[Peace] Minutes of weekly AWARE meeting 2009-07-12 (with Flashback)

[C. G. Estabrook]

Minutes of 07/12/2009 AWARE meeting are below -- followed by those from exactly 
five years ago -- but first, the Upcoming Events Calendar:

***

July 16 (Thursday) First Mennonite Church (adjacent yard), 902 W. Springfield 
Ave, Urbana.  Statewide-coordinated "Vigil for Reform at Tamms Supermax Prison." 
AWARE is a co-sponsor.

Jul 18 (Saturday) 8AM-noon, AWARE's weekly presence at a local farmer's market 
("Urbana Market at the Square"), providing literature, expression (bumper 
stickers, buttons, etc) and conversation to further AWARE's mission.

Jul 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).

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

Aug 1 (Saturday) 2-4PM Main St & Neil St, Champaign.
"The Main Event" -- AWARE's monthly 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.

Sep 12-13 (Saturday-Sunday) Chicago, IL. "US Campaign to End the Occupation": 
8th Annual National Organizers' Conference. See: 
<http://www.endtheoccupation.org/article.php?list=type&type=253>. AWARE 
participates in this campaign to oppose military aid to Israel and  is now 
officially listed as an endorsing organization for a letter to Congress on the 
matter. See: 
<http://www.endtheoccupation.org/downloads/FY2010BudgetOpenLetter.pdf>.  A 
formal letter has been sent by an AWARE member to Sen. Durbin regarding 
opposition to military aid to Israel and including a request to meet in person 
with AWARE.  We'll inform you of the date and place of the meeting: we hope you 
can plan to attend.

Oct 9-11 "Midwest Liberty Festival" at the Du Quoin fairgrounds in southern 
Illinois. "A non-partisan, non-factional event for liberty lovers and those who 
respect our Constitution and the Bill of Rights" -- including perhaps Cindy 
Sheehan; it should contain a substantial anti-war element. For more information: 
<info at midwestlibertyfest.com> and 
<http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=119830955184>.


**********************************
Minutes of 07/12/09 AWARE meeting:
**********************************

Facilitator: Karen[1]
Recorder: Carl
Attending: About 11 (plus Alice)

News of the week was reviewed jointly and focussed on (the distraction of) 
events in Iran.

Finance Report: bank balance = $655.45

AWARE funds are substantially lower than in the past ($2000 has been typical for 
years, we're now in the few hundreds). In response to a question, the treasurer 
pointed out that moneys had been expended for (a) speakers and (b) meeting-room 
rents.  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).
Canceled this week owing to daunting weather forecasts and an infestation of 
bicyclists, the Main Event will resume at its accustomed date and time, viz. 
Saturday 1 August 2009.

Suggested flyer topic - a quick outline of Iranian history, esp. regarding US 
involvement from, say, 1952 onward. David and Stuart are preparing it.

Weekly Action
==========
Action by Carol described on the peace list, regarding Senator Durbin's role on 
an appropriations subcommittee considering $2.775 billion in military aid to 
Israel. See: http://lists.chambana.net/mailman/archive/peace/2009-July/022391.html

AWARE Presents:
=============
(Organization of AWARE-sponsored events in the community)
It is bruited about that that AWARE could organize an event to educate about the 
elections in Iran (and, perhaps more importantly, the US policy vis-a-vis Iran).

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)

AWARE on the Air
==============
(AWARE's weekly television show  -- Tuesday nights at 10pm on cable channel 6, 
Urbana Public Television)
Taping typically occurs each Tuesday at 1PM in the Urbana City council chambers. 
Members and friends of AWARE are invited to participate -- the more the merrier.

