July 15 Meeting
Minutes
Veterans for Peace
Rachel Corrie Chapter 109
Olympia, Washington
In attendance: Dennis
M, Molly G, Larry K, Wes H, David R, Janet S, George H, Bill M, Terry
Z, George (Jim) J, Ken S, Jody T, Mohammed A, Debra B, Dan R, James S,
Duane K.
Introductions,
announcements and free speech (rants, etc.). Visitors David
R, Debra B and James S were welcomed. Some information from
this round about will appear at the end of the minutes.
The minutes
of the previous meeting were approved.
Treasurer's Report:
Terry reported that we have $245 in the regular account, $985 in the
grant account. Before passing the hat he reminded us that the
Agustin Aguayo event will need financial support, that the Peace
Scouts has requested $200 funding to
produce their final peace badge. Other funding
requests are on their way to the funds team as well. The hat
was passed and produced $129. The funds team recommends that
the $400 for the Arlington Northwest Memorial come out of the grant
account, approved later in the meeting. The funds team
consists of Terry, Ken, Jim and Dennis.
Old
business:
Jim James reported on the Arlington
Northwest Memorial. Pending approval by the
manager of Heritage Park, the dates will be Aug. 26-27 (7am
Sunday to 7pm Monday). Chapter 92 and the
Kirkland Chapter provide the crosses and headstones, about 3700 of them
are expected. It takes about 20 people to set it up in a
reasonable amount of time. This will be the 4th year that we
have presented the Memorial, and it has always been well received, as
it is not a protest, but a memorial, and does help educate the public
about the cost of war. Jim is thinking of asking other
organizations to sponsor the event as a fundraiser for the
chapter. A casino was mentioned, but there was objection to
aligning ourselves with a gambling establishment
because gambling is an addiction like alcohol for
some folks.
Lakefair
Parade: Jim reported that we will be number
115 in the parade, this Saturday, July 21, and the parade
starts at 5pm, so no need to arrive at the staging area until about
5pm. We will have the Color Guard and be inviting the Peace
Scouts and other peace groups to join us with positive messages on
signs, peace flags, etc. Bring friends and family.
Watch e-mail for more info on where to meet (on Capital Way, probably
near the Freeway overpass). Bring water.
Agustin Aguayo
will be speaking at Traditions, Tuesday, July 17,
7pm. He recently served 8 months in prison for his resistance
to fighting in Iraq. Hear his story and contribute to his
legal fees; the cost of defending himself still has to be paid.
Break: A
yummy Indian lunch was served to us by Dr. Ayub, who is from
Madras, India, as a celebration of some personal good news.
(Those who missed this meeting really missed something!)
New Business:
Bob P asked to use our video
camera at a monetary policy conference that he will be
attending that is focusing on war and peace issues. He wanted
to know if we should ask that group to pay for the use of the
camera. It was decided to allow his filming of the event with
our camera, requesting a suggested donation of $100 from that
group. Bob will be doing the filming except for the one
workshop where he is the presenter.
Wes reported that
military ships may possibly be coming to the port during
Lakefair. The Port Military Resistance group opposes their
visit during this large, family-oriented festival. Anyone who
wishes to comment regarding the proposed visit can e-mail the commander
of the USS Ingram, Rick Odom, at odom@ffg61.navy.mil.
The Office of Homeland Security has recommended against the visit for
security reasons and the City of Olympia has denied a request to
provide security for the visit at City expense. Wes indicated
that PMR will offer free ice cream at Traditions to crew members if the
ships do come here because they welcome the crew members, while
opposing the militarization of our port. The
sidewalk in front of the cafe will be available for informational
tables during Lakefair.
The Occupation
Project involves "occupying" our Congressional
Representatives offices along the I-5 corridor reading the
names of the fallen in Iraq, singing, providing other forms of
visibility and perhaps nonviolent civil disobedience. Jody
will be leading a team to do this action. Contact her if you
want to help. Jody also suggested we take a shift at the
Thurston County Food Bank, Tuesdays 9am-noon. She will do a
project proposal and ask for volunteers.
Announcements:
Ken reported that new members
will automatically be placed on the "VfP109" listserv and this list is
reserved for VfP business. The second list "VfP109 talk" is
for discussion and information from outside the chapter.
About one third of our members are on that list. To join it,
contact Ken at kenard10@comcast.net.
Please respect this request not to use the
chapter listserv as if it were the discussion listserv.
Larry reported that when a
decision is needed between meetings, the subject line will say
"DECISION NEEDED" in all capital letters. This will help
teams and even the membership at large notice when a response to a
message is needed asap.
Next
Meeting: August 19 at Traditions, 1:30 social
time, 2:00 meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
Cheryl Crist,
Secretary
Members news
Lela M is traveling with Cindy
Shehan through the South, then to Washington DC to meet with
Rep. Conyers regarding impeachment and other matters, then to the UN to
lobby on issues of Iraq, Iran and Africa.
Molly G asks us to put Sept 26
on our calendars for a fundraiser for the Voices in Wartime
presentation at SPSCC. Watch for more information as the date
nears.
Dennis M just returned from
Croatia where he was helping set up online training of trauma treatment
practitioners. He reports that it seems like everyone hates
everyone else there. During the war the Croates tortured the
Serbs and the Serbs tortured the Croates and they all tortured the
Albanians. The buildings and terrain still look like the war
zone that it was in the 1990's. Landmine fields still have
not been cleared.
Dr. Ayub got word that a
frivolous lawsuit against him was thrown out of court and he is happy
to have been fully exonerated. His serving us lunch was in
celebration of that.
Ken and Cheryl recommend that
everyone go to pbs.org and watch Bill Moyers Journal from Friday 13,
2007. John Nichols, editor of "The Nation" and Bruce
Fein were discussing "The Genius of Impeachment". Bruce Fein
is a constitutional attorney with the American Enterprise Institute who
thinks it is imperative that the US House impeach both Bush and Cheney
for "over reaching" and extending their power to include kidnapping and
throwing people into dungeons, breaking into private homes for secret
searches and many other crimes. We must not allow these new
"powers" to stand and be used by future presidents.
Jody invited us to take part in
"Fire the Grid" to help heal the whole planet. See
FiretheGrid.org for more information.
Lee Gilchrist is moving out of
Olympia. In his honor, please attend the impeachment rally
Monday, July 16, 4:30-6:00 at the intersection of Cooper Point and
Black Lake Blvd. Signs will be provided. He, Cheryl
C, and George H have been active in the impeachment movement.
Larry says Al Gore's Assault
on Reason is a must read.
Duane K is moving Monday, July
16 and during the week that follows needs help organizing and placing
items where they ought to go. If you are good at doing that
and also can tell him what to throw out, please let him know.