Peace and Social Concerns Committee, November 2, 2015

Present: Beth A, Dan G, Carol L, George M (clerking), Roger C, Don C.

We settled into a time of quiet.

1. We agreed to cosponsor the Human Rights Day program in Amherst and to suggest that the Meeting cosponsor it, December 5, 1-3pm at the Jones Library. Roger will communicate this to the Clerk and will arrange publicity on the listserv and elsewhere. If the Meeting declines, our committee will cosponsor the event.

2. Membership of our committee: Dan will see if Eric wants to remain on the committee. We will list Jane J and David G as members unless they do not wish it. Carol L is considering withdrawing from active membership on the committee but has not yet decided. We are hoping that Ruth H and Frank G will move toward membership.

3. Beth spoke of the meeting on November 7 (10-12:30 at the 1^st Congregational Church in Greenfield) with David Tallpine and David Brule: “1676 and beyond: Tribes, Race, and Untold Histories” and she is considering whether bringing them to the Amherst area would be feasible and advisable. Beth will send out an announcement on our listserv about the November 7 event. Don C also spoke of the need for education on the issues.

4. Letter writing on December 13 – we will hope for a volunteer at our next meeting.

5. Clerk for our December 7^th committee meeting: nobody present offered, and we hope that someone will agree between now and then.

6. Our P&SC Film series begins on November 12 with a film about Thurgood Marshall. Roger will work on publicity for the film. Popcorn would be great!

7. The issue of the pipeline came up in the context of a statement by the Amherst Unitarian Universalist Society, and we want to create some document to “make a difference” on the matter. Dan agreed to help this issue along with the cooperation of others (on our committee and not) and we approved.

8. We have a November 22 11:40 on the topic of mass incarceration, and Roger is communicating with the presenters about it. Roger will work on publicity for it.

9. Beth feels a leading to be an ally of indigenous peoples. She was advised to ask Ministry and Worship for help in refining and clarifying this leading.

10. Our next meeting will be on the first Monday of December, 12/7.

We closed with a time of silence.