PAA General Monthly Meeting Minutes Thursday, May 11, 2006

Progressive Action Alliance

May 11, 2006

Convened 7:07 p.m.

Attending:

Bill Crosier

Bob Carter

Brenda Fackler

Cheryl Crosier

C. Lee Taylor

Don Cook

Hardy Loe

Jon Axford

Kathy Kidd

Kris Graham

Lee Demers

Lee Loe

Maureen Haver

Sarah Gonzales

Ted Weisgal

Minutes from April 13 PAA Meeting approved as revised: balance for treasurer’s report adjusted to $192.27 to account for $35 room rent payment)

Treasurer’s report: $192.27 plus $26 donations less $35 room rent $183.27

Report on May Day Immigrants Rights March: Well attended – larger turn out than organizers expected; minor skirmish perhaps one arrest; Iraq Notebook passed out and very well received

Department of Peace Mother’s Day Action: Peace Wants a Piece of the Pie

Action 11 a.m. Friday, May 12 in front of Mickey Leland Federal Bldg. with similar actions happening across the country;

Followed up with a Father’s Day action where folks are entreated to send photos of kids with their fathers to legislators urging support of DOP; Training on the bill and how to do grass roots lobbying

Upcoming Actions/Events

Wednesday, May 17 Halliburton on the Run (go and or donate $$)

Friday, May 19 Fundraiser Dot Nelson-Turner State Rep 150

1-4 p.m. Saturday, May 20 Energy Workshop, HCDP HQ (registration at 12:30 p.m.)

Sunday, May 28 Memorial Day Observance Herman Park for US Military & All Civil Casualties

Sunday, May 28 Houston Social Forum party/films

Saturday, June 10 World Culture Festival – Support the Cuba Friendship Caravan

Art Car Parade Festivities: Friday-Sunday, May 12-14: Mainstreet drag and Shop Talk Symposium at Art Car Museum on Friday, May 12; Saturday, May 13 tailgate party 9 a.m.-1 p.m.; Sunday Awards Ceremony 11-3 p.m.

Lee Loe; Lee Demers; Rochelle Brackman; Kris Graham; 200,000 folk expected so great opportunity to pass out notebooks and get green party petition signatures

Green Party Petitions Contact Don Cook at 713-705-554; Six different coordinators for getting signatures on petitions; good way to promote democracy; two state-wide positions where Greens can expect to get at least 5% of vote which will qualify them for placement on the ballot and obviate future petition drives;

Would you sign petition to help Green Party get on the ballot need 75,000 signatures to get 22 Green Party candidates on the ballot; Y or N

Four Key Values:

Ecologic Wisdom

Social Justice

Grass Roots Democracy

Nonviolence

Won’t you help us out?

Who can sign petitions: Texas registered voters who didn’t vote in the primary (Note: Can sign petitions even if signed for Kinky or Carole)

Halliburton Shareholders Protest: Halliburton changed location of shareholders meeting to Duncan, OK; OK folk including Vets for Peace helping coordinate and some locals are looking to do a citizen’s arrest of CEO; Iraq vets will be present; raising money to bring them to Houston; looking to raise money for van to go to Duncan;

Halliburton Gig 7 p.m. Sunday, May 14, at Black Lab 4100 Montrose, Sunday evening with Pratap Chatterjee will present on his latest experiences and Robert Vasquez from Peru will speak on Latin American eco damage and Michael ___ from Nigeria;

Potluck 7 p.m. Saturday, May 13 at 1601 Blodgett at Crawford, to visit with Halliburton folk; Halliburton recently received $300 million contract to build “detention centers”; 

10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, May 13 Texas Democratic Party Platform Hearing

Preparations for Democrat state convention in Fort Worth
(Friday-Saturday, June 9-10)

• Workshop Saturday, June 3 for all progressive Democrats
• Change next PAA meeting from regular date Thursday, June 8 to Thursday,
  June 15

Memorial Day Observance – Sunday-Tuesday, May 28-30, Wednesday, May 17 is work day at Harris County Democratic Party Headquarter’s 1445 610 Loop to prep

• San Jacinto Democratic Veterans Brigade, Code Pink & Veterans for Peace
• Bring shoes for civilian memorial
• Ceremony to be held at Hermann Park, Fannin & Hermann Park Circle
• Bring shoes for civilian memorial
• Contact: Jim Rine at 281.414.1386 or

Building pressure to impeach Bush & Cheney

• Flyers at parades & other events
• Sign making, freeway blogging, bumper stickers
  Contact Brenda Fackler for freeway blogging info

Energy Workshop Saturday, May 20 Murvin___ & Tom Rowan;

Texas Observer Fundraiser with Molly Ivins & Calvin Trillin, at Rice U Tuesday, May 16 or 27

Saturday, May 13 Houston Peace & Justice Center Board meeting: needs PAA representation