Minutes of January 5, 2003 Umbrella Peace Group

Facilitator: Kim Campbell

First order of business was to discuss the decision-making method that this group wants to employ. It was decided to operate by consensus, and vote on certain close decisions.

1. Teach-In Update and discussion:

Ron Hatley reported on the results of the December 21 meeting. It was decided to have a panel discussion with the focus being on stopping the war in Iraq. Working title was: Our war against Iraq. The meeting would be in the U of I Law Courtroom on Thursday January 16 at 7:30 Tentative list of speakers and topics was included in the last submission to the list. This report was followed by a lengthy discussion about the most effective way to get this group's ideas out to as many people as possible. We will probably need to do a series of teach-ins or teaching experiences (i.e. video presentations, etc.), as there are more ideas for topics/presenters than we have time to cover in just one session. It was also recommended that we keep the actual scheduled time short - to one hour - followed by a half hour time for questions. It was suggested that we make use of the space outside the auditorium to pass out pamphlets, information,sheets, perhaps sell peace buttons, provide postcards for people to write their elected officials. It is important to do something NOW. The administration is talking about moving in to Iraq, has amassed troops, so it's a high priority to do something in a timely manner. It was brought up that a group of 5 with a moderator is a very effective format, with each speaker limited to 10 minutes followed by a Q & A period of a half hour or so.

Discussion of the title followed: The title of this teach-in is:

Our War Against Iraq?
Real Questions/Real alternatives
with the title of each presentation phrased as a question:
Is the War Just? Dean Stewart
Is the War Legal? Carl Mickelson
What is the Threat from Iraq? Tom Preston
What are Our Motives? Dale Graden
What are the Alternatives to War? Michelle Hazen
What is the role of the media? Leslie (???last name???)
Moderator will be Melynda Huskey.

Publicity is crucial, and a small group met after the main meeting to delegate/plan for getting the message out to the community. Ron and the Teach-in committee will contact the media and disperse posters to both campuses and the surrounding communities.

2. We had a brief discussion of the name of the Umbrella Group, and the group voted on the name Palouse Peace Coalition.

3. Kenton Bird reported on the activities of the Networking Committee, and passed around a brochure listing names and contact people of the Community Groups, Regional Groups, Student Groups, Religious Groups, National Groups, and Alternative News Sources. This brochure will be dispersed at the Teach-In, the vigils, and a various other venues.

4. Nancy Hamphil reported on her idea to do a Food Not Bombs activity, and she will make a pot of soup (or bread), and pass out free food, as well as peace-related literature. She will begin as soon as she gets a permit to use the Friendship Square location, and she passed around a sign-up sheet for volunteer help.

5. The Newspaper Ad now has over 800 names; we have collected $690 toward the purchase of another full-page ad in the Daily News;we need approximately $1100. It was recommended that we plan to submit the ad by this Thursday January 9 to run in the January 11 weekend edition to get it in prior to the Teach-In and M.L. King community activities. If anyone has pledged to donate money and has not yet done so, now is the time! Please get your donation to Dean or Gretchen Stewart ( 882-7067 or gretanddean@moscow.com. Send donations to 411 S. Hayes, Moscow, Idaho 83843).

Next meeting will be on Sunday January 12 at 7:00 at the Lutheran Church. Kim Campbell will again facilitate. (Thanks, Kim!)

Sally, Email Secretary