PAA Meeting Minutes for May 12, 2005

Submitted by Sarah Gonzales on November 14, 2005 - 5:00pm. ::

Anjellea Gabriel, chair
Call to order 7:10 p.m.; Leisure Learning Unlimited Room 6

Attending: Anjellea Gabriel, Antonio Salazar, Bill Crosier, C. Lee Taylor, Charles Lindahl, Cheryl Crosier, Darek Brzesk, David Courtney, Don Cook, Joseph Kaye, Lee Demers, Margaret Davis, Mike McCollum, Randy Scott, Rochelle Brackman, Sarah Gonzales, Scott Parkin, Ted Weisgal, Willie Simmons

Introductions/Sharing

Issues discussed included: KPFT fundraiser (Ted Weisgal, KPFT LSB board member, requested donations be made “under protest” and routed through him due to programming changes that resulted in less public affairs/news shows during prime drive times; Code Pink participation in Halliburton protest 5-18-05; Harris County Green Party’s Department of Peace plank at next meeting Monday, May 16; Louisiana House of Representatives first in nation to acknowledge toxic effects of depleted uranium (DU) with bill that guarantees DU testing for war veterans as a medical benefit; compilation of progressive radio, print, TV, blogs/websites for posting on PAA website

April 12, 2005 Minutes approved

Treasurer’s Report: Balance $407.35

Communications Workshop: Scheduled 10 a.m.-Noon Saturday, July 17, 2005 at 7445 Santa Fe (must collect $50 for facilitator’s gas – propose $4 pp donation) Bring sack lunch

Movie Night –

Venues:

Artery

Aurora Picture Show - $50 hour

Houston Community College – possible connection through Marion

MECCA

Rice Media Center tentatively booked for Wednesday, June 22; must have affiliation with campus group along with faculty/staff sponsor; Holds 240; must pay student worker $10/hr to run projector; can get PSAs on KTRU and announcement in Thresher

Shrine of Black Madonna

Super Happy Fun Land

NOTE: Mark Lacy with Houston Institute of Culture is compiling a list of venues

Movie Committee

Sarah Gonzales; Antonio Salazar; C. Lee Taylor; Jan Wheeler; Rochelle Brackman

Schools and the Military – Margaret Davis reported that she’d met with superintendent; discussion about alternatives to military such as Americorps (Peace Corps for college graduates or experience; VISTA for retirees); how to challenge military presence at school

Halliburton Protest 8 a.m. Wednesday, May 18, 2005– Scott Parkin with Houston Global Awareness reported on why Halliburton focus of protest activities (three major pillars supporting war in Iraq: military; corporate media; and war profiteers – Halliburton/KBR is war profiteer poster child with headquarters in Houston) Also announced activities leading up to protest:

  • Thursday, May 13 KBR Job Fair counter recruitment action
  • Saturday, May 14 Art Car parade
  • Sunday, May 15 Skill Shares training with folk from SmartMeme Project on “Media: Telling the Story” and David Solnit editor of Globalize Liberation on “Strategy: People Power”
  • 5 p.m. Monday & Tuesday May 16 & 17 Teach-ins
  • 8 p.m. Monday, May 16 Independent Images of Iraq at Rice Media Center
  • 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 17 press conference in front of Halliburton
  • 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 17 Halliburton Forum with Medea Benjamin, Pratap Chatterjee, Ray Stannard, former Halliburton truck driver injured in Iraq, Maureen Haver, HGA member

Verifiable Voting Petitions

Don Cook reported on petitions. SB 94 still alive in lege. Send completed petitions to POBox on petition or give to Don at May 18 meeting at West Gray Café

Peak Oil Conference 1-5 p.m. Saturday, July 9 at 1st Unitarian Universalist on 5200 Fannin at Southmore Panelists include Bill Crosier, PAA co-chair, and Bob Randall on permaculture, food production and peak oil; new urbanism

Don Cook notes peak oil ramifications touch every progressive issue; needs assistance with media, refreshments, outreach

Moved, seconded and passed: PAA co-sponsor of Peak Oil Conference

Activism

Upcoming activities:

  • Art Car Saturday, May 14
  • All that Floats Saturday, May 14
  • Save America without Delay Fest, Saturday, May 14
  • $1000 fundraising to print 10,000 INCI
    Drive contributions to PAYPAL link on PAA website
  • “How to Lobby for Department of Peace” training in Spicewood, Texas (just outside of Austin) Noon Saturday-Noon Sunday August 13-14 with Lynne McMullen, DOP national campaign coordinator. For more info: call Kathy Kidd at (713) 443-9938 or visit http://tinyurl.com/85ddy
  • Compassionate Connections workshop Friday and Saturday, May 20-21 an extension of nonviolent communication (NVC), a way of interacting that facilitates the flow of communication needed to exchange information and resolve differences peacefully. With workshop facilitator: Christine Dove, LCSW
  • Democracy Fest Friday-Sunday June 17-19 in Austin
    Moved, seconded and passed to spend $50 for PAA table during event. For more information visit:
    http://tinyurl.com/7v3m9
  • Juneteenth celebrations