[Peace] minutes of weekly AWARE meeting 2009-01-25

[Randall Cotton]

Minutes of 01/25/09 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** Wanted: Treasurer for AWARE. Do you enjoy the world of high
finance and handling large sums of money? (AWARE bank account usually
ranges between $1,000 - $2,000 MAX.) Being the AWARE Treasurer may be just
the volunteer opportunity for you. No experience needed.  Training done at
your convenience. It will take about 10 minutes to learn the job! Contact:
Jan Kruse, jandurl at comcast.net, 328-2789.

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 27 (TODAY, 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 27 (TODAY, Tuesday) 10PM, UPTV (cable channel 6)
Broadcast of "AWARE on the Air", taped earlier in the day (see above)

**NEW** Feb 3 (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** Feb 3 (Tuesday) 10PM, UPTV (cable channel 6)
Broadcast of "AWARE on the Air", taped earlier in the day (see above)

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.


**NEW** Mar 1 (Sunday) possible date for next follow-up to the "People's
Thanksgiving" potluck

Mar 6 (Friday) 11AM, WILL AM-580
This event is **NOT** on Mar 9 as originally announced in prior minutes.
Juan Cole as guest on Focus 580 with David Inge

Mar 8 (Sunday) 2PM, Urbana Civic Center, 108 E Water St.
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".

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

Mar 9 (Monday) 4PM, Levis Faculty Center, 2nd Floor.
University-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: "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 01/25/09 AWARE meeting:

About 15 in attendance

News of the week was reviewed jointly

Finance report relayed verbally by Randall -Jan (treasurer) was absent.
AWARE balance is $2026.36

Contribution jar passed around (Linda and Joe will relay contributions
gathered to Jan).

**NEW** The IMC will need AWARE to sign a year lease on rental of our
meeting space. An individual person will need to sign on behalf of AWARE
(making them technically liable financially for the full amount - about
$800). More details next week from Jan.

Rent on AWARE's IMC storage area is being raised $5/month.
Proposal made and approved to pay this additional amount as requested by
IMC (who are attempting to compensate for ongoing operating deficit). To
be ratified at a future AWARE meeting as per standing rule.

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).

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

**NEW** There are new indications in the News-Gazette that Neil St. may be
opened (at least one lane) in time for the next Main Event.

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

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)

AWARE Presents Working Group meeting anticipated in coming weeks.

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.

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.

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.

This event in doubt due to Jeff Monson's recent multiple arrests.

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:

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

- Invitation to Stephen Kinzer to appear again.

- 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** Separate letters sent by CUCPJ to Champaign City officials and
Champaign County officials to officials regarding preferential treatment
of Det. Lisa Staples' DUI Case. Additional research being pursued.

**NEW** Mention made at CUCPJ of Mayor Prussing's "criminal nuisance
property" ordinance and ongoing opposition from various quarters. Next
City Council discussion of this item will likely be on Feb 9.

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** Discussion during the program has widened out beyond just a
recounting of AWARE meetings and into further, deeper discussions of
timely issues. Also, more anecdotal evidence relayed that people are
indeed watching.

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)

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).

(nothing new this week)

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

**NEW** First Monthly Message piece appeared as a Letter to the Editor in
last Wednesday's News Gazette.

**NEW** Mort confirms he's interested in submitting a revised form of that
letter to the DI. Randall will send him the original text.

**NEW** David volunteers to help catalog submission requirements for other
downstate Illinois newspapers. Carol may help too. A request for
additional help may be sent
to peace-discuss.

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

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

**NEW** Allen Hall film showing event may be in the offing, perhaps of
"Blood and Oil".

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/

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)

(nothing new this week)

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

**NEW** Randall mentions he received the same pro-Israel letter from Sen.
Durbin that others did, citing it as a catalyst for an idea to request an
in-person meeting w/Durbin to discuss the letter in particular and his
strong support of Israel in general, even in the face of the recent
massive attack on Gaza. Idea is for AWARE to send a contingent to meet
personally with Durbin (however far we have to drive, however far in the
future it has to be) to address these issues with Durbin. Others suggest
inviting other groups to join us, perhaps even from Chicago. Another
suggestion - make the meeting part of a more comprehensive effort that
includes a demonstration event. Mort volunteers to make the initial
request for a meeting.

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)

**NEW** Jan 29 (Thursday) 7:30PM Knight Auditorium, Spurlock Museum, 600
S. Gregory Street, Urbana
CAS/MillerComm 2009 lecture:
"Beyond Jihad: New Directions in Muslim Fundamentalist Thought"
Sherman A. Jackson, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Near Eastern Studies,
University of Michigan, will examine what may turn out to be one of the
most important, though as yet little-known, developments in contemporary
Muslim thought to arise since the emergence of Muslim fundamentalism
itself: the ideological evolution of the (in)famous Gama'ah Islamiyah of
Egypt, one of the most influential fundamentalist movements in the Arab
world, and its move from terrorism to persuasion.

**NEW** Jan 30 (Friday) noon-1PM, Levis Faculty Center 2nd floor
"Muslims, Islam, and Race in America"
Sherman A. Jackson, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Near Eastern Studies,
University of Michigan.

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. Keynote speaker on
Saturday: Jeremy Scahill