August 24

Notes UJP Planning Group Meeting,
Wed. Aug. 24,2011
6:45 PM, AFSC office, 2161 Mass. Ave. Cambridge, MA

Present: Paul Shannon, Shelagh Foreman, Virginia Pratt, Duncan McFarland, Lois Mastrangelo, Ann Glick, Marilyn Levin, Carlos Gonzalez, Carol Coakley

Agenda    9-11 visibility - Paul
        Banners Flags - Paul
        Sept 15 - Palestine to UN NYC - Marilyn
        Oct 6 - DC - Freedom Plaza - actions at White House - Marilyn
        Oct 15 - 10 year anniversary of Afghan war, local actions coordinated             nationally demo/rally/march- Marilyn
        Sept 23 - local actions Marilyn
        BDS Hummus - Ann
        Oct 1 - UJP conference update
        Announcements  Aug. 30 Mn., UJP invited to join moveon at vigil at             Kerry's office re: super committee.  Sept 11, Sherborn Peace Abbey is         planning a memorial service inviting Frank, Linsky and Peisch, 12 - 1.
       
     

9-11 Visibility-Paul

We discussed UJP having a presence at the Hatch Shell event, 'Massachusetts Remembers' on 9-11. MAPA is planning on being there. A service pavilion will be available for organizations to set up tables, provide education and or service opportunities. It has an interfaith message along with the patriotism. Carol agreed to look into more details and cost and send it to all of us.* It would be good to update our brochure before then.

Will Vets for Peace be at Hatch Shell?  Paul will check with Pat Scanlon.

We discussed having 2 banners made  - one large one for the Oct 1 conference - maybe 12' long of vinyl or some long lasting material for the stage ...Union or non-union...There were no objections to one union one (for the conference) and one cheap non-union one for the smaller one... One would say United for Justice with Peace and the other could have a message such as ...Troops home now-UJP, to be determined.

Paul likes the Vets for Peace flags and thinks we ought to investigate a design and get some of our own.  Shelagh and others will speak with designers.

Various dates/events - Marilyn

Will UJP endorse Oct. 6 Tahrir Sq. type rally in DC at White House? We endorsed and will keep an eye on Oct 6th event.

Sat Oct 15 - the 10th anniversary of Afghan war some groups are organizing for local events, coordinated nationally. A march and rally being planned for Boston.  Duncan would like to see something creative and well attended...Paul suggested 40' drone to cover Boylston...He will check with Bread and Puppet. We endorsed rally.

Thurs, Sep. 15th, Palestine to the UN in NYC.
Fri. Sep. 23 and plans for local events, coordinated nationally to maintain awareness of IP.

Duncan mentioned anti-war actions planned by UfPJ during the month of October.
Churck Turner looking for responses to his blog, Paul suggested a delegation visit to WV

Oct 1 CONFERENCE

We discussed flier and prominence of "Chomsky" to be increased, P & J bar on left too large...New version of flier will include $10.00 additional fee for boxed lunch i.e. $25. for fee and lunch.  All attendees will get name tag and a sticker indicating whether they paid for lunch. No food allowed in auditorium. Duncan got two recommendations from Hagopian and Mark Solomon: Naseer Aruri and another for back up for Khouri in Panel One.  Other names Vijay Prashad

Several airfares for speakers are paid.
Guntram Mueller wants to do nuke workshop, Randy Kehler was informed and could be officially invited.

Looking for student to speak on BDS hummus.

Joan Ecklein and Rachel Williams mentioned as possible additions to Af/Pak workshop

Youth issues - some colleges have active student groups, Virginia mentioned U Mass Boston, Marilyn , SJP (Students for Justice in Palestine)

Back up for Margaret Burnham if she cannot commit by Sept 7th..,  Nellie _____________, Veronica Turner of SEIU, Centro Presente Patria Monte

A good time to announce Oct 3 start to Tarek Mahanna's trial right before Chomsky's talk.

A march and rally after conference to Kerry's home in Louisburg Sq on Beacon Hill to give Super Committee recomendations:  military cuts, higher taxes on rich, no cuts to safety nets...

Next meeting Sept 14th

* I have since discovered that The Rendon Group is planning this event with the help of interfaith groups. Their 'business' may invite investigation.