VETERANS FOR PEACE, CORVALLIS

Minutes June 22, 2009

 

l.  Attending: Bob Stebbins (presiding), Jim Spain, Bart  Bolger, Leah Bolger,  Bob Winget, Del Shirley, and  Joe Magner.

 

 

II.  Administration:

 

Treasurers Report--Bart Bolger.  We have a total of $1,543.  .  We have set aside for legal defense $400.   Also we set aside $529 for a signature ad. 

Decided: Put the $529, formerly designated for the signature ad,into the general fund. 

This gives us $1143 in usable funds.

 

We contributed $1,078 (pass through funds) to Courage to Resist which was left after paying expenses for that project.

 

 

III.  Past actions/events status and debrief:

 

Reading of VFP letter to Obama re: Afghanistan--Bob Stebbins. 

Decided:  Put the letter on the VFP website.

 

Democratic Party--We discussed our discouragement with the Democratic Party for continuing to fund the War.

 

Bring the Guard Home Campaign –Leah Bolger.  Leah says:  We got the vote to bring the legislation out of committee. But it didn’t happen.  So we dropped back to a memorial not requiring the governor’s signature.  We put the governor in a position where he would have to take responsibility and the legislators are not confident enough to take a position because of the fear of political consequences.  Fear of giving Republicans a platform for “states rights”.   Basically, the Bring the Guard Home Campaign is dead.

 

Peace Conference Lane Community College--David Cobb, who ran for President on the Green Party Ticket, gave an outstanding address on Saturday but the Conference was not well attended.

 

Status of Bill Orner--Bart Bolger.  Bill is still in jail in Benton County.   Has a more aggressive lawyer and Dr. Bud Brown, a professor at Western Oregon University who works in the area of law enforcement and PTSD.  Bill has a newborn daughter.  You can send cards to Bill Orner, c/o Benton County Corrections, Box 788, Corvallis OR 97339.  He would appreciate a short note complementing him on his child and to offer him encouragement.

 

Support—Bob Winget.  The UUC Wrote cards to Victor Agosto, Troy Davis, and Robin Long.   Bob Winget passed around a petition requesting that they be treated well.

 

Bob W. requested pictures of VFP members with Picture “No More Torture” signs.  We stayed after the meeting and pictures were taken.

 

Bob W. passed out information on the Selective Service System and he put it on the Peace and Justice website.

 

Courage to Resist—GI Hotlines Organization has its phone number listed on their web page.

 

 

IV.  Action Team Reports and Planning

 

 

Resolution for VFP convention. Leah Bolger.  Anybody can submit a resolution and, to give it more impact, have our Chapter endorse it. (the deadline for submissions to National office is July 8th)

 

Book from VFP Northwest: 10 Excellent Reasons Not to Join the Military. Plan to distribute at tabling events.

 

DaVinci Days—Possibly do something artsy on a peace theme using a fish.  Leah will find out more about it.

 

July 4th--meet at the Central Park gazebo at 10:00.  More info will be fourth coming, from Bart, in separate e-mail.

 

Book report: Peace Mom by Cindy Sheehan--Bob Stebbins.  She describes what she did in a very moving way.  Bob has his copy to loan.

 

Counter-Military Recruitment—John Griffiths, Albany/Lebanon.  Bob Stebbins, Rebecca Michelson.  We will resume this activity in the fall. 

ASVAB-testing Military uses this test to get information about students under the support of schools who consider it a free aptitude test.  Schools can use Option 8 to protect student privacy and publicize the use of Option 8 in all ASVAB testing scenarios.

County Fair Booth--Bob Stebbins

Shifts start at noon with 3 hour shifts with 2 persons on a shift and it goes for 5 days.  Bob has four people signed up.  We are coordinating with Alt2War and others.  We have buttons, bumper stickers, books, and T-shirts and more.  We will have coloring materials and stickers for the kids.  We are paying for more than half the cost of the space.   We have counter recruiting materials.  Have a petition to sign: “Out of Afghanistan?”  There will be a planning meeting about a week before the Fair.  Concern was raised that we should be thinking about how to make the design of the booth inviting/attracting.   Anyone we know in VFP that is good at marketing?  Training?

 

Agent Orange Campaign—we showed no interest in working on this old project.

 

“Yes We Can” stop aid to Israel

 

Bunker Project—Brochures available.  Bill Orner.

 

AudioVisual Project--Joe Magner is retiring from OSU and is setting up a recording studio.   Joe is starting in August to develop an audiovisual project.  The studio is still under construction and, when finished, hopes to do productions involving interviews on peace issues, economy, etc.  He has a high quality audio system. 

 

Chanel 29—Bart has finished training and is now certified to use equipment to produce programs which can be used on Ch 29.

 

International Day of Peace 21 September—A U.N. sanctioned event.  LoErna plans to make pinwheels on Friday the 18th.   UUC Peace Action Council is working on expanded ideas for the International Day of Peace.  Meeting Thursday at UUC at 6p to share ideas and brainstorm for having a Peace Festival on Sunday.  

 

Corvallis Knights’ Baseball Team—Free tickets.  Sometimes Leah doesn’t go so Bart has a ticket or two.  VFP members check the Knights schedule and check with Bart to see if he has tickets.

 

 

VI Scheduled Future actions/events

 

July 18, 19, 20 DaVinci Days

 

            July 29, 30, 31, Aug 1. . County Fair Booth  

 

July 27 VFP monthly meeting

 

August 5-9, National Convention, University of Maryland

 

Regular events

Daily, 5:00 to 6:00 pm—Corvallis Peace Vigil, Benton County Courthouse

 

Fridays, 4:30 pm--Albany Peace Vigil, Linn County Courthouse