he has research and written on Obama extensively).

- **NEW** Invitation to Stephen Kinzer

- **NEW** Invitation to William Blum

- Jeremy Scahill event still being pursued. Contact made, 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)

**NEW** CUCPJ finalizing plans to contact officials and the media
regarding preferential treatment given to (recently resigned) Champaign
Officer Lisa Staples regarding her DUI. Questions to be raised regarding
the choice of special prosecutor, how the case was expedited in the court
system and other issues.

**NEW** Mention made that Urbana City Council discussion is expected
Monday night [now in the past] on the proposed "criminal nuisance
ordinance" which some say may result in racial discrimination,
heavy-handed punishment on shaky evidence, and punishment of individuals
(fines to landlords and eviction of tenants) who had no part in any
associated "criminal nuisance".

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.

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

**NEW** Unclear if Carl will be present to host as usual, but several
volunteer to participate regardless.

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 )

(nothing new this week)

**NEW** Dan Kenney handed AWARE folks a DVD during the UFPJ conference in
Chicago, to be relayed to Barbara. This turned out to be a DVD we already
have: "Blackwater invades Illinois - A Raising Kane Production".

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).

There is a CAN (Campus Area Network) rally in Chicago being planned for
January 17 to address Obama and make demands of him.

Monthly Message
============
(Efforts to propagate the content of the monthly flyer we put together for
each month's Main Event street demonstration)

Tasks have been prioritized and divided up. Help requested for specific
tasks:

 a. find out what the word limit, submission procedure and any other rules
(including deadline) are for NG Guest Commentaries (in the Sunday
Commentary section)

 b. submit the piece (which is now complete), following up with the NG if
necessary

News-Gazette to be contacted for details on submitting a Guest Commentary

** NEW ** Randall passed around a "letter to the editor draft", distilled
from Stuarts "demands of Obama" flyer. After wording improvement, document
was accepted as representing AWARE by consensus without objection. Plans
are to submit it to newspapers starting this week, beginning with News
Gazette.

** NEW ** Neil provided a list of downstate Illinois newspapers and their
contact info for letters to the editor. Volunteer needed to confirm and
expand this info.

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

Possible future showings being considered include:

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

2. "Blood and Oil". See: http://www.bloodandoilmovie.com/

3. "The Take". See: http://www.thetake.org/

**NEW** 4. "Soldiers of Conscience", documentary about soldiers already
serving that want to become COs (Conscientious Objectors). About 1:20
long. See http://www.soldiers-themovie.com/AboutFilm.html .
Channing-Murray has agreed to provide venue and the Quakers want to
sponsor. However,  rights to show it cost money - $80 ($250 if it wasn't
being shown by a religious organization). Some thought has been given to
splitting up the cost between groups. No formal request for AWARE funds
for the time being.

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

I. Obama's "Presidential Inauguration Committee" is encouraging folks to
honor MLK (his holiday is January 19th, the day before the inauguration).
See: http://www.pic2009.org/page/s/whatisservice . Our event on Jan. 18th
will feature a hearing and discussion, perhaps with accompanying images or
video, of MLK's prescient and powerful Riverside Church speech (also
referred to as his "Beyond Vietnam" speech). See upcoming events calendar
above for details.

Outstanding proposal for $100 to cover expenses for this event (proposed
last week, not yet formally ratified).

** NEW ** Related issue - Karen proposes purchasing more postcards
(stamped and addressed to Obama and Congressional representatives) for
handing out during this event: $30 for 150. To be ratified at a future
AWARE meeting as per the usual procedure.

II. Bash Bush Bash originally scheduled for Jan. 17th has been cancelled,
and maybe reworked/re-proposed in the future.

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

(nothing mentioned this week)

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

(nothing mentioned this week)

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

Jan 17 (Saturday) CAN (Campus Anti-War Network) event addressing Obama in
Chicago.