Willamette Peace and Justice Coalition
Meeting Agenda
25 January 2009
1. IntroductionsóIn attendance: Judy Ross (APS), Bob Ross (IPJ), Carolyn Powers (RG), Aleita Hass Holcombe (A2W, Just Peace Committee, Witness for Peace), LoErna Simpson (FoMEP, Active for Peace and Justice, WITO and AI letter writers), Anna Anderson (WAHS Peace on Earth club), Leah Bolger (VFP)
2. Communications
Peace, Justice and Environment Project (www.pjep.org)
Laurel Schmidt, 708-447-9577 Anna will contact Laurel about status of PJEP for Oregon, and provide contact info for environmental groups if needed.
3. Group Projects
a. Bring the Guard Home CampaignóNational campaign was launched with a press conference in D.C., attended by Leah. Oregon campaign had a press conference the same day in Salem at which 7000+ signatures were delivered. Good press coverage for both events. Bill Moyers Journal covered the D.C. event. Oregonian wrote a negative editorialósupporters should write LTEs or counter comments on-line. Legislation now called LC1122. Urge Gelser, Olson and Morse to sign the ìgreen sheetî in Rep Chip Shieldsí office to co-sponsor. Continue to send cards and write letters.
b. Community Peace AwardóIdea to give a WPJC ìpeace awardî to someone in the community from the coalition. Consensus was to do this on the International Day of Peace, Sep 21st, and possibly combine with childrenís/youth activities such as art/poetry/essay contest, peace crafts, etc. Anyone interested in working on this idea should contact Leah Bolger, 207-7761, leahbolger@comcast.net.
c. PTSD Forum IIóTeam composed of Judy Ross (APS), Doug Clark (IPJ) and Don Anderson (VFP) will work on hosting a second public forum about PTSD.
d. Peace Arts FairóBrian Newberg, Theater Department chair at LBCC is interested in putting on a play about war/peace and related issues. Leah has forwarded several leads. Play will probably be put on this fall. Possibility of creating a ìPeace Arts Fairî in conjunction with other departments (English/Art) and feature artwork, poetry, readings, or films.
4. Organization Reports
--FOMEPóFriends of Middle East Peace meets the 3rd Sunday in the Martha Room (basement) of the First United Methodist Church in Corvallis. Next meeting will be Feb 15thóplan to show the film ìOccupation 101.î Recently held a visibility action in partnership with OSU Middle East Club, out of which came a Palestinian Action Team. This team will be having ìPalestinian Cultural Night on Feb 6th from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at the Multi-Cultural Center (9th and Monroe).
--LBCC-IPJ (Institute of Peace and Justice)óDoug Clark is creating a Peace Studies Program scholarship. IPJ is partnering with Albany First Christian Church and Albany Mennonites to put on ìFestival of Hopeî June 13-14 at LBCC, which will be a fundraiser for 6 social service agencies in Albany. Raging Grannies have been invited to perform.
--APS (Albany Peace Seekers)óAn APS member, Joy Azul, has peace-related artwork on display in the North Santiam building on the LBCC campus. Another member, Nancy Greenman, has been appointed to the Human Relations Council of Albany. APS continues to do counter-recruitment work in the highschools.
--VFPóLeah has been elected National Vice President of Veterans for Peace and will be stepping down from the presidency of the local chapter. VFP is working hard on the Bring the Guard Home campaign and is making in-roads with counter-recruitment at Philomath High School. VFP meets on the fourth Monday of the month at 7:00 pm at the UU.
--Peace on Earth Club (WAHS)óHave raised more than $300 for ìInvisible Children,î an organization to help Ugandan children through ìSchools for Schoolsî campaignókeep them in school and not used as child soldiers. In Feb, they will show a film and have a Q&A session with a WAHS student who spent time in Uganda.
--Raging GranniesóMeet every Tuesday at noon in the Martha Room of the FUMC. Recently sang at anti-LNG protest in Salem. Have been invited to perform at Oregon Peace Summit in Salem 7 Feb, and Festival of Hope.
--A2W (Alternatives to War)óMeet the first Sunday from 3:00 to 4:30 at Westminster House. Currently taking an inventory of all the programs and activities A2W has been involved with.
--Just Peace Committee (West Hills Congregational Church)óHeavily involved with Corvallis menís homeless shelter and NRCAT (National Religious Coalition Against Torture).
--Witness for PeaceóPlanning Days of Prayer and Action for Colombia in April. Call Aleita 740-3235 if interested in participating. Will be represented at the Oregon Peace Summit.
--Active for Peace and Justice (First United Methodist Church)óOrganizing for activities to mark the 6th anniversary of the Iraq War. Contact LoErna if interested in planning 753-7431.
--WITOóFamily that WITO sponsored moved to Detroit, however it is not working out well, and Shayma has asked to return to Corvallis, admitting that she made a mistake in leaving. Currently the furniture is being held in storage.
--AI Letter Writers (Amnesty International)óPlan to show the film ìJustice without Bordersî (about the International Criminal Court) sometime in late winter. Working with OSU Peace Studies program to promote ìIdeas Matterî lecture series.
--ROP (Rural Organizing Project)óSponsoring a presentation by David Bekin (sp?), a photojournalist, on the Lives of Immigrants on Sun Feb 1st from 4:00 to 5:30 at the Corvallis library.
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Important Dates
Saturday, Feb 7óOregon Peace Summit (Oregon Peace Works), Salem
Monday, Feb 9óAmnesty International Letter Writers, FUMC
Saturday, Feb 14óSecond Saturdays Concert (Gaza relief), Sunnyside Up
Sunday, Mar 15óStop the Wars at Home and Abroad Rally, Salem
Monday, Mar 16óBring the Guard Home Lobby D