MEETING NOTES FOR PEOPLE FOR PEACE, JUSTICE, AND HEALING
February 2, 2008

The people for Peace, Justice and Healing met Saturday, February 2, 2008 at Associated Ministries. Present for Check-in: Sallie, Rob, Mark, Colleen, Karen, Sol, Karen, Jan, Louise, Ray, and briefly, Nancy.

Nancy asked for further resource ideas for Abed event in early March. It was suggested she contact the chaplain at PLU, Ryan Desmond of the PLU Theater Department and the Wang Center.

AGENDA:

1. OUR DINNER WITH 'MY DINNER WITH ANDRE' (Sallie, Colleen, Karen)
Plans are proceeding for this March 1 event. Sallie cut tickets and distributed for selling to the membership. Discussion of vegetarian entrée. Entrée to be prepared by Karen. People will be given, at the time of purchase, a vegetarian option and asked to state their preference. Sallie will cut a DVD of a VHS copy of the film. We are hoping to sell 50 to 60 tickets to this fundraising event.

2. PMR TRIAL (Mark) Mark gave a "review" of court events. All three defendants were found guilty despite a weak case and abuse of defendants. Sentencing suspended. Community service invoked. The County Prosecutor has dropped charges but there are more trials coming up. Of concern: police observed "changing the rules" as protest actions proceeded. Wally Cuddeford was "tased" by the police. The police talked about protesters as the "opposition" rather than acting as protectors of their right to speak.

3. WEDNESDAY VIGISL (Colleen)
Colleen shared her recent Wednesday night vigil experience. Although Sallie has encouraged people to continue our Wednesday vigil presence at the courthouse, few people have shown up. Discussion. Sol suggested we vigil in relation to the "anniversary" of our invasion of Iraq. Karen suggested "power vigils" -- scheduled as special events rather than regular, weekly events. It is suggested that we encourage friends to accompany us to the vigil. Colleen feels we have to support or suspend our activity. Sallie wants to continue our consistent presence on Wednesday evenings. Group decides to bring to next week's agenda for further thought and discussion.

4. PACT MEETINGS (Ray)
Ray characterizes the meetings as in some state of flux with people dropping in and out. Basically, two "Iraq Anniversary" events are now in planning -- a Tacoma Mall direct action event on March 15 and a Ft. Lewis event on March 22. Discussion of specific "actions." Ray said a sign was being planned that will say: "While you're shopping, bombs are dropping." Members of IVAW are working with the Ft. Lewis group. Theme of the demonstration: "Soldier, you are not alone." Families of vets are being encouraged to participate and resources are being collected to benefit soldiers. There will be a concert, sponsored by IVAW on February 21. --

5. KICK BACK GUERRILLAS (Karen)
The Kick Back Guerrillas are still planning a "street theater" event for the Mall.

6. 55 MILES AN HOUR CAMPAIGN (Sol). Discussion of "national" campaign to again reduce the speed limit to 55 miles an hour to save on gas. Discussion -- environmental interests.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. Sock hop tonight to benefit Catholic Worker. Project -- collect socks for homeless people pick-up at Guadalupe House -- shower hour. Saturday night -- potluck, dancing, and music at St. Leo's, 710 South 13th.

2. Digging Deeper: Mandolin, Monday nights at 7 p.m. facilitated by Mark Jensen. Group's February project is entitled "The Sustainability Revolution." Books under discussion include David Korten's The Great Turning: From Empire to Earth Community; William McDonough and Michael Rraungart's Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things; Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemna: A Natural History of Four Meals; Paul Hawken's Blessed Unrest: How the Largest Movement in the World Came into Being and Why No One Saw It Coming. These books will be discussed February 4, 11, 18, & 25.

3. Wednesday, February 6, Tacoma Public Library, Olympic Room, 6:30 ACLU event. Showing of movie "The Ghosts of Abu Ghraib," followed by guest speaker -- Pat Gallagher, ACLU-WA, question and answer period

4. Thursday, February 7, United for Peace Pierce County, 7 p.m. Presentation of the Pachamama Alliance seminar "Awaken the Dreamer: Change the Dream." Held at the First Methodist Church in residence at the First Congregational Church, 209 South J Street, Tacoma.

5. Every Saturday: 12:30 to 1:30 UFPPC Peace Vigil in front of Border's Books at 38th and Steele.

COMING UP:

1. NOT FORGOTTEN -- LEONARD PELTIER AND THE DENIAL OF JUSTICE, King's Books, February 15, 7 p.m. Showing of film "Incident at Oglala," followed by remarks by Arthur Miller of the Leonard Peltier Support Group.

2. CHIEF LESCHI -- 150th ANNIVERSARY. Gather at noon at Chief Leschi's grave in the Puyallup Tribal Burial Grounds. Bus transport from St. Leo at 11:15 a.m. Lunch follows service at Leschi School with a panel presentation at 2 p.m. Bus service provided back to St. Leo's. For Info contact Bix at 627-4347

3. Guadalupe House -- PowerPoint presentation by Catholic Worker, Treye on his trip to Palestine -- February 20th at Guadalupe House 7:30 p.m. 1417 South G Street.

4. S.T.E.P.S. Forum, Living in Community, February 25, 7 to 9 p.m. Tacoma Friends Meeting House, 2508 S. 39th Street (behind Borders). Action Project: Port Townsend Eco Village Tour, work party, and dinner.

Respectfully submitted,
Karen