[Peace] minutes of weekly AWARE meeting 2009-05-03

[Randall Cotton]

                                **REMINDER**

This month's "Main Event" street demonstration is this Saturday, May 9
(same time, same place). It was originally postponed from the usual first
Saturday of the month due to scheduling conflict with the Central Illinois
Social Forum being held all afternoon and evening of May 2.

                                **REMINDER**

Minutes of 05/03/2009 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
----------------------------
May 5 (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)

May 5 (TODAY, Tuesday) 10PM, UPTV (cable channel 6)
Broadcast of "AWARE on the Air", taped earlier in the day (see above)

May 9 (Saturday) 8AM-noon, AWARE's weekly presence at Farmer's Market
(Urbana Market at the Square), providing literature, expression (bumper
stickers, buttons, etc) and conversation to further AWARE's mission.

May 10 (Sunday) 2-4PM, Champaign Public Library (200 W Green St)
AWARE Films showing "The Take" (see http://www.thetake.org )
In suburban Buenos Aires, thirty unemployed auto-parts workers walk into
their idle factory, roll out sleeping mats, and refuse to leave. All they
want is to re-start the silent machines. But this simple act - The Take -
has the power to turn the globalization debate on its head.

May 12 (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)

May 12 (Tuesday) 10PM, UPTV (cable channel 6)
Broadcast of "AWARE on the Air", taped earlier in the day (see above)

**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 on May 2. 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 05/03/09 AWARE meeting:

About 12 in attendance

News of the week was reviewed jointly
-----------------
Finance report:
AWARE balance: approximately $987.05
Recent expenditures:
- $350 for Paul Street
- $25 Notes & Quotes - flyer reproduction
- $75 for rights to show "The Take"

Anticipated expenditures:
-Mid-may $320 quarterly rent for IMC meeting room and storage space

NOTE: AWARE funds are substantially lower than in the past ($2000 has been
typical for years)

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).

>>>>>>>>>>>>>> TAKE NOTE <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
>>>>> MAIN EVENT RESCHEDULED THIS MONTH <<<<<
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> TAKE NOTE <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Since key folks were 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 has been rescheduled for May 9. Location will be the traditional
Main & Neil site in Champaign. See details above in the Upcoming Events
Calendar.

**NEW INFO APPENDED ** Suggestions for new custom flyer: focus on "Afpak"
instead of just
Afghanistan OR focus on opposing the $83 billion spending bill that
includes funding for continued war and occupation. Backup suggestion:
reproducing Glen Ford's piece on the current defeat of the anti-war
movement (see
http://www.blackagendareport.com/?q=content/first-black-president-defeats-us-antiwar-movement )
. **NEW INFO** Carl has begun drafting a new custom flyer.

Mention made a few weeks back that we could use more Afghanistan signs and
probably should make some.

**NEW** David H. will borrow key for this week and transport demonstration
signs for Main Event

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)

**NEW** An AWARE Presents meeting is anticipated soon.

Ideas under consideration for the future:

- 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)

Attention drawn recently to the case of Oluwatofunmi Kaiyewu, medical
student shot to death by police on I-74. UofI Police and Champaign County
Sheriff's police were on the scene and both may have fired shots. Many
details are missing. Reported details so far are incongruent and
confounding. A wide range of possible scenarios are not yet ruled out,
including racial profiling, police harassment and a snowballing chase
resulting in unnecessary killing by the police. A chronological compendium
of articles so far was distributed to those interested in staying abreast
of the case.

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** Catholic worker guest(s) expected to relate the recent events
opposing Blackwater's presence in Illinois.

**NEW** Spotlight also planned for Toto Kaiyewu case.

**NEW** Suggestion to invite local IVAW members as guests in the future.

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.

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

**NEW** First Farmer's Market of the season (last Saturday) was fairly
lively. AWARE's space is much nearer the entrance this year, right next to
the City of Urbana tent. Some community organization booths empty, though
CIMIC (Central Illinois Mosque and Information Center) and Democrats were
noted as present.

**NEW** Carl and Dave H. volunteered to help out next week where
volunteers were needed.

**NEW** Kruses will be asked whether they're willing to store Farmer's
Market items (currently they're at the IMC).

Mention made last week that bumper sticker and button supplies need to be
replenished.

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

**NEW** Mention made of legislation against Blackwater doing police work
in Illinois - has a chance to pass.
See http://www.juliehamos.org/agenda?id=0005 .

**NEW** Mention made of 7 minute Youtube video that documents the
nonviolent civil disobedience arrests at Blackwater Illinois last weekend.
See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_J8tPbUrPgY  .

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).

"Funk the Wars" event was held last week, covered by the DI.
See:
http://www.dailyillini.com/news/campus/2009/05/04/wars-get-funked-in-may-day-protest

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

(nothing new this week)

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

AWARE Films may be shown within an IMC Film series.

**NEW** "The Take" (see http://www.thetake.org ) scheduled for this
weekend at Champaign Public Library. See full details above in Upcoming
Events Calendar. Announcements to be submitted for News-Gazette and Daily
Illini community calendars.

**NEW** Suggestion for possible future AWARE film showing: "Matewan",
about the coal miners in Mingo County, West Virginia, who worked in the
coal mine just outside the town of Matewan (pronounced MAY-TWAN.) A labor
organizer (and self-described "red"), Joe Kenehan, arrives in the town
just as black and Italian "scabs" are being brought to replace striking
coal miners who are fed up with the mining corporation's manipulation of
the per-ton price of coal (at the film's outset, the price-per-ton is 90
cents!! Very low.) Eventually, the scabs stop working, too, and join Joe
Kanehan's effort to unionize the miners. White, black and Italian workers
overcome their racism and prejudice in order to organize themselves
against the powerful mining corporation. [from imdb.com]
See: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093509

Other possible future showings:

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

2. 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** Discussion on declining AWARE attendance, recruiting and AWARE's
mission. Attendance is probably down a bit from this time last year.
Suggestion that renewed attention be put on attracting new folks.
Suggestion that we focus more on anti-racism. Suggestion that the decline
is perhaps due in part to the new administration (the "Obama Effect"), but
that this effect will wear off. Suggestion that the decline in AWARE's
finances may be due in part to the economy. Suggestion that we should
continue on with what we're doing, making sure to welcome all folks who
are anti-war, though we may not all agree on other issues. Try to do more
and do it better. Suggestion that interest in joining AWARE will increase
over time as existing wars and occupations worsen as anticipated.

**NEW** Proposal, building on mention of this issue last week, that AWARE
sign on as a group to IL Rep. Julie Hamos' petition (see
http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/5596/t/4115/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=514 )
to reverse the astonishing dehumanization of prisoners at the TAMMS
supermax prison (see http://www.yearten.org/ ).

(from two weeks ago) 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)

**NEW** Anna Baltzer event last Saturday was praised highly as an
excellent, strong program. Good turnout. Artist performance also
appreciated. Mention made that Anna's presentation is available on DVD,
largely as was presented on Saturday. Karen has a copy. All agreed it
should be shown on UPTV.

**NEW** Students for Justice in Palestine event with Farhad Malekafzali -
a well-presented, easy to follow history of the Palestine/Israel conflict.
Conrad plans to ask for a copy of his paper, from which he read.
Suggestion that we ask SJP whether the presentation was recorded.

**NEW** High marks given to Paul Street's presentation. Some concern that
the spectrum of opinion among panelists was too narrow.

**NEW** Mention made of Central Illinois Social Forum. People's Potlucks
look to continue monthly. A joint event with the annual Labor Day picnic
may be proposed for September.

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

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 .

May 26 (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 .