Agenda for Women to Women for Peace visit October 2007

Monday Oct 22-Friday Oct 26

Our guests will be arriving after a very busy week of sightseeing in DC and visiting various public offices. What we would like to offer is an opportunity for our guests to meet our small community, and also engage with peace-minded people in the Rural Midwest. Another important aspect of our program will be the importance of alternative energy and sustainable living in regards to peace.

• Monday Oct 22: transport guests from airport (Appleton? Milwaukee?)

Host homes: guests assigned to host homes: depending on time of flight, guests go to host homes and settle in. spend time with hosts. Hosts to provide breakfast on Monday and Tuesday.

Dinner: potluck at host home: maybe Sandy’s house? Or Marci’s.

?Winchester Academy? Kate Saunders will check to see if we could possibly have the program that evening. Guests will have already done some public speaking/discussion. If we were to do the Winchester Academy, maybe the potluck could be at the Holly Center.

• Tuesday Oct 23: visit MREA: Marci will contact Tehri Parker to see what kind of program they could offer.

Lunch depends on schedule of events for the day.

High School: will contact various teachers. Pat Phair, Mark Polobitski, Neil Young, Lee

Schultz. Arrange for a speaking engagement at the High School.

Dinner: community dinner/reception at Chez Marche Café, with music: peace café! Our guests will be invited to speak. Marci to arrange musicians. May have chance to have guests provide some music as well.

Discussion about inviting various entities to this event including Jean Faraca from Public Radio; Someone from Jimmy Carter’s staff; Russ Feingold, Steve Kagen, and other public officials including the Governor, Barbara Lawton, local officials like the mayor and Kevin Peterson; Dan Naylor.

• Wednesday/Thursday Oct 24: attend Rotary breakfast meeting 7am Wed. Sandy has influence here, and other supporters would be Mike Mertes, Dick Bidwell, John Gusmer, Terry Martin. Rotary may even want an evening reception. Ask Sandy to investigate their involvement.

After that, go back to host family and pack up stuff to get ready for travel to Artha.

Travel to Artha farm for workshop; meet people from other peace groups: Marci has had some contact with Judy Miner at WNPJ about inviting people from state peace groups to join us. We could have a nominal fee for them to participate, to cover costs of food and accommodation. Lodging to include the yoga studio, camping, nearby homes: Pease and Reckrey? Inne Choi?

Marci will check with WNPJ to find out if they have a Facilitator who could lead the workshop. Ideas include conflict resolution, combined with the overall theme of the trip which is “sharing our stories” Workshop needs to be very laid out, ie: an hourly schedule with people responsible for every aspect, including assigning rooms/accommodation, making of meals. (Bonni to help here!!!)

All agree that we need to include some personal development/feel good/ downtime activities like yoga, massage, a craft to share, or a recipe to share. (There is a kitchen in the Artha retreat house.) cross-cultural, walking in woods.

Afternoon teas Wed and Thursday are a must for our British guests.

Bonfire, hayride, Native American activity. Bonni will contact some people she knows, Dorothy Davids…

• Friday Oct 26: travel back day…

It should be noted that members of our group have been invited to attend the events in Maryland either before the week here in Wisconsin. Please contact Marci if you are interested. The week before will be filled with DC sites, a workshop on team building to take place at a conference center, visits to Capital Hill, and meeting with groups such as Women in Black, Code Pink, etc.