10/18/07 SPA meeting

 Present: Patty C. Peter L., Claire C., Lee L., Jim F., Barbara M., Joe S.

Next Month's facilitator: Lee L.        Meeting Date:  11/15/07  SSLibrary 7PM

 
Discussion of Guidelines for choosing projects: Claire distributed outline by Midwest Academy for SPA to use as a discussion guide.  Barbara now has some area church and media contacts for future program contacts from publicity used for May Saffar's talk.  Immigration was discussed briefly as a possible topic.

There is consensus to take part in a MLK celebration, and this year Skidmore has suggested it be held there. Jim F. offered to be a contact person for SPA if the celebration includes MLK's ideas on militarism. Joe suggested using the SPA announcement list to solicit people to work on future activities.

Brainstorming on New Techniques  

Video showings (library/public place)

Study Groups

Book Club

Civil Disobedience

Being Peace/Spiritual Approach to peace – different religious forums on peace

Social events/Breaking Bread

Celebratory events, musical events, pancake breakfast, similar to other local civic groups

Events where speaker(s) will tell personal stories

Door to Door voter registration and/or education/flyering

Find ways to do outreach to draw in new activists;

Roving vigils – in different towns in Saratoga County, monthly

Iraq Moratorium Project – 3^rd Friday of each month activities (http://iraqmoratorium.org/)

There was consensus to dedicate next month's SPA meeting to clarifying brainstorming ideas.

Finances: patty will keep SPA checkbook and get monthly statements from the bank. 5 people can sign checks: Patty, Peter, Claire, Jim, Barbara (2 signatures needed per check); voted to give a check to Jim for $60 for Peace Tree; addl $60 if matching funds are not given to Jim by Veterans for Peace

There are no new Survey Responses

Website: SPA domain name has not yet been renewed; but will be, to connect to Peace Action/SPA page

SPA Banner: Francelise Dawkins is working on it. 

Clifton Park Vigil will remain same time (4-5PM) and location (Fire Rd. & Rte 146) for 1st Tues in Nov.

(Dec. not decided).  Peter suggested a roving vigil to different locations per month (eg. Ballston Spa, Wilton) Possibly make 3rd Friday be the roving vigil

Peace Action: Those present gave unanimous agreement for SPA to join Peace Action. Claire suggested we encourage those on SPA list to consider sending small dues to Peace Action (voluntary); Patty will ask David Easter to track those with Saratoga  Co. mailing addresses & let us know for contact by SPA.

Patty volunteered to go to Peace Action steering committee monthly meetings as SPA rep.; all in SPA can go to occassional PA pot luck suppers.  Joe said we should try to get SPA domain name to point to Peace Action/ SPA webpage.  He will work on this.

Events & Announcements:

Already occurred:

Intl. Day of Peace 9/21; Peace Tree 9/26; Syracuse Rally 9/29; Iraq Women & Children 10/13/07

Tomorrow Night: May Saffar "A Dialogue With Our Iraqi Neighbor" Clifton Park 10/19/07

NYC Peace Rally: 10/27 see Bethlehem Neighbors web for remaining bus tickets, UFPJ event

Lee will be carpool contact for Saratoga 371-9415

Women Against War Iran Vigil - would like to join Saratoga PA on Saturday, 11/17

Gillibrand action: Joe said KG voted for funding Iraq (only Dem in NYS to do so) Push her to sign statement to Not Fund any longer  Lee thinks this is a waste of time 

Jim said Geralyn McDowell at Rosa House, Troy will host a pot luck on Sunday 5PM for a person from Oaxaca, Mexico who will be visiting KG's office Monday AM to speak about bad effects of NAFTA&IMF

All are welcome to the pot luck and to go with group to KG's Saratoga office 

Patty wants (and got) SPA endorsement for talking to homeless vets shelter in Albany to ask about what their needs are. Tie it in with video, "When We Came Home" & get public involvement.  Albany Elks have already done something for the homeless vets; Ed Block is a good contact as a new officer in the Vets organization.

Members of the Saratoga Peace Alliance are invited to a potluck, to be followed by a  workshop on Developing a Statement of Conscience, to be held at the Quaker Meeting House on route 32, two miles north of the battlefield, in the town of Stillwater on Sunday Dec. 9th. Potluck will begin at about 11:30 a.m. Jens Braun of Old Chatham Friends Meeting will facilitate.

Michael McGraw wants to present @ SPA November meeting info on a forum on Socialism in the U.S.

Decision to invite him to our Nov. 15 meeting to listen to our full agenda then he can speak for 10 minutes.
 

Peter mentioned (1) looking into Vets day Parade:  SPA will just join in with Vets for Peace in Albany parade.  (2) announce to list the 5th Annual Victorian Peace Walk is Nov. 29 (Thurs) 6PM.  Bring quotes from Victorian times re. peace
 

SPA 11/15/07  (SSLibrary 7PM) Meeting Agenda: 

Go over strategic plan  and review 'issues'. (Lee will organize using Claire's outline and brainstorming issues)

Revisit Mission Statement (compare to Peace Actions' statement)

Ten minute time slot for Michael McGraw