SCHENECTADY NEIGHBORS FOR PEACE
MINUTES FROM THE JANUARY 17 MEETING

Members present: Elizabeth, David G., Anita, Mark, Elaine, Martin, Lisa, Bertha,David Easter of Upper Hudson Peace Action 

The minutes from the Nov. 5 meeting were circulated. There was no Dec. meeting. 

There was some discussion of recent activities, including the Crossgates Mall event with other groups, the Peacemobile at Mohawk Commons that called for the closing of Guantanimo and end to torture, the weekly Tuesday and Friday vigils, and the counter recruitment activities at Schenectady High School.

There was a discussion of participating in the Martin Luther King Day parade, which had been agreed on previously, and which has become a tradition. We will meet at 1:45 at the First United Methodist Church. 

Anita proposed the project of gifting some peace themed books to all the local high school libraries (Scotia, Schenectady, Schalmont, Niskayuna, Mohonason,  Duanesberg). Suggested titles included:Jarhead, Deserter’s Tale, History of Nonviolence

There was some discussion of tying this to a scholarship (peace scholarships have been discussed at other meetings). Elaine referred back to the idea of an essay contest that could be tied to a book donation, possibly making a broader chance to be noticed in the school community. A scholarship would be awarded at an event, book donations might be made during National Library time, and get included in a school or community bulletin, etc. There was some discussion referring to the possibility of fundraising for these donations.

The rest of the meeting was focused on reorganizing and the various roles and responsibilities needed. Elizabeth is finishing her commitment of coordinator as of Feb., which was when elections were held last year. She will fill the role till July, if no one is able to take it before then (which would complete a two year commitment).

The discussion included recommendations for having more than one coordinator (Elizabeth).  

David Easter presented some ideas for filling the various roles and meeting various needs and tasks.  Personality helps drive the role.  The coordinator is a sort of staff person for the group. This entails asking what did we decide to do? How will it get done? What is the next step?

The roles can be very informal and may include subcommittees, individuals and people working in groups (like the counter-recruitment, war prayer, films, and special events we have already done.)  We may want to go through our list and call people relating to certain projects.

Martin mentioned the meeting model of having subcommittees meet together at the first part of the meeting and then have the larger meeting right after.

David E. suggested making a list of the functions a coordinator plays.

There was a discussion of overall peace activities vs. local ones.

Publicity is one area that may need further attention. Tasks could be divided up, but we may still need someone to coordinate it.

There was a brief discussion that there used to be a Steering Committee. Should we have one again? Should we have multiple coordinators? 

David clarified that more than one person can be on the Riseup email list for our group, so that burden might be shared. Elizabeth had been the sole one. 

There was a discussion of having an event to draw membership and take stock of various ideas and people’s skills, with the resulting conclusion to have the February 23 meeting be a chocolate pot luck combined with a planning meeting for future activities and an election. Martin offered helpful suggestions regarding the facilities at the church, such as coffee being available. 

Anita and Elaine volunteered to do some planning for the next meeting.

Lisa will try to contact high school students.

David G. will contact Union College community.

Elizabeth will send out the email invitation about the meeting. 

David noted that our group might decide to cut back activities. People should do an inventory of interests and skills.  

We discussed some of the activities that are ongoing or repeated year to year, such as: Parades, Kids Day, Hiroshima/Nagasaki Memorial, Stockade Art Show Vigil, crane making workshops and give aways, counter-recruitment, “War Prayer,” “Boots” project. 

There was a decision made not to have a roving vigil in Feb.