[Peace] Minutes of AWARE Meeting November 1, 2009

Tue Nov 3 11:44:07 CST 2009

Calendar (minutes of 10/25/09AWARE meeting follow below):

TODAY, Tues., Nov. 3, 1 p.m.. Urbana City Council Chambers, 400 S. Vine St. Taping of "AWARE on the Air" for broadcast later the same day.

TODAY, Tues., Nov. 3, 10 p.m. broadcast on cable channel 6, Urbana public television, of "AWARE on the Air," taped earlier in the day 

THIS SATURDAY, November 7, Main Event  (AWARE's monthly street demonstration usually 1st Saturday of the month from 2 to 4 p.m. at Main and Neil in downtown Champaign.  Stand displaying signs to the traffic stopped at the intersection and hand out flyers to motorists and passers-by.  Bring a sign or use one of ours.  We try to have a topical flyer produced each month.  This month, we have one about the vigil calling for shutdown of the School of the Americas Nov. 20 - 22. (http://soaw.org). 
Tuesday, November 10, 7 p.m. Study Session, Champaign City Bldg. on police use of force policy revisions

Sun., Nov. 29 Multi-Family Community Potluck to benefit the needy, 4 – 6 p.m., Church of the Brethren, 1210 N. Neil Street, Champaign, for
information call Sis. Carol 344-1811

Minutes of  11/1/09 AWARE Meeting:

There were seven in attendance:  Geraldine, Karen Medina, Stuart Levy, Carol McKusick, Ron Szoke, Joe Weber and Linda Weber.

*Finance Report*: Stuart reported a balance of $1242.95 which included October 24 farmers' market (not previously reflected) of $13.55, this week's farmers' market of $35.00 and the contribution jar from 10/25 of $28.
. 
Contribution jar was passed:   $30.   Was counted by Stuart.   

· _Working Group Reports_: 

*Main Event*:  There will be a main event this Saturday November 7 (time and location above in the calendar).  Carl left a flyer worked up before he went away (travelling).  Stuart already has used some of the flyers in outreach work but he will circulate to the list for review before taking to Notes and Quotes for production for Saturday.   Ron will bring the signs.  

*The Weekly Action* is a concept started in mid June 2009. The idea is
you can come to the AWARE meeting and at the Weekly Action point in the
agenda suggest an action that you would like to see us take en masse
during that week or a day of that week: a letter to write, a phone call
to make. We thought it would often be things picked up from other
organized efforts but could be originated by the person suggesting.
(Putting up a yard sign or some other form of personal message could
equally be handled this way.) A standard part of the Weekly Action was
to be making a tally of the numbers who actually did the action. 

Again this week we decided to continue with calling Tim Johnson, (217) 403-4690 or (202) 225-2371, encouraging his efforts to work with cosponsors to propose withdrawal from Afghanistan.   We should ask where this effort stands when we call.   Heard from Stuart what they said at T.J. when he called this past week which was US should get out unless there is a defined mission or differently defined mission.    

*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.) 

Stuart had an extensive report.   Linda Weber asked how AWARE can formerly take a position.  [Stuart's report.]

*AWARE Presents:*    (Organization of education outreach type AWARE-sponsored events in the community) Linda reported on the AWARE Presents meeting she hosted on Wed., Oct. 28.  She had five people who brainstormed.   An idea to have Muslim women or U.S. women congresspeople on U.S. foreign policy.   Would like to have a campus location.   Other topics for programs Israel Palestine, on Pakistan, or Guantanamo (Uighurs plight).   

At the AWARE meeting a new idea (from Stuart Levy) for an AWARE Presents type of program:  There is a very imminent possibility of hosting Sami Razouli, an American citizen who comes from Iraq originally and returned to be in Iraq in time of trouble.      

Carol read from previous minutes 
“the idea of collaborating with CAN on Tuesday night 7 p.m. events (alternate or unused Tuesdays) in their space in Gregory Hall
sounded very good to one. General topics that are beckoning are anti
war servicepeoples' organizing and counter recruitment (support
IVAW). Also a background program on Afghanistan."   Karen says there is nothing on this.

*"AWARE on the Air"*  (AWARE's weekly television show on public access
cable channel 6 - UPTV, Urbana Public Television) Ron Szoke will moderate; Karen has approached some people and has a yes from Wayne Johnson.   Ron asks us not to have it too amorphous, i.e. to plan.  It will be taped this Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 1PM to be broadcast later the same day at 10PM.     

*Farmers' Market* (AWARE's weekly seasonal presence at the Urbana
"Market at the Square")   Stuart given the go ahead to sign up for all six weeks (of indoor market) because Karen can open every one of the six Saturdays and it is cheaper for all.  Actually are plenty of calendars left.   People will use discretion ordering for the table and take a chance on the meeting approving the expense later.  Sign up passed around.

 *Monthly Message*  (Propagate the content of our monthly main event flyer into a message in print or other media.) Karen will check on whether Carl had time to working up SOA as a Public Square and do it if he didn't.

*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-War Network (CAN), International Socialists Organization (ISO), and IVAW (Iraq Veterans Against the War).  Also SJP (Students for Justice in Palestine).    Per Karen, nothing on this this week.

*AWARE Films*:
(Organization of film and video showings in the community).  Per Stuart Levy, Champaign Public Library has been reserved for Nov. 15 and Dec. 20.   Films to be chosen.   He mentioned ?"Real Bad Arabs," and "Blood for Oil."   Expense is an issue with Praying the Devil Back to Hell about Liberia.

 *Blackwater*
(Activism regarding notorious domestic policing and international
mercenary contractor Blackwater, including coordination with
Illinois-based activist group Clearwater: see:
http://www.noprivatearmies.org <http://www.noprivatearmies.org/> )
Nothing on this.

  *Working group on Israel Palestine* (Their
effort is to find out more about the Arms Export Control Act and Foreign
Assistance Act and enforcement of them.) 
Carol mentioned that there is a bill that we are called on by U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation to oppose: H.Res. 867.   She was going to call.    Here is what they have on it:   http://www.endtheoccupation.org/downloads/talkingpoints_hres867.pdf.   Tell Tim Johnson (217) 403-4690 or (202) 225-2371 to vote against this resolution which would formally decide to overlook Israeli war crimes in Gaza as documented by the Goldstone Report. 

The petitioning of members of congress calling for accountability and enforcement of the Arms Export Control Act and Foreign Assistance Acts should continue full bore through the fall (even the the appropriation for state is for all purposes passed) as we are always somewhere in the budget cycle and the foreign military financing will continue to be appropriated at ever increasing levels without protest.   Carol said she still have everything to do on contacting the lawyers on the law school faculty (Linda had provided her with the names of two professors that should be interested or sympathetic.); seeking help from librarians at the law school library; asking about classes where law students might be assigned projects; and examining some on line leads with a National Lawyers’ Guild committee. 

Submitted November 3, 2009,  
Carol McKusick

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