Meeting Notes April 28, 2003

• Treasure's Report: We have a balance of $140.00 in the account (This includes $110.00 reimbursement to Nelson United Church for photo copying over the last 8 months, for out-reach and related program fliers for Kootenay FOR, going back to last July's Ta'ayush program.). All outstanding bills have been paid. Donations from our Rice For Peace campaign provided Kootenay FOR with $500 to donate to Doctors Without Borders (sent three weeks ago) for their work in Iraq. Great work to all members and friends of Kootenay FOR involved in our Rice For Peace Campaign (which still continues).
  
  
• There was encouragement for all members of Kootenay FOR to fill out the FOR Survey. The form can be filled-out on-line and should be submitted by May 15th. Remember to address the issues from the view of being a Canadian (or for some being both Canadian and a USer) and being a Canadian Chapter of FOR (You may want to establish this point with each answer you provide, as a reminder to the folks reviewing the application.).

Announcements:

• FOR's Nyack, New York office to send Lloyd Berg, long-time FOR member and peace activist leader to speak in Nelson: The world-wide peace organization the Fellowship Of Reconciliation "unites people of all faiths in a consistent witness that there is no way to peace; peace is the way." Lloyd Berg, from the New York based staff of this worldwide fellowship, The Fellowship Of Reconciliation, will tell of this alternative vision, and of some of the startling developments in nonviolence training and action, Program takes place Monday evening, May 12th, 7:30pm at Nelson United Church (602 Josephine, at Silica). For information: Trish Bennett at (250) 355-2896, or www.KootenayFOR.org.
  
  
• All members and friends of Kootenay FOR are invited to meet with FOR Nyack, New York staff member Lloyd Berg for a "Chapter Building" discussion and potluck, from 6pm to 7:30pm at Nelson United Church, preceding Lloyd Berg's public talk on Monday, May 12th. Please bring either a main dish, grain or vegetable dish. Kootenay FOR will provide desserts and drinks. Lloyd Berg has been with FOR for over 40 years and coordinates "Chapter Development" and edits the FOR newsletter "Witness," which is distributed to over 18,000 people. Kootenay FOR is described in a full page article in this current Spring edition of the "Witness" newsletter. We will have copies at the May 12th event.
  
  
• Jim suggested FOR members and friends meet to write letter's to our representatives. Folks will meet this Sunday, 2pm, May 4th at the Vienna Cafe (where Pack Rat Annie's is), on Kootenay, across from Kootenay Coop. Please bring pens. (If the Vienna Cafe is closed we will post a message there and meet at a cafe around the corner).
  
  
• FOR USA has begun an "Indict President Bush for War Crimes" campaign. We discussed our involvement here in Canada. Information will be gathered from FOR USA, and at our next meeting we will review what role our chapter might play here in Canada.
  
  
• Jim will contact FOR staff in Nyack, New York who wanted the CBC radio's "The Current" interview with CBC host Ms. Tremonte and Henry Kissinger.
  
  
• Next meeting for internal education and analysis, to help further inform our peace work will take place Saturday, May 31st from 4pm to 6pm. This is the second in our ongoing education and analysis sessions, "Making Connections- Building Peace.
  
  
• A brief discussion regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict increased chapter interest in assessing what role Kootenay FOR might play in actions to help end the Israeli occupation of Palestine and help the peace process along. Isaac will contact Scott Kennedy, FOR's Middle East chair and gather other details of FOR's activities in the region. There was a discussion about current and future FOR International Peace Builder Delegation trips to the Middle East and FOR's ongoing support of the Israeli, Jewish led organization which works to end the demolition of Palestinian homes (a policy of collective punishment) on the West Bank and Gaza.

Actions:

• Peace Time (An evening series presented by the Light For Peace Coaltion.) The first event will be at the Sidewinder cafe in Nelson, on Wed. May 14th, at 7pm. Grant, Kootenay FOR member will speak on the "Project for a New American Century", focusing on its Statement of Principles and its plan to grow the american military, as well some of its main goals. He also plans to profile some of the founding members. The video to be screened is "Unheard Voices of Iraqi Women" directed by Amira Elias. As well we plan to have a discussion/questions session following. We will have a Kootenay FOR table with the Rice for Peace campaign envelopes at the event. The events are to continue each Wed., same time and place for a total of 4 weeks. Further details for on the Light For Peace Coalition's Sidewinder series will be listed on our homepage. Thank you Grant for your good work representing Kootenay FOR within the Light For Peace Coalition.
  
  
• Rice For Peace. The local campaign continues with over 130 more packets sent to Prime Minister Chretien this week (increasing to 900 the total number of our prepared envelopes sent to the Prime Minister), from our Rice For Peace table at the Kootenay Country Food Coop on Baker Street. Isaac mentioned the terrific level of community participation in the Rice For Peace campaign. FOR's outreach in the community continues through the wonderful conversations and relationship building taking place at our Rice For Peace Table. (Over 300 fliers providing instruction for our Mennenite Relief Kits campaign were also distributed at our Kootenay FOR table at the Kootenay Country Food Coop on Baker Street.
  
  
• Additionally, NDP MP Bill Blaikie called Isaac two weeks ago. Bill Blaikie is now working toward seeing if Prime Minister Chretien can arrange to separate out-the numbers of Rice For Peace packets, to be counted. If this can be done, Bill Blaikie would then be willing to find out the numbers of Rice For Peace packets arriving and refer to the packets during the Question Period, helping back-up Chretien's official position regarding not participating in the recent war in Iraq, and to apply pressure on Chretien to not participate in future US conflicts. Thank you for your help Bill Blaikie.
  
  
• Kootenay FOR will continue with our Rice For Peace table at the Kootenay Coop. Please come by and say hello and support this worthwhile campaign. We will be at the our Kootenay FOR table either Fridays or Saturdays each week.
  
  
• Kootenay FOR has been assisting the relief package campaign developed by the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) here in Canada. Fliers and announcement will be further deseminated this week to churches and business, with instructions for what to purchase and where to bring their boxes of relief items. See our website page for the Mennenite Relief Campaign. Please let your friends know of this campaign. If your boxes are delivered to the United Church by May 8th, Kootenay FOR will arrange shippment of the boxes.
  
  
• Call or Fax Prime Minister Chretien and give him support for staying out of the war:   Fax: 1-613-941-6900     Hot line Foreign Affairs: 1-866-880-437