Resources > Meeting Minutes
AWARE weekly meeting minutes 7/25/04 [ed. note (Randall Cotton) - I made some corrections and editing from the version posted on the peace-discuss list] Facilitator- Al Kagan Time- Randall Minutes- Gabriel Stanton Introductions- About 19 people News- Carl Estabrook for a complete detail of the news of the week including sources used check for Carl's posting on the peace-discuss mailing list. Some items of interest (Sorry I couldn't keep up with Carl's pace. Reading the news is hard enough. Excellent job Carl!.) Jordan Times compared Iraqi invasion to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan 3 of the 911 Hijackers were on the terrorist watch list Iran may be the next target of bombs by administration who exaggerates the threat of this country's possible development of nuclear weapons. U.S. Used Guantanamo Bay techniques at Abu Ghraib Democratic National Convention begins tomorrow 7/26/04 in Boston Mass. Protesters are to be pigeonholed in free speech "cages". Policy seems to severely limit constitutional rights. Dennis Kucinich backed Kerry and called on Nader and his supporters to do the same. Ironically Democrats banned them from the convention. Kerry said he would fight terrorism better than Bush including Threats to Israel. No mention of the ongoing threats to Palestinians. Working Groups WILL- Randall- (To provide some brief background Progressive employee Kim Kranich proposed a regular weekly spot for commentaries after one of AWARE's commentaries were rejected. Randall hoped that this would make getting the commentaries aired since opposing views could also be aired. However the station has not accepted the proposal. Current policy is that WILL wants commentary limited to local issues (everyone noted that the effects of the Iraq war are many local problems) In addition the radio station is not consistent with its policy in regard to all cases. Susan agreed to research the organizational structure of WILL to determine why they are so unwilling to allow us to air our views. Someone mentioned that all radio stations in Illinois have to apply to get broadcast licenses renewed this year. Perhaps we can send letters asking that the station be responsive to the community when we send in pledge donations. Urbana Public Television- Randall- Still working diligently to get signatures to air Democracy Now on Urbana's public television. About 800 signatures have been collected so far. UPTV commissioner Resnick initiated a vote among commission members. 5-1 voted in favor of the proposition [ed. note (REC) - the commission later backed out of the vote] . The primary opposition came from the democratic mayor of Urbana. Randall wants 10 Urbana cable tv subscribers to fill out a form expressing why they support the idea in preparation for the next UPTV meeting on September 13 in the Urbana City council chambers. People can plan to attend to offer support for Democracy Now (hard hitting journalism). Legal Committee-AL, Susan and Randall. Pro Bono lawyer Bob Finch came with them to the meeting with City Attorney Joe Hooker, Lt. Gallo and Lt. Murphy (there is a summary on the peace discuss list). AWARE members were satisfied with the meeting because it showed that AWARE is willing to stand up for its rights especially when they concern the safety of people. The primary topics of the meeting were: -Police response to the threat of vehicular assault (specifically involved in a couple of incidents of trucks driving onto the sidewalk nearly hitting protesters). -When and where we are allowed to videotape (policy is that when investigation begins we are not allowed to have a camera running). Our lawyer requested them to clarify the policy in writing. -Boundaries of the city property (dispute with business Tire's Plus about where private property begins) -Towing ordinance- Susan has researched this and will provide info on the Peace-discuss lists -Leafletting-Bob Finch requested that officers be reminded of the agreement with the police that allows us to leaflet at the Prospect for Peace demonstrations. Farmer's Market- Durl, Jan A lot of buttons and bumperstickers were sold. People were asked to fill out postcards to John Kerry asking him to oppose the war and stencils were used to make homemade signs. 21 people requested Pre-made Vote out Bush Yard Signs but we weren't able to order because they were back ordered. AWARE agreed to order 50 more Yard signs. Jan shared hate mail corresponding to her letter to the news gazette about beautiful yellow Yard Signs. AWARE members remarked that a person at the booth was confrontational with people. By consensus, AWARE doesn't want to endorse a particular candidate only to highlight the evils of war, racism and corporate control of the government. Durl offered to draw up some guidelines for interacting with people at the table and would share them with the group. There is a call for someone to take over the job of setting up and taking down the table the last week in August when the Kruses will be on vacation. Durl and Jan have faithfully set up the table and watched it for the entire month. Tim Johnson meeting- Matt- He doesn't want to meet now or hold a town meeting because he doesn't want to look bad before the election AWARE table at Boardman's Art Theater- Jan Kruse. People are still donating money, taking bumper stickers and trying to put Kerry literature on the table. We want to keep the table through the current showing of Control Room (About corporate media's interpretation of war in Iraq (American and Arabic media) and the upcoming The Corporation about connections between corporations and government and corruption. However we will need to update the presentation. A working group spontaneously formed to this end. Literature group- Al and Susan are putting together a pamphlet on US foreign policy under GW Bush. They will bring it before AWARE next meeting. Events of the past week- Many saw documentary on the Republican party's media outlet Fox News called Outfoxed. They said it was good. It is available for rent at the video store on sixth and daniel streets in campustown or available for purchase at moveon.org Upcoming events- Democracy Now coverage of conventions and other events leading to upcoming presidential elections on WEFT. Gabe Stanton's last show of the political World Beat Revolutions This Monday 2-4PM The views and opinions are solely those of the speakers and don't necessarily represent anyone else. Urbana City Council members are asking for help in opposing the proposal put forth by council member Milton Otto to create two new "at-large seats" on the Urbana City Council, which would slant representation toward voter turn-out and away from actual population. Come to the Urbana City Council meeting this monday 7/26/04 at 7:30PM at the Urbana City Council Chambers 400 S Vine St. to voice opposition. New Ideas- Randall heard about some requests for static stickers for car windows to sell at the farmer's market and the two following bumper sticker slogans: "Do something for the environment, plant a Bush in Texas" and "Turn Left at the next Election" "How?" Carl asked :)