VETERANS FOR PEACE, CORVALLIS

Agenda May 25, 2009

 

 

l.  Attending:

·         Leah Bolger, Bob Stebbins (pres.), Todd Allen, Bob Winget, Karen Winget, Del Shirley, and David Meade

 

II.  Administration:

 

·        Treasurers Report –

Total:  $2339

Dedicated: 

       Signature Ad & Legal Defense: $724

       War Resisters Fund (for Courage to Resist): $696

Activity since 4/1/09 (including all Emma’s Revolution & War Resister funds):

       Income:  $2576

       Spent:  $1516

Free to use:  $919

 

 

III.  Past actions/events status and debrief:

 

·        Liberty Tree Fair Linn-Benton Community College VFP table May  was successful.

 

·        May 10. VFP benefit concert at Sunnyside Up Café.

 

·        May 12. Calling Congress to oppose war funding.   Funding passed anyway.

 

·        May 15 deadline.  Report to National VFP for newsletter article.  Rebecca sent a draft to Bart and he did minor editing and submitted it.

 

·        May 17.  Benefit Concert at Unitarians, speaker Benji Lewis.  Sold enough tickets (about 100) to make it worthwhile for Emma’s Revolution .  We raised approximately $700.  Ken from Gracewinds Music loaned us the sound equipment. 

 

·        May 18.   Library, Benji Lewis and Seth Mandel spoke against war and Ft Lewis Activity

Program was effective.    Seth of IVAW told of work on the issue of sex abuse in the military.  Benji spoke, even though he is not being activated. 

 

·        May 25.  Memorial Day Event VFP Chapter 72, Portland.  (Leah Bolger) Bart, Leah and Benji went to the new Peace Park off of the north end of the Steel Bridge.  They gathered at the Korean Memorial (near the Memorial Coliseum) and marched to the park.  Grant Remington, pres. of Chapter 72, spoke and then Cindy Sheehan and Benji spoke about peace.  Others talked about attending local events.  

o   We talked about possibly doing something next year.

o   We discussed what we can do to change people’s minds against the war and for peace.

 

·         Bring the Guard Home Campaign (http://www.pjw.info/troopshomecampaign.html)  (Leah Bolger)

 

Oregon has gotten farther along than any other states.

We were promised by Rep. Roblan (Rules Committee Chair) that if we got the votes, then they would hold a hearing. We worked hard to get the votes, we have the votes, but the measure has not come out of committee.  Wed. at 11:30 to meet on the North Steps of the Capital building for rally and press conference.

Call or fax Roblan and Speaker Hunt and tell them that we are one of the 7200 that signed a petition.  We were promised that if we got 32 votes the committee would take it to the floor.   Some suspect Roblan did not think we would get the votes.  However, “we are not going down quietly.”

 

IV.  Action Team reports and planning:

 

·        Lane Community College Peace Conference  May 29 & 30.  Leah believes it will be a good conference.  More info is on our web site.  This is the second annual and last year they had very good speakers.   $45 for both days.

 

·        Resolution for VFP convention.   Individuals, Chapters, and coalitions of Chapters may submit resolutions.   Leah has submitted a proposed change in the bylaws to allow one of the 13 Board members be an associate member.

Decision:  Leah’s proposed change to the by-laws be submitted by Leah in the name of Chapter 132.

 

·        Assistance to Benji Lewis. Organization, housing out of town supporters, publicity, etc. Leah Bolger

 

·        Benton County Booth--Who will coordinate?  Suggested we focus and have less clutter others suggested that a variety of materials might reach a variety of people.  Possibly we should go for a larger booth.  Bob Winget will coordinate with Bobbi Hall and others in Alt2War.   Benton County Fair starts 29 July.

 

·        Book Purchase: “10 Excellent Reasons Not to Join the Military”. Plan to distribute and accept donations.

 

·         Counter-Military Recruitment—John Griffiths, Albany/Lebanon.  Bob Stebbins, Rebecca Michelson. Bart completed one last visit to Philomath (before school ends) on May 20.

 

VI  Scheduled Future actions/events:

 

·        May 27 Wednesday. Salem, Bring the Guards Home Campaign.

·        May 27  Wednesday.  Cindy Sheehan at Unitarian Church, potluck at 5:30.   Karen Winget is organizing the potluck.  Presentation at 7 pm UUC Peace Group donated $200 for an honorarium.  We will pass the hat for her. 

Decided:    Give $100 from the Chapter general fund to support Cindy Sheehan’s work.  

 

·        July 29. County Fair Booth (discussed above)

 

·        July 18, 19, 20 DaVinci Days

 

·        June 22  VFP monthly meeting  (always 4th Monday)

 

·        July 27 VFP monthly meeting (always 4th Monday)

 

·        August 5-9, National Convention, University of Maryland—Theme is “From Hope to Action.”  Registration is $200.  Leah encourages others to go.  The Chapter will decide about scholarships to help members go at the next meeting.

 

·        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

 

 

Del Shirley

Scribe

 

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