INTERFAITH NETWORK FOR PEACE & JUSTICE

September 9, 2006

Present: Frances Loubere, Peter Barick, Howard Solomon, Dan Kenney, Maylan Dunn, Cele Meyer, Al Meyer, Patrick Spillane, Drew Banghart, Rosemarie Slavenas, Chuck Hammette, Henk Hoeve, Clint Jesser, Lolly Voss, Will Ireland, Jane Ann Moore

Minutes approved.

Treasurer’s Report approved: Balance of $2,539. However, $1,500 in scholarships is soon to be paid. $250 has been set aside for Pumpkin Parade.  Then only $700.00 will remain.

OLD BUSINESS:

. Unanimous thanks to Cele for another excellent Newsletter. Thanks to Jenny for excellent publicity in papers, radio, etc. for Stanley Campbell. The Northern Star featured picture of Cele and Al’s five-year-old granddaughter on page one holding a sign last Friday saying, “War Kills Our Children.”

. OCT. 29^th—Oct. lst is deadline to hear if approved to be in Pumpkin Parade, Sycamore. Patrick reported on plans for it. Theme will be “Peace is Fun” (or fabulous). “Mr. Rogers and his neighborhood”. Music: “Won’t you be my neighbor?” Ma rent a costume for Big Bird or other characters; children invited to come in costume; might use stilts or a Mr. Rogers mask. Motion passed to provide $200.00 for costumes and $50.00 for banners or supplies.

OCT. 22^nd—The Susquecentennial parade, DeKalb. Peter Spillane made application. Steve Kapitan will see if group is accepted.

. Counter Recruitment: Evaluation and Next Steps. Disappointed with turnout; but some informative substance was written in the well-placed article in the Daily Chronicle. As Sycamore is a place where real democracy takes place, opportunity for real discussion will appear at some point. Any creative ideas?

. Declaration of Peace Update. Add your name to the list now by visiting www.declarationofpeace.org.

. Fall programming Update:

Sept. 12, 7:00 p.m. Lincoln Room, Homes Student Center, NIU campus, “Peace Mission to Iran,” by Stanley Campbell.

Sept. 13, Nonviolence training with Jeff Leys, 7:00 p.m. Unitarian Universalist     Fellowship at 158 N. 4^th St., DeKalb.

      Sept. 27^th, 7:00 PM, Vigil on Declaration of Peace with regional groups at House Speaker Hastert’s office in Batavia.

      Oct. 5, Special screening of An Inconvenient Truth at 7:00 PM followed by discussion led by Dr. Paul Loubere at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.

      Oct. 10, SOA discussion concerning Fort Benning, Georgia.  Holmes Center. Drew Banghart will arrange for a room there.

      Oct. 15, Crop Walk, 2:00 pm Registration. 3:00 PM Step Off.

      Nov. 12, 1:30 PM, Coalition of Northern Illinois Peace Groups in DeKalb.

      Not yet confirmed: Nov. 14, 7:00 PM. Rothchild will return. Motion to pay him $100.00, if he is able to come, passed unanimously.

NEW BUSINESS:

. Report on Rally for Immigrant Rights in Batavia. 2,000 gathered on Labor Day.

. Out reach to Immigrant Community. Worship in Spanish at N. 6^th and Pine Sts.; Eloise Keck continues her interest. How can we show our concern at this critical time?

. Response to Gang Activity: Chuck Hammette described aspects of the situation as it is affecting mainstream youth. Derek Smith is working to get through denial on the part of some adults. “Mainstream culture has become in part a violent culture.” Our community faces a second generation of gang members. When national leaders use violence even though diplomacy is an option, youth will imitate.

. Oct. 10, 7:00 PM, Discussion on School of the Americas as held at Fort Benning in Georgia. Room to be designated in Holmes Student Center. Drew arranging.

. Activities Related to the Upcoming Referendum. Dan attended the August meeting of the DeKalb Township meeting and asked if referendum materials had been sent to be certified for the November ballot. On another aspect, the editor of the Daily Chronicle has asked Dan/Maylan to write a column on the “pro” side for the referendum and is asking other spokespersons to write on the “con” side.  Election day is Nov. 7^th. More plans will be developed at the meeting, Saturday,  October 14^th. Tell your friends and neighbors about this referendum.

. Plan for UN International Day of Peace on Sept. 21^st. If the United States Government has not taken some step toward secession of military activities in Iraq by then, some members of Interfaith Network want to state their protest publicly. Various approaches were discussed for Seniors, Middlers, and Students, including speaking with Recruiters. Meet this coming Saturday at Dan’s at 10 AM to specify plans for the event.

. DeKalb High School Peace Club collected stuffed animals for children in Iraq last year. They will be organizing again this fall in a few weeks. Dan is in touch with them. Drew volunteered to speak with them.

. Will Ireland gave update on web site. Maylan paid $65 fee for this year.

The next monthly meeting of the Strategy Committee will be Sat., Oct. 14^th at Dan and Maylan’s home.