Peace and Social Concerns Committee meeting, 4/25/2016

Present: Scott R, Susan R, Dan G (clerking), Frank G, Ka R, George M, Roger C, Jane J, Beth A

We began with a time of silence.

Scott and Susan led a discussion about the difficulties of enabling a conversation about Israeli/Palestinian issues, and they sought our help in figuring out how to do that in our meeting. Ka will follow up with Frances Crowe to ask her advice and her view about these issues.

Scott passed out a flyer for the May 4 event which we are cosponsoring. Scott will provide an electronic version of the flyer which we can help in distributing. Dan will make an announcement about this event on next Sunday.

We agree that we need a long term educational effort in the meeting since the need is for a deep discussion about the Mideast issues, probably requiring many sessions over the span of a year. It is possible that Scott and Susan may be willing to start this with a workshop at the meeting retreat.

Frank will clerk our May 23 meeting.

Letter writing on May 15: Roger and Ka will do it. The tables should be set in the same orientation as the dining tables, and away from the chairs so that they can be accessed for the dining tables.

The AFSC dinner on May 17 should be advertised, and Roger will send info and the flyer for it out on the listserv.

Ka will serve as our representative to the Pioneer Valley Interfaith Refugee Action Group and will contact Anne M of Northampton meeting for information.

Jane spoke of the “Bean Patch” project starting at Woolman Hill. Alice G and Dunan will be the first ones to initiate this project.

We agreed to co-sponsor the nonviolence training organized by Mary L on May 21. Originally it was intended for civil disobedience to the pipeline, but the need for such training transcends the current pipeline issue.

Beth brought two organizations to our attention: Maine-Wabanaki Reach, and Centro de Amigos Cuaqueros Para LaPaz. On the former we felt we needed more information before considering support. On the latter we agreed to propose support and funding through the FC:OO portion of the budget. Roger will send that on to Andy.

The fair on May 7arranged by Beth is shaping up nicely, but Beth needs help with parts of it. We will dedicate $50 of our budget for expenses.

We closed with a time of silence.