Farmer's Market
===========
(AWARE's weekly seasonal presence at the Urbana "Market at the Square" AKA 
"Farmer's Market")

Blackwater
========
(Activism regarding notorious domestic policing and international mercenary 
contractor Blackwater, including coordination with Illinois-based activist group 
Clearwater: see: http://www.noprivatearmies.org )

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

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

AWARE Films:
===========
(Organization of film and video showings in the community)
Possible future showings:
	1. "Rethinking Afghanistan" (Robert Greenwald) http://rethinkafghanistan.com/
	2. "Who Killed the Electric Car?"
	3. "Pray the Devil back to Hell (an account of a group of women who demanded 
peace in Liberia, after civil war)
Talk has arisen regarding a possible film festival focused on "Peacemakers".

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

It was decided to proceed with arrangement for a table at the Urban Sweet Corn 
Festival.

An account was received of police use of tasers in Springfield; the device was 
applied to a disabled man multiple times.

Conrad described the situation at the Catholic Worker house and Safe Haven tent 
city -- a self-governing self-actuated group, some of whom are interested in 
casual employment; the City of Champaign unsurprisingly is not behaving well. 
Conrad will describe it on AOTA.

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

An announcement of the availability of AWARE speakers and discussion leaders is 
being placed on the local Craigslist.

The Midwest Liberty Fest was described by Wayne.[2]

It was agreed (with one objection, to its religious nature) to co-sponsor the 
statewide-coordinated "Vigil for Reform at Tamms Supermax Prison" on July 16 at 
the First Mennonite Church.

Events of the past week [3]
******************
(comments/reviews of recent events since the last AWARE meeting)

___________________________________________
NOTES

[1] For full names & perhaps even verbatim transcripts, file a FOIA request at 
the FBI office in downtown Champaign.

[2] AWARE is an interested observer but has not been asked to be a sponsor.

[3] Flashback. For comparison purposes, here are the minutes of an AWARE meeting 
five years ago:

******************************************
Minutes for July 18th, 2004, AWARE meeting
******************************************

Facilitator: Mort Brussel
Recorder: David Green
Attending: About 11

Introductions

News: Carl Estabrook:
U.S. has achieved aims in Iraq, as Thomas Friedman said in 1991, a
regime like Saddam's without Saddam; Allawi reported to have executed 6
prisoners days before taking office; Senate foregoes debate about torture
to debate about gay marriage; Democratic platform completely opposed
to what AWARE stands for; October Surprise developments vis a vis Iran,
China, and Peru/Venezuela; incredible amount of interest in Fahrenheit 9/11,
which is still at Art Theater for one more week.

WILL and UPTV update, Randall Cotton:
Nothing new on WILL commentaries, does not look good, but will wait for
results of Kim Kranich meeting with Jay Pearce this week; the UPTV board
was ready to approve Democracy Now! Showing, but pressure by Mayor Todd
Satterthwaite prevented this from happening. He has (legally) removed
potential supporters from UPTV board. On September 13, which is a Monday,
at noon, there will be an important meeting to decide the fate of this
issue. Attendance is strongly encouraged.

Lawyer/police, Al Kagan and Susan Davis:
They will be meeting this week with Mr. Finch, Lt. Gallo, legal dept. of city, etc.

Farmers Market:
We will try to have a table and markers for people to make their own
posters with great stencils that Nicky has left with us. We have a nice
new big white tent-come and see it! Al will be ordering more deception
dollars. We will have more copies of War Times. Susan mentioned the
"propaganda remix" website for possible artwork that we might want to
purchase. Check it out and tell us what you think.

Past events:
Still resting on 4th of July parade laurels.

Future events:
Electoral politics debate regarding "anyone but Bush" vs. "opposition to
lesser evilism" tentatively scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 12, 3 p.m., before
AWARE meeting. Anyone who is interested in participating is encouraged to
read articles on Zmag.org website under "U.S." by Hirsch, Harrison, Shalom.

Carl Estabrook will be hosting the 6 to 7 hour on WEFT for the next few
weeks, beginning tomorrow (July 18th), when he will discuss "Chomsky
and Friends."  Next week will be "the religious left."

Gabe Stanton would like to remind everyone of the Hiroshima Day observance,
Friday August 6th, at Green and Wright (alma mater), planned by the Friends
(Quakers).

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