Saturday, January 18, 2003 Meeting Notes

AGENDA

0. Check-in
1. Checking Account
2. Bill of Rights Defense Committee
3. COs & supporting the troops
4. Tacoma Reads Fahrenheit 451
5. Next event
6. MLK Jr. reminiscences
7. Leaflets
8. Announcements

CHECK-IN: a few scattered notes on remarks by those present:
- Marilyn wishes she were in Washington, D.C. at the march and feels frustrated that she can't be as active as she would wish.
- Phyllis was glad to be here.
- Benjy is thinking a lot about the war and Martin Luther King Jr., since he's taking Mike Honey's course at UW Tacoma on King this quarter.
- Jackie expressed feelings of frustration and of the need for action.
- Colleen was looking forward to leafleting; she reported that Carl is in San Francisco, marching.
- Mark said he was glad he'd taken on some responsibilities for the organization that kept him from pulling back during these difficult times for his family.
- Dorothy is worried about some family concerns and asked for our thoughts and prayers.
- Rob heard on the radio a recording of Martin Luther King's "Beyond Vietnam" speech on the radio and said it was an amazing experience.
- Tilly was wondering whether the CIA is participating in the "strike" in Venezuela.
- Sallie had a great week and is planning to go hold a "Guided Missiles and Misguided Men - MLK Jr." banner over the interstate later today. Every year she reads some King-related pieces for inspiration: a piece Vincent Harding about King's legacy, and either the "Beyond Vietnam" speech, or the Letter from Birmingham Jail. She has prepared an additional flyer with extensive quotes from King's April 1967 "Beyond Vietnam" speech in Riverside Church, New York.
- Sheila has been pleased at the media exposure being received by the peace movement; Kyle was also present, and Sheila said they'd discussed the concepts conscientious objection and eliminating war and that Kyle felt eliminating war was better.
- Vivi was pleased to be present.
- Marion arrived too late for check-in.

1. Checking Account. PPJH must have its money out of Associated Ministries coffers by the end of February. Sallie's not sure how much money we have. We're going open an account at the Sound Credit Union and Sallie is willing to use her name and SSN. Kyle, Sheila, and Rob volunteered to be officers, if needed, for the formal paperwork.

2. Bill of Rights Defense Committee. Colleen reported that Tim Smith, new to the community and a retired military intelligence officer, is organizing an effort to have Tacoma declare itself a Bill of Rights Safe Zone. The first meeting will take place on Saturday, January 18, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at 408 N. 11th St. The Renaissance Cafe will probably be the site of future meetings. (Tim Smith's decision to pursue this project began when he read a Bill of Rights Defense Committee poster in the Renaissance Cafe, Colleen said.) PPJH formally endorsed the Bill of Rights Defense Committee - Tacoma.

3. COs and supporting the troops. How to support the troops and oppose the war policy at the same time was discussed.

4. Tacoma Reads Fahrenheit 451. Sallie proposed having a PPJH-sponsored panel discussion of the book: "Fahrenheit 2003: Censorship Today." Mark proposed calling attention to contemporary forms of censorship; Sheila proposed calling attention to the heroes of the novel and the means they use (memorizing literary works). Sallie will look into setting up place and time.

5. Next event. Rob proposed showing the documentary film Manufacturing Consent (about Noam Chomsky and his ideas). If organized in a timely fashion it can be promoted at the Fahrenheit 451 discussion.

6. Reminiscences of Martin Luther King Jr. and the 1960s. Marilyn recalled efforts to discredit King during his lifetime as well as the controversy sparked by his "Beyond Vietnam" speech. Jackie recalled the effect of King's "I Have a Dream" speech on her father, a military man. Sallie said she was heartened by the amount of attention the "Beyond Vietnam" speech is receiving of late.

7. Leaflets. Five thousand were printed and assembled during the meeting for distribution this weekend (see the United for Peace of Pierce County website for details).

8. Announcements.

a. Nancy Farrell, a retired teacher from Burlington, Vermont, just back from Israel, will speak about her experiences there, where she was involved in art projects and teaching young children: 273 North "I" St., Tacoma, on Thursday, Jan. 23, at 6:00 p.m. Call Colleen for more information (759-9680).

b. Sheila announced the website for the Earth Charter and recommended it.

c. Out of Wednesday night's Steven Hill event (he's the author of Fixing Elections) emerged a group interested in pursuing election reform. The group will meet for the first time on Wednesday, Jan. 29 at 7:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Tacoma (423 Martin Luther King Jr. Way).

The meeting concluded at 12:00 noon with a moment of silence with hands held around the table.