PAA General Monthly Meeting Minutes Thursday, April 13, 2006

Minutes of the Progressive Action Alliance,

April 13, 2006 at Leisure Learning Unlimited, 2990 Richmond, Room 6, 6th floor

Convened 7:05 p.m.

Bill Crosier

Bob Carter

C. Lee Taylor

Cheryl Crosier

Colleen O’Brien

Don Cook

Don Seributra

Jim Berry

Kris Graham

Rochelle B.

Ron Graham

Tami Halphen

Ted Weisgal

Willie Simmons

Introductions: Colleen O’Brien & Jim Berry

Minutes from March 2006 approved

Treasurer’s report (via Bill): Balance $176.27 plus $51 for $228.27

3rd Anniversary of Iraq Invasion Report: poor turnout but good spirit; positive response from at least two soldiers in cammies responded positively to demonstration

Report on A10 March/Rally (pro-immigrant rights): inspiring; discussion about issue functioning like the anti-gay marriage issue foisted on public by compliant press at end of 2004

Houston Social Forum: list of workshops thus far circulated – have two too many workshops for allotted time but presumably will be some cancellations and the Open Space Technology; discussion about whether religion is being addressed at HSF and how progressives are losing battle on religion; discussion about HSF, its purpose, goals, genealogy. Open House for HSF Volunteers 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, April 15, at Houston Institute for Culture, 5555 Morningside, Ste. 204

Green Party Ballot Petition: Ballot Petition party 3-8 p.m. Sunday, April 23, at Dan’s Electro’s Guitar Bar, 1031 E. 24th St. $10 or 10 petition signatures; Park & Ride and Light Rail line good places for signatures; Ron & Kris working on getting table for voter registration and ballot petition

Discussion about other Precinct Conventions: reports on Willie’s Hamas resolution; impeach Bush passed; SD7 passed 23 resolutions; need information about which resolutions passed as is, as amended etc. in which precincts

Endorsement of the Decade of Nonviolence for Building a Culture of Peace: Motion to have PAA endorse the Decade of Nonviolence, seconded and passed by acclamation

Report on Programming Changes at KPFT:  Program Council and Management reported in a closed meeting to LSB on station changes wrought out of Program Council and Management, programming changes which kept BBC at 8 a.m. and Democracy Now! at 9 a.m.; reduced Music Beyond Borders from 10 hours to 2 hours; combined some of the news shows so that they were broadcast one after another; discussion about secret/closed meetings and closed meeting to announce program changes; entreat folk to attend LSB meeting at last Wednesday of month (April 26) at Alliance Francaise

Preparations for Democratic State Convention

Announcements: June 3 Rally at location TDB (possibly St. Stephens on Alabama) to kick off convention and animate base

Report on freeway blogging & flyering: On 4/7/06 held “Lying Spying & Torture: Impeach” sign at Dunlavy Bridge; count of positive to negative responses 5 to 1 or 83.3% positive; exposed to 7200 cars over 1.5 hours

Idea of including a call to action e.g. phone number of White House comment line

Deferred Adjudication Reform: Patriot Act has compromised deferred adjudication process; Don S. will email resolution that addresses flaw and seeks PAA’s endorsement; wants to bring Prescott Smith to PAA next month to discuss

2nd Edition of Iraq Notebook: 12,000 printed; distribution locations include UH Clear Lake; UH, TSU; washaterias;

April 20 John Culberson will hold a Townhall Meeting in Strafford on border security and Katy Freeway

Adjourned 9:13 p.m.