august meeting minutes

People for peace

Meeting minutes

August 23, 2007

Present: larry craig, steve g., bonni, marci, pd hill, louise pease, kate saunders, jane haasch, and true colors members annie, and larry la ven.

1. treasurer's report: we do not have the actual checkbook but pat r. did e-mail that the total balance is about $4000, with the outliers and incoming money. Will have a more complete report at the next meeting.

2. post peace day: debrief and suggestions? Main suggestion was to try and coordinate the next year’s event with the Japanese exchange visit. Problem is that they choose their date so late in the year. Decided that we should reserve the shelter for 2 Sundays in august for now, the 3^rd and the 10^th of 2008, and communicate with that group in the meantime.

3. post-trash pick-up 7 people went and it went well. 1 ½ hours.

4. olive oil sales report, further fundraising larry craig strongly encouraged members present to buy the olive oil that we are selling. 8 bottles sold as a result. (good work larry!!!) a long discussion was held about whether or not we should order more oil to sell. Arts festival sold 1 ½ cases. Rain was prohibitive, as well as some people were apparently put off by the nature of the oil being to benefit Palestinians! Good awareness raising opportunities… Decided that if we do order it again, we need a venue at which to sell it. Jane called someone from one of the churches who has done a fair trade sale in the fall in the past, and found out that this event will happen this year again, they will get back to us with particulars. If this event is a go, (November) we will try to link up with it. Hopefully Caanan fair trade will have other items to sell by then too. Right now we have just 4 bottles left! (call marci if you are interested. $22 a bottle, we net $7 per bottle.) As for the wreaths, we agreed to do this again if they are available, since it brought in $1000 last year. Marci will contact the group in Oshkosh.

5. w2w trip update: set date(s) for planning: we discussed some details and why we need to do planning even though we have a pretty good schedule laid out already:

a. since judy miner from wnpj posted the flier from the east coast group to all members, marci has had many inquiries as to whether or not others can attend…organizations interested include: Madison Rafa sister city project; Madison Friends of a Jewish voice for peace, and WILPF, all from Madison; a woman from Fond du lac, Judy Miner from wnpj and someone from the office of global justice and peace near Milwaukee.

b. we need to work out our budget and make sure we can cover all expenses, and what those expenses are

c. the retreat may be well attended and we need to anticipate all needs: housing, food, activities…registration, and what we should charge. We may need to find a larger place to hold this…

Annie would be interested in attending the post retreat in Maryland and would need funding for airfare. She has been integral in the past few years in the planning of the yearly peace vigil on 9/11, and also the earth day litter pick up. She is interested in becoming more involved in the peace movement and would value training that would be offered at the retreat in Maryland. (More on Annie and True Colors at the end of these minutes.)

Marci has contacted the mrea about doing a program and waits to hear back from them.

Bonni has 3 native American contacts. The visiting women have all requested that they be able to meet and talk with Native American people if possible, due to the similarities in issues with the Palestinians.

a. Dorothy Davidson, an elder from the Stockbridge Munsie tribe

b. Gail Sweet, Wi current poet laureate, an Oneida

c. Mr. Pekore, an elder who is already on board and will be available for any time during the stay.

Marci suggested that we try to get Gail to do some of her poetry at the peace café on wed night, and Dorothy and mr. pekore to come to the retreat. All agreed that being able to meet and talk informally would be a great addition to our program for the visitors. We should offer them all a speaker’s fee.

A meeting of those interested in the detail planning for the event is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept 5 at the chez at 7pm.

6. between fences update: Kate reported that the movie Iron Wall will be shown as part of the exhibit. Date chosen is a date that we meet so she will find alternative date and get back to us. We should promote the film as we are cosponsoring its viewing.

7. other??? True Colors: the young people who have been doing a peace vigil on 9/11 ever since the tragedy have adopted the name True Colors for their group, carrying it over from the recent Arts on the Square event. Annie and Larry have been core members of this group and came tonight to discuss promoting their upcoming annual event. Their group is also responsible for doing a litter pick up by the river every earth day.

Every year at their vigil, which is an event involving gathering, candles and acoustic music jam on the square, they raise donations and then they give the money to a charitable cause. Last year they chose Katrina. This year they would like to choose people for peace! This money could be used towards Annie’s airfare to the post w2w retreat.

This year their 9/11 event will include music, chalking memorial squares and placing a candle on each square for $1. Also they may do some sort of dew rag activity. All p4p members are invited to attend the event. It will start at 7pm, on 9/11, of course